Must be random PCB’s then
I dont own a TE but id be mad as hell at this point.
Its sad that people are throwing down 150 bux for this piece of shit.
I should have mentioned the chip vs. ‘epoxy+wafer’ thing to MarkMan way early on. I don’t know if he could have done anything about it, but still. I’d have happily traded off some of the finer points like insulated QD’s if it meant there was a proper chip in there.
I’m wondering if this is a reliability thing or do you mean for ease of replacement?
if it is a security chip issue, why would some sticks work fine and others dont?
lack of quality control
I told people not to buy into this crock of shit stick…now look at you.
atleast you get to say I told ya so 
Both, but mostly reliability. It also may just be a pet peeve with no quantitative data to back it up, but epoxy covered wafers scream CHEAP to me. The madcatz board was obviously made to support full chips as well as the wafers, so the only explanation is the full chip was cut and replaced with wafers for cost cutting.
How weird is this…
I powered on the system and now the stick works. I didn’t even touch it from when I last tried to use it. I’m afraid if I turn off the console, I’ll lose the stick again, so it looks like the 360 will be on 24/7 =/
thats not too bright
“See guys? I told you at least one person would come here and have a dead stick! I told you so!”
For all the complaints about the SE and TE. This is the only case where we’re hearing about a possibly dead PCB. Hell, now it’s magically working? Sounds like some kind of messed up connection to me.
Opening it up and posting pictures might help. Then again since it’s a TE, I’d sooner just use my warranty and get it replaced. Up to you man.
Maybe then you’ll have a RROD to make the situation even better. I’d just call Mad Catz again before you overheat the 360.
LOL. Been playing the last couple hours so I called it a night. Powered off using the Xlogo button, then immediately afterward, tried to power on. Dead stick again.
its under warranty, get it replaced.
Well I called them up and it was pretty easy just gave them my info and they will Email me a FedEx prepaid label to ship the unit to them on there dime. Hopefully things go well and I don’t just get a scrap PCB replacement that could break in a few weeks and use a new one. One funny thing he assumed I was talking bout the SE model right away LOL 
I’ll update once I get the TE back.
How long did it take to get the Shipping label? I’ve been waiting a week…
A week seems kind of retarded for something that is getting emailed to me…
I can almost guarantee this is a common problem. I’ve bought two MadCatz controllers and both had similiar issues.
My 360 would not read that the controller was plugged in. One controller was just a standard controller I bought for the D-Pad. Could never get it to work.
The other controller was the FightPad. Plugged it in and the 360 wouldn’t read it. I had to use a different USB connector on the controller just to get it to work.
For some reason, the USB connectors MadCatz have don’t work in the 360 like they should. There is too much wiggly room and you have to wiggle it around to get it to read the controller (and if it moves even slightly, it disconnects). I’ve found that using a Microsoft controller’s USB on the MadCatz controllers works for the most part.
I am not impressed with MadCatz controllers and will NEVER buy its products again.
They emailed me a shipping label the next day.
its a shame as im so excited to ready to get my hands on this stick… i think ill be off buying a hrap…