Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

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TheCirodi
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:11 pm
Country: Italy

Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

Post by TheCirodi »

Hello,
I'm a fan of this great radio.

Unfortunately I missed to purchase the 9Extreme board.........

With the aim to get the best from it I read previous topics on the subject, however, since my limited skills in electronics, I'm struggling to understand if this upgrade would be feasible even to me.
I tried to understand as much as possible what has been posted and shared by talented people as for example https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 120#p74105
The post and the others that are mentioned in it appear a work-in-progress in a sort of trial/error/discuss/fix process.
Again, very high quality discussions there. Compliments! however I wasn't able to find a guideline to summarize all the good works done in a sort of instruction for dummies.

Does anybody would be so kind to drive a dummy like me to achieve the same goals?

I have some questions for example......
1) from HW perspective, is it "just" matter to unsolder the 64 processor and solder in the same position the new one? Anything else, as for example "is the 5V regulator replacement needed?
2) I have some skills in electronic soldering and have a good solder with fine tips, plus a vacuum probe to suck the melted soldering tin. Could I be successful or it's required more than this?
3) After having replaced the processor is it just matter to upload the er9x-2561.hex with eepe? Any advise about this, like eepe right configurations? Does the last FW version (thanks to MikeB!) makes life easier than what has been faced in the topic mentioned here above?
4) I found also discussions about the horizontal trims potential issues and I just posted here https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 95&t=13609 something about.

I also understand that in these bad times it is also a nightmare to purchase a single chip.
There is plenty of fakes.

Anyway if someone will be available to drive me, I'll appreciate a lot!


Please let e know.
Thanks a lot!

Sergio

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jhsa
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Country: Germany

Re: Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

Post by jhsa »

I Sergio, I have been away from all this for quite a while as DIY was one of the mai reasons that kept me on this hobby, and it seems no one does it anymore since Frsky started producing radios. :(
I still use my 9x radios in all their different flavors. Atmega2561, 9xtreme, Ar9x board, etc. I also build my own D16 Frsky compatible receivers which are a great project from forum user "Midelic".
As I said, I have been away for a while doing other projects (audio related), but will try to answer at least some of your questions.
TheCirodi wrote: Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:26 am 1) from HW perspective, is it "just" matter to unsolder the 64 processor and solder in the same position the new one? Anything else, as for example "is the 5V regulator replacement needed?
Nope, the original regulator is perfectly fine
2) I have some skills in electronic soldering and have a good solder with fine tips, plus a vacuum probe to suck the melted soldering tin. Could I be successful or it's required more than this?
It is essential to have the right tools to remove the original chip and solder the new one. I used ChipQuik to remove the original chip. It is expensive and difficult to find, but well worth it. So easy and you will not damage the chip with excess heat.
If you don't have it, I recommend you get a good hot air station to remove the chip without damaging the PCB.

Some people just cut the pins of the original chip with a sharp hobby knife. If you do this, be very careful not to cut the tracks that run under the chip. It is very easy to make a mistake and mess up a good board. :(

3) After having replaced the processor is it just matter to upload the er9x-2561.hex with eepe? Any advise about this, like eepe right configurations?
After you replaced the processor, first thing you do as far as I remember is to burn the correct fuses. You'll find them on one of the links you posted above. the thread about replacing the chip.
But you can do that in eepe. Just select the correct chip and programmer in "Preferences" and in the "Burn" menu. AVRDUDE location should be pointed to the "eepe" instalation folder.
Then Burn Menu / Set Fuses To Protect EEPROM.

After that you can burn the er9x_m2561 firmware.

Does the last FW version (thanks to MikeB!) makes life easier than what has been faced in the topic mentioned here above?
Sorry, don't understand this question :)
4) I found also discussions about the horizontal trims potential issues and I just posted here https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 95&t=13609 something about.
I believe the only chip that had problems with rebooting because of the trims was the Atmega128. Never experienced that problem with the Atmega2561 chip. But you can do that mod if you feel safer.

I also recommend the Telemetry mod.
João
My er9x/Ersky9x/eepskye Video Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5uJhoD7sAKidZmkhMpYpp_qcuIqJXhb9

Donate to Er9x/Ersky9x:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YHX43JR3J7XGW
TheCirodi
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:11 pm
Country: Italy

Re: Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

Post by TheCirodi »

Hi João,
first of all thank you for helping me.
I have now a better idea of the job.
I believe I'll be able to find a support for the unsoldering and soldering part.
BTW I have a pro heater gun that could work to unsolder and I'm looking at YouTube tutorials for surface mounting soldering.

The problem now is to find the chip.
I looked on Ebay but I'm scared of the fakes.
You know, doing all the hw work and then discover that the chip is fake.....
The original ones ask for more of 1 year of leadtime.

About the Telemetry mod could you point me to a good tutorial?
In this site there are broken links to the right pages.
For example er9x manual points to https://openrcforums.com/wiki/index.php ... _telemetry without success.

Please let me know.
Again, thanks a lot!

Regards,

Sergio
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jhsa
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Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:13 pm
Country: Germany

Re: Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

Post by jhsa »

Hi Sergio, have a look here:

https://github.com/MikeBland/mbtx

Also for the chip, I don't know where you are, but I am in Europe. This shop in Germany has it. A bit expensive though.

https://www.reichelt.com/de/en/8-bit-at ... os_0&nbc=1

João
My er9x/Ersky9x/eepskye Video Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5uJhoD7sAKidZmkhMpYpp_qcuIqJXhb9

Donate to Er9x/Ersky9x:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YHX43JR3J7XGW
TheCirodi
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:11 pm
Country: Italy

Re: Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

Post by TheCirodi »

Good day João,
yesterday eve I found the same supplier you are suggesting.
Thanks in any case.
Now, the matter is shifted for me and it's more appealing to me the challenge in doing this replacement.
Moreover, considering that 9extreme is no more available (to me it is impossible to build one) and that I have already installed smartieparts programming board, if I'll succeed in upgrading the CPU and modding for telemetry, the last thing to do would be the voice module.
Have you any suggestion about this mod?
Thank you for helping.

Sergio

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jhsa
Posts: 19480
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:13 pm
Country: Germany

Re: Turnigy 9X Upgrading to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip

Post by jhsa »

Sorry, I only saw your post now.
Concerning the Voice Module, please have a look at this link.

https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6831

João
My er9x/Ersky9x/eepskye Video Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5uJhoD7sAKidZmkhMpYpp_qcuIqJXhb9

Donate to Er9x/Ersky9x:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YHX43JR3J7XGW

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