Terrible Range

[Forehead]

If I move more than aout 5 feet away from the receiver my controller will start to lag, miss input, etc.

I have tried moving the receiver, plugging directly into USB port instead of cable, updating firmware, and nothing is helping me with the range issues.

I thought this would be a great controller for plaing from the couch, in big picture mode.... Not the case so far. At this point I am back to using my PS3 controller with bluetooth module, which is a pain, but has enough range.

[Chrysophrase]

Sounds like a faulty controller or receiver (or you have MASSIVE interference) I can go to my computer that is downstairs with my controller still connected to the Steam Link upstairs and it still works. That's about 30 feet or so, one floor and a wall.

[RambleCan]

My range got much better once I used the cradle doodad. Once I used that and put it on my desk so the actual receiver is perpendicular to the floor it performed much better for me.

[♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥]

cradle doodad?

[RambleCan]

Originally posted by Ewic:

cradle doodad?

http://i.stack.imgur.com/QAi46.jpg

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

Do you have any wireless peripheral that could possibly disturbs the connection?

[♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥]

Ok, I was certain you were talking about that, just wanted to make sure.
Sorry for the stupid question.

I was getting the OP's symptoms when I was all cozy with my blankets as interference.
I also had my receiver at the BACK of my PC.
I didn't think I really needed the "cradle doodad" lol

However, based on your experience, I gave it a go, and it seems much better.
Thanks ExistentialEgg

[RambleCan]

yeah, I had NO interference blocking the receiver, it was in front of my PC but the port was parallel the the floor. I used the "cradle doodad" :P which really didn't change where it was that much, it just angled it perpendicular to the floor and suddenly it worked a lot better.

[[57th] AngryHatter]

You want the antenna to be perpendicular to the signal.

[Polysorbate]

The issue isn't range, it's obstructions. When I had it in the back of my computer it constantly complained of poor signal but once I used the included USB extension cable and put the receiver on my desk everything was fine. I can even use the controller in the opposite corner of the room without any problem.

I don't think it's an issue of bad design so much as it's a tradeoff for advantages in other areas:

- It uses standard AA batteries instead of custom lithium-ion cells that Nintendo/Sony/MS use but still has excellent battery life

- I speculate that to keep latency to a bare minimum it doesn't wait for confirmation that packets are received, unlike how Bluetooth and Wi-Fi normally work where reception of each packet is verified before the next is sent

- It costs less than PS4/xbone controllers but has more advanced hardware inside (FAR less expensive than the xbone controller bundle which includes a receiver for PC use)

[RealityQuotient]

I've had zero range problems...unlike the Logitech F710 that constantly dropped when you got more than 5 feet away (and didn't work out of the box with Win8 to begin with).

Do be aware that some people have reported a damagingly tight fit with the included dongle extension. You can use any regular USB extension cable, just so you know.

[Forehead]

It could easily be interference from other sources... All I know is every other wireless device I have works close to advertised range. My steam controller does not. It is basically useless to me right now.

[God Ginrai]

Originally posted by dG Forehead:

It could easily be interference from other sources... All I know is every other wireless device I have works close to advertised range. My steam controller does not. It is basically useless to me right now.

That's what happens when you accumulate a large number of wireless devices all crowding on the same band.

Most importantly, you should try the perpendicular placement that people are suggesting. That has fixed this problem for a lot of people.

Second, you can test for what is causing the interference by deactivating your wireless devices and plugging them in/activating them one at a time while testing with the Steam Controller.

[Forehead]

Originally posted by God Ginrai:

Originally posted by dG Forehead:

It could easily be interference from other sources... All I know is every other wireless device I have works close to advertised range. My steam controller does not. It is basically useless to me right now.

That's what happens when you accumulate a large number of wireless devices all crowding on the same band.

Most importantly, you should try the perpendicular placement that people are suggesting. That has fixed this problem for a lot of people.

Second, you can test for what is causing the interference by deactivating your wireless devices and plugging them in/activating them one at a time while testing with the Steam Controller.

Not worth my time.

What I will do is throw the steam controller in a box, continue using my two ps3 controllers that work just fine.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I know what I could do to try and make the steam controller happy. But at this point, the steam controller is the problem. I'm not going to disable my properly functioning wifi / bluetooth / wireless headset / cellphones to try and make the controller happy.

[God Ginrai]

Originally posted by dG Forehead:

Originally posted by God Ginrai:

That's what happens when you accumulate a large number of wireless devices all crowding on the same band.

Most importantly, you should try the perpendicular placement that people are suggesting. That has fixed this problem for a lot of people.

Second, you can test for what is causing the interference by deactivating your wireless devices and plugging them in/activating them one at a time while testing with the Steam Controller.

Not worth my time.

What I will do is throw the steam controller in a box, continue using my two ps3 controllers that work just fine.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I know what I could do to try and make the steam controller happy. But at this point, the steam controller is the problem. I'm not going to disable my properly functioning wifi / bluetooth / wireless headset / cellphones to try and make the controller happy.

If you would just do the first option (which *doesn't* take time) then you might find that you don't even need to disable anything. You say you are not trying to be a jerk, but you have completely ignored this suggestion people have made, and then are specifically calling out the longer alternative I suggested, which makes it look like you are looking for a reason to hate on the controller.

Honestly, I'm starting to think that trying to help you with your problem is "Not worth my time."

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

And thus OP has finally make a fool out of himself.