9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Hardware Support for the 9XR
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uncleburls
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9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

Hi...I'm new to flying please forgive my ignorance.

I picked up a used 9xr recently. It's been working great, but this afternoon when I powered up (after using earlier today), instead of the splash screen, all I see is a message that says "LOADING" model XYZ. The screen freezes on this notice, then if left on, the Tx eventually heats up just behind the lower right of the LCD screen. I only noticed this after the screen darkened in that area.

I've tried to find a way to do a "hard reset", but no luck. I'm wondering if should/can, try re-flashing or perhaps some other "trick" approach.

I'd be grateful to have any advice or thoughts on how I might recover the radio.

thanks kindly,
Brian
Last edited by uncleburls on Tue Apr 04, 2017 2:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

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jhsa
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by jhsa »

If that message shows up, it could be that:

- A key is stuck pressed.
- There is a short to ground on one of the keys.
- At least one of the processor pins is either damaged or shorted to ground.

To me that points to a hardware problem, not software. So, you will have to open the radio and do some measurements.
First thing is to find out what part is getting hot, and why..

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uncleburls
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by uncleburls »

Thanks so much for the reply...hardware problem makes sense.

I read about the firmware feature that loads a model on startup depending on which key you hold down during power up.

I've been using the keys heavily over the past few days trying to learn transmitter and make adjustments....maybe I wore/shorted one out?

I'm not so skilled with a meter, but I have one. I'll open the case.
uncleburls
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by uncleburls »

It seems that the part getting hot (very hot, quickly upon power up) is a voltage regulator...KIA 78D05F

I wonder if I might have damaged this with my charger--I used an old plug-in wall transformer rated at 12v, but when I measured it, it appears to be closer to 18v! I may have turned the unit on too while this was plugged in.

It looks like the voltage across the two small pins is about 6v and from ground to the large flat terminal, about 24v.

Hopefully, I can simply replace this voltage regulator?
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jhsa
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by jhsa »

It should not be possible to turn the radio ON and charge at the and time, that means, if you turn the radio ON while charging, the charger circuit will be disconnected.

If the 5V regulator is overheating, it means that something is taking more current than it should. Did you do any mods to the radio? which ones?
Did you add any hardware to the radio?

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uncleburls
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by uncleburls »

OK, thank you.

No mods, the radio is bone stock except for the Orange Rx. I've tried powering up w/o the module, but same result...the LOADING model message.

I don't sea any obvious problems anywhere--no burnt wires or loose parts,etc-- but now that the case is open I'll turn it on again and take a harder look for other possible problems. Any suggestions of what I should be looking at/for are greatly appreciated. :)

Thanks again!
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MikeB
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by MikeB »

The model it is loading will be one of the first 6. If you know which one this is (1 to 6), I can tell which button is being detected as pressed.

Mike.
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uncleburls
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by uncleburls »

Thanks. I'm not entirely sure which model it was except that I believe it was the active model when I shut down last...I think model 4, but I'm not 100% certain. I see this corresponds to [UP] on the 4-way pad.

I powered the unit on with board pulled away from the buttons so I know none are physically stuck or grounding out.

Not sure what could be pulling too much current, but while looking to see if anything else seems amiss, I realized the large MPU is getting
hot too...not as hot as the voltage regulator though.

Finally, I realized I checked the voltage of the regulator wrong...seems that it is spot on; 5V on the left leg, 11V on the right leg.
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jhsa
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Re: hard resetting 9xr?

Post by jhsa »

Pulling the board away from the plastic buttons doesn't mean you've disconnected them. :) The buttons themselves are soldered to the the board. You said you have a meter, right? Could you please post a good picture of your board here, so we can also have a look? Also, give me a couple hours and I will try to mark the points where you should take measurements on the picture.


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uncleburls
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9xr stuck "LOADING"

Post by uncleburls »

OK, thank you, I really appreciate the help and am eager to learn more about how this all works.

Here's a photo showing the board lifted away from the 4 way pad.

It seems to me like the black discs in the square rubber boot are supposed to complete the "button" connection on the pcb? Pardon me if I'm misunderstanding this...I don't see any tactile buttons/switches.

Image
Last edited by uncleburls on Thu Apr 06, 2017 9:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

I see there are replacement 9X boards available from Hobby King. Doesn't seem like this would be an option for me tho.

Anyone know if there are replacement 9XR boards to be found anywhere?

Would a "9XR Plus" board work in an 9XR?
Daedalus66
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9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by Daedalus66 »

No. The 9X, 9XR and 9XR Pro boards are completely different. 9X and 9XR are similar in terms of circuits but different in physical layout. 9XR Pro has totally different circuits.

The 9XR board used to be available as a spare part but I suspect is long since discontinued.

By the way, I can't see the picture in the above post.
andrewju
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by andrewju »

jhsa wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2017 8:53 am The buttons themselves are soldered to the the board.
Really?! :)
Perhaps, it's been a looong time since you opened up your 9XR! :)

uncleburls,
Based on what was discussed so far, one of the possible causes may be a faulty microcontroller (that big square chip on the board). Normally, it could be warm, but is should never get hot.

I'm not sure if you could find a new mainboard for the 9XR nowadays. But don't give up - there are ways to fix yours! Based on your location, you could try checking this thread for someone nearby offering help to diagnose and possibly replace the faulty chip. I would be happy to help as well, though, I guess we might be far away from each other, so shipping cost will make the whole idea worthless...
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jhsa
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by jhsa »

Yeah, I assumed wrongly that the buttons are the same as on the 9XR-PRO, real tactile buttons, but they are not. They are that remote control resistive rubber rubbish :) My mistake.. :)

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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by andrewju »

jhsa wrote: Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:45 pm They are that remote control resistive rubber rubbish :)
Yep! That's a very precise definition, BTW! :)


P.S. With all the testing you do and all those variations, no wonder you mix the radios up! :)
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jhsa
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by jhsa »

True, but I never actually had the 9XR, and glad I didn't actually :)

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bob195558
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by bob195558 »

May be better to consider a new 9XR-Pro, though the price I see is up now,
they used to be under $60.00 + shipping: (https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-9xr ... odule.html).
I do not have the 9XR or the 9XR-pro, but I do have the Taranis-x9d which I used erSky9x firmware in it.
I use my Taranis as my main (best) radio, it cost more, but comes with a lot of hardware features built in,
like the well made Taranis Gimbals and the internal XJT module: (http://alofthobbies.com/frsky-taranis-p ... itter.html).

Bob B.
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uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

Thanks for the replies...not giving up! I was just beginning to get the hang of the radio.

Sorry about the picture, I think I got it right now, but as João said, rubber rubbish indeed.

I'm game to try to fix it and really appreciate the help...still a bit ignorant, but learning. ;)
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MikeB
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by MikeB »

Try measuring the voltage between the pairs of pads.One side is 0V, the other side should be 5V. If one of them is 0V, then that is the one to investigate further.

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uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

Thank you for the suggestions

Here's what I see across the pad pairs:
(in hindsight, I probably should have measured these from ground?)

the 4 way pads read [up]=4.3v, [down]=4.3v. [right]=4.4v, [left]=4.4v
the [menu]=338mv , [exit]=284mv

on a cheap IR thermometer:
the 5v regulator heats up to about 150F/65C
the MCU gets to about 130F/55C
(both heat up very quickly)

I tried unplugging and re-plugging all of the socketed wire looms attached to the mother board and inspected them for damage. After reattaching everything and powering up again, still the same...stuck at "LOADING model"
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MikeB
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by MikeB »

I don't like the 4.3/4.4V they should be more like 5V, as should both menu and exit.
Do you have a RF module in the radio? If so, please remove it. The PPM signal (which is not buffered in any way, connects to a pin on the same port on the processor. If the module is pulling this down you may get the problem you are seeing.
Is it at all possible you plugged/unplugged the module while the radio was powered on?

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uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

Thanks !

I've only measured after removing the Orange DSM module (I took it out when I disassembled the shell), although the "stuck LOADING behavior" was the same before and after I removed it. I've neither removed nor installed the module with power on.

I double checked the voltage of each of the pads pairs this morning...this time measuring each pad half from ground...still about the same.

Sounds like the 4-way pad voltages of 4.5v are suspicious and the 350 & 300mv at the [menu] and [exit] way too low.

Any thoughts as to what other component might be sucking up so much current as to heat up the voltage regulator? Is it the processor itself perhaps?

For what it's worth, when powering on, the radio does't get to the splash screen nor sound any stick position/switch warnings...it stalls out before any of this.
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MikeB
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by MikeB »

With power off, please measure the resistance from the PPM signal to the module (top pin in the module bay) and ground.

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uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

How does 5.9 M Ω sound?

(Not sure I'm measuring/reading correctly, but this is what I see)
uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

Last night I plugged in a USBasp to see if I could possibly try re-flashing...no luck

The radio powered up from USB power, but displays the same "LOADING" message/behavior.

in eepe, I tried make a connection, but I got an error about "not seeing the avrdude" ...not sure if this is because the radio is stuck or if I need to do something to set up the USBasp on the Mac.
uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

I was poking around and found this:

Image

I'm going to start unplugging I unplugged these one at a time to see if I can find any clues as to what might be pulling too much current and heating up the 5 volt regulator and to see if the unit might get past the Loading step. No luck. Unit continued to power up but get stuck for all but the one that supplies power.

I also tried pulling the plugs to the board where the module attaches....same result.

Any suggestions as to what else I might investigate be would be appreciated. :?

thank you!
uncleburls
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by uncleburls »

Checking back after a while away...still no luck getting this thing to power up.

Wondering if anyone has any ideas on where to get a new mother board or anything else I might check to pinpoint the problem?

Does this seem like a bad MCU or could some other part suck up enough current to overheat the 5v voltage regulator?

Thanks!
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"? (9XR Schematic)

Post by bob195558 »

If you need more info about 9XR Mainboard Schematic, see here: (viewtopic.php?f=99&t=10231&p=128945#p128945).
Other 9XR info: (viewtopic.php?f=99&t=10231#p128838).

Bob B.
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jhsa
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Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by jhsa »

I don't have a 9XR and I didn't follow this discussion from the beginning, so I do apologise if this has already been asked..
Did the radio ever work?
Please check if the 3.3V regulator is also getting hot.

João

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jhsa
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Re: RE: Re: 9XR stuck "LOADING"?

Post by jhsa »


uncleburls wrote:
Sounds like the 4-way pad voltages of 4.5v are suspicious and the 350 & 300mv at the [menu] and [exit] way too low.
Wait there a second. I have just read the last couple pages. Please disregard my last post.
Can you please confirm these voltages on the MENU and EXIT pads?
If they are that low you might have found where the problem is..
I think we all missed this little detail..

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