Guitars losing connection in Rock Band 2 on a PS3 through USB Hub

[ScoobMaster]

I have the newer 80 Gb PS3 that only has 2 USB ports. We recently got Rock Band 2 and have had a blast (I picked up two NYKO Frontman guitars for cheap off Amazon). I just recently added a wired microphone (Logitech) that works fine, but now when we are playing together (two guitars and the mic) one of the guitars randomly drops connection to the game. The weird thing is that it does NOT appear to be the wireless connection that is dropping. The NYKO guitars use a USB dongle that has colored LED lights on the front that correspond to the fret buttons pressed on the guitar neck. When we lose connection in the game those LEDs on the dongle are still working and responding to button presses, so the guitar is still communicating with the dongle over the air just fine. It appears the USB connection to the PS3 has been lost. If I unplug and replug the guitar dongle, it reconnects and all is fine for a while.

I obviously have to use a USB hub to get additional ports, so I naturally suspected that was the cause. I was using a cheap non-powered 4-port hub. I swapped that out for a different one from radio shack (also non-powered) and that did not cure it. I am on hub number three (a D-LINK POWERED 4-port hub) and i am STILL getting guitar drop-outs. I find it unlikely after THREE different USB hubs that that is the cause. It is *VERY* frustrating!!!! Anyone else experience this?

Any ideas?

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

The problem is almost undoubtedly the NYKO guitars. NYKO is a super cheap (meaning junk) third party brand. You get what you pay for.

Look at the scenario you provided. The Logitech (a good brand) mic works fine, but the NYKO (a bad brand) guitars don't work.

It also doesn't help that Sony refuses to license their wireless controller technology to any third party company, so those companies have to kind of jimmy-rig wireless using the USB dongle.

Solution: Buy the real brands next time instead of cheap, generic junk.

 

[ScoobMaster]

I was thinking along the same lines (but I AM cheap - so that's why I bought them )

However, we have played for HOURS flawlessly with the dongles plugged into the PS3 DIRECTLY (no hub and no microphone).

Add a hub into the mix and then the problem starts.

Your last statement is one I can agree with (and it makes me angry). We (PS3 owners) pay a premium for this system with built-in bluetooth, yet many wireless controllers have USB dongles??!!! to quote many younger ATOTers...

WTF??!!!

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: ScoobMaster
I was thinking along the same lines (but I AM cheap - so that's why I bought them )

However, we have played for HOURS flawlessly with the dongles plugged into the PS3 DIRECTLY (no hub and no microphone).

Add a hub into the mix and then the problem starts.

Your last statement is one I can agree with (and it makes me angry). We (PS3 owners) pay a premium for this system with built-in bluetooth, yet many wireless controllers have USB dongles??!!! to quote many younger ATOTers...

WTF??!!!

You can thank and blame Sony for that one. They refuse to license their wireless technology out. Thus, you get band-aid fixes like USB dongles.