G-Series Gaming Keyboards

[AlExAkE]

I bought the this G510 keyboard from Fry`s Electronics, alone with the older model G110. The G110 works perfect, the G510 gives me 3 very annoying problems!

I use Windows 7, 64bit, and LGS Logitech Gaming Software (Current) 8.00.127 | Post Date: 06/09/2011| I tried the  old legacy software as well, same problem!

1) As soon as I plug in microphone or headphones into the G510 keyboard outputs, the keyboard starts blinking and stops working for 10-15 seconds and is absolutely unusable, saying "Transferring profiles. Do not disconnect". I cant type! This does NOT happen with the G110, it works all the time, even when I plug or unplug microphone and headphones.

2) Most microphones I plug-in into G510 keyboard don't work (Sony ECM-DS70p for example), and the ones that do, if I slightly touch/move them by mistake, the keyboard hangs again for 10-15 sec (just like when plug or unplug issue #1) and is unusable. In game if I push the microphone with my fingers even very lightly it hangs. This does NOT happen with the G110, it works all the time, even when I plug or unplug microphone and headphones.

3A) Media keys work fine, as long as I don have microphone  or headphones attached to my G510 keyboard. As soon as i attack microphone or headphones, the media keys stop working. I found out (win 7, 64bit in my case), I have to manually go and change the playback default device, from my motherboard to the G510. Then it works again, but ONLY for the G510 output, does not work with my motherboard. This is so annoying! THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN with G110? How come?
3b) Right now I do not use headphones, I only plunged in the microphone, and the media keys stopped working again. **bleep**? Why is problem? I tried all those same thing with G110, and they don't happen, G110 works just as it should, no problems. I the drivers and software for both G510 and G110 is the same, so it must be hardware! Is there a firmware or any fix of this? I really prefer the G510, but why does not work ? Thanks

P.S. I exchanged my G510 3 times, for new ones in Fry s, and ever time I get the same problem, so is not a single case. The sound card hardware of G510 must be different than G110. How to fix my G510? If it cant, then  I will return it.

[AlExAkE]

No 1 person can answer here or give me information support on this? Has Logitech service become so crappy, what happen to you? This is not some 3rd world country or unknown chines manufacture. All USA companies work on the basis on customer loyalty and support... I would never buy another of your products and recommend against it to all my friends if I don't get my problems resolved. This is just horrible! Why make 1 model works great, and similar model with slightly more features so crappy?

[kgober Logi Guru III]

this is a user community forum, it's not really meant to be a direct conduit to Logitech support staff.  if you need to contact Logitech support, you need to open a support ticket.  I don't know exactly how this is done (I've never needed to do it myself) but I know it's possible.

as for your questions:

1. the G510 does this because it lacks the built-in USB hub that the G110 has.  because the G110 has a built-in hub, the USB audio device can freely enable or disable itself without affecting the keyboard, because it's on a different hub port than the keyboard is.  however, the presence of the hub causes compatibility issues on motherboards using the X58 chipset (see the G19 X58 thread for more on this, the G110 has the same problem because it also has a built-in hub), so in order to prevent X58 compatibility problems the hub was removed from the G510.  as a result, it's not possible to enable/disable the audio portion of the keyboard without causing the entire keyboard to disconnect/reconnect its USB connection, and that in turns causes the behavior you see.

2. you are having a problem with an intermittent connection, which the keyboard is detecting as the microphone being unplugged and plugged in again, which causes the behavior described in #1.

3. no idea what the problem is here, but whatever the cause, it's not due to the Logitech software because the media keys are handled by Windows itself.  the Logitech software only runs the LCD and the G-keys.

-ken

[AlExAkE]

Thank you, finally somebody to replay. I did open a ticket the same day I posted this, and ever since I got 1 replay from them saying only "sorry for the problem, we can offer refund" and that's about it. I told them I don't need a refund, I want some kind of solution, firmware upgrade or something that works... I don't use the X58 chip, I got the Z68 and I wish there were some version with that hub you are talking about. It seems rather strange that 1 Intel chip will be the reason for Logitech to do such a drastic change in their keyboard design. What if I'm AMD user, than none of those issues would have happened? Correct?

AS for #2 I did not get what u mean by "problem with an intermittent connection", and as for 3 I also don't have an idea, but all works with G110 and not with the G510... I know u see you dont work for them, but for a keyboard $120 don't you agree they must do something about to fix all those issues? I wish I was the only one, but the forums are full of people having same or similar issues.

Thanks again!

[kgober Logi Guru III]

I agree that the X58 situation wasn't Logitech's fault, but too many people believe that it is, and the only thing Logitech can to to remove the problem is to remove the hub.  the G19 / X58 / Win7 thread is full of people who are absolutely sure that Logitech is at fault and want Logitech to do something.

so, because the G510 has no hub, anytime the audio device is enabled or disabled this is what happens:

1. the G510 disconnects itself from the host (your PC)

2. it then enables or disables the audio device, depending on whether it detects something plugged into the headset jacks or not.

3. the G510 then reconnects itself to the host PC, this time with the USB audio resources enabled or disabled.  based on whether or not those resources are present, Windows will recognize (and use) the audio features, or not.

4. as part of the reconnection process, the Logitech drivers see the keyboard new reattached and initialize it, and you see the "transferring profiles..." screen and the colors flash.

the problem here is, there is no way for the keyboard to tell Windows whether a headset is plugged in or not.  so Logitech does the next best thing -- if there is no headset plugged in, the audio feature is removed (and the keyboard resets to force Windows to *see* that it's removed), and if you do plug a headset in, the audio feature is enabled (and again the keyboard resets for force Windows to see that audio resources now exist).  on the G110 this isn't a problem because only the USB audio device resets (because the G110 includes a built-in hub, the audio device is on its own USB port separate from the keyboard).  on the G510, everything must be one USB device because it's all plugged into a single USB port (this is part of the USB specification that Logitech must obey).

but if your headset connection is loose in any way, then just touching the cord can cause a momentary disconnect/reconnect, which causes all of the above to happen.  I agree that this is a problem.  the G510 should instead apply some hysteresis -- the keyboard should not reset immediately upon detecting something physically plugged into or removed from the headset jack -- it should wait a moment for things to settle.

it is possible that this problem may be worsened depending on the shape of your headset plug -- if the plastic part is too big it may not plug in all the way.  this can be fixed by using an extension cord with a smaller plug, or possibly a right-angle adapter.

-ken

[AlExAkE]

Oh so many things going wrong because of the stupid decision to play by 1 chipset. It is not Logitech problem that Intel didn't do their job right, and  since it works with every other chipset, they should have addressed this issue at a different manner. I think because of laziness and maybe what in first is believe to be a convenience, they took that lame approach. I understand now the core of the problem, and from what I can tell they have done worst than fixing it another way around. I doubt there is going to be any fix for this, since the problem is hardware, unless they release G510 v2 or something with a hub that don't have that issue with the X58 Chipset. Now I'm stuck between functional G110 with less functions, or buggy annoying G510 that has more functions and operate well if I don't use the mic and headset. What a shame, the G510 is by far the most well organized and looking keyboard... only if it worked properly!

[TuckyJ]

I bought the G510 a few days ago and was having trouble with the headphone jack as well. What I did was right click the volume control down in the bottom right corner of the screen, click playback "devices". On this window pops up, find the one that says "speakers" with "G510 gaming keyboard" written underneath. Right click this and set as "default device". Now when the headphones are plugged in windows should recognize that they are the default device. However the screen and keys still blink and there is still some delay.

Don't know about microphone or media keys sorry.

[AlExAkE]

Yeah, I'm aware of this workaround, and I have used it this way. However, the point of  having to switch around the devices manually, and also the media keys issues and etc is such a design flow. They should release G510 v2 that with a hub, like the G110 and none of those problems will exist, and it will be a great keyboard! Logitech should really read out posts and take those suggestions. I saw in Fry's electronics all G510 were returned... people must have had the same problems and hating it!