USB 2.0 Powered Hubs

[Waterman981 2]

In addition to reading the manual, I also just did a quick google for 'FSUIPC letters' and got several posts in the FSUIPC forums on the subject that helped as well. For instance the manual doesn't really explain with lettering you will have the devices listed twice, once with the numbers from Windows, once with the letters.  I just really needed to know the option was there, because I never RTFM... 😉

[fppilot 4,351]

15 hours ago, micstatic said:

Hi Guys.  What do you all recommend for a usb 2.0 powered hub?  I've been plagued by intermittent problems with mine.  Having to reconnect or disconnect.  Profiles forgotten.  I currently run 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ESP144/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this one.  Considering ordering a different kind of hub and trying it out for a while.  Will keep it if it works, or return if the problems remain.  Looking in the 7-10 port neighborhood.  

Also for your HID items once you identify them check the advanced properties in Control Manager, Device Management, and uncheck any boxes for Advanced Power Management.  Since doing that I find on my system I do not need to use powered hubs.

[micstatic 4,314]

Sounds like I should change the AutoAssignLetters to =yes.  Also my Saitek throttle quadrant in human interface devices is listed twice.  Anybody have any insight?

-Under HID: Flight Throttle Quadrant (HID)

-Under HID: Flight Throttle quadrant (USB)

[Biggles2010 342]

8 minutes ago, fppilot said:

Since doing that I find on my system I do not need to use powered hubs.

It's a good point because it's often missed. Users do not seem to realise that devices left idle for a while, will be powered down if they don't do as you suggest.

Regarding the type of hub, it really depends what is being connecting. If there are a number of inputs connected to a single unpowered hub it can sometimes cause a slight lag or inconsistency. It usually shows up if several inputs are in use at the same time, For example joystick, throttle and rudder. But otherwise it will often be OK. 

Where controls with a number of led lights are used, the power requirement will increase, and these may be better in a powered hub.

[Biggles2010 342]

2 hours ago, micstatic said:

Sounds like I should change the AutoAssignLetters to =yes.  Also my Saitek throttle quadrant in human interface devices is listed twice.  Anybody have any insight?

-Under HID: Flight Throttle Quadrant (HID)

-Under HID: Flight Throttle quadrant (USB)

Yes - change autoassign to =yes.

I no longer use Saitek units, but from memory the throttle unit which comes with the quadrant, plugs into the base of that unit and shows as HID in FSUIPC, The throttle quadrant which Saitek sold as a seperate item uses a usb connection and shows as a usb.device.

My sim controls are manufactured by me, using Bodnar interface cards, so my FSUIPC .ini file entries will be different. I just checked the file on my sim pc and there is just a single entry for each of my interface cards.  If you have a single throttle quadrant you could try cancelling out one of the file entries  - just put a double slash in front of the one which seems inappropriate, and see what happens. Then it's easy to reinstate it if needed. It may just be a feature of the Saitek interface to always show both.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Biggles2010
typo

[Waterman981 2]

I have 2 of the Saitek throttles, both USB.  I've manually edited mine, and started P3Dv3 up into cockpit.  Here's how they look in my .ini if it helps.

[JoyNames]
AutoAssignLetters=No
C=Pro Flight TPM System
C.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8006-444553540000}
A=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
A.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8007-444553540000}
R=Saitek Pro Flight Combat Rudder Pedals
R.GUID={73A7F9E0-88B3-11E5-8001-444553540000}
B=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
B.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8008-444553540000}
W=Pro Flight Cessna Trim Wheel
W.GUID={8968CD00-7920-11E6-800B-444553540000}
Y=Saitek Pro Flight Yoke
Y.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8005-444553540000}
T=Throttle - HOTAS Warthog
T.GUID={327B08F0-8722-11E5-8001-444553540000}
S=Joystick - HOTAS Warthog
S.GUID={327B08F0-8722-11E5-8002-444553540000}
0=Pro Flight TPM System
0.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8006-444553540000}
2=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
2.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8007-444553540000}
3=Saitek Pro Flight Combat Rudder Pedals
3.GUID={73A7F9E0-88B3-11E5-8001-444553540000}
5=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
5.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8008-444553540000}
6=Pro Flight Cessna Trim Wheel
6.GUID={8968CD00-7920-11E6-800B-444553540000}
7=Saitek Pro Flight Yoke
7.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8005-444553540000}
8=Joystick - HOTAS Warthog
8.GUID={327B08F0-8722-11E5-8002-444553540000}

 

[micstatic 4,314]

21 minutes ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

I've had good success with these: https://www.sabrent.com/product/HB-UMA7/7-port-usb-3-0-hub-power-switches/#description

USB 3.0 has higher power requirements which is important when running many USB devices even if they are 2.0 or 1.1 devices, I run 47 USB devices connect to one PC.  These hubs are fully USB 2.0 and 1.1 compliant.  Suggest you disable power saving mode for USB:

Cheers, Rob.

 

thanks Rob.  I already have that set.  I know we are all over the place on this thread.  But is it important to run in high performance mode?  I'm currently running in balanced.  So my processor is only running hard when doing things like P3D.  Otherwise it gets a chance to rest.  Am I leaving performance on the table however by doing this?  

[micstatic 4,314]

19 minutes ago, Waterman981 said:

I have 2 of the Saitek throttles, both USB.  I've manually edited mine, and started P3Dv3 up into cockpit.  Here's how they look in my .ini if it helps.  Look ok?

[JoyNames]
AutoAssignLetters=No
C=Pro Flight TPM System
C.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8006-444553540000}
A=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
A.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8007-444553540000}
R=Saitek Pro Flight Combat Rudder Pedals
R.GUID={73A7F9E0-88B3-11E5-8001-444553540000}
B=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
B.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8008-444553540000}
W=Pro Flight Cessna Trim Wheel
W.GUID={8968CD00-7920-11E6-800B-444553540000}
Y=Saitek Pro Flight Yoke
Y.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8005-444553540000}
T=Throttle - HOTAS Warthog
T.GUID={327B08F0-8722-11E5-8001-444553540000}
S=Joystick - HOTAS Warthog
S.GUID={327B08F0-8722-11E5-8002-444553540000}
0=Pro Flight TPM System
0.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8006-444553540000}
2=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
2.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8007-444553540000}
3=Saitek Pro Flight Combat Rudder Pedals
3.GUID={73A7F9E0-88B3-11E5-8001-444553540000}
5=Saitek Pro Flight Quadrant
5.GUID={8954A8C0-7920-11E6-8008-444553540000}
6=Pro Flight Cessna Trim Wheel
6.GUID={8968CD00-7920-11E6-800B-444553540000}
7=Saitek Pro Flight Yoke
7.GUID={894FEDD0-7920-11E6-8005-444553540000}
8=Joystick - HOTAS Warthog
8.GUID={327B08F0-8722-11E5-8002-444553540000}

 

after adjusting the ini file to auto assign.  Here is what mine looks like.  see any issues?  I'm confused as to 

[JoyNames]
AutoAssignLetters=Yes
1=Flight Throttle Quadrant
1.GUID={D7CCC1F0-2F24-11EA-8003-444553540000}
0=T.16000M
0.GUID={A50ABFD0-23FB-11EA-8001-444553540000}
2=MFG Crosswind V2
2.GUID={74008150-0401-11EA-8001-444553540000}
A=T.16000M
A.GUID={A50ABFD0-23FB-11EA-8001-444553540000}
B=Flight Throttle Quadrant
B.GUID={D7CCC1F0-2F24-11EA-8003-444553540000}
C=MFG Crosswind V2
C.GUID={74008150-0401-11EA-8001-444553540000}
D=Controller (Xbox One For Windows)
D.GUID={F1839120-A7C8-11E9-8001-444553540000}
3=Controller (Xbox One For Windows)
3.GUID={F1839120-A7C8-11E9-8001-444553540000}

[Biggles2010 342]

12 minutes ago, micstatic said:

after adjusting the ini file to auto assign.  Here is what mine looks like.  see any issues?  I'm confused as to 

For some reason the order is a bit mixed up, but the essentials are there. You can reorder it by simply cutting and pasting, but take a copy of this section first, in case anything is deleted by accident. Arrange them so that lines A to D are in sequence at the top, with the guid for each one on the line below the control it refers to. This is important.  Then rearrange the numbered list from 0 to 3, each with it's own guid, so they are below all the lettered items. You can leave a line space between the letter list and number list if you wish, but it's not necessary.

 

[micstatic 4,314]

7 hours ago, Biggles2010 said:

For some reason the order is a bit mixed up, but the essentials are there. You can reorder it by simply cutting and pasting, but take a copy of this section first, in case anything is deleted by accident. Arrange them so that lines A to D are in sequence at the top, with the guid for each one on the line below the control it refers to. This is important.  Then rearrange the numbered list from 0 to 3, each with it's own guid, so they are below all the lettered items. You can leave a line space between the letter list and number list if you wish, but it's not necessary.

 

See below.  is this what you mean?  Just curious since I'm an extreme novice with FSUIPC.  Why does the order matter?

[JoyNames]
AutoAssignLetters=Yes
A=T.16000M
A.GUID={A50ABFD0-23FB-11EA-8001-444553540000}
B=Flight Throttle Quadrant
B.GUID={D7CCC1F0-2F24-11EA-8003-444553540000}
C=MFG Crosswind V2
C.GUID={74008150-0401-11EA-8001-444553540000}
D=Controller (Xbox One For Windows)
D.GUID={F1839120-A7C8-11E9-8001-444553540000}
0=T.16000M
0.GUID={A50ABFD0-23FB-11EA-8001-444553540000}
1=Flight Throttle Quadrant
1.GUID={D7CCC1F0-2F24-11EA-8003-444553540000}
2=MFG Crosswind V2
2.GUID={74008150-0401-11EA-8001-444553540000}
3=Controller (Xbox One For Windows)
3.GUID={F1839120-A7C8-11E9-8001-444553540000}

[Biggles2010 342]

Yes, that is how I visualised it. Mine appeared in sequence when set up by FSUIPC. In operation I don't think the order makes any difference. Just housekeeping really, making it tidy.

It's not an isue in most cases, but is more relevant if you have a long list of controls, which quickly happens in a home cockpit. There are multiple interface cards, each covering more than one control, so after a couple of years, when a fault appears, you can't remember which wires go where, and everything is hidden away. So as I discovered, it's best to be methodical, label things, keep some notes, and maintain a logical approach with everything, including configuration files.  

 

 

[micstatic 4,314]

i was surprised that my other pieces of equipment are not treated as joysticks .  I have a skalarki mcdu and fcu as well as a saitek radio panel.  I should rephrase.  Clearly not joysticks.  But clearly input devices.  I guess own category though.  

[Biggles2010 342]

I'm not familiar with Skalarki units, other than hearing that they are quite good. I would guess they and the radio panel are treated like additional keypads, and coded so they remain discrete.

[micstatic 4,314]

I love them so far.  Granted they are expensive pieces of equipment considering they can really only be used with the A320/A330.  But fantastic.