F-14 weapon selector malfunction

[dolin]

Dear all,

I'm having problems with a Gunfighter Mk.III ‘F-14 Combat Edition’ (3-pin Rev.B), the kind with the rudder twist axis. I've loaded the '_BlackBox_GF_F14_v2_02_5' firmware using the VKB config tool v0.91.78.
I can post details about the cams and springs if it's necessary but I don't thnk it's relevant to my issue.

Everything used to work just fine until a couple days ago when the weapon selector started behaving erratically. I'm not sure how to explain the issue well, I'd need to shoot a video perhaps-
Basically no matter where the selector is, I can only toggle between buttons 14 and 15. I can select very briefly button 16 cycling the selector up (and the same with button 13 cycling the selector down) but it's only a very brief toggle and reverts to 15 (or 13). if I bring the selector all the way down to OFF it seems to settle on button 14 instead of 13. Moving it up to GUN selects button 15. Moving it again up to SW selects button 16 very briefly and immediately falls back to button 15. No change if I move the sleector to SP/PH.
I'll mention that all theother buttons and axes seem to work fine.

I've tried re-flashing and calibrating multiple times and at this point I'm thinking it may be a hardware issue. But i'm not sure since this erratic behaviour is consistent somewhat.

I thank you in advance for any advice or help on this.

Regards,
Giulio D.

[fallout9]

Hi Giulio, please download the configurator and firmware from here, then use the tutorial to flash and calibrate your device (don't forget to press the Default button between flashing and calibrating).
Check again in tester afterwards and post the results.

[dolin]

Hello,

Folowing your instruction I downloaded the Congif tool v0.91.96 and the Bootloader v1_18.
I flashed the '_BlackBox_MK2_GF_F14_v2_02_5', the one for tha black box (that is the one I had been using successfully since the first time, during troubleshooting I erroneously tried the other one for the orange box which I don't have) following the video's instructions to the letter.

Unfortunately the result is unchanged. The selector still only toggles buttons 14 and 15 regardless of its actual position, buttons 13 and 16 are touched for a brief moment as I move the selector down or up but they immediately jump to either 14 or 15.
The other buttons and axes seem to work just fine.

Could it be a hardware problem like a broken solder joint that I could attempt to fix myself?

[fallout9]

Could you please press the Default button under Tools tab, then post 2 screenshots with Profile/Buttons/Physical and Logical?

[dolin]

I'll be on it as soon as I get home. Do you need me to put the selector in any particular position for this?

Giulio D.

[fallout9]

Doesn't matter.
But a video of joystick selector handling in front of a tester would help.

[dolin]

Here are the two screenshots as requested, and I also recorded a video operating the weapon selector. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attach the video directly, I uploaded it here: https://streamable.com/o7nwbp

Thank you for your assistance.

Giulio D.

[dolin]

Hello,

so, does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this problem with the selector?

[fallout9]

Sorry for the delay, let's try to recalibrate the Selector axis. Do this:
1. take the grip off base and put the fastener away; keep the base and bb plugged to USB; set the Selector to SP/PH position;
2. seat the grip on the base (without fastener) and immediately press simultaneously on these buttons:

trigger second stage (all the way in),
bomb release button (the red button on top, right side),
DLC/chaff dispense (grey button on the left side).

3. keep the tester in front of you, so you could see buttons 1, 2, 3 and 5 lighting up;
4. if everything went well buttons 13, 14, 15 and 16 (Selector's buttons) should show up lit on the tester; as soon as they lit up release all other buttons;
5. press again and hold the trigger all the way through both stages (buttons 1 and 2 lit up on tester) and press the SP/PH button;
6. release all buttons and the tester should indicate only button 13 pressed;
7. slowly get through all Selector's position back and forth.
8. post results.

[dolin]

Thank you for your reply.

I managed to record a video of the entire procedure, here it is : https://streamable.com/ys303a
It was a bit fiddly to press all the buttons with a single hand but I hope I did it well. I saw all the test lights I was meant to according to your instructions.

Unfortunately he selector still malfunctions in a similar fashion, although now the button test light cycles in the oposite direction as the selector lever, as you can see.

[Ron61]

I advise you to update the firmware and configurator from here. After that, calibrate all axes on the handle (not forgetting about the axis of the weapon switch). Showing screenshots of the Profile-Axes tab after calibration.

[fallout9]

Flash to the latest (2.05.5) as advised by Ron, than try the selector calibration again, but way faster. Set the grip on the base first, then press the buttons combination. The whole procedure should be under 10 seconds, otherwise the calibration session expires.

[dolin]

Hello, apologies for the delay.

following your instructions I downloaded the config version 0.91.96, the bootloader v1.18 and firmware '_BlackBox_MK2_GF_F14_v2_05_5'.
I flashed the firmware, reset to default from the config tool, calibrated the axes then repeated the procedure for calibrating the weapon selector doing it as fast as I could.

The result is exactly the same, unfortunately.
This is the Profile-Axes tab as requested:

[fallout9]

Please fill up a service ticket including a link to this thread.

[Ron61]

Just in case, let me remind you that when you install the handle and do not fix it rigidly with breadcrumbs, false triggering of buttons and axes is possible.
It is advisable to enable monitoring of the connection between the handle and the base and check the quality of this very connection at the moment of pressing the buttons.
You can also enable the Poll checkbox in physical buttons and check the operation of each button of interest.