[senit] power for trackerball plus

Oh one other thing i meant to mention: you might be able to solve the
problem by disabling the laptop's ability to 'turn off' the joystick in
order to save power.

You can do this by opening the Power Management properties page for the USB
Root Hub that's got the joystick plugged into it. Then you uncheck the box
that says "Allow the computer to turn off this device...". You'll find the
Power Management properties in the Device Manager which i mentioned in my
last post. Here's the link again in case you missed it:

www.bltt.org/hardware/usbpower.htm

Charlie

On 18/03/07, Charlie Danger <charlie.danger at googlemail.com> wrote:
>
> Hmm... is the USB voltage getting lower in newer laptops?
>
> USB is a very tight specification and the upstream voltage provided by the
> sockets on your laptop has to be between 4.35 and 5.25V. USB devices, such
> as the joysticks, must be happy with that range or they're not allowed to
> have a USB plug on the end of them. Naughty naughty.
>
> Maybe its an issue with power. The current provided by USB cards (i.e. the
> sockets on the laptop) has to be 100mA but most USB cards can provide a
> current up to 500mA. Windows will tell you how much power a device requires
> and how much each socket is willing to provide:
>
> www.bltt.org/hardware/usbpower.htm
>
> How many joysticks have been suffering from this problem? And do they work
> ok on older laptops or desktop PCs?
>
> If it's true that the joysticks won't work lower in the voltage range then
> I think traxsys probably have a duty to fix them. As Geoff points out it's
> possible to boost the voltage using batteries but it's pretty impractical to
> expect all joystick users to start doing this.
>
>
>
> On 16/03/07, LONGEATONPMIS at aol.com <LONGEATONPMIS at aol.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > What about a battery powered hub. I don't expect mice take a great deal
> of
> > current and you could use rechargeable 9v batteries and a bit of
> circuitry
> > to
> > make a stabilised 5v USB supply. Actually you wouldn't even need the
> hub,
> > just
> > a  feed through on the signals. You could have an LED for the battery
> status
> > but  the power for the LED could come from the computer.
> >
> > Just a thought.
> >
> > Geoff,
> > LEPMIS.co.uk
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 16/03/2007 11:43:16 GMT Standard Time,
> CENMAC4 at aol.com
> > writes:
> >
> > Already  thought of that, but the issue is that the pupil is using it in
> a
> > mainstream secondary school and would like to use it at his desk,
> (not  near
> > a
> > socket) but may be the only  solution.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Trish
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Long  Eaton Powered Mobility Integration Service
> > Special Controls for Special People
> > Integrated  Systems for an Integrated Life Style
> > on the Web LEPMIS.co.uk e-mail Geoff at LEPMIS.co.uk
> >
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