AFPD USB Interface grounding issue?
#1
Thread Starter

My Feedback: (3)
Question, whats the deal with having to touch the CPU case to stop the controls from flickering. If I dont put my foot against my CPU case the controls jump around just like real interference. Weird! All I have to do is put my barefoot on the metal housing and it works perfectly. Im going to rig up a grounding cable with alligator clips until someone tells me how to stop this strange anomaly. BTW Im fly a Futaba 9C transmitter, also I thought I had to have the transmitter on but it powers up when I plug in the USB cable, it still drains battery but at a tremendously reduced rate.
Mike
Mike
#2
Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Ottawa,
ON, CANADA
I dont know what would cause that with the TX but my fathers PC had the same issues what it turned out to be was a broken wire in the power cable fromt he PSU to the wall outlet try changing that first
I have also seen that with a cheap POS case a buddy had if you touched the case it would dead short the system was not able to trace it down but I figure a pin or MB standoff was touhing the MB someplace and when I Touched the case I compleated the circut and it owuld short out
I have also seen that with a cheap POS case a buddy had if you touched the case it would dead short the system was not able to trace it down but I figure a pin or MB standoff was touhing the MB someplace and when I Touched the case I compleated the circut and it owuld short out
#6
Thread Starter

My Feedback: (3)
Man, did make a huge difference in battery drain.. The glitching got better but I have an alligator clip clipped onto the computers casing and I hold the clip on my end in my hand under the Tx, that stops it altogether but something isnt right...
#7
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Bedford,
MA
I just got my AFPD today and found the same issue with my Fut 8Usuper. Holding the back of my computer case did reduce the control surface "glitches". Not as smooth as my Realflight USB module used on AFPD.
Any ideas of what to do to improve the glitching issue?
Greg.
Any ideas of what to do to improve the glitching issue?
Greg.
#10
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Bedford,
MA
OK, I understand the ground wire. I tried something similar, I held the metal ground ring of the un-used plug against the computer case. It did reduce the glitches but did not completely remove them. Difference between us is our computers, mine may not be as well grounded as yours or mine may have move components that make noise.
I'm thinking that we may need some ferrite cores, to block any high frequency noise, on the USB cable , my G2 USB controller does!
Greg.
I'm thinking that we may need some ferrite cores, to block any high frequency noise, on the USB cable , my G2 USB controller does!
Greg.
#13
Senior Member
My Feedback: (21)
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Manhattan,
NY
They snap on the wires, they are called chokes. You see these doohickies on lots of controller type stuff. If you have sony handy cam or digital camera it's on that too. The USB to Camera cable.
But this is only if you think it's noise, which it certain can be.
Here is one for Coax. But they make lots of sizes.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=273-105
But this is only if you think it's noise, which it certain can be.
Here is one for Coax. But they make lots of sizes.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=273-105
#16

My Feedback: (5)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: corpus christi,
TX
I had the same problems with my JR 10X transmitter and what I figured out this that if the servo travel was above 100%, the plane would jitter. When I backed them to 100%, it was fine. It maybe a software glitch. Maybe Dion can contact Aerofly on this one?
Joseph
Joseph
#17
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Toledo,
OH
ORIGINAL: sheetsg
OK, I understand the ground wire. I tried something similar, I held the metal ground ring of the un-used plug against the computer case. It did reduce the glitches but did not completely remove them. Difference between us is our computers, mine may not be as well grounded as yours or mine may have move components that make noise.
I'm thinking that we may need some ferrite cores, to block any high frequency noise, on the USB cable , my G2 USB controller does!
Greg.
OK, I understand the ground wire. I tried something similar, I held the metal ground ring of the un-used plug against the computer case. It did reduce the glitches but did not completely remove them. Difference between us is our computers, mine may not be as well grounded as yours or mine may have move components that make noise.
I'm thinking that we may need some ferrite cores, to block any high frequency noise, on the USB cable , my G2 USB controller does!
Greg.
Hello, I have had the same problems as you all with trimming and glitching in AFPD with a Futaba T6XA some times the plane would go wild and do some crazy chit. Thought it was just because I was new and didn't know how to fly yet. Then I realized that there was interference caused by the signal that you're transmitter is putting out through the cable it is jumping around in the 1/8" stereo plug.
So what I did was un solder the 1/8" jack and the multiplex plug then re soldered the Futaba round plug only on the end of my interface cable then added a ground wire to it which is soldered to the inside of the plug housing (not any prongs) and put a alligator clip on the other end then just clipped it to the case of my computer (I am not sure it actually needed this but I felt it kept a better trim this way).
Hope this helps you're problem as well I know it helped mine out it is 100%%%%%%% rock solid now hey I can hairier and hover with control now and I have only been flying the simm or anything for that matter for a month and 1/2 now but it has only been fixed for two weeks that’s how big the improvement was I couldn’t hover worth crap before I fixed it. I think if you wanted to keep all the different plugs I would buy some good quality ones and try it. Well my fingers are getting sleepy feel free to Email me with any Questions I could even give you my number if you would like.
Good Luck, Doug
#18
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Burlington, ON, CANADA
I had the same problem and this was the 'fix' Check out post 22 and the next few for the solution. Seems the interface is high impedance and was picking up 'hum' on the shield.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_24...tm.htm#2483438
Bill...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_24...tm.htm#2483438
Bill...
#19
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Toledo,
OH
Yes I saw you're post before I even did anything to my cable.
I tried it the resistor and it did not do anything for me.[&o]
I did all kinds of configurations with the resistors and the wiring.
I still had the problems?????????????
The only thing I can figure is that you're problem is a JR thing so the resistor worked fine for you but not me.
Don't mean to shoot you down that is not what I am trying to do I am just filling you in on my findings.
I still say a good QUALITY plug is what is needed.
I will hunt one down and try it.
Happy Flying, Doug B.
I tried it the resistor and it did not do anything for me.[&o]
I did all kinds of configurations with the resistors and the wiring.
I still had the problems?????????????
The only thing I can figure is that you're problem is a JR thing so the resistor worked fine for you but not me.
Don't mean to shoot you down that is not what I am trying to do I am just filling you in on my findings.

I still say a good QUALITY plug is what is needed.
I will hunt one down and try it.
Happy Flying, Doug B.
#20
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: redef, FRANCE
Hi, i also have those problems with my game commander for AFPD. I found a way to go better by calibrating my game commander with the trims not set in the middle but next to the neutral position. It works better but it's not 100% efficient. I also need some help to resolve it in a better way..
#21
Senior Member
My Feedback: (10)
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Mohnton,
PA
I just got AFPD a few weeks ago. It worked fine for a week and then all of the sudden it started to glitch all over the place.
I have been able to figure it out at all.
Steve
I have been able to figure it out at all.
Steve



