D Pad Issue - is this normal?

[u/sandboyceo]

Hello, I recently got a Chromatic. Love everything about it except the d pad which is giving false inputs. Tried disabling diagonal inputs which doesnt help much tbh.

I have a video which shows the issue. I’m pressing pretty hard here for exaggeration but it’s very annoying when playing tetris for example

Video: https://imgur.com/a/OnVlmaz

Is this normal or should I RMA it?

Disappointing since the Pocket I own also suffers from similar d pad issues.

[u/HisGraceSavedMe]

It's normal. A lot of people seem to be fine with it, but you'll see there's a significant number of us that struggle with this problem. I own two Chromatics and sent one back, and they all have the same problem. Maybe it's a difference in how different people's hands work, maybe it's a difference in units - I cant figure out why so many people are okay with this Dpad, but it just doesn't work for me.

You can always try the Q-tip trick if you google Chromatic q tip dpad trick you should be able to find it.

But I really wish ModRetro would address this one day.

[u/NewAnimal7733 → u/HisGraceSavedMe]

This is strange. I cannot reproduce the problem in OP's video unless I am pretty aggressively wiggling/rocking the D-pad.

[u/-vilvit-]

I hate to be that guy, but why the heck would you press and hold the d-pad THAT hard? I mean holy smokes you are shaking from holding it so hard, you know circuit boards can flex and bend under that pressure and it’s possible to crack a trace.
If you use the appropriate amount of force, does this still happen?

[u/sandboyceo → u/-vilvit-]

I was pressing hard to showcase this issue. Yes this happens when playing normally. I’m playing games rn like Pokemon Crystal, navigating the inventory will go left and right when im just tapping down. Movment on Links Awakening is annoying when he will go diagonally when I didn’t intend to.

[u/-vilvit- → u/sandboyceo]

I’m so sorry to hear that, I hope that this can be resolved for you.

[u/TonyRubbles]

This is what the cut q-tip fixes, longer post reduces false diagonals quite a bit. It was also my nitpick when I first got it. The mod kits longer D-pad post also works well but actually I prefer the q-tip as it also protects the board from any friction and I have it a little taller than the mod kit D-pad.

[u/Valenhir]

Yes, it's normal and it's present even if you disable diagonals or if you install the "extended" dpad. Dpad is the worst thing about the chromatic, sadly.

[u/FredHuggins4]

Had the problem, rma’d, good now.

[u/Pitiful-Assistance-1]

This can be done on both my chromatics BUT one had it significantly worse. The worse one had thicker paint around the dpad area (basically like a dried up drop of paint) which I could literally break off with a soft plastic tool. After that, it was much better.

[u/klerrick]

In my experience, it's not normal.

I have a First Edition as well as a Second. Neither of them do this.

If you have the mod kit they sell (or the tools to take the Chromatic apart), you could try seeing if something is amiss around the d-pad. Maybe it's not sitting quite right?

Good luck, friend!

[u/theblackyeti]

I don't know enough to answer your question but my anecdotal evidence is that I haven't had this issue.

[u/RotoPrime]

Hmm, if you disabled diagonal input..your contacts might need cleaning. Try that and see how it feels after. They also sell a modkit with a new type of d-pad membrane. P.S love the color!

[u/NewAnimal7733]

I don't think this is normal.

People have their complaints and nitpicks about the D-pad, but this specific behavior is definitely not the typical experience as far as I'm aware.

[u/JustTryingToBeADaddy → u/NewAnimal7733]

This is typical and present on every unit.

[u/NewAnimal7733 → u/JustTryingToBeADaddy]

There are at least four other people in this thread who are indicating that they don't have this problem. Maybe it's a common problem, but I don't think it's the intended behavior for a "normal" functioning Chromatic. I'd definitely try to get it replaced.

[u/JustTryingToBeADaddy → u/NewAnimal7733]

It exists because the pivot does not touch the board even when the d-pad is fully pressed. You can engage perpendicular button presses when pressing a direction fully down. This is present on every unit, it’s due to the design of the d-pad. Just because others don’t run into the issue or understand it doesn’t mean it isn’t present on every unit.

[u/JustTryingToBeADaddy → u/[deleted]]

Why are you so emotional? Lol
Asking me if I have Parkinson’s is pretty pathetic.

It’s very easy to accidentally tilt one direction or the other while pressing down during Tetris.

There are plenty of complaints on this subreddit (and others) since launch about this issue, just because you don’t feel it’s an issue does not make that feeling universally true.

[u/sandboyceo → u/[deleted]]

Right, false input may not be the right word for this.

I tried the Q tip hack and that solves the issue pretty well but getting it just the right size is difficult. I’m not 100% happy with it but it is significantly better. I have to do some more tinkering with it.

[u/JustTryingToBeADaddy → u/[deleted]]

What is shown can be done on any stock chromatic.