Space Navigator Query/Disappointment

I finally got round to ordering one a few days ago and when it arrived this morning I could hardly wait to try it out. Having used it now for several hours I have to come to the initial conclusion..it's crap!!

It seemed to have problems right from the outset.

* The installation software wouldn't load if I chose the option to download the latest software version..it just locked up. Eventually I told it to ignore that option and it carried on successfully.
* When I log in with the SN connected my avi starts walking sideways to the left uncontrollably and constantly trying to crouch down.
* When I click the left button the camera moves away to the left and down till it slides underground. If I select a new function for the left button it has no effect.
* The instrument speed/sensitivity control has no effect.
* Any attempt to build with the SN connected results in every prim or object highlighted rotating/tilting and sliding out of position, in fact building or rezzing pretty much anything is impossible.

Maybe I just need to play around with it a little/lot more and get the hang of it. I have to say though my first impressions are that it looks great, feels great but it's performance is far less than great.

I wonder has anyone else had problems like this (and if so did you resolve them in any way) ? This is the basic/personal version..and I'm not about to upgrade based on what I've seen so far, in fact this device looks destined to end up unplugged and back in it's box. Which is a great shame because I really did think this would be a major benefit and looked forward to it's arrival, sadly the expectation was just not to be.

Perre..

If it was an analog device instead of optical, I'd say it sounds like it needs to be calibrated. The website DOES say that SL is only supported with driver version 1.20.15 (92456) or newer. Try downloading the new one to your harddrive and run it from there, instead of using the installers 'auto download update' function. Looks like support is built into the driver in the form of a profile, and SL is a newly supported program. The new driver would be a must.

There are some configuration option in the control panel for the Navigator, including a Calibrate button, and a set-up wizard. Would probably be a good idea to go through those.

If your still having trouble installing the driver, you can always grab the newest version here:
http://www.3dconnexion.com/support/downloads.php

Checkout page 5 and 6 of this pdf manual for some info about the control panel and calibrate button:
http://www.3dconnexion.com/docs/QSG_English.pdf

You'll also want to make sure that you've checked the Space navigator box in the Joystick/Flycam Settings. Look under the Preferences for the Input & Camera tab then the Joystick Setup Button.

I have use of 2 locations both with the Space Navigator they run ok with default settings.
There is one fault now since Linden did the past few Viewer upgrades that is when engaging the FlyCam mode with right button the on screen indecation no longer appears.
Using the Open Life viewer this feature works with both OL and SL.
Hope you soon solve your problems, I find the S Nav. great.
Love
June

I bought mine long before it was supported and ran it with i 3rd party driver for a while.

When LL started supporting it in a first look viewer about a year ago, I was a very happy camper.

As for your problems. . .

There IS a calibrate function in the driver configuration software. Doesn't seem to do much tho. I'm not saying it doesn't do anything--It just doesn't seem to.

It worked better for me when I opened up the dead zones on most of the axis'.

Building with it sucks. Not enough control. Too much jitter. Needs a quick way to toggle between small precise movements, and a fast zoom.

Can't control a vehicle with it. There's a jira about this that has gotten some attention and it may be fixed.

I don't use it for SL as much as I thought I would, but it also works really well with Google Earth, Blender, and Sketchup, so, I'm happy.

BTW, no need to upgrade to a professional version. It's the exact same hardware and software. And, afaik, no additional support or any advantage at all. You're merely making a promise to NOT use it for professional, or profit making purposes. I don't see any way that that can be enforced.

Thanks for the replies folks I think my paragraph above most likely applies here. I'll start by downloading the latest software, originally the auto setup wouldn't allow me to that so I gave up on it, but I'll check out the web site and get it from there. Then I'll play around with the adjustments you've suggested.

Thanks again for the replies..

Perre..

Thought I'd just revive the thread to in the hope someone might have a solution to my latest problem...

I downloaded the latest software ...and my SNav now doesn't work at all now in SL - blue light's on and when I click the right button the adjustment page/thingy comes up but otherwise it's stone dead. So I deleted all the software from my hard drive and re-installed it..but it's still dead. I thought it might be the socket it was plugged into so switched a few appliances around..they all worked happily..it didn't.

I'm beginning to think I've got a Friday machine..y'know..amidst all the thousands of perfect working products there's going to be one dud..and guess who got it!! Well it doesn't matter now because my Space Navigator five minutes ago got unplugged (ripped) and lobbed (hurled) into the waste paper basket in the corner...and if the software disc shows it's face it's going in after it..

Me..I'm going to Laurentia to sit on a mountain top and think calm thoughts....

Perre..

Having spent half an hour chilling out on the mountain top I decided to plug the thing in again...I've discovered it works perfectly with the Release Candidate..but not at all with the Current Default Viewer..as if I wasn't confused enough!!

I'm going back to the mountain top..

Perre..

Mine works on both except for the in "FlyCam" mode indecator. I would suggest you carefull check the settings and make the non working viewer same as the working viewer, guess you must have a difference.
Love
June

Probably no use whatsoever, but when I first had mine I had similar problems... the constantly shifting to one side especially... I fixed it but can't remember how.. has been running perfeclt for months.

Persevere.. it's worth it!

I got a space navigator., Works well on mac, but I found the occasions when this was actually better than the keyboard UI to be few and far between.

I've now managed to get it working perfectly (I think) with the Release Candidate, but only the RC. It's still totally dead with the Default Viewer. This is okay though as I think the RC is slightly the better version anyway. Having re-installed the software and got it working I still haven't tried the new 3D download again..I don't want to screw it up again.

Odd it doesn't work on the Default Viewer though..

Perre..

The current viewer is later than the RC.

I was thinking of getting one of those.

Since I'm an avid gamer I use the Nostromo N52

http://www.n52te.com/

it's usb sits on left of my keyboard, and works with anything since you just program the keys to do whatever it is you want them to do. So for example my second life nostromo profile I have it set to press a different key to auto rez each prim type and can rotate, stretch, move, all with the nostromo which speeds things up quite a bit.

Can also macro many keystrokes all to 1 key. It's the predecessor to the logitech g15 really except it has like 128 or so macro keys since it has a button to swap between 3 "pages" with the thumb button.

I was contemplating adding on that space navigator though, but wasn't sure just yet.

Anybody else have a problem wiht Space navigator in this latest release? I have had one of these for 2 years now, always worked perfectly in SL now it's broke.

Works fine in 3D apps but in SL I can't configure it or get it to work, it's like it's taking input where there is no input. The indicators are going off the scale without it even being touched.

I'm not a noob or do I think I'm stupid, but as nobody else seems to have this problem it must be me?

Latest logitech drivers windows xp sp3 latest RC viewer.

Check Prefferences to see if you need to click the use it, and set to space navigator default settings, thats what mine are and working well out.
Prefference/Input camera/Joystick/Enable Joystick
Note. using the latest viewers the FlyCam indecator not seen.
I use the OpenLife Grid viewer V 15 for SL to get that to work.

OK June, I will try that when I get back home. BTW, I was one of the ones who complained so loudly about the 'flycam' text on screen before they got it removed, now you want it back?

I never thought that anybody actaully needed it....


Anyway, thank's for your adivce.

So it not Linden that got a bug in then.
Yes I use it and need it to know what mode I got Space Navigator in. If I get busy or chatting I forget which mode so would like it back, if I think I'm in the camera mode and not then my Avi suddernly moves and bumps someone etc.
On the OpenLife Grid V15 viewer, which is what I now have to use, it is at extreme right bottom in white letters just readable and if fainter then it would not be visible. ( The later OLG viewer will not run SL)
Hope you get sorted, I have noticed when I download all these other peoples viewers the default is not to have Space Navigator selected.

No, it got taken off finally after a long time in the jira, mainly film makers, it was really bad to have that text on the catured video. I only use it for the camera, not the avatar or for building (that is I use the flycam to look about the build, but not moving prims with the device).

Anyway, it's fixed now thanks to your suggestion of using default settings, they never used to work in the past, so I always had to re-map the input. but something has changed, and with a bit of tweeking to the sensitivity all is well again.

I thought it was maybe realease candidate problem so installed the standard viewer but I think this will work fine in both so thanks, and good luck with getting the flycam text back, but I'm afraid I can't support your cause!

I have an N52, I absolutely love it. I use it for everything.. Off topic I know, but I just wanted to put in my 2 cents here.

Just downloaded the new RC Viewer V1.23 and the 'Flycam' indecator is now showing.
Thankyou Lindens.