RB2 Drums Shutting themselves off during play.

[kidb2112]

Rock Band 2 PS3

I've perused the forums briefly and have yet to come across the same problem I am having.

Basically, everything is groovy until I'm in the middle of a song. Then all of a sudden, the drums disconnect and the dongle light begins flashing. Oddly the drums aren't actually turning off, as the red lights are still lit. I can correct the problem by flipping them off (with the switch underneath), and then back on. But this only works for a matter of a minute or two. I have only had this game for 6 days, and have only played the drums for about an hour total.

Help!

[keneke]

You're probably experiencing battery jarring, causing mementary power loss. Some of the kits don't keep the batteries in place very well. Try putting a piece of cardboard between the battery plate and the batteries. This should help keep them in place.

[dovanon]

There are two main problems that are accounting for wireless drum connection problems: battery jarring and dongle power issues.

1. Battery jarring. If the problem ONLY happens while playing, your batteries are likely jarring loose from the force of playing. This can cause the drums to either disconnect, become unresponsive, or randomly resync. If you are experiencing this problem, you have three fixes: stuff your battery compartment with cardboard or paper to get the batteries from moving; firmly tape the batteries in place; mod your set to accept an AC adapter.

2. Your USB port is not supplying sufficient power to your USB dongle. This problem will occur both when playing and when idle. You can easily test this problem by using a powered USB hub (a USB hub with its own AC adapter).

[milehighflyboy]

I just bought my RB2 2 days ago. I am experiencing the same exact issue as you. I do not think it is a USB power issue because I have the dongle plugged directly into the PS3. I have also tried a different dongle. For sanity, I will try a powered USB tomorrow but, I think it is more of a drum head problem. I have searched the forum as well and have checked my batteries, replaced them thinking that the shipped ones may not be fully charged, same result. I have checked the batteries and they do not appear to be jarred. I will also try the card board trick just in case but I really do not think this is the issue. I will report any new findings after I rule out the 2 stated causes. I have also posted a question to Tech Support, I will wait to see what they have to say.

Let me know if you have any updates.

Thanks :mad:

[keneke]

milehighflyboy, the batteries won't look any different because they've been jarred. The jarring, caused by playing the drums, causes the batteries to momentarily lose contact. The controller shuts off for a second and powers back on.

I'm interested in knowing what the outcome of your troubleshooting is.

[dovanon]

I just bought my RB2 2 days ago. I am experiencing the same exact issue as you. I do not think it is a USB power issue because I have the dongle plugged directly into the PS3. I have also tried a different dongle. For sanity, I will try a powered USB tomorrow but, I think it is more of a drum head problem. I have searched the forum as well and have checked my batteries, replaced them thinking that the shipped ones may not be fully charged, same result. I have checked the batteries and they do not appear to be jarred. I will also try the card board trick just in case but I really do not think this is the issue. I will report any new findings after I rule out the 2 stated causes. I have also posted a question to Tech Support, I will wait to see what they have to say.

Let me know if you have any updates.

Thanks :mad:

Two things:
1. You won't be able to tell if the batteries are jarring by looking at them. The loss of connection is only temporary (as keneke said).
2. All of the people who have been experiencing USB power problems have had the dongles plugged directly into their systems. This has been a problem for both Wii users and PS3 users.

[milehighflyboy]

Dovanon,

Here are the results of my testing.

1. Inserted thin cardboard/construction paper cut to fit between the batter cover and the batteries hoping to provide a snugger fit. Initially, I was pleased. I was able to jam out on freestyle mode for about 5 minutes of uninterrupted drum time. Then it happened again. I monitored the lights on the dongle and the drum head. I agree now it is a power issue. A few seconds later the lights came back on the dongle and I was able to play again for a few minutes. What seems to happen is the issue becomes progressively worse after the first occurrence. The loss of power only takes a few drum hits and there off. I can press on the bottom of the battery cover and the lights come back on. This only works a few times then the drum head looses its head so to speak requiring it to be powered off/on.

I also tried a powered hub, same issue. So I am suspecting the loss of power caused by jarring eventually screws with the drum brain to the point that it must be powered off for a few minutes so it can be used again for a few minutes. My friend has a rb2 drum set and is not experiencing any of these issues. I think that either there is an intermittent connection issue in my drum head either caused by battery jarring or somewhere along the power distribution in the drum head.

I have emailed the EA support team and I get a pretty generic response. I am sure they are in India or somewhere and can not understand my simple questions. They just provide the happy to help scripted response with a 1 line contact the RMA department. So I will be doing just that. Going to RMA this bad boy and see what happens with that. Sux, I have had this less than 3 days and I can not even return it for another one.

[ClarkHoskin]

I am having the same problem with my RB2 drumset. Switching power on and off on back of drums is only solution until it happens again. I too will ask Tech support for an answer. Maybe if enough of us complain the problem will be solved.

[Stargazer]

I am also having the same issues, but the weird thing is that my drum pads don't work, but the PS logo button works because when I press it, it brings me back to the main PS3 menu. So this is not a battery or connection issue - it seems to be strictly a drum pad issue:confused:

[dovanon]

I am also having the same issues, but the weird thing is that my drum pads don't work, but the PS logo button works because when I press it, it brings me back to the main PS3 menu. So this is not a battery or connection issue - it seems to be strictly a drum pad issue:confused:

Battery jarring can cause some weird issues. When my drums experienced battery jarring, I would sometimes have full power loss and disconnection. However, at other times I experienced only loss of functionality of the drum pads while the d-pad and xbox guide button worked fine.

[Hyrulz064]

i am having this exact problem, i will try the cardboard trick with the batteries tomorrow, cuz it seems it's only been doing this since i taped my yellow pad down (because it's becoming faulty!!) let's hope it's the batteries, i don't want to spend any money on an AC adaptor because my 300$ system can't power the dongle..