helix Issue with Helix and JTV-69

[stenji49]

I have a Helix, and JTV-69 Variax. Recently I noted that I am unable to select "Don't Force" under the options for Variax Model, in the Input parameters for the Helix. If I unplug the Variax, then the "Don't Force" option is available as the most counter-clockwise selection under the "Variax Model" selection knob. However, as soon as the Variax is plugged back in to the Helix, the "Variax Model" on the Helix jumps to the current model on the guitar, and if the selection knob is turned fully counter-clockwise, the "Don't Force" option is no longer there. I'm pretty sure that this is abnormal behavior and that I have been able to not force the Variax model on patches in the past. I've tried reloading firmware on the Variax, and on the Helix (3.8). I've also tried reloading firmware 3.71 on the Helix and so far, no change to the odd behavior. My only workaround so far is to unplug the Variax, select "Don't Force" under the input "Variax Model", and save the patch. The patch will operate properly, in not altering the Variax Model, even though the "Don't Force" option does not show up. The problem then, is if I were to select a Specific Variax Model for a patch, there would be no way to go back to "Don't Force", without unplugging the guitar. 

I would appreciate anyone with a Helix and Variax confirming that when the Variax is plugged into your Helix, that you still have the "Don't Force" option available to you under the Variax Model options.

 

[silverhead]

I can confirm the behaviour you describe with my Helix Rack (v3.80 firmware) and my JTV59 (v2.10). I notice that HX Edit (v3.82) does show the Don't Force option when the JTV is connected but selecting that option changes the JTV model to the Custom 1 position, the left-most position available on the Helix device. It does not change the Helix device model selection to Don't Force as I believe it should. 

 

This appears to be a bug in the Helix firmware. Please open a support ticket to report it.