9Xtreme Upgrade Board for 9x Radios

[s_mack]

An obvious concern with wifi is that it is 2.4Ghz, the same as our transmitters. Of course, we aren't typically flying at the same time we're updating Another concern is power draw, but that's probably not that big of a deal either. In both cases, the solution is to not have wifi operating at all except when doing things that require it.

Its a good idea, certainly. Feasible? I'm really not sure. Perhaps if someone is already familiar with this space and knows how to integrate it. For me, it would require a whole lot of learning, R&D and experimentation. I'd love to implement it if I saw a clear path to doing so.

[jhsa]

Bluetooth is also 2.4Ghz and I have a BT module inside my radios since quite a while..
some people also use 2 RF modules ON at the same time.. Of course, this would need testing. I have a couple modules.
I believe this works over I2C. Here is the datasheet.

esp8266-datasheet.pdf

(846.58 KiB) Downloaded 236 times

João

[bob195558]

Thank you João, those examples help me to understand it better.
Then also, it maybe possible to connect to eepSkye with WiFi installed on 9Xtreme/9XR-Pro/9XSky9x and erSky9x on Taranis ?

Bob B.

[jhsa]

Bob, there's only one person that can answer that question

João

[flybabo]

If you have WiFi/BT on your 2.4GHz transmitter, it will definitely affect the transmitter's range one way or another.
Adding more equipment using the same 2.4GHz ISM band, it will increase the noise floor of the band
even though it doesn't directly interfere the other ISM devices in the short range (Thanks to the robust
spread-spectrum modulation technique).
Increased noise floor means reduced signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) which limits the maximum speed of
the data transmission according to Shannon's theorem - if you need a reliable data communication
over reduced SNR, you need to slow down the data transmission speed.
That's why New Horizons Pluto probe send the pictures back to Earth in just 1kbps (=125bytes/sec).
Note that SNR also reduces as the signal getting weaker by the distance.
Weaker signal like the telemetry signal from Rx to Tx gets affected first by reduced SNR
unless RX reduces the telemetry data rate accordingly.
If you want to keep the fixed data rate in the distance, you should maintain the SNR in certain level.

[jhsa]

We really only need 4 or 5 meters robust range on the BT or WiFi.
I did replace the PCB antenna on my BT modules with some dipole antennas.. The range was over 20 meters with me between both radios.. The problem is that sometimes when flying I was getting the telemetry lost warning. It seems that was affecting only the telemetry signal. moved the BT antenna to the bottom of the radio and I didn't get that warning anymore. So I think that a frsky receiver antenna would be more than enough for a reliable signal at 4 or 5 meters. Will have to open the radio and downgrade the antenna to a simple receiver antenna

João

[ShowMaster]

Maybe a 50 ohm carbon resistor? It should act like a radiating dummy load depending on lead length?
How does spectrum get away with by a wireless trainer setup I wonder?

[jhsa]

maybe they just have a receiver inside the radio??

João

[ShowMaster]

So the bt device is maybe switched from TX to RX or RX to TX for teacher or trainer mode? If so, can the 05 do that? Basically only one way?

[jhsa]

The HC-05 module IS recommended as it can work as both Master and Slave.
The BT connection in Ersky9x is bidirectional, that means both radios are receiving trainer signals from each other at the same time. You could in theory switch planes in the air with a buddy of yours.. NOT RECOMMENDED

The Bluetooth needs 5 connections.
BT TX to radio RX
BT RX to radio TX
3.3v (Some accept 5V)
GROUND.
One of the pins of the BT module also goes to the reset pin on the radio, at least on the PRO and SkyBoard. Not sure which pin on the 9Xtreme.
Also which pin on the BT module depends on which module you have. Sometimes they have different labels.

João

[ShowMaster]

The 2 HC-05's I just received have header pins on them. Is there a common pin out for these boards? I haven't looked closely at the boards to see any labeling yet, had to go to work. I'm just studying up on them.
Thanks

[jhsa]

Can you please post some pictures of them? both sides?

João

[ShowMaster]

I have the best answer to my own question! Just turn it over! The labeling is on the bottom of the board in big print.
I took one more look as I was going out the door.
I'll posts picture later as I'm on the run now.
Thanks for your offer to help.

[LTMNO]

Apologies for not replying/commenting sooner... just been crazy here..
Just received the Schottky Diodes.. going to install them now and fire this baby up...
Regarding BT... Regardless of speed, I would prefer the updating via wireless over BT... even if it is serial... isn't the current upload method serial as well. I know it was over the old MegaSound Board and that was fine with me.
Thanks for the responses.

Now to get that power pcb soldered.

[dalaman]

Hello there,

I have installed the 9xtreme board in my Turnigy 9x radio and it went well. I do have a couple of questions though.

1. Am I supposed to see the micro sdcard with my Windows 10? result: I plug in the usb cable from the 9x to the computer and I don't see the sdcard. Should I?

2. How do I activate and use the voice features?

Thanks for a fine product.

Denny

[jhsa]

Hello there,

I have installed the 9xtreme board in my Turnigy 9x radio and it went well. I do have a couple of questions though.

1. Am I supposed to see the micro sdcard with my Windows 10? result: I plug in the usb cable from the 9x to the computer and I don't see the sdcard. Should I?

First turn the radio ON while holding both horizontal trims towards the center of the radio. The tx will start in bootloader mode. Then plug the USB cable. 2 drives should appear on your desktop after a few seconds. One of them is your SD Card. The other is the internal flash and eeprom of the radio and it should be left alone.

2. How do I activate and use the voice features?

Thanks for a fine product.

Denny

Download this manual. It is for er9x which is a lighter version of ersky9x but you will find that the basics are very similar. The voice is handled the same way except that er9x uses only numbered voice files and ersky9x also uses named voice files..
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6473

João

[LTMNO]

Well, I just got finished.. took about 2hrs to be honest... getting all sorted, voice files, finding stuff on the forum.

I am hoping this helps the next guy as there are several posts out there.. several threads... this one will tail this end of the thread for now as more people are installing as time goes on.

1. I ended up drilling holes in my case for better sound quality, I know it works as I did it in my last radio mod.

2. Mount the speaker...

3. The finished result...


Sidebar....
I removed the Buzzer/Voltage Reg and Transistor...(as i did the Reverse Polarity Mod)
1. Cut Trace

2. Add Diode

3. Add Wire


And the proof is in the pudding... sounds great....
if you put your ear really close to the speaker you can hear the hiss... nothing i can notice from 1 ft away which is where my head is in correlation to the radio.

[BBvideo 425,350]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGV2tfNM3rA[/BBvideo]

[LTMNO]

To add, I am using a MAC... once I found where to download the EEPSKYE for MAC
http://www.er9x.com/eepskye.dmg

I then downloaded the Firmware
http://www.er9x.com/ersky9x9XT_rom.bin

I boot up the radio holding the trims inward...
Plug in the USB Cable.

You will see an 'NO NAME' drive and a '9XTREME' drive.
I renamed the 'NO NAME' to 'SDCard'

Then created a folder called 'Firmware' on the ROOT where I placed the Firmware file "ersky9x9XT_rom.bin" in.

Then put the files from Joao on the 'SDCard' Folder which copies 2 folders... 'Docs' and 'Voice'
download/file.php?id=11450

[ShowMaster]

Yes to opening up the case speaker slots for better sound. I actually cut the slots open with a #11 hobby blade. Just push a new sharp blade into the slots from each end, non blade side to the slot ends. This will cut the thin plastic and not slip and cut you. Then just tidy up cuts from inside the case. The drilled holes look good however.

[LTMNO]

I never thought of that.. the hobby blade.. that would work great... I had to use a really small drill bit to not damage the case outside... the knife sounds easier.. will try on my other radio.
Thanks.

The sound is fantastic though.

[jhsa]

I have some 2 watt Oval speakers I used for my 9XR-PRO. Will see if they fit on the 9x.

João

[ShowMaster]

I have other speakers from other 9x and Taranis upgrades but I'm ok with the supplied one so far. Adding the foam rubber insert and opening the slots up sounds like all my other talking txs now. I also rely on the haptic at my local field due to the very noisy planes all around me. Now the big electric scale planes are adding very loud sound effect amps and speakers in their planes. They make more noise than the gas and nitro or fast electrics now.
If you don't have haptic, add it. It fills in when you miss an audio warning, like tx or plane battery is low.

About opening the speaker slots. If you angle your blade and do a final touch cut from the front and back, it opens them up nicely. Be careful to preserve the slot sides, keeping them parallel and from bulging or getting fat looking from the front.

[jhsa]

Well, it seems the 9Xtreme has a 2W amp? the supplied speaker is 0.5W. I'm known for blowing the speakers up, 2 up to now. So I'm not taking any chances
Also, I only have a working haptic motor. It seems that all the others I bought, from different suppliers, do not work
They are supposed to be a replacement part for the Samsung Galaxy 3 smartphone, and they look like the one in the picture below. AVOID THEM.

[s_mack]

Well, it seems the 9Xtreme has a 2W amp? the supplied speaker is 0.5W.

Its a 1.7W *max* amp. it could be a 2000W Max amp and not blow a 0.5W speaker if it isn't pushing more than 0.5W, right?

[jhsa]

Right, then my question is, Are you limiting the power somehow? Or is the Amp able to give full power?
If it depends on me to limit the power by keeping the volume low, then consider it toasted already, the same as I did to the other 2 speakers

I will install the oval speaker anyway, as it seems to fit nicely, and it covers all the area where the holes are.. The round speaker is much bigger than the area where the holes are..
Someone has to test something different right?

João
EDIT: I'm not trying to be an a**. I really blew up 2 speakers on my megasound boards and the amps I used are not even rated at 1.7W

Working with music for a few years I know that a speaker should always be able to handle the power of the amplifier with a good margin.

[s_mack]

If you find that speaker fits better or works better, please do let me know. I really did only pick this speaker using VERY limited suggestions from people (8 ohm, 40mm, 0.5A, no more than 5.5mm thick).

As for whether we can blow a speaker by adjusting the software volume too high... well, let me find out.

[jhsa]

It might not blow up immediately. Mine didn't. But over time it did eventually.
I will post pictures of the oval speaker later, before and after instalation.

João

[s_mack]

I don't know much about speakers... I've admitted as much... but from what I've read and my personal experience... a speaker sounds horrible long before it is in danger of blowing. So I think if we're outputting too much power at max vol, we'd know it.

[jhsa]

A speaker can get broken in several ways. burning the coill (too much current), it doesn't necessarily sound bad, The cone can get displaced and the coil starts rubbing against the magnet (it sounds bad), broken wire, etc..
I not saying that the supplied speakers WILL get broken. I am saying they COULD get damaged because they are rated for less power than the amplifier..

João

[MikeB]

I believe we don't have a problem. Yes, the amplifier is rated as around 2W output. The output achieves this effectively by driving one speaker connection high and the other low at the same time, thus, with a 5V supply, achieving a 10V swing across the speaker.
To achieve this output however requires the inputs to be used in differential mode. Since we are using a single ended input, I think we are reducing the output peak voltage to half the amplifier can output, which reduces the output power to a quarter of the maximum, so only 0.5W.

Mike.