Hardware For those suffering from left Joycon issues, soldering a wire will fix the issue.

[delete12345]

Please watch this instructional video:

 

[DinohScene]

Any pictures?

 

[Hanafuda]

Any pictures?

If you watch the video carefully and listen to what he's describing, there's really no way you could get it wrong, assuming you're competent with the soldering. I don't have a Switch but watching the video I could see where the trace ran from the built-in (i.e. in the PCB) antenna back to the solder point on the board. Simple mod, but like he says not necessary unless you're really having problems with that particular joycon. He definitely proved his concept though - the 'problem' joycon worked better than the 'good' one after the mod.

 

[RHOPKINS13]

If that's all it takes to fix these Joy-Cons Nintendo really should do a recall.

 

[DinohScene]

If you watch the video carefully and listen to what he's describing, there's really no way you could get it wrong, assuming you're competent with the soldering. I don't have a Switch but watching the video I could see where the trace ran from the built-in (i.e. in the PCB) antenna back to the solder point on the board. Simple mod, but like he says not necessary unless you're really having problems with that particular joycon. He definitely proved his concept though - the 'problem' joycon worked better than the 'good' one after the mod.

I'm more then competent with soldering...
The thing is with videos is that they usually unclear and quickly outdated (see AL9H vid tutorials)
The best kind of tutorials are the ones with text and pictures, so that the people can LEARN from it instead of execute it as a mindless zombie.

I've done tons of trace repairs on a variety of consoles.

 

[Hanafuda]

I'm more then competent with soldering...
The thing is with videos is that they usually unclear and quickly outdated (see AL9H vid tutorials)
The best kind of tutorials are the ones with text and pictures, so that the people can LEARN from it instead of execute it as a mindless zombie.

I've done tons of trace repairs on a variety of consoles.

I agree, but he just published the video on YT today. I'm sure someone will document it better, maybe come up with a better execution. The mod is about as simple as it gets though - it is quite literally 'attach a short wire here, tuck it out of the way here.'

One thing worth noting - in the video he had a couple ribbon cables detached from their connectors, for no reason as far as I can see. Doesn't look like they need to be detached for this mod. I assume he had just been tinkering about and hadn't put everything back together yet, but he should have had the joycon in the exact state a novice would need to disassemble to in order to perform the mod, no more. (So yeah, you're right that this video isn't ideal.)

 

[Mr. Wizard]

Fuck awesome! Once nintendo fixes the manufacturing process I can just go buy new joycons, swap them with the stock ones I have and return them haha! So glad it's not the console itself.

 

[DinohScene]

I don't disagree, but he just published the video on YT today. I'm sure someone will document it better, maybe come up with a better execution. The mod is about as simple as it gets though - it is quite literally 'attach a short wire here, tuck it out of the way here.'

Cba to waste time on watching a dumb video ;/
Guess I'm just getting old

 

[Hanafuda]

Cba to waste time on watching a dumb video ;/
Guess I'm just getting old

I added an edit to that post too. Found something worth nit-picking. I think you'll agree with me.

 

[Youkai]

When you need to solder some extra wires into your controller and everyone is okay with it there is something wrong with everyone -.-V

 

[DinohScene]

I added an edit to that post too. Found something worth nit-picking. I think you'll agree with me.

Deffo!
That's also one of the problems with videos, they can be manipulated or turn out unclear due to actions being done on the board.
Still pictures are still the best, have been for years.
If it was up to me, schematics and text ;p

 

[Hanafuda]

When you need to solder some extra wires into your controller and everyone is okay with it there is something wrong with everyone -.-V

Nintendo probably tested the thing in Japanese living rooms, sitting 3 feet from the television. You ever see the controller cords on old-school Japanese consoles? Shorter than your arm.

 

[Mr. Wizard]

It's a concept video. This is how shit gets done in the real world. Refining the process comes afterwards. I have 10 years in the manufacturing industry. I loved this video, the only thing missing from it was the before test to show the range delta. If you need a picture book to do what he just did then you have no business doing this.

 

[orcid]

Does anybody really have problems besides reviewers who tried hard to duplicate the problems of one person? My joycons work fine.

 

[Mr. Wizard]

Does anybody really have problems besides reviewers who tried hard to duplicate the problems of one person? My joycons work fine.

Yes I had issues with the left joycon. I am at most 5 feet from the console, and I was using them separate in each hand. When my knee partially blocked the left joycon it would lose all connectivity. Never had one issue with the right controller. They are now attached to the console permanently and I am using a pro controller when docked. Pro controller has worked phenomenally, I highly recommend it.

 

[Hanafuda]

Does anybody really have problems besides reviewers who tried hard to duplicate the problems of one person? My joycons work fine.

That's honestly what I expected to hear after a couple weeks from now ... crickets. Remember when the press was going wild with warnings that Wiimotes were deadly projectiles, being accidentally hurled by players, destroying TV's and cracking skulls? Resulted in the silicone Wiimote condoms.

 

[Mr. Wizard]

That's honestly what I expected to hear after a couple weeks from now ... crickets. Remember when the press was going wild with warnings that Wiimotes were deadly projectiles, being accidentally hurled by players, destroying TV's and cracking skulls? Resulted in the silicone Wiimote condoms.

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Hanafuda]

Ignorance is bliss.

If you mean because I haven't bought a Switch yet, you're right. I gave up on being an early adopter / tester for Nintendo a long time ago. If it's a legit issue, as you say, it will either be resolved by the holidays (when I might buy one), or else I now know there's an easy DIY fix.

 

[orcid]

Yes I had issues with the left joycon. I am at most 5 feet from the console, and I was using them separate in each hand. When my knee partially blocked the left joycon it would lose all connectivity. Never had one issue with the right controller. They are now attached to the console permanently and I am using a pro controller when docked. Pro controller has worked phenomenally, I highly recommend it.

OK. Good to know. I just expected a lot more talk about the problem after release if it was widespread problem. So I was wondering.
I am sittingg about 3 meters away but probably my knees don't block.

 

[grossaffe]

Does anybody really have problems besides reviewers who tried hard to duplicate the problems of one person? My joycons work fine.

Yeah, I've had some left joycon issues of my own. Granted my Switch is positioned next to a bunch of wires, which Nintendo recommends against due to interference of the joycon signals. Anyways, sitting on my couch with controller in my lap, I get intermittent issues, but if I just raise it up a little bit (as my Switch is on a countertop) the issue goes away.