What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Where to find parts? Refactoring your entire transmitter, new cases? Sticks etc..
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Rad
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What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Hi all, just for fun and being busy, I want to add more things in my radio, so far it has:

Reverse current protection and lipo battery
PPM Protection.
9xtreme with battery, SD Card and RGB screen.
Upgraded speaker
Internal Multiprotocol module with telemetry
4 Push buttons on the back.
Pot replaced with a 6 pos switch.
Two taranis sliders on the sides of the radio.
Four 2-pos switches replaced with four 3-pos switches.
Taranis gimballs
Bluetooth
Metal standoffs, so I can open and close it safely infinite times.
External multiprotocol module with telemetry.
7 position encoder.
Vibration-Haptic.

And I think thats all. Is there something else that I can add, or did I reach the limit?

Im open for your ideas!
Last edited by Rad on Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:32 am, edited 5 times in total.
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jhsa
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

Vibration, Bluetooth.. :)
And your radio will be more complete than mine ;) :)
The 4 pushbuttons on the back are just amazing, aren't they? ;)
Of course they have no use for tray flyers :)

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

The push buttons on the back are one of the coolest things I installed in the radio, and I am surprised about how well they fitted, seems that I had a good day that day, lol. I use them quite a lot, I love the feeling of them.

About the vibration, I am decided to install it. Do you have a link or a thread of what I need?
And regarding bluetooth... What would be the use of it in the radio? I really have no idea.
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Edit regarding haptic, I have just joud this thread: https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8488
And your thread too, Joao.

I wonder if I could just wire two of this ones: https://www.banggood.com/FrSky-Taranis- ... rehouse=CN
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jhsa
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

Found this one??

https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 126&t=7987

I tried some of those pancake motors and couldn't make them work, so i can't really comment on those.. I went with the long ones. They seem to be stronger as well. I installed one on each side of the radio.

Bluetooth is really cool. I used it for example for trainer while teaching others to fly, You can send telemetry to any application that supports it.. there is an old android app called "frsky dashboard" I think that receives the telemetry over BT and displays it. This works only with the old D8 protocol.
You can connect the radio to eepskye on the PC, and control and use it for example to program a model from scratch while watching it live.
That means you program the model using the mouse and keyboard on the PC while watching the surfaces move in real time.
Another feature is, You can also see the radio screen on eepskye in real time and change settings. or change settings on the radio itself, and see them on the computer's screen :)

There is one more mod if you teach people to fly, or just want to receive wireless channel data from other radio.
My radios have a DIY Frsky compatible short range micro receiver installed under the 9x radio backboard, just beside the trainer jack. This receiver outputs SBUS.
So, I can use any other radio capable of frsky D8 protocol to have a very reliable trainer setup. This receiver is capable of more than 100 meters.. My son can be flying at the flight line, and i can sit with the others and take control if I need to :) I don't have to stand near him nagging him all the time :) :D :mrgreen:

https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9400

And if you like to fly simulator to practice on those long winter days, here is a cool project for a wireless simulator dongle for Frsky D8, also using a DIY receiver :)

https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... =84&t=9625

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Thanks Joao, now I need a bluetooth module in my radio, LOL. Do you have a link of any module you can recommend me?

Of course I have seen your radio thread long ago and many times more along the years. It has been a great inspiration for my radio.

Regarding the haptic, I indeed have seen your gadjets, but I am a bit afraid of not being able to do it... I also have also seen Bobs haptic that is much more doable for me... But expensive... Double expensive, because I want one motor on each side of the radio.

But what if I install this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2305-DR ... st=ae803_5 And two motors? Do you think it will work?

Regarding my models, I dont fly, yet... But this is one of the toys that I am working on:
2.jpg
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

Nice model, even if it doesn't fly [emoji14] :) ;)

I don't think that controller will work because it uses I2C communication..
Making your is much cheaper. I think you should give it a try. It is not that difficult, and you can test it outside the radio as well..

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Hi Joao, do you think I can easily fit this bluetooth module?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/WAVGAT- ... 3328cb5706

I´ve read your tutorial, and noticed the master-slave thing. I am not going to need it, because this will be my only radio with bluetooth and I only want it to connect to the computer, not to another radio.

Due to it has no button, do I have to wire it like in your tutorial too? It is more a straight fit?
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

No, that is a bluetooth 4.0 and it is not supported.
You need an HC-05 or an HC-06.
I would go for the 05 as it can do master and slave. Even if you don't need it now, you don't know the future. :)

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Ok cool, glad I asked, lol. I found it: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pcs-lo ... 3c00XOFZUl

It is needed to do the solder wire (yellow line) mentioned here? https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 126&t=7987
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

Rad wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 12:10 pm Ok cool, glad I asked, lol. I found it:
That's the one, and it is cheaper I think.. I would get a couple just in case :)
It is needed to do the solder wire (yellow line) mentioned here? https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 126&t=7987
It depends, if it is exactly the same as the one I used, then yes. but we have seen some with different connections. You will have to take a picture of it when it arrives. There are more threads about bluetooth installation on the ErSky9x forums.. It shouldn't be that hard to install.


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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Ordered! I will come back with pictures when it arrives... In two months or so, lol.
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

Cool..
But didn't you find it on ebay?

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

I order almost everything in aliexpress for years... Usually everything is considerable cheaper than ebay, even when you buy exactly the same product with the same photos, and has also a good buyer protection. The parcels usually take more or less the same to arrive (except when you find an europe supplier in ebay)

Now I am going see what I need for making your haptic system and start gathering the components...
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

have fun :)
any question, we're here ;)

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Oh! I just reminded another mod that I have seen out there and might worth it. I think I have seen people replacing the front buttons (for controlling the menus) with something better, any clue of that?
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

I have a rotary encoder wheel with center pushbutton.. :)

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

jhsa wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:51 pm I have a rotary encoder wheel with center pushbutton.. :)

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Link! Info! Can I put it too? Or did I already reached the top with my mods?
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

You might want to have a look at this thread

https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1084

Not sure the encoder we used is still being produced :(

Also, found another thread about the Bluetooth.

https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7640

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Wow I got loads of info for the encoder, but I am quite confused. Some people were installing it on the plain 9x, some other with AR9x boards that I have no experience, some other had software issues... But those are quite old posts. Im sure the software problems are long time sorted, so it should not be a problem. But Im still a bit confused of what I need, hardware related.

First the encoder itself https://www.mouser.at/ProductDetail/611 ... N-CB222LFS (Shipping, 28 bucks?! JESUS CHRIST) it is out of stock in many places, discontinued and obsolete they say, so Id better get one soon. But shipping kills the deal right now.


Second one of those nice blue boards our colleague Andrewju was selling. I have read some people had problems with the hobbyking screen. Not sure if it will fit with the 9xtreme, that is bigger.

Also I have seen some kind of 3d printable mount, but I guess it is not needed if getting the Andrewju´s board.
Is there something else I will need, to solder something and so on? Of course I know I have to remove the old buttons and place the encoder.
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

The encoder is installed to the 9x board, not the 9xtreme board.
The Ar9x and the Skyboard had the same size and shape as the 9x stock board, that is why we could also install it on the stock board. I have it on my stock 9x radio.
As you would be installing it to the stock board under the 9xtreme, you would probably have to use some resistors on the encoder pins. Unless there is other way of adding it to the 9xtreme that I don't remember. :(

I have the blue PCB installed and it works. You might have to sand it a bit though because of the LED backlight though. The hard part is to remove the switches and solder and line up all the pins.

On the thread I linked, I believe there is a very long video explaining the complete process of installing the encoder..

I did say that I thought the 7 way encoder was discontinued :( Unfortunately that might be the case. There are other encoders, but that one was just perfect.

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Hi,

Ok, I will start gathering the parts too. The encoder is in stock in the US right now, a friend can get it for me and send it to me at some point among other things, so cool then. I wrote Andrewju regarding the blue PCB.

The only thing that is open is the resistors stuff that you mention. Hopefully we can find some info about somewhere.
Regarding the video, I have seen it and definitely it looks doable, but no info regarding 9xtreme compatibilities.
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Kilrah »

It was already hard to source the encoders when I had interest in them, probably 5 years ago...
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Kilrah wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:55 am It was already hard to source the encoders when I had interest in them, probably 5 years ago...
If you still have interest and can cope with the shipping, here it is:
https://www2.mouser.com/ProductDetail/6 ... N-CB222LFS
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Kilrah »

Nah, had already bought them back then (probably from mouser as well) but ended up never using them since I retired my 9X's shortly after. Sold them to jhsa actually :)
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by MikeB »

For the 9Xtreme, you wire the encoder to the original board as described here for er9x: https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1525.
So the common connection for the encoder is 5V and you use a 3K9 resistor in each of the 3 signal lines to the processor pins.
If using the 7-way encoder, with the 4 buttons round the edge, the 4 buttons use a connection to 0V and then connect to the places where the original 4 switches are mounted on the original main PCB.

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by Rad »

Well, this is going to be more complicated than expected... But I will try. Worst case scenario, there are replacement boards in banngood... As long as I dont damage the 9xtreme, would be OK...

Thanks for your reply, Im going to contact Andrewju again in case there is something that I have to keep in mind.
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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by MikeB »

The alternative, for the encoder part, is to use an Arduino (Pro Mini) connect the encoder to that and use the I2C connection to the Arduino. This is OK as long as you are not using the I2C/serial connection for anything else.

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by jhsa »

Mike, does't I2C allow for paralleling devices as long as they have different IDs? I thought that was the main advantage of using I2C..

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Re: What else can I upgrade in my radio?

Post by MikeB »

Yes. The 9Xtreme expansion port has a serial port (COM3) that may be used for bluetooth and a second port that is either I2C or COM2.
If not using COM2 COM3, then you may use I2C instead.

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