9x thus based software hack

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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby mpthompson » Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:04 pm

erezra, I didn't realize you were erazz on RCGroups as I've been trying to get caught up in that thread. Glad that you are here as it's very easy to get lost in the all the noise in RCGroups. I'll be downloading and attempting an build and install your version of the firmware soon. I'm a bit new to RC flying and basically upgrading from the simple HK-T6A so we'll see how things go as I try to figure out a much more feature rich transmitter. Like soopy, I basically fly parkflyers so we'll see how much of the features I touch.
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby erezra » Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:24 pm

Sometimes I forget I'm me too :D


Don't forget to add any bugs and/or enhancement requests here: http://code.google.com/p/er9x/issues/list
!!! BEWARE - WE ARE IN THE AIR !!!
http://www.eraviv.com
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby mpthompson » Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:42 pm

I'm looking at the er9x things now on: http://code.google.com/p/er9x/

Below are some observations and questions.

I created a read-only copy of the SVN tree on my Windows system to examine the source code. From the looks of the project make files I presume the code is mean to be built on a Linux system. Also, it looks like Ruby scripts are part of the tool set including possibly the make process itself. My preference would be work within AVR Studio 4 within Windows for simplicity sake -- although I'm well versed in working with Linux as well. Would it be a big deal to include the AVR Studio 4 project files in the SVN tree? This is something I can help out with. Also, how do the Ruby scripts interact with the code development?

What is the er9x.bin binary file at the top of the source tree? From looking at the logs it looks like this is the latest firmware build you check in with each revision of the source code. Is this correct?

I notice on the site you have direct downloads to the firmware binary files such as:

http://er9x.googlecode.com/svn-history/ ... k/er9x.bin

Do we also need an eeprom file to go along with each version of this binary file?

Do you have any build notes or other documentation. I can probably figure it out myself, but it may save me a bit of head scratching if I come across issues during the build process that don't look so straight forward. After I get comfortable building the code I can help with creating notes so that others can build the firmware as well.
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby erezra » Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:01 pm

Hi,

You're right. The code is built to be compiled on a Linux machine. I find it much easier to work via Linux. Not much to be done anyway, simply compile all the stuff in scr/ and link it together. The ruby script updates the stamps (version number, svn name etc...)

The er9x.bin file is the FW that needs to be uploaded to the AVR controller. The eeprom is also included for testing purposes. It is not necessary to write it.
The direct downloads are for the current and previous versions. This is to help non svn-literate people download it easily.

I don't have any documentation yet. There are some guys on RCG who are trying to piece some stuff together. You can look at thus' manual. The basic concept and some menus are the same.
!!! BEWARE - WE ARE IN THE AIR !!!
http://www.eraviv.com
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby mpthompson » Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:21 pm

OK, I was able to very quickly get it compiling under AVR Studio 4 -- I built what was at the HEAD of the SVN tree.

Compiled the first time for me without errors and downloaded fine to the transmitter without any problems with my serial AVR ISP programmer. Looks like an EEPROM check is performed on powerup and if invalid (EEPROM is cleared for me upon programming), it asks me to hit a button to reset the EEPROM to a default configuration. Without knowing anything about the software, it seems to be working fine.

I guess my next step is to look up how to start using things in Thor's documentation.

I'm pretty happy that it was just a simple process of grabbing the source code, compiling it and downloading it to the transmitter. A good omen.
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby erezra » Sun Sep 05, 2010 4:28 am

Hey Bruce,

Any chance of you doing a review of custom FW for the 9x?
Were pretty far along now.
The FW turns the radio from a "just OK" to "awesome".
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby RCModelReviews » Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:59 am

Yep, it's underway -- I intend looking at all the third-party versions and have been doing a little "dabbling" of my own with a view to integrating the FrSky telemetry a little more tightly into the 9X package. Might even provide "model-load" :-)
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby erezra » Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:06 pm

Finally, after much procrastination, some work and very little common sense...

By popular demand...

I give you the glorious manual!

http://er9x.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/ER ... 0Guide.pdf

(in all it's... ermmmm... glory)
!!! BEWARE - WE ARE IN THE AIR !!!
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby JensR » Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:20 am

Thanks so much for this!

As I wrote here:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=164&start=130#p3463
I plan to build a radio control construction machine (a motor grader) that uses up to 13 channels, many of which need to be controlled at the same time.
Volhout told me that the er9x can handle up to 16 channels?!
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=164&start=140#p3513
But I am not clear on the following (quote from other thread)
""""""""""""
This sounds fantastic!
I read through the manual and couldn't find any indication as to how 16 channels will work on the receiver end? To I simply bind a second 8-channel receiver to the same transmitter? Can't be that simple, can it?

As to using any second PPM transmitter connected to the trainer port: Hm - this again sounds good, but to effectively control the grader, I can't really rely on 8 functions spread out over four 2-axis joysticks unless I grow two more hands ;)
Would you say the 9x can accommodate custom potentiometers?
""""""""""""""

Thanks for your picture at the beginning of this thread! Very helpful. It seems I could connect my custom potentiometer-based joysticks to the PCB of the 9x.

Any help towards the 16 channels would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks
Jens
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Re: 9x thus based software hack

Postby erezra » Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:16 am

Hi Jens,

To use extra channels you need a receiver that can read them. For example a Futaba 14 channel receiver.
The radio simply tries to cram extra channels into the PPM stream. This might or might not work based on the receiver in question (I haven't been able to find out the proper way to handle more than 8 channels).

Since all the pins are taken the only way to input more channels is to stream them through PPM. Your best bet might be to cannibalize two transmitters with 2 RF modules and use them together.
!!! BEWARE - WE ARE IN THE AIR !!!
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