Dualshock3 Controller question

[jaymzbo]

Greetings all....searching on the forum yielded me this:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/search.php?searchid=1439014

none of which seemed to answer my question concerning the Sony Dualshock3 Sixaxis controller and my apparent inability to either charge it fully or to sync it, I'm just not sure.

Specifically, DS3 is connected to port1 of 60Gig PS3 via miniUSB cord, flashes for a while and pressing PS button confirms that it is indeed charging. I can use the controller while connected to PS3 via cord. After flashing stops I disconnect cord and light goes off, and I cannot control anything.

At the same time, I pressed PS button on another controller I have (not Dualshock) and it is assigned to 2 as if 1 was assigned to the DS3 although no lights or functions work on DS3

Here's what I have tried in addition to reading threads here:

1) pressed RESET button on back of DS3
2) powered PS3 with DS3 connected already (unit flashes a few times then is blank) pressing PS gives control and 1 is lighted but when disconnected unit flashes a few times and then...no red light or control
3) Powered PS3 w/o DS3 connected and then connected it; same thing happens as 2) above
4) attempted to power PS3 on by pressing PS button on DS3 (both when connected via USB and not)
5) turned PS3 completely off via switch on back for a few minutes and retrying
6) held power button on PS3 for a few secs
7) had tried this on FW 2.53 and have now updated to 2.60
8) took 1st DS3 back to Walmart and am having same luck w/2nd
9) don't have another PS3 to test things out on
In all cases with the DS3, after it stops flashing and I hold PS button to check charge level, there is but a mere - ;

My other controllers work fine (one has malfunctioning L1 button but still works otherwise); usb cable seems to be fine; just got done using it today for FW update as well as charging it up yesterday.

The only difference is that the new one has Dualshock and the others do not. As this is my second DS3, I am wondering what the problem could be.

Is there a function on the PS3 menus that I need to set to support Dualshock ? I just can't figure it out....can you help me troubleshoot as I appear to have exhausted Sony's knowledge database....thanks

[Marine Mike]

Sounds like the Bluetooth went bad in the controller. I suggest a new one.

[jaymzbo]

^^^^^^^
that was my 1st thought as well...so I took it back and got a new one and same thing.....I guess it is possible that it was a bad batch of controllers...just seems unlikely, I mean what are the chances of two doing the same thing?

[SkantDragon]

This sounds to me like a software problem rather than a hardware problem. I doubt it has anything whatsoever to do with it being a dual shock controller. I expect that some entry has been scrambled in your PS3 with regards to Bluetooth registrations. So I'd concentrate on that.

That you've swapped controllers and the problem persisted implies that the bad entry isn't actually for the controller being affected, but rather for one of your other controllers. As if the code were going down the list of registered controllers, and some bad entry kills it. Any controller added after that bad entry can't work.

I'd try turning off the PS3, hitting the reset on every controller you have, and then re-syncing each controller via the USB cable with the troubled controller re-synced last.

Have you had friends over with their controllers? It might be associated with a controller not currently in your possession.

Other than that, there's a recovery menu that you invoke by holding down the power button while you turn on your PS3. Something like rebuilding the database might resolve it. Careful though, some of the recovery options lose things off of the PS3.

[SlmShdy1]

I've had a similar problem. I use a controller dock to charge my controllers so none of my controllers are ever charged through the PS3. Sometimes, if I turn on the system manually and then I hit the PS button afterwards, the controller will continually flash all four lights. It won't sync at all. Usually I can get the controller to work if I connect to the PS3 via USB. At this point, if I unplug the USB cable, it will do what you're describing. All the lights turn off and it doesn't work.

To fix it, I've found that these steps return my controller to normal:

1. While the system is still on, plug the controller back into the USB cable.
2. Sync the controller and turn off the system with the controller.
3. Turn the PS3 back on manually, and then hit the PS button on the controller.
4. Unplug controller from USB cable.

That's it. It's worked for me and it has happened a few times now. Hope this can help.


Edit: I didn't even know there was a reset button on the controller until I read this thread.

[jaymzbo]

Thanks for the replies. It turned out that the solution was as simple as buying a new USB minicable which was another suggestion that I found (apparently this happened to a few owners w/DS3's); I had assumed that since the cable I was using worked with the old controllers, it should work with the newer DS3 as well. But I decided to go ahead and try it out last night

Sure enough, the DS3 charged this time for the time it took me to watch a movie. Now that it has been fully charged, it is working fine as best as I can see. I am thinking that the initial problem had to do with inability to charge the DS3. Why a new cable was necessary, I do not know

I'm a little frustrated with myself for not trying this first but like I said, the older USB cable worked with the Sixaxis controllers so I thought for sure that it would not be the problem...........

Thanks again everyone

[PH3AR]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Sounds like the Bluetooth went bad in the controller. I suggest a new one.

+1 or if you can handled just having the miniUSB cord always connected to play then you dont!