Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Help with any software/desktop related issues. e.g. companion9x, eePe, etc
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nickxab
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Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

I changed the title and the question because first i have to resolve something else.

How do i flash a M128 on a stock x9 board ?
In companion's settings is as this: openTx for m128/ 9X board
I downloaded the firmware and started the burn process.
After a while i get an error : Cannot convert EEProm for this firmware, original EEProm file will be used.
What i'm missing here :?: :roll:

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jhsa
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by jhsa »

You can only flash the 9x radio with that code if the radio's processor IS an Atmega128. If it has an Atmega64, it will not work as it has half of the memory.
No idea about the eeprom error. Is that during the flashing process? Strange. :o

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nickxab
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

Yeah my bad i forgot to mention that i replaced the m64 with a m128. 😁
I did some test, i tried multiple times to flash openTx with companion 9x but it fails.
Yes let's say it's during the flashing process, more specific exactly when the flashing process finish.
Of course i get nothing on the screen.
The strange tho happened with er9x-keydiag.hex
I flashed it but in the end the companion gave me an error again about the eeprom (of i remember was something about the size of the eeprom) but i had something appeared on the screen.
So I disconnected the tx from the pc and turned it on, on the screen it gave me an error bad eeprom and press any key, so i pressed one and then it said formatting...anyways it loaded up after that.

But i can't get openTx work on m128 😣
I tried also to reset fuses, i tried both options.
I don't know what i'm doing wrong 🤔
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MikeB
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by MikeB »

Support for openTx on the 9X transmitter stopped some years ago.
I am still maintaining er9x for the 9X transmitter.

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

Oh i see xD
Well i will solder the m64 back then :P

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by MikeB »

That should not be necessary. The firmware for the m64 works perfectly on the m128.
Do you really need to stick to openTx? It was forked from er9x originally, and on the 9X I don't think it was ever really that much different to er9x. Since openTx support for the 9X stopped, I have enhanced er9x quite a bit, why not give it a try (and put eepe on your computer, companion was forked from that).

There is a good manual on er9x here: https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6473.

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

Oh too late i soldered back the m64. :lol:
Ah yes actually i need some more info about the current state of the firmwares but i was thinking to make a new thread about it but we can discuss here as well. :D
I didn't flash my tx for loooooooong time, actually i didn't work on any rc project for a couple of years for many reasons until this summer.
So to give you an idea of what i'm talking about:
Image
It's the backup that i made yesterday before i solder the m128. xD

I try to catch up but i missed a lot of progress.
So the most updated firmware now is the er9x ?
I tried downloading it with companion 9x yesterday but it gave me an error, i suppose that's outdated as well.
Gonna install eepe then :D
Thanks for the manual, i definitely will need it.


I have some questions, how to choose the best suited firmware for me according my mods ? :lol:
Where can i find an explanation of each version ? (i found them on the manual but not all)

My current mods are these: RF9X V2 (Stock module), Frsky DHT module, telemetry, haptic, piezo speaker, backlight with transistor, i think i don't forget anything. 😅
I found some basic info in the pdf but it didn't cover my questions :P
What's er9x standard for example ?🤔🤔
Is er9x for M64-FrSky with serial voice for the mod with the sd card ? 🤔🤔
I think the er9x for M64-FrSky is for me.
Sorry too many questions and many edits...still trying to catch up.😅😆
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by MikeB »

Pity, the '128 version is able to do more, including having twice as much EEPROM for model storage, which is why the EEPROM needs a re-format.
You need er9x for M64-FrSky, this handles the telemetry.

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

i was thinking to order a m2561 and go for the max size.🤔
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by jhsa »

Yes, the m2561 and Er9x is the way to go. It even supports the MultiProtocol module. and as it seems you are comfortable with electronics, you could even build a voice module for the radio. Er9x even supports adding a couple more switches and/or changing a 2 position switch to 3 position. It is very flexible.

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

Oh yeah i have planned that mod for the future as well :D
Btw now i try to flash the m64 with eepe but i get this strange error
Image

EDIT: I flashed the er9x-keydiag.hex, then it formated the eeprom. After that i tried to flash the er9x-frsky.hex, this time it flashed it without any errors.
Now on 9X's screen i get an
ALERT bad EEprom Data
Press and key


I pressed every key but nothing happened. :roll:

Edit 2: i solved the problem with non responding buttons.
Seems that the cpu didn't solder back correctly with the hot air. :lol: :lol:
I soldered the pins with the soldering iron one by one and now it's working fine :mrgreen:
Last edited by nickxab on Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by MikeB »

You probably need to slow the programming clock down, this is done by adding -B 10 to the AVRDUDE command. In eepe, go to the Burn|Configure menu and put -B 10 in the extra arguments field.

Also, I recommend going in to the Burn menu and selecting "Set Fuses to Protect EEPROM", otherwise the the EEPROM is erased every time you try to flash the firmware.

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

oh LOL mike i just updated my post :lol:
Some pins from the m64 didn't sit on the board correctly and that's why they didn't respond. xD

One question tho:
does this firmware support the stock module ? I would like to switch between them. (not use them at the same time)
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by MikeB »

The original stock module (Flysky FS-TM002) works fine, as does the more recent module (AFHDS2A type), although for this later module you may need to change the PPM polarity to get it to respond.

Adding the -B 10 won't hurt.

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

I have the RF9X v2 module.
MikeB wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:08 pmAdding the -B 10 won't hurt.

Mike
What's that ? :lol:
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by jhsa »

MikeB wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:16 pm You probably need to slow the programming clock down, this is done by adding -B 10 to the AVRDUDE command. In eepe, go to the Burn|Configure menu and put -B 10 in the extra arguments field.

Also, I recommend going in to the Burn menu and selecting "Set Fuses to Protect EEPROM", otherwise the the EEPROM is erased every time you try to flash the firmware.

Mike
Read what Mike wrote here.. :) In case you have problems flashing. Also, please note the "Set Fuses to Protect EEPROM" explanation.
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

Oh the -B was for the flashing...i resolved that already :D
I have some problems with the firmware tho. I try to understand what's the cause. The firmware worked for a while and then a weird glitch appeared...like some one was pressing the buttons.
I thought that maybe there was a sort or something but everything was fine and clear.
Then i flashed the openTX backup and everything was fine. Now i will flash again er9x to see if this glitch appears again.

Edit: r821 did again the same glitch. :cry: Flashing the r822 now. :lol:
EDIT 2: The same happens again. I can't navigate at the menu at all. :cry: :cry: :cry:
Edit 3: I found the cause...was a small piece of tinned wire under the screen area which shorted some pins.... :?
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by jhsa »

You were lucky. That little thin wire could have killed your processor. It wouldn't be the first, nor the last one :) :mrgreen:

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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by bob195558 »

If you were to lose your processor it may not be all bad, because you could upgrade to the ATMEGA2561-16AU CPU Chip: https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 120#p74105
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by nickxab »

It's all good now, i wired it again from 0 :P
Now i must some free time to read the manual of the firmware and get used to it. :D
Thank you all for your replies <3
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Re: Flashing a M128 on stock 9X motherboard

Post by jhsa »

well done :)

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