Just got my Brook’s PS4+ Audio Fighting Board from arcade shock and was little surprised to find it uses micro usb-b rather than the usual usb-b connection type that is much sturdier. I have a feeling I will be breaking the heads on these a lot, but I digress. My question is does the type of micro usb-b to usb a cable matter? I had a micro usb-b laying around that I used to charge an old phone and used that to plug it in to test. The blue led lights up, but there is no connectivity. At this point I’m not sure if it’s the cable I’m using or the PCB itself is faulty. Any advice would be appreciated.
EDIT: My issue has been resolved and Brooks has sent out a new board at no charge to me. Just wanted to say thank you to the Brook’s team. Everyone was super helpful and went way above and beyond to help me. Plus the have staff, like @“GOGO.Zippy” on SRK tech forums almost everyday answer questions, so I can’t recommend their company highly enough.
I tried all 5 and the last one worked. Thanks for the assist. I had no idea they made charge only usb cables. Seems pointless, but I guess it has a use for security purposes.
Damn looks like it’s the micro usb and not the cables after all. While playing it disconnected and re-connected over and over if I moved. I just checked and if I press down on the micro usb it does it. I tried using the breakout board to test and that one won’t even connect through the micro usb so it looks like I got a bad board. Man why did they switch to micro usb. Nothing good could come from making a fight stick with such a flimsy connection.
I had a random disconnect about an hour after setting mine up the other day. It was still lit up, but nothing worked until I unplugged / plugged it in. It only happened the one time and I’ve put around 12 hours of use into it now.
Now I’m worried that the micro-USB may have had something to do with it.
Yeah that is exactly what happened to me. I plugged in 3 or 4 cables and it lit up but no response. I then plugged in one cable that had a slightly bigger head I guess and it worked, so I thought it was just the cable. Then while playing I rotated my chair and the cable got tugged on a little and I heard it disconnect. I thought shit did I rip it out or something, but that’s when I noticed that if I wiggled it it would turn on and off. I can still get it to work but it’s definitely janky. I don’t think Brook’s can sell this board as is. The micro usb is too flimsy and is prone to easy disconnects which would be round losses in a tournament.
I’m connecting directly to the board. I am using a Amazon Basics micro-USB and have had no issue since the first disconnect, but it happened in the middle of a match which is spooky.
I will try with the breakout board later for a few hours and see if it gives me any issue. I’m hoping my disconnect was just a one-off thing.
Please do. Considering my breakout board doesn’t even work I’m curious if it’s working for anyone else. I’d also suggest making a tie off in your case for the cable so nothing can directly pull on that micro usb.
@SunTzu81 I have been using the breakout board for a few hours and was disconnected once - it was only when I plugged a headset into the auxiliary port. I don’t know if I accidentally tugged on the micro-USB cable, but I tapped the PS button and reconnected right away.
Also, I only get sound from one headphone. Tested on two headsets. When plugged in all the way, I get sound from right headphone only, and mics don’t work.
Damn. It looks like these new boards weren’t tested very well before being sent out. I watched a few reviews online from people who got samples and it doesn’t look like they used the micro usb to connect so I doubt they got much feedback from the average casual modder who isn’t soldering their own boards.
I still haven’t heard back from Brooks or Arcade Shock on mine. Do these guys usually take several days to respond?
So I got a response last night for my Brook’s RMA request. Apparently a company called zeroplus in Taiwan handles it and not Brooks. The first e-mail wasn’t helpful as they told me to just buy a USB A/B connector and plug it into the faulty micro usb as if that was going to fix the problem. Second response was even more odd as he asked me to check if it was working on PC even though I linked the video showing how it’s not a PS4/PC issue and then he said if it wasn’t then it might be “a bit” of an issue and to return it but didn’t say how or to who. I’m assuming he is telling me to send it back to arcade shock rather than RMA it through the manufacturer. However I still haven’t heard back from Arcade Shock at all after sending an e-mail on Saturday. I tried calling but just got voicemail. It definitely doesn’t instill confidence in their company when it takes more than 3 business days to get a response to an e-mail and they don’t answer their phones.
Good hardware tech companies usually enact what’s called “early field failure capture” programs soon after a product launch to take faulty units from early adopters’ hands and investigate (and resolve) issues before they become widespread.
Sometimes a customer’s product issue is a one-off production snafu, but sometimes it’s a greater indicator of a mass-manufacturing error or mass-component defect that (hopefully) gets rectified.
I find it quite strange that Brook hasn’t taken a more active approach in capturing that unit from you for analysis. Perhaps @“GOGO.Zippy” can assist you.
As far as Arcadeshock is concerned, I’m not really surprised–as I’ve heard of the lack of response from other members here regarding sales issues and returns. That said, I’ve not experienced any issues myself. I do find it disconcerting, however, that Arcadeshock does not have such a presence on here like their competitors (PAS, FA, etc.), which keeps me from ordering high price and/or complex items (like PCBs).
I suggests hitting them up on their Facebook page and/or Twitter as well. The squeaky wheel gets the oil…
I do normally go with PAS but AS was doing the pre order deal so I decided to try them out. I just hope I don’t get shafted on this one. I’ll give AS a few more days to respond.
EDIT: Just heard back from Brooks and you were right. They are sending me a new board and want me to send mine in to test.
Also just got an email for Arcade shock. They were waiting on a response from their tech guy.