FrSky Telemetry with erSky9x, Question

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,
That sounds like GREAT NEWS !

I just tried my Stock 9x Radio with er9x-frsky, with the XJT Module and it looks good, not as good as the DJT Module looks.
My Stock 9x Radio with er9x-frsky, firmware has version: SVN: er9x-r809, VERS: V1.101-Mike, DATE: 22. 01.2014)
The XJT Module reading are stable when using the Stock 9x Radio with er9x-frsky. It's working OK.

I was feeling the problem would be in the XJT Module it self and now it looks like it is not there. That's good news!
I still see with the Stock 9x Radio with er9x-frsky, the Tx-RSSI signal reading is showing lower then the DJT Module dose.
It is about 10 digits lower compared to the DJT Module. May not be a problem, I have not seen any reports of RSSI signals breaking when flying.

So we may need to have an essential Mod Fix, to the Sky9x Board, so to be able to use the XJT Module with Telemetry.

Thank you, Mike for your help, working on this problem !


Bob

[MikeB]

I've just done and tested the 'best' fix, namely cut the track from pin 14 and wire pin 14 to pin 20.
This forces the RS232 buffer always ON.
I now get the XJT module properly responding to the alarm setting commands.
While testing this, I also notice the XJT doesn't send the telemetry data as often as the DJT, possibly due to the fact it is using the SPort at the same time. As I average a number of readings before displaying them, this means the display update takes longer. When using the SPort data I already reduce the number of readings averaged.
I will probably need to add some more configuration options to allow for this.

If you are only using one of the COM ports (I'm using both), an alternative solution is to connect a VCC (3.3V) to the RxD of the unused COM port. An easy to access point for VCC (for the rev 3 board) is the I2C expansion area.

Mike.

[MikeB]

Here's a diagram. I've shown both possible mods.
First possible mod.
At the bottom right corner is a Red line showing a track cut, and a yellow line showing an added wire.

Second possible mod.
Add the orange wire shown to the left. I've shown it going to COM1, assuming you are using COM2 for telemetry. If you are using COM1 for telemetry simply move the wire to COM2 RxD.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Essential Mod Fix to the Sky9x Board for the XJT Telemetry Module.

Hi Mike,

I am thinking, I would like to try the First possible Mod Fix.
1) Cutting the Red line Track is OK with me and I could attach one end of the Yellow Wire to the top of the small Cap.
The biggest challenge is attaching the other end of the Yellow wire to the left side of the Red line, Track Cut.
There is very little room to make the solder connection. But it is a doable procedure.

2) The second possible Mod Fix is a lot easier to accomplish.
The connection points are much larger and have a lot more room for easier access to make the solder connections.
Also there is less chance of damaging any of the circuit components on the Sky9x Board.

I have moved my Telemetry wires to COM Serial port 1 so I could use COM Serial port 2 for this Mod Fix.

Thank You Mike, I will make the one of the Mod Fixes and posts the results.

Bob

[MikeB]

Yes, the second fix is easier. I did the first fix as I need both serial ports available. I use COM 2 for debug output when developing!

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,
I worked on the First Mod Fix.
I think I have a white wire attached to the correct spot.
See Photo, you can Zoom in on it:

First Mod Fix _ Attach White Wire for yellow wire.

It was very difficult getting the wire soldered in place, maybe I should have used a smaller tip. I used a lot of Chip Quik Tack Flux.
I purchased an AOYUE INT 968A+ solder system and it dose help to be able to solder small stuff. I really like the heat control, it helps a lot.

I think the Photo looks okay, not as pretty as I would like it, but should be okay so far.
Next I will solder the other end to the top of the cap,Then Cut the Tack.
Clean things up, and then say a prayer, and power it up.

Bob

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

I have completed the First Mod Fix.
See Photo:

First Mod Fix, Attach Wire, Cut Track

Next, say a prayer, and then powering it up, is still to go.

Bob

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

My Sky9x Radio powered up OK after doing the First Mod Fix.

But I still see the same problem.

View my photos to verify that I have the First Mod Fix correctly completed.

I believe I have done the First Mod Fix correctly.

Bob

[MikeB]

It looks OK. This mod should work, and does on my board. Just check the VCC end of the wire is soldered OK to the capacitor AND that the capacitor is still soldered to its pad. I've had it happen that a wire has soldered to a component, but the component was no longer soldered to the board.

I suggest checking with a meter that pin 14 is now connected to VCC. Measure the resistance from pin 14 to a VCC (3.3V) somewhere else on the board.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

Troubleshooting with Meter:
I set the Meter dial to 20K OHM and placed Red probe on the Chip pin (I believe is pin 14), and I placed the Black probe to the Serial com port 1: GND pin.
I also used the GND at the 12C Expansion Bus and viewed the same reading.
The meter reading is: 0.28 . Not seeing 3.3 , is this OK ?

Could both mod fixes be implemented at the same time ?,
as I could add the second mod fix easily to be able see and prove the Mod Fix works with my Sky9x Radio.
Then I would disconnect the second mod fix and continue to troubleshoot the First Mod Fix.

Bob

[MikeB]

We want the resistance from the chip pin to VCC, not ground, measured with the radio power OFF.

Yes you could add the second fix.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

After adding the Second Mod Fix, it is still not working.

Your mod fixes are working and mine are not.
Is there something, I may have missed?

With the Meter Reading (Chip pin to Vcc) please excuse my ignorance I have not seen Vcc before. (No power was connected when taking readings).
With the Stock 9x 64 CPU board, when I was taking ohm reading around the 3.3V Regulator, I was seeing ohm readings of .38 ohms,
this is why I was thinking, I should be looking for ohm readings of .38 ohms.

I did take ohm reading from the chip pin to the square shaped connection 3,3V of the 12C Expansion Bus and the ohm reading are 0.00 Ohms, a short.
I took ohm reading from the chip pin to the top of the capacitor and to the bottom of the capacitor and have readings of .28 ohms.

It may be possible, the First Mod Fix, track-cut and solder connections is OK.
See Photo's:

Second Mod Fix with orange wire

First and Second Mod Fixes

Both First and Second Mod Fixes

Bob

[MikeB]

Two tests to try to help see what is happening:

1: Power on and measure the voltage on the TxD signal (either COM1 or COM2) against ground. I would expect something like -5 to -6 volts (yes negative).

2. With the XJT module connected, power up and go to the TELEMETRY 2 menu.
Look at the values for TxRSSiAlarm RxRSSiAlarm, are they --- and 0?
Whatever they are, change them to something else, and wait a second or 2.
Power off then power back on. Go back to TELEMETRY2, are the values the same as you changed them?

Have you tried plugging the data cable from the XJT into COM2? Change the COM port setting to COM 2 further down the TELEMETRY 2 menu.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

Two tests to try to help see what is happening:
1: Power on and measure the voltage on the TxD signal (either COM1 or COM2) against ground. I would expect something like -5 to -6 volts (yes negative).

Test # 1: The meter reads is: -5.41 Volts.

Two tests to try to help see what is happening:
2: With the XJT module connected, power up and go to the TELEMETRY 2 menu.
Look at the values for TxRSSiAlarm RxRSSiAlarm, are they --- and 0 ?
Whatever they are, change them to something else, and wait a second or 2.
Power off then power back on. Go back to TELEMETRY2, are the values the same as you changed them ?

Interesting you mention this, before both Mod Fixes were implemented I had several times change these settings to Red
and every time the Sky9x Radio was shut down and powered up again these settings always went back to the _ _ _ setting.

Now with both Mod Fixes implemented, the first time I went to try your number 2 Test, and after several seconds of shutdown and then powered up
the Radio, both of these settings were still set to Red (First time I have seen them stay the same).

But because I had seen them return to the _ _ _ setting in the past, I powered off the Radio for a much longer time,
the results was (and I scrolled backwards to the Telemetry 2 Screen), the TxRSSiAlarm was set back to the _ _ _ setting.
And when I scrolls back to the Telemetry 1 Screen and back again to the Telemetry 2 Screen, both settings had returned to the Red Setting that
I had set them to earlier.

After this I played around with changing the settings and sometimes they would change randomly by themselves to different digests like PM8,
ott, Hap as well as what is the normal settings.
As I was trying to change one of the setting like the TxRSSiAlarm, the RxRSSiAlarm setting would randomly change to something different by itself.
Also the numbers, to the right of these settings, kept changing until the TxRSSiAlarm reached 239 and the RxRSSiAlarm reached 199.
I found it increasingly difficult to set these settings because they kept randomly changing, weather I was trying to set them or not,
they both kept changing on their own at any time.

Also the alarm in the XJT Module would start sounding off.
And sometimes, it would stop sounding the Alarm, as these settings continued to change either by me trying to correct them
or they themselves by randomly changing.

It seems like it is messed up a lot!
I had to turn the Radio off, just to get away from it. It was driving me Nuts! or at least greatly frustrated!
It's not working right and I did retry the DJT Module earlier today again and it still is works great!
Though, I did not fool around with the TxRSSiAlarm and the RxRSSiAlarm settings.
After this I reinstalled the XJT Module and yes it return back to not working correctly.

Have you tried plugging the data cable from the XJT into COM2?
Change the COM port setting to COM 2 further down the TELEMETRY 2 menu. Mike.

No I had not tried changing the COM ports.
So I just did change them, from COM port 1 back to COM port 2 and this made no difference, still not working correctly.

I have both Mod Fixes implemented at this time.
Experimenting with the changing of the TxRSSiAlarm and RxRSSiAlarm settings seems to have messed things up a lot.

Bob

[MikeB]

The mod(s) seem to be doing what they are supposed to.

The only thing left, I can think of, that is different between the DJT and the XJT is the TxD signal itself. The DJT has a full RS232 driver, going -5 to +5 volts. The XJT has a transistor that only goes from 0 to 3.3V.

If you don't plug the telemetry connection in to the DJT/XJT, do they work OK controlling servos? (Checking for a proper ground connection via the 5-pin connector).

Grasping at straws a bit, but can you check the wires in the telemetry cable are OK. The DJTs higher voltage drive could work when the wires have a problem.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

If you don't plug the telemetry connection in to the DJT/XJT, do they work OK controlling servos?
(Checking for a proper ground connection via the 5-pin connector).

I have always had good control between the Radio Stick Controls (XJT Module) and the D-Plus 2 Receivers (700Quad Model).
Yes, both ways of having the Telemetry Plug connected and not connected has very good controlling over the servos.
Even though the RSSI reading have shown to be very low sometimes the XJT Module has never broke connection with its Receivers.
The problem has always shown itself to be with the telemetry readings.

can you check the wires in the telemetry cable are OK.
The DJTs higher voltage drive could work when the wires have a problem.

I have rechecked the telemetry cable and plugs, also checked for a higher resistance from plug to plug and to pin 5 with the RxD white wire,
nothing has indicated a problem.

To review the Telemetry Cable connections between the Sky9x Board Com Port 2 to the RS232 Serial Port of the XJT Module and to pin 5 with the RxD white wire :
A) Sky9x Board Com Port 2, White wire RxD to Pin 5 of the Five pins that mate with XJT Module and also to the external 4 pin plug to RS232 Serial Port TxD pin of the XJT Module.

B) Sky9x Board Com Port 2, Red center wire TxD to external 4 pin plug to RS232 Serial Port RxD pin of the XJT Module.

C) Sky9x Board Com Port 2, Black wire GND to external 4 pin plug to RS232 Serial Port GND pin of the XJT Module.

After reassembling Sky9x Radio the telemetry still not working properly with the XJT Module using the external 4 pin plug to RS232 Serial Port.

See Photos:

Telemetry Cable Plug to Sky9x Board

Telemetry Cable Plug to Sky9x Board Rev. 3

Telemetry Cable Wire to XJT Module external RS232 Serial Port

External Telemetry Cable Wire Plug to XJT Module external RS232 Serial Port
Glued toothpick to side of telemetry cable plug to make shore it is plugged in correctly every time.

With the Telemetry 2 screen the TxRSSiAlarm and RxRSSiAlarm settings sometimes are changing after scrolling to one of the screen next to it and back again. This doesn't seem to be proper as it could cause one to change the settings when maybe it's not necessary. (With the XJT Module)
Or is this behavior only with the problem that I am seeing ?

Bob

[MikeB]

A) Sky9x Board Com Port 2, White wire RxD to Pin 5 of the Five pins that mate with XJT Module and also to the external 4 pin plug to RS232 Serial Port TxD pin of the XJT Module.

I thought you hadn't done any internal wiring. With an unmodified DJT, pin 5 of the module is not connected, but the XJT outputs SPort serial data on this pin. This will conflict with the serial data from the 4-pin D series telemetry on the back of the XJT.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

I messed up my error. I did not remember adding any internal wiring.
When I opened the Sky9x Radio chase to do the troubleshooting and mod fixes I started to remember something, but that was
all I could remember was, "Something". I am sincerely sorry.

"The Something": [HELP] XJT Telemetry Module connection to Sky9x Rev3 Board
Back last October, 2013 I asked for help (viewtopic.php?f=95&t=4402#p62011) with installing the Sky9x Telemetry Cable with the new XJT Module.
Like with the stock 9x Radio's, I wanted the ability to use any compatible Transmitter Module with my Sky9x Radio and have both the FrSky Hub Based Sensors and the New Smart Port Sensors.

I do not like getting old, Difficult to remember things and difficult to understand things.

With an unmodified DJT, pin 5 of the module is not connected, but the XJT outputs SPort serial data on this pin.
This will conflict with the serial data from the 4-pin D series telemetry on the back of the XJT.

I think from what you are saying Mike, with the Sky9x Rev 3 Radio and using the FrSky Hub Based Sensors with the XJT Module, there should be NO wire connected between Pin 5 and the RxD Sky9x COM Port, with using protocol setting PPM.
And when using the New Smart Port Sensors with the XJT Module, there should be a wire connected between Pin 5 and the RxD Sky9x COM Port,
with using Protocol setting PXX and Type: D8.

If this is so, then I need a Switch, to connect and disconnect this wire to Pin 5.
I could install an external Switch to do this or maybe I could use the COM port 1 or 2 option in the Telemetry 2 Screen, by selecting the COM Port that is not being used, will this disconnect Pin 5 ?

Bob

[MikeB]

What should work, and what I have wired and working, is pin 5 of the module connector wired to the RxD of COM1, and the external wiring connected to COM2. This way, the XJT internal SPort can be used on COM1, and the DJT/XJT 'hub', via the external wiring, can be used on COM2.
Since the COM port selection is part of the model setup, this should just automatically work as you select a particular model.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,
I like a lot, what you have said about managing,
the connection of Pin 5 through COM1 when using XJT internal SPort, when using the SPort Sensors.
And disconnecting Pin 5 through COM2 when using DJT/XJT "Hub", with the Hub Sensors.

I got up in the middle of the night and disconnected the Pin 5 wire and powered up my 700Quad and the Telemetry readings are correct now.
I then tried to set up the COM port's so to use as an ON/OFF switch for Pin 5.

Ever since I played with the TxRSSiAlarm and RxRSSiAlarm settings, some of the model setup setting in the firmware has been behaving incorrectly.
At the Telemetry 2 screen, I attempted to change the FrSky Com Port, setting back to COM1.
But every time pressed the button to make the change, the display screen would flash and return the MODELSEL screen.
After several more failed attempts I tried selecting a different Model in hope that it was not affected in the same way.
But when I pressed the button to select a different Model the display screen flash again and I was back to the same 700Quad model.
Frustrated and fatigued I left it until morning.
When I powered up the Sky9x Radio in the morning the misbehaving firmware had corrected itself, it is now back to its old self. It is working OK now!

Just to verify: Dose the Stock 9x Radio and the 9x 2561 Radio with the 9x TelemetrEZ board installed,
able to and need to have a Pin 5 wire connected to be able to use the XJT SPort and SPort Sensors ?

Bob

[MikeB]

Good it's working and we've solved the problems.

I have seen a reboot occur when switching the COM port from 2 to 1. I thought I had fixed this!

Using a XJT in a 9X:
1. No TelemetrEZ board - you do need to connect the SPort data signal. This is available either on pin 5 of the module connector OR it may be used from the SPort connector on the back of the XJT. In either case, the signal need to be inverted before goint to the processor. An RS232 buffer, as used for DJT telemetry does this job. If you have a cable for a DJT, then you just need to route the wire that goes to the DJT TxD pin to the SPort signal.

2. Using TelemetrEZ - We have just sorted the TelemetrEZ to support the XJT. Because the SPort from the XJT is at a different baud rate, the firmware in the TelemetrEZ has needed to change. The TelemetrEZ firmware needs to be updated to r90, and er9x needs to be updated to r813, but I haven't formally committed r813 yet, only a test version while sorting the TelemetrEZ. I should get this committed in the next day or so.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

I want to see and verify the ability to change over my SKy9x Radio, use the XJT Module to the X8R Receiver using SPort Vario telemetry.

There are several ways of settings and procedures to Bind the XJT Module to the X8R Receiver.

I have Selected COM 1 for the single RxD wire to the Pin 5 connection in my test version of: PXX700Quad model eeprom.
Do I also, ..... need to have with the Sky9x board, the COM 1- TxD and GND wire to the external 4 pin connector XJT module?

I have been trying the different ways to Bind with the different setting options and have not seen any Telemetry readings
(have only seen 0.0 for telemetry readings).

I believe you are using in SETUP 02 / Protocol: PXX / Type: D8 and in Telemetry 2: COM1, for the Pin 5 connection.
With the XJT Module, Mode and Compatibility Switches, Both are set to OFF (down).

For Binding the X8R Receiver, there is Mode and Binding Operation (procedures):
Mode 1: (D8) with Telemetry: Jumper before Blinding: CH7 to CH8 (signal pins) and NO use F/S button when powering X8R.

Mode 5: (D16) with Telemetry: no jumper used, Holding F/S button down when powering X8R.

Bob

[MikeB]

No you do not need the TxD and Gnd wires connected.

If using the X8R receiver, use PXX, D16 mode, COM1 and both switches down. On the X8R, use the Mode 5 above.
You should get Rx RSSI (you don't get Tx RSSI on SPort, instead this is SWR (reflected power)), and the receiver voltage on A1, set the A1 range in TELEMETRY menu to 13.2V.

Mike.

[bob195558]

Hi Mike,

I made the setting changes and was still seeing no telemetry readings.
I went back and rechecked the RxD to Pin5 wire and found that the wire had broken next to the wire connector.

I made the repairs and now there is SPort Telemetry Readings!

Thank You Mike for your help!

Sky9x Radio Settings for SPort Vario telemetry readings on display.

The Tx RSSI show a reading when I covered the antenna, is this the SWR (reflected power) ?

Bob