Problem with a Happ 3" USB Trackball!

[Raider]

Okay, got me a nice and shiny Happ Controls 3" USB/PS2 trackball. Asbolutely love it!  Problem is I'm having failure issues with it. It'll work in intervals of between 5-60 minutes before just suddenly ceasing to work. I check the driver and it says device is functioning properly. All it takes is a quick unplug and re plugin of the USB connect to get it working again. But considering I got this to be in a cab, I rather not be having to do that all the damned time! lol!

I'm recalling I read somewhere that someone else had a similar problem and it was a faulty connection wire on the trackball itself. I haven't had ANY problems with USB devices before like this. In fact I have a seocnd USB Logitech trackball hooked up (All logitech software has been uninstalled) so I can have dual trackballs with MAMEanalog+, and that one hasn't had any issues. So I'm leaning into thinking that a fault with this Happ trackball may be the culprit here.

But thought I'd ask you experienced folks first in case there is something I may be able to do to spare me the hassle of returning this thing! TIA!

OS is WinME (More stable full final version), 512mb, 350w PSU.

[Sasquatch!]

If it's new, I'd hit up Happ Controls to see what they have to say about it.

[Raider]

Thanks! I do have an email into them already... No word yet, but it is the weekend. Basically I have till Tuesday to put a claim in. So that's why I'm trying to get someone elses opinion before I hear back from them. I would prefer to get this working proper instead of having to go through all the claim and return BS! Not to mention the extra waiting period! lol!

 

[u_rebelscum]

I've heard the happs TB needs a lot of juice.  Are you hooking it up to a "self powered" hub (ie hub w/ a power suply plug), or directly to the computer, or, worst, to an unpowered hub?

It could be lack of enough power, especially if you hooked up one of the last two ways.  (Self powered hubs usually supply more power than straight out of the computer.)  I've heard of similar problems with other USB devices.

If possible, plug the happs TB as the only device on a self powered hub and see what happens.  If you don't have a self powered hub, plug the happs as the only USB device into the computer.  If you still have the same problem, it's not a power problem.

[HeadRusch]

I'll 2nd the Powered Hub suggestion.  my little $20 hub came with an AC adaptor.....some of my components I plug into it require the power, some do not....oddly, the ones that do NOT require power will NOT function if the hub is plugged in....weeeird.  Anyhow, U_Rebel has made a good point, try that out first.

Oh, and check the connections....to everything..make sure the wires are seated correctly in the connectors and so forth..

[Raider]

Thanks guys!

Connections look good on the trackball unit. I can't spot and bends or frays, loose or exposed wires/connections, etc.  

No I am not using a self powered hub. Did consider it though, one that's self powered. I checked my usb bandwidth consumption and it's zapping about 23%. More than twice my other little Logitech trackball mouse... And yes I did remove the Logitech software. So your right, definitely a hungry little device! Also I did try hooking it up as the only USB device. Same prob!

But I may have sorted the prob! What I have done since last checking here is to disable the "error detection" on my usb host controllers from the device manager. So far I've had my box running just over half a day now since doing that, and the Happs trackball has been stable. So it's looking like that might've fixed the issue.

If not, I will definitely give the "Self Powered
hub a try!  

BTW urrebelscum! Good damn work with your MAMEanalog+! I love it!

[u_rebelscum]

... I may have sorted the prob! What I have done since last checking here is to disable the "error detection" on my usb host controllers from the device manager.... it's looking like that might've fixed the issue.

If not, I will definitely give the "Self Powered
hub a try!

Glad to hear it's working.

Hmm, the happs USB-PS/2 connector having communication errors could be due to minor power problems, but then again, could be something non-standard about the happs USB chip.  *shrug*  If you don't mind, could you let us know how it goes in the long term, and anything happs might tell you?  Just for my curiousity.

BTW urebelscum! Good damn work with your MAMEanalog+! I love it!

Thanks!

[Chris]

I've heard the happs TB needs a lot of juice.  

Does anyone know if it's the trackball itself that requires so much power, or their USB interface?  I have a standard Happ trackball interfaced with a USB mouse hack; the trackball pulls its power from the USB mouse's board.  Am I setting myself up for power problems?

--Chris

[Raider]

The power consumption on mine is 100mA on a 500mA max port.

Okay heard back from the HAPP Controls people. After going through a checklist, the tech concluded that it's probably enumerating again and again and that it's most likely got a fault in the trackball. SO back in for warranty replacement!

Kinda sucks I'll have to wait a couple weeks to get a trackball going again. But at least they are standing by their product!