ERSKYTx (was ersky9x) Questions

[iwik]

Thanks
Les

[SkyNorth]

For those who dont want a external hole for the USB port..

Here is the USB connector bent at right angle.
A easily cut square hole in the bottom of the battery compartment allows access.

Might be able to do this with the SD card as well.

-Brent

[Mechcondrid]

Hey Brent the com ports run at rs232 level or ttl? Just wondering if I'll need a level shifter for my frsky mod

[wallaguest1]

supossing the lipo is powering the radio using the balance connector, what will happen if the big positive or the negative leads of the battery touch the usb? a short circuit can happen?

the result is not the one i was expecting in my mind, radio looks just broken in my opinion

[SkyNorth]

The Serial ports are true RS232C levels.

-Brent

[SkyNorth]

The USB jack is sitting well below the battery compartment. It is not sticking into it.

If you have open battery leads hanging around ...

-Brent

[SkyNorth]

Another Option for a N0 Drill case. Would be to replace the Charging jack (pulls right out) with
a 8 pin mini DIN connector.

CUI_MD-80SV_Datasheet.pdf

(250.83 KiB) Downloaded 354 times

It could carry the USB connections and the two serial port connections.

We would have to make up a usb to mini DIN cable...Just another option to consider.

-Brent

[G550Ted]

Now, that's an elegant solution!

Ted

[Rafit]

Elegant solution? Check this one:
http://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Wat ... 767540.htm

it's only example what we can find.

[Crashj007]

Another Option for a N0 Drill case. Would be to replace the Charging jack (pulls right out) with
a 8 pin mini DIN connector.
<> We would have to make up a usb to mini DIN cable...Just another option to consider.

This may be a useful adapter. L-Com has many configurations and cables available
http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=10863

[wallaguest1]

if it fits, then the 8 pin mini DIN looks a much better solution and clean,
i would vote for a 10 pin mini DIN however,
why? this way FPV goggles can have the power source from the radio using one of them, and the other one can be used for trainer signal, for HeadTracking

Foxtech FPV googles uses 1 single cable with futaba radios to get power source and send HeadTracking singnals,
with 9x its needed a split cable for it, but with this connector we could kill several birds with one shoot,

[SkyNorth]

The Square socket on the radio is 0.50 " across and the diameter of the 8 pin Mini din is . 0.550"
so it looks like a good fit - a small flat filed into each side should keep it in place.

This part does not come in 10 pin version. But maybe another MFG. makes one.

The second serial port is unused , so you could use the 2 pins from it for other things as well.

Another access point to consider is the 72 Mhz antenna hole.
The Metal shell insert from a inline mini din connector
fits right into the antenna hole. a Little hot glue holds it in place.

-Brent

[android78]

It's looking great, but just a few questions.
1. If I'm using the FrSky telemetry, can I connect it directly to COM1 without the RS232 level converter?
2. Where do you source the new lcd module? Is this the one:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OPTREX-F-513 ... 412wt_1154
3. Is the issue with the trainer port fixed with this, or do we still need to add a resistor?
4. Can I charge a battery in the controller when using this?
5. Is there a stable firmware release for this yet?

Keep up the fantastic work on this. It seems that this is a real opportunity to stick it to the manufacturers of the stupidly expensive controllers out there.

[SkyNorth]

1, Yes, you can connect directly to the serial port.
2, Digkey sells the module , The one you list is 5V not 3.3V
3, Trainer port is ready to go.
4, The charge jack is directly connected to the Battery.
5, There is a basic version of the software working... Mike has done some awesome work on it.
-Brent

[MikeB]

1. Yes, the RS232 level converter is built in on the board.
2. I'll leave that for SkyNorth to answer.
3. The trainer port is fully fixed, nothing to add.
4. Yes you should be able to charge the battery in place.
5. Not yet, some of the firmware is still set up to test the hardware, rather than provide functionality. There is still quite a bit to do to get to a first stable version. To get it going, I wrote an emulation of the EEPROM in er9x, this needs to be changed to allow 4k of EEPROM per model, a major change. The FrSky telemetry is not yet implemented either and the audio system is absolutely minimum. Having said that much is working, and I have used it for 3 indoor flying sessions without any radio problems, although getting a model T-boned wasn't part of the plan!

SkyNorth is reporting the first REVB board appears to be working OK. We have had to do firmware changes from the prototype boards as quite a few pins needed to change functions. There are also some new hardware items that have needed new firmware to test them. I'm the only one who has implemented any formware for it so far, but I expect others who work on er9x to join in soon.

(and Brent did get in with a reply first!)

Mike.

[SkyNorth]

Well, as Mike has reported .. IT WORKS!..thanks in part, to his hard work.

The board with the LED backlight on low and No RF Module draws about 62mA. or so says the on board current sensor

I have hand soldered two boards for testing all is looking good....
The gold plating makes for easier soldering...still about 8 hours of work each
There are 220 parts !

The protos are due to be soldered week of March 4.

-Brent

[pmackenzie]

Will the trainer port work with an open collector source like JR transmitters have?
Took a quick look at the schematic, and not sure that it will. Looks like the circuit is intended to clip a 5 volt input to 3.3 volts.

Thanks,

Pat MacKenzie

[SkyNorth]

If its a true Open Collector , its pulling to ground , there would not be 5 Volts on it.
The internal pullup on the port pin pulls the pin to 3.3V , and the open collector JR drive would pull it to ground.

If you feed a 5V signal into a 3.3V input , the internal diode will conduct. The external diode was for added input protection.
Do you have a schematic of the JR output?
-Brent

[MikeB]

I'm not quite sure about the 62mA, unless Brent has done some calculations to get it. I'm just dumping out the A2D value in hex. We had to change a few resistor values to get this to work properly, I'm not actually sure what value of shunt resistor we ended up with.

The trainer port is quite flexible. We have both a processor pin for output PPM drive and a transistor sense to handle low level inputs. The processor pin can also double up as a pull-up resistor. The trainer port PPM output is completely separate from the PPM (or PXX or DSM) that goes to the rf module.

Mike.

[litris]

Hi all.

Can you buy just the PCB?

I like to try or be a beta tester.

Thank you.

[cre8tiveleo]

How do you think the ersky board would be like in this tx case?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1231017

[SkyNorth]

The boards come in frames of 5.
The frames allow 5 boards at a time to have the solder paste screened on, and then built up by the pick and place machines.

If I end up with any single boards that cant be built , I might sell those off..

I do not want to break up the frames to sell a single bare board.

-Brent

[Mechcondrid]

any updates, issues, or anything?

[SkyNorth]

I hope that the boards, will be built up this week..
I will have to put some of the parts on by hand after the SMT parts are soldered.
I then have to program and test each board.
So if all goes well , I can start shipping out proto boards in the next week or so.

-Brent

[bartolomeus]

Hi,

If there's a pre-order list, could you add me please. I'm new here so I can't send a PM.

Thanks.

[Hasse.69]

GREAT.

Looking forward for delivery...

Best regards , Hasse.

[Mechcondrid]

ok cool thanks for the info brent
... just had a thought you gonna pm everyone for their addys right? despite being one of the greatest hobbies and hobby communities on earth i'm still wary of posting my full address on any site
dem spiderbots is everywheres

[SkyNorth]

You can send your address to my email address...and I will send you a Paypal Invoice...
-Brent

[wallaguest1]

why not add too an EL driver to the board? i am not sure but i think will be cheaper illuminate the board with an EL panel than with leds,
an EL panel can be dimmable variating the voltage?

[Kilrah]

LEDs are actually more flexible for dimming, simpler electronics (no high voltage converter) and cheaper...