Controller stuck in adding/removing loop

Submitted by tn-2-wan on #1

In an attempt to get my controller's (GameSir T4 Cyclone Pro) rumble working over Moonlight on my Steam Deck, I parsed through a few online posts of other users struggling with the issue and finding some success with VirtualHere. I was able to get the server (Linux) running on the Deck and the client connected on my PC (Windows). However when I choose to use my controller (dongle) it gets stuck in a loop of being in use and being removed. Anyone know what may be causing this or workarounds to this issue?

Submitted by Michael on Sat, 2024/03/23 - 18:11

#2

Are you familiar with linux a bit? If so 

stop the virtualhere server like this

systemctl stop virtualhere

edit /usr/local/etc/virtualhere/config.ini

Add the line

onReset=

then save the config.ini file

restart the virtualhere server like this

systemctl start virtualhere

then try using it again via virtualhere. 

Does that help?

Submitted by tn-2-wan on Sun, 2024/03/24 - 12:50

#3

Unfortunately still stuck in the loop. My controller also no longer pairs to my dongle.

Submitted by Michael on Sun, 2024/03/24 - 13:38

#4

ok, don't know sorry 

Submitted by hello_world.c on Mon, 2024/03/25 - 20:12

#5

In my case, the only thing that fixed the stubborn disconnect/connect loop with one device was to connect it not directly but through a USB hub (in my case an unpowered one). This post made me think to try this, maybe it'll help in your case, too.

Submitted by ludogoqc on Thu, 2025/02/27 - 01:08

#6

Had the same issue as OP, but in a different environment:
- VirtualHere server on Nvidia Shield (Android version)
- VirtualHere client on Widows 10 computer.
I stream my games using Sunshine on the PC and Moonlight on the Shield, works great.
I already use VirtualHere for my 2 Xbox controllers, using the Xbox dongle connected to the Shield, works great too, no issue here.

I recently purchased a Gamesir Cyclone 2 controller, and wanted to use it with the dongle (proprietary) connected in the Shield as well, but I immediately had the same issue as the OP, the device will rapidly loop between "connected" and "disconnected" (missing actually) in the Windows VirtualHere client, and no way to get it to work.

As per a recommendation in this post, I tried to connect a USB hub (unpowered) to the Shield and connect the dongle into it, instead of directly into the Shield, same result.
Also tried the same thing with a powered USB hub, same result.
So using a USB hub wasn't fixing it.

The fix that worked for me was to connect the controller directly to the Windows PC by USB cable, then install the proprietary app (Gamesir Connect), and apply the firmware update that was available for the controller.
Once the firmware was up-to-date, I was then able to connect the dongle into the Shield and the controller was usable in the VirtualHere client (Windows PC) without any issue.
SOLVED!

I will mention that prior to connect the controller by USB cable, I connected it using the dongle in the Windows PC, and the "Gamesir Connect" app didn't find any update available, as it actually only got the dongle info, which was already up-to-date, so this is important to connect the controller by USB cable DIRECTLY.

So that might be a problem with the Gamesir devices, but make sure the firmware is up-to-date by connecting it by cable to a Windows computer and running the Gamesir app (only available for Windows, sadly).

Hope it will help future Gamesir controller owners using VirtualHere!

Submitted by Michael on Thu, 2025/02/27 - 07:26

#7

Thanks for the fantastic info @ludogoqc. That is very useful to know.

Submitted by oli on Sat, 2025/03/22 - 01:22

#8

Hello @ludogoqc

I have exactly the same problem with my Gamesir Cyclone 2 dongel. I also have an NVIDIA Shield Pro. As you said, I have updated the firmware of the dongel and controller. In Virtualhere Client => Android Hub => Pro Controller, the dongel is displayed, but after I select set this device, the device will rapidly loop between “connected” and “disconnected”. I can connect the dongle to the controller, but the problem with the “connected” and “disconnected” in the Virtualhere client still exists. 

What firmware do you have for the dongel and controller?

 

Submitted by ludogoqc on Sat, 2025/03/22 - 04:10

#9

@oli,
Just checked my installed versions:
Gamesir Connect app: 1.3.1 (I just saw that 1.3.9 is available from their site but haven't tried it)

Dongle: 1.1.6

Controller: 3.3.2

I have to say that I'm now using this as my main controller since I fixed the issue. I use it on a regular basis and am pretty happy with it, EXCEPT that I sometimes get a very brief disconnect/reconnect (I just notice it by the Windows sound while in game) but this happens very rarely, once every few days, sometimes less, so I don't mind as the reconnection is instant. I guess I'm just hoping that it will be fixed in a future Gamesir update...

 

Maybe it could be interesting to grab some logs from VirtualHere to figure out what happens, but I don't know if there is a way to easily get that kind of information from the software.

Submitted by Michael on Sat, 2025/03/22 - 07:35

#10

No, VirtualHere doesn't log windows disconnects like that. Its probably just a spike in latency which causes it

Submitted by ludogoqc on Sat, 2025/03/22 - 11:41

#11

@Michael, thanks for the info, and glad to see that the dev is keeping an eye on the support posts! ;)
@oli. I just installed the Gamesir app version 1.3.9 from their site (https://gamesir.com/pages/gamesir-connect-software) and it looks like the app software also contains the firmware update (one would think that the app would connect to a web server to fetch the latest firmware, but that isn't the case here, not "ideal" but this is sometimes how it works).

So after installing Gamesir Connect 1.3.9 (from their site, link above, as the Windows App seems to be still at 1.3.1, not up-to-date) I was offered the firmware update 1.1.8 for the dongle (was 1.1.6 before) and firmware 3.3.3 for the controller (was 3.3.2 before), ran a game session for around 2 hours with the new versions and so far so good!

Let us know what versions you are running.

Submitted by oli on Sat, 2025/03/22 - 18:01

#12

@ludogoqc
@Michael

I can also confirm that I have the same versions as you.
- Shield Pro: 9.2.0
- VirtualHere App on Shield: 4.7.0
- VirtualHere App Windows PC: 5.8.6
- GameSir Connect: 1.3.9
- GameSir Dongel: 1.1.8
- GameSir Controller: 3.3.3

My Shield Pro and my Windows PC are connected via Ethernet, in the VirtualHere app I see a latency <1ms.

I also have an XBOX dongle, this works without any problems, it really only seems to be a problem with the GamgeSir dongle.

Is there possibly a problem because the GameSir dongle has no vendor and serial in the VirtualHere Device Properties?

I also don't see any errors in the system messages:
2025-03-22 08:49:40 INFO  :VirtualHere Client 5.8.6 starting (Compiled: Mar  7 2025 09:21:46)
2025-03-22 08:49:40 INFO  :Client OS is Windows 11 (build 26100), 64-bit edition
2025-03-22 08:49:40 INFO  :Using config at C:\Users\***\AppData\Roaming\vhui.ini
2025-03-22 08:49:40 INFO  :IPC available at \\.\pipe\vhclient
2025-03-22 08:49:40 INFO  :Auto-find (Bonjour) on
2025-03-22 08:49:40 INFO  :Auto-find (Bonjour SSL) on
2025-03-22 08:49:41 INFO  :Drivers are up-to-date
2025-03-22 08:49:41 INFO  :Connected to the VirtualHere Client Driver (Version 2)

 

And there is really no debug or trace we can enable?

 

Submitted by ludogoqc on Sun, 2025/03/23 - 01:19

#13

@oli,
This is weird, we almost have the same setup, except you have Win11, and I'm running a different version of VirtualHere client.
I remember I tried the latest 5.8.x, but had to rollback to 5.7.7, which is stable for me, had some instability issues with 5.8.x.
Anyway, give a try to 5.7.7 as client (I run it as a service too) and let us know if it makes any difference...

Submitted by MarkoD on Tue, 2025/03/25 - 03:55

#15

@oli Drop me an email at markodsk at gmail dot com and I'll send you the client 5.7.7.