er9x development

[jhsa]

The reason for my idea above is to avoid killing the possibility of using an I2C extender in the future.. That would be a nice addition to any radio as well. It wouldn't be possible to use an I2C expander and the trims at the same time, right?

Thanks

João

[MikeB]

I'm making a little progress with Backup and Restore, starting on the MegaSound board. I can get the MegaSound board to list all the files in the "/MODELS" sub-directory over the serial port.
The biggest problem is probably getting everything to work in the available RAM on both the M64 and the M328!

I think I'm going to need to use the model structure in the M64 RAM as a temporary store while backing up and/or restoring.

To this end, I've put in a safety feature that probably should have been in for a while. The PPM (/PXX/DSM) output is stopped while loading a new model and checking the switches are in the correct positions. This will let me stop the pulses while I load a different model for backup/restore purposes, then reload the correct model then restart the pulses.

Mike.

[LTMNO]

Wow Mike! That sounds really promising...I remember a while back jhsa asking for this exact feature probably a year and half ago.... and to think his xmas wish is finally coming true
Did HC1969 reply regarding compatibility with his MegaSound Board? I have sold my t9x with your version of the MegaSound Board... I didn't have it in me to build another so I bout his.

Thanks!

[MikeB]

It looks to be compatible, I haven't wired it in to a Tx yet though.

Mike.

[jhsa]

I'd check the serial circuit on the megasound board Mike. I remember that at some point you have redesigned it.. I don't know if the commercial Megasound took that change into consideration as I think it was already being produced. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

João

[LTMNO]

Well, to date, I have full functionality with the Serial Update interface for getting files to the Board via eepe.

[MikeB]

The serial interface has two sets of buffers. One set uses transistors to invert it to provide RS232 compatibility for connection to the PC. The other set is non-inverted logic level for connection to the main processor (M64/128/2561).
It looks like the output signal of the second set does not have the diode or FET transistor fitted, but is instead wired directly. This may well be OK, provided I disable the output when it is not in use, otherwise the output will be shorted to ground when the trim switch is used. Possibly just adding a resistor on the output will be good enough protect it.

Mike.

[playlet]

Hi!

There is a strange menu problem (Model Setup) in latest er9x.hex on flysky th-9x stock board. Last menu item (bottom right) shows as: ( 9
When opened, there is a blank screen.

Best regards, Ivan

P.S.
Happy Holidays!

[jhsa]

Which version of the firmware and which menu?

João

[playlet]

Latest version, off course. Model Setup menu

[MikeB]

A minor slip up on my part, that item shouldn't be there at all. There is no telemetry option, so there should be one less menu item on the standard version, I didn't quite get that right. I have the fix for it.

Mike.

[LTMNO]

Happy New Year all!
@Mike,
I have a question regarding the PPM setup on ER9x. If I choose to use a 5CH Rx with my Tx Module and there is only the 4CH and 6CH options on the Tx Setup in ER9x on page 1 of 14.
If I choose 6CH will it just use the first 5CH of the 6CH?

Just curious, I have a VD5M Rx and I bound it to my XJT, but I don't have my controller yet so I can't test to see it is receiving the signals to all CH's

Thanks.

[MikeB]

Yes, selecting 6CH should be no problem. The only real advantage to choosing fewer channels than the default of 8 is if you also reduce the frame length so the latency between PPM frames is reduced.
For 6CH, the frame length may be safely reduced to 18.0mS, which is the same as the 18mS transmission period of the DJT/XJT modules.

Mike.

[LTMNO]

Thanks Mike, much appreciated...
Have a great New Year Day!

[flybabo]

Happy New Year!
EEPROM got wiped out when powered up.
I've experienced at least twice on two different transmitters based on the 9XR board.
What's the possible cause of this problem?
I'm using the latest test firmware.
Thanks.

[MikeB]

I have that happen occasionally on my 9X that has a '128 processor on it. I think it is a problem with the '128 processor.

Mike.

[flybabo]

One possible theory is eeprom may get corrupted if I turn off the TX while it's writing back to eeprom.
And the next power up, TX will see the checksum error and reinitialized the eeprom with the default values.
I shouldn't turn off the TX while cursor is blinking.

[MikeB]

On the main screen there is a small, flashing bar in the top left corner when an EEPROM write is pending.

If you switch on, and get the "Bad EEPROM" message, if possible switch off without pressing any buttons (so it doesn't format the EEPROM), then read the EEPROM to the PC and post the result here. I can then look to see what is wrong.

Mike.

[jhsa]

I just had to come here to write this. Er9x really improved 200% in the last few months. The way it looks now has nothing to do with how it looked before.. It is already so much more user friendly and uncomplicated but keeping the same power (or even more). What a difference. Thank you so much for this Mike..
Also the amount of flash Mike was able to save on the m64 version of the fw was enormous, to the point where he could fit all the features existent for the other chips. Features like the new voice alarms, second full timer, etc. That is amazing.

And if I'm not mistaken we might see some new cool stuff in the future?

João

[Daedalus66]

Plus one on that. Er9x is evolving rapidly and all for the better.

Note that it supports both the 9x and 9XR transmitters. For the 9XR Pro there's Ersky9X.

As well, there are versions of the eePe computer program for both.

[KAL]

Fully agree with you.
A very very very very ... big thumbs up!

Klaus

[MikeB]

I've been a bit sidetracked, so I've only just got back on the backup/restore to SD card feature.
Progress is now that eepe can select a .eepm file from the list and read it from the SD card to the PC. Just needs a bit of tidying up, but the eepe interface to the SD card is about complete.
You can write .eepm files to the SD card, list all the .eepm files on the SD card, and select a file from that list and read it it back to the PC.

The next step(s) are to backup/restore .eepm files between the EEPROM and the SD card.

I think the current test version of er9x is now OK, so I shall commit a release before doing the backup/restore changes.

Mike.

[jhsa]

Thanks Mike. I haven't found any other bug and all seems to be working.. Well, all I've been playing with.

João

EDIT: As you guys know, me and Nigel have been busy updating the manual. Still a lot to do. But here it is a little teaser

[HC1969]

Thank you for a great job!
The MegaSound software changes have been made? I assume yes.
The hardware connection would like to read (MegaSound - M64).

[MikeB]

I've just committed r816. This doesn't include the backup and restore. I wanted to do this commit first, before I do those changes.
Changes:
New menu system completed.
Voice alarms added to M64.
Improve editing of mix source when a switch is the source.
Both timers fully configurable
Popup menus for navigation
Use lower case for stick names (Rud not RUD)
Change ofs to val in custom switches
Fix TELEMETRY menu editing when accessed from "index" menu
Custom Switches renamed to Logical switches SW1->L1 SWA->LA
TX RSSI name changed to SWR when using PXX protocol
Add TmOK telemetry value
PPMSIM was inverted compared to normal PPM output
Add SPort GPS processing to M64
Remove throttle trace from M64 to make flash space
Add 8 extra voice switches to M64
Various flash savings
Add stop output PPM/PXX pulses when changing models
MENU HOLD allows fast value editing

The MENU HOLD works like this:
Normally, when editing a value, it changes by just 1 in the last decimal place. For something like the sub-trim, which goes from -100.0 to +100.0, this can be a problem as it takes 2000 steps from end to end. Now, simply press and hold MENU, and while holding MENU down, use the LEFT or RIGHT buttons to adjust the value. The value will step in larger values. The size of the step depends on the item being edited. A timer time steps in units of 60 (seconds), other items steps in either 20 or 100.

Mike.

[jhsa]

Thanks Mike.. Now we just need the manual out.. we're trying our best to do it as quickly as we can


João

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

Dose this include the er9x-2561 or is this for now just the er9x-FrSky ?

Bob B.

[jhsa]

if you use eepe configured to download the fw for the m2561, you will see that r816 is also available for it.. As far as I know when the firmware is released, Mike compiles all the versions..

João

[MikeB]

All versions are included in a full commit like this.

Mike.

[jhsa]

Mike, this version already includes the bootloader, right?

Thanks