Left Stick Bricked - Dual VKB Gladiators

[Shady195]

I figured I would post this since it seems quite a few people recently are experiencing this issue.

My left NXT Gladiator appears to be completely bricked/dead after a little over a month and a half of use. There are 0 lights, even when first plugging in, and windows does not chime at all, nothing in device manager on any PC. I'm not seeing the unknown device like some others, its just flat out dead. I will post more details below but so far I have tried the following:

The joysticks were on the latest firmware, I updated them upon arriving in January.

1. Removed base plate, checked connections. Confirmed connections are good, re-seated all the connectors.
2. Opened up the grip (I had given the omni throttle a try but ended up not liking it and went back), checked all connectors. Re-seated. It was after I swapped this out and went back to the original orientation. THat was over a week ago.
3. Shorted Pins while in ZBootloader
4. Swapped USB Cables
5. Plugged stick into Multiple PC's (No windows Chime, no indication in computer management or anywhere else that anythings connected)
6. Using F1+F2 , F1+F2+F3 while plugging in to reset
7. Swapped USB PCBs between sticks as well as grips. Appears to be related to the "main" PCB on the side of the base.

I had a pretty good play session last night, left my sticks attached to my desk and went to bed. Came down this morning, and sat down at my desk. I had bumped my left knee into the mount slightly, not hard but the reason this stood out is I noticed the light was off on my left stick. My inital thought was my knee bump did something but it wasn't that hard, the stick is pretty much stuck to the desk when mounted. I did what most would do, plugged it back in but to my surprised, no windows chime and no lights at all on the stick.

I attempted all of the above, opened a support ticket and while browsing the forums, noticed there seems to be a few people within a similar time frame with the same issue so I wanted to raise some awareness. It seems odd that quite a few of us have seemingly had the same issue, and it seems we have all purchased within a similar timeframe.

Maybe bad batch of main PCBs?

[TwoLemonsInARow]

Hi there, thanks for posting, welcome despite the unpleasant circumstances!

If it's happening to this many people in a short time something is definitely up. This seems to especially affect people with dual sticks. Perhaps a problem with power management in the usb system? Unplugging the sticks is where both of mine ended up dead as well.


I hope it is the pcb being simply defective on many devices. It would be a nicer simpler explanation.

The question is if the replacement pcb will also be faulty.

To be honest with vkb being a Russian company, I wonder if the current situation with Ukraine will affect their business. Although they do operate out of HK. In light of that situation this problem with joysticks seems first world trivial.

This is astounding for a company and product that is so highly spoken of. I am sure that they will do what they can even if not in any particular hurry.

[Shady195]

Im not too concerned, I think VKB will make it right. I know of a few people with VKB Devices and have been very happy with them for quite some time.

Things happen, the main thing is how they handle it and how its addressed long term. I'd be curious to know if they are able to find a root cause/link between them.

Hoping for a quick resolution.

[Shady195]

Looks like I covered all the troubleshooting so they're going to send me a new main PCB. Response was fairly quick.

[TwoLemonsInARow]

I've got a replacement PCB coming as well.

It might be prudent to hold off installing the new parts until a better understanding of the issue is reached, it's being worked on as I understand it.

I'm curious, are you using the NXTs connected to a shared USB hub, or attached to an extension cable, by any chance?

[Shady195]

No shared USB Hub, was plugged directly into my computer.

[TwoLemonsInARow]

I had something happen with the NXT I have that still works.

I was working on another T16 joystick and when I went to plug it in, the NXT did it's red/blue/white flash reset, then rebooted to normal. This was happening before when the sticks decided to brick up, both did this reboot cycle before dying completely.

So the T16 was plugged into a different hub that is usually powered, but the power adapter was not connected. So when I reconnected it, then reconnected the T16, there was no problem with the NXT or any reboot sequence.

This supports my theory that the sticks bricked due to problems caused by inadequate power from the USB system. My computer does not supply enough voltage for all the controllers I have, plus 2 NXTs.

So I would strongly suggest when you get your new PCB installed, ensure that both sticks are connected to a powered hub. If you see either of them do a reboot, disconnect it once it finishes. Take this of course with a grain of salt as it is just the best of what I've been able to deduce from observation. Whatever problem that causes the controllers to brick up seems to occur during these voltage drops I've seen several times now. Hopefully when I get my own replacement PCB I can prove the theory correct.

[Shady195]

TwoLemons, have you recieved your PCB yet or any indication on when you will? Emailed a few times after I was told I'd be shipped a new PCB but no indication on when I might receive it.

I think I may follow your advice and attempt to use a powered USB hub, only because when I first plugged my sticks in the day I got them, the left one acted strangely compared to the right one and I had to force the calibration through the software.

Basically it was a very dim white/orange light and it appeared to be flickering, once i calibrated it it was fine up until this. Never acted strangely

[TwoLemonsInARow]

I'm told the replacement parts are shipped however I've not received confirmation or tracking number, or any info about the shipment from the customer ticket staff (ZeroThunder) although I'd imagine or hope that it's been done as this has been requested by the VKB staff assisting with it. It would be nice to have some better info but apparently this is not possible. I am also sending the existing PCBs to the manufacturer for analysis.

So far the nature of the problem is still shrouded in mystery until we can test things further.
Hopefully those parts will arrive in a timely manner or some info will be provided through the TS system.

[TwoLemonsInARow]

Hey so a quick update,

I received the replacement PCB today and installed it (not a beginner job but luckily I know more than enough to disassemble everything correctly.)

So far the stick is working, it is connected to a powered USB hub with the right hand one that has been working. Knock on wood, and knock lots.

Hopefully it will continue to work for awhile longer so I can report good news, the previous incidents happened usually within a few hours of getting the sticks put together.

As it is I'm scared to even look at the sticks now. It will be awhile before I can relax and enjoy them, IF they choose to co-operate this time.

[Shady195]

Glad you got the part and it seems to be working. Im hoping mine will just show up as well then.

My issue was not as sudden as yours from the sounds of it. I used my sticks for a little over a month before this happened.

[Shady195]

How long did it take you guys to get a response?

I have been waiting for 3 weeks now and no response. Any advise on how to get a response from VKB support?

Honestly I had to email them twice a few days apart and I finally got a response.

It appears the HQ in china is a bit slow to respond/is not providing the tracking information.

Hoping ill have my new PCB soon.

[TwoLemonsInARow]

So, next day using the sticks with the new replacement PCB in the left one, so far so good, both are working normally.

I did see something very concerning when I opened the VKBDevCfg software and received a CPUID:Read Error message, followed by the right stick showing up as NJoy32 rather than NXT R... I closed the software, disconnected and reconnected the sticks and the problem disappeared.

I was getting these CPUID errors from the software before. As of right now I am truly terrified to use that software, all I've done so far is to change the LED colour to match the other stick. Can this configuration software cause permanent damage to these sticks?

[TwoLemonsInARow]

Hopefully the final update,

Sticks are both working. I was able to do all of the advanced programming as before with no issues. The only thing I am not doing, for the simple reason that it's not necessary, is to flash the firmware. The sticks show version 2.08 where the website is 2.09, and there were a bunch of different issues reported since 2.08.

I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with the firmware, but I am going to avoid flashing unless necessary in case there might be.

The job of replacing the main PCB was a little more intensive than some, and it does require delicacy and care to an extreme degree, noting screw positions etc while doing the disassembly. But it required nothing more than a precision driver, which they even provide. The fact that just about any mature adult can service, refit, and replace components in these sticks is another virtue that makes this stand up against CH Products in the hall of fame.

All in all it was not handled too badly by VKB, having Fallout here certainly makes a difference as the ticket system is about as slow as you typically expect them to be, albeit they do actually help, they did send the parts and I was able to get satsifaction, at least on one of the two sticks so far, hopefully the next PCB is in the mail and I will soon have a redundant third stick. I know some of you will have clever suggestions for what I should do with it, please keep those to yourselves.

As I said before, when these work, they are about the greatest experience of using a joystick that one can have for anything less than a king's ransom. I hope to someday experience whatever it is that makes the upmarket products worth more than triple the cost, they must be truly something at that price point. VKB is trying to get us hooked on these affordable products so that we will come back for a hit of the strong stuff the next time we have idiot money to burn in our pockets.

[Shady195]

Just wanted to post an update.

I did receive my new PCB a few weeks back. Have replaced it and so far all is well.