Uh-Oh... This really makes me nervous since it's the first time I hear people having problems with pro controller signal as well. D: I really really want Nintendo and Switch to succeed (that's why I bought it on launch day) but with quality control like this they need to step up or they will soon have lots of angry customers...
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Joycon connection issue may be hardware related
- Thread starter Its Quite Toasty
- Start date
Uh-Oh... This really makes me nervous since it's the first time I hear people having problems with pro controller signal as well. D: I really really want Nintendo and Switch to succeed (that's why I bought it on launch day) but with quality control like this they need to step up or they will soon have lots of angry customers...
this or just some bad design choice
Same thing happened to me except the Switch just fits in a shelf I have on the TV unit, just means I've got to be careful taking it out and such.
PuppetSlave
Member
I have had trouble with this(and it was always the left one), I moved closer to the tv and that seemed to help, stopped getting disconnects then. (sitting on the carpet like I did as a kid lol)
I did have the dock lodged in my media furniture right next to my receiver. I have now moved it out. Gonna check today after work if that helps. My sofa is fairly far away from the tv though, ~3.x meters.
I did have the dock lodged in my media furniture right next to my receiver. I have now moved it out. Gonna check today after work if that helps. My sofa is fairly far away from the tv though, ~3.x meters.
I suspect it is intentional as it seems to show up both on the iFixit teardown and in the video in the OP. There is what appears to be an RF test point just below the soldering, likely this was used to measure the RF power in the factory to catch defective units. When doing this the antenna should ideally not be connected as the measurement will not be correct, so perhaps the antenna trace is connected by hand after the RF measurements are done.
Some of the comments on Eurogamer and other sources are just toxic, I find it weird that people are such fanboys they would be denying this is happening or posting lies etc.
The Switch has the potential to be great but various issues people are seeing are ridiculous and in a large number compared to the usual launch day hardware fails.
The Switch has the potential to be great but various issues people are seeing are ridiculous and in a large number compared to the usual launch day hardware fails.
the_milkybar_kid
Member
I've emailed Nintendo about getting a replacement Joycon, will see what happens (UK).
Keep us posted, although my concern is if this a design/manufacturing issue another one from current stock might not be any help.
Really like to see a better response from Nintendo about it than move your aquarium.
My bold. Really interesting theory. It actually reminds me of an article on the mission to get Osama Bin Laden where one of the helicopters had issues in the compound - the author suggested it was because training in the full-scale mock compound they used chainlink fences around the perimeter, but of course the real one had solid walls. That might have affected how the helicopter handled.
It just shows how something unexpected can be overlooked, despite all tests appearing rigorous and even when working with talented, diligent people. I'm reminded of a phrase my father used before going a trip which was to 'Take a Russian second," and spend a minute or so look around a room to see if there's anything you'd forgotten to pick up.
It'd be really interesting to see the testing documents for the Switch and what internal criteria they were trying to meet.
Same distance here, was able to replicate the problem only by holding left joycon behind my back, which is not how I play anyway. Moving on.
the_milkybar_kid
Member
Will do. The only thing that gives me hope is that other people haven't had any problems and that there are some units out there without fault.
megashock5
Member
Here's my question - is there a way to register you Switch with Nintendo to make sure you're part of any replacement program?
I didn't see a registration card anywhere in the box or see anything in the OS to register online.
I didn't see a registration card anywhere in the box or see anything in the OS to register online.
I wish I could borrow one of these allegedly "perfect" left joycons to test and see if it's my set up or where/how I hold the controller that's causing my desync issues. They're frequent enough as to be a real problem down the road. They're tolerable enough in Zelda, where I can make save files as I please, but anything requiring precision is going to be a bear.
El Pescado
Member
I mean, I've played Zelda over 20 hours and I've had zero issues with my Joy-Cons having this problem. I'm not saying it isn't happening to other people, but it could be a bad batch.
What I do have is an almost nonexistent 2G signal when my Switch is docked and in my entertainment center. 5G works and says it has 1 bar, but 2G has full bars and won't connect to anything.
To me, it seems like the vast majority of people have no issues and it's maybe 5% of people actually having problems (probably less). Otherwise these threads would be over a hundred posts considering we have thousands of Switch owners on this forum and there's thousands on the Switch Reddit.
mocolostrocolos
Member
For me at least It's not desyncing or disconnecting completely but the signal is so weak that there is huge lag and when playing Zelda, Link does not always respond the movement correctly and he could randomly just run from the cliff (this happened to me). So basically making games unplayable.
You can also test this by going to system settings -> controller and sensors -> calibrate controller sticks. Move the left stick and try to obstruct the signal if it still moves correctly then congratulations you were lucky at hardware lottery!
Did that, perfect response.
Its seems that is more than a bad batch, there are reported problems worldwide.
80,000 Switches sold in the UK so if 5% fail that would be 4000 faulty switches.
civilstrife
Member
Please do something, Nintendo. Having to babysit my joycon while playing really sucks. If my leg gets in the way of the signal, Link runs off a cliff.
They can, but battery life will likely go down.
If it's really hardware related, Nintendo will have to issue a recall, send in a working joycon, then user put his faulty joycon in a return box.
Or they can be dicks and force user to send it in without a replacement and wait 2-4 weeks.
That wouldn't be an issue for me, I can totally settle for a 15-so hours battery life if that means it's only a matter of a firmware upgrade (i.e. no replacement, no hassles, nothing), considering I've barely seen the battery level indicator go down over an intense use yesterday. ^_^
I too would rather take 10-15 hours of reliable gameplay than 20 hours of dealing with abysmal signal.
Deadpool_X
Banned
Me too. No issues whatsoever, and I've been playing 1-2-Switch with my kids all weekend, doing all kinds of crazy stuff with that left joycon. Never experienced even the first sync issue.
civilstrife
Member
Honestly at this point I'd be ok with a "high signal mode" that reduces battery life by a couple of hours.
I think it'd make sense in a number of situations, even for people without this specific issue.
I think it'd make sense in a number of situations, even for people without this specific issue.
I agree. I'm having issues with the Pro Controller too.
GiantBreadbug
Member
This is deluded horse shit that I would be embarrassed to post.
Has thee been a console launch with this many hardware issues? Serious question, I don't hate the Switch.
cyber_ninja
Member
Not everybody can afford housing outsude of aquaruim.
OT: I hope Nintendo will figure the shit out and set it right.
It depends on how they were symmetrical. It seems that they simply couldn't fit a PCB antenna in the right Joy-Con, so they had to go with another concept. If both Joy-Cons were of the "simpler" left variety they would probably both have the same PCB antenna concept.
Xbox 360?
Red Ring of Death forgotten already. How short memories are.
Crimson_Gold
Member
Having a year on the market to yourself helps. Releasing in the middle of a gen with these issues and a much smaller library, is a big problem.
Also this
The 360 but the RROD was not so immediate as these problems.
You cant hold it the wrong way when it is sat in the grip and you are 5ft away from the unit itself.
A Serious Man
Member
360, although it took some time for the RRoD issue to really become apparent.
The 360 was pretty famous for problems at launch, total disk scratch perfect circle when moving the console by a little bit or with vibration, Power supply that just stop working, AA battery that make disconnect the wireless controller all the time when you move the controller, the famous RROD. The headset they game you that plug on the controller always stop working after a couple of hour(they were super cheap). Disk crack in the middle because the console become too hot (really frequent one). There probably a couple more but i can't remember them all.
I was working in a videogame store at that time, i can't remember how many call a day i was receiving when it launch, it was insane.
The Switch look problematic too...
-shadow-
Member
360 with the RROD and disc scratching? PS4 disc ejecting/Blue Light of Death? It's almost an industry standard to mess up the first batch unfortunately.
PS4 fails were less than 1% I believe. From what I understand 1% is the industry standard max fail rate for a product launch
I was joking, but yeah, this sounds like an another fault to add to the growing pile of Switch issues.
March of the Crabs
Member
This is so infuriating. Games are unplayable for me with the left joycon. I can't even return it because I would lose all my Zelda progress
Jo Shishido's Cheeks
Member
I don't have disconnection issues mid-session but when I wake the Switch only the right connects, I have to press L to get the left connecting.
Added to this, the battery drains faster on the left.
Twice now it's had a low battery warning whereas the right is still half full, both starting from 100% and both used as much as each other...
Added to this, the battery drains faster on the left.
Twice now it's had a low battery warning whereas the right is still half full, both starting from 100% and both used as much as each other...
This is so infuriating. Games are unplayable for me with the left joycon. I can't even return it because I would lose all my Zelda progress
Did you buy pro controller? Then you cound just send the left one to repair. I know this is infuriating and I wish Nintendo would make another official statement about this.
Yeah, if there is a batch that are faulty Nintendo just have to say so. "A small number of joycons blahblahblah". So you know any replacement will be coming from a working batch.
The longer they take to make that statement, the more it looks like it's a fault in the design and antenna placement making it really susceptible to problems.
Every console launch has them. A small % of XBones scratched discs, some PS4 didn't function at all (coworker had to send 2 back, only the third one worked). 3DS had faulty hinges, there were faulty Wiimotes, RROD and YLOD during the PS360 era.
As far as I can see, we have 2 issues right now. The screen scratching dock which concerns everyone and is pretty bad and the joycon issue where it isn't entirely sure if it can be fixed via SW update and who has problems.
So it's about par for hardware launches in the last 10 years.