- Posts: 317
In search of the ultimate Devo7E
22 Jun 2015 18:14 #34537
by grnd flyr
I do... where/how did you come up with the new sticker? Kewl...
Replied by grnd flyr on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
SadSack wrote: You know you want to!
I do... where/how did you come up with the new sticker? Kewl...
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22 Jun 2015 20:32 - 22 Jun 2015 20:33 #34541
by blackmoon
Replied by blackmoon on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
I'm on to replace the MCU on my second devo7E, but where can I download the bootloader ?
The link below only explains how to do it.
Thank you.
The link below only explains how to do it.
Thank you.
PhracturedBlue wrote: That is unlikely. The number of users willing to do this mod would be really small. If you are capable of upgrading the MCU, then you are capable of installing the build system and building the update
Note to anyone considering this: It isn't as easy as just replacing the MCU. You also need a way to install the bootloader. I use a STLink/V2 (~ $25). You can get chinese no-name SWD programmers for ~$10 from ebay though.
It isn't hard; I just documented the procedure here:
www.deviationtx.com/forum/6-general-disc...-7e-bootloader#34250
But it is an additional expense.
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26 Jun 2015 05:11 #34661
by PhracturedBlue
Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
Well, I finished the hardware mods for now.
I've added the 2 SPDT switches, along with 2 analog POTs. I don't have a UniversalTx board ready yet, so that'll have to wait. Figuring out how to connect to the analog pins took a lot longer than it should have. I stupidly thought it would be easier to do with the hot-air gun. I also thought using my #45 AWG wire would make it easier. After a lot of trying different things, I found a technique that was pretty easy:
1) using a medium ball-tip iron (~ same width as the MCU pins) add extra solder to the MCU pins in question (but don't bridge them)
2) strip about 1 to 2mm off of some #34 AWG magnet wire (soldering iron works well for this)
3) bend tip of wire at 45-degree angle
4) using microscope, get wire close to MCU. touch iron to MCU pin, and touch magnet wire to MCU pin. remove iron and hold until cool.
5) Add hot-glue to hold magnet wire in place (I actually reheated the hot glue with my hot-air gun to get better adhesion
It isn't much fun, but the connection is good, and there are no shorts.
Here are some images of the inside of my box. Taking good pictures of the magnet wire connections is beyond my ability. The box is getting a little crowded too.
I haven't done the software programming needed to enable everything yet. I am not sure if the analog dials can be supported via hardware.ini. the 7e is so tight on space, I am not sure if there is room for the additional logic.
I can't post the 7e bootloader, but PM me, and I can point you in the right direction.
I've added the 2 SPDT switches, along with 2 analog POTs. I don't have a UniversalTx board ready yet, so that'll have to wait. Figuring out how to connect to the analog pins took a lot longer than it should have. I stupidly thought it would be easier to do with the hot-air gun. I also thought using my #45 AWG wire would make it easier. After a lot of trying different things, I found a technique that was pretty easy:
1) using a medium ball-tip iron (~ same width as the MCU pins) add extra solder to the MCU pins in question (but don't bridge them)
2) strip about 1 to 2mm off of some #34 AWG magnet wire (soldering iron works well for this)
3) bend tip of wire at 45-degree angle
4) using microscope, get wire close to MCU. touch iron to MCU pin, and touch magnet wire to MCU pin. remove iron and hold until cool.
5) Add hot-glue to hold magnet wire in place (I actually reheated the hot glue with my hot-air gun to get better adhesion
It isn't much fun, but the connection is good, and there are no shorts.
Here are some images of the inside of my box. Taking good pictures of the magnet wire connections is beyond my ability. The box is getting a little crowded too.
I haven't done the software programming needed to enable everything yet. I am not sure if the analog dials can be supported via hardware.ini. the 7e is so tight on space, I am not sure if there is room for the additional logic.
I can't post the 7e bootloader, but PM me, and I can point you in the right direction.
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26 Jun 2015 18:57 - 27 Jun 2015 01:42 #34694
by Cereal_Killer
Taranis X9E | DEVO 10 | Devo U7E | Taranis Q7
What I do in real life: rivergoequestrian.com/
Replied by Cereal_Killer on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
Thanks for the link, I went ahead and ordered, they're WAY smaller than the set I got from ebay so hopefully they'll fit.
I'm not sure where I can find room tho!
How well does the universal module fit in there?
Edit: I'm already anxious, about how long does it take stuff to get here from HK's China warehouse when you used the cheapest shipping?
I'm not sure where I can find room tho!
How well does the universal module fit in there?
Edit: I'm already anxious, about how long does it take stuff to get here from HK's China warehouse when you used the cheapest shipping?
Taranis X9E | DEVO 10 | Devo U7E | Taranis Q7
What I do in real life: rivergoequestrian.com/
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26 Jun 2015 20:27 - 26 Jun 2015 20:33 #34698
by aMax
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29 Jun 2015 06:10 #34821
by PhracturedBlue
Replied by PhracturedBlue on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
Well, after many hours of effort, I was able to hack the 7e bootloader to support 256k Flash.
It turns out that the RAM initialization is compressed in the bootloader. This makes it difficult to search for strings. My guess is that this is not some sort of encryption/obfuscation, but instead is a capability of the compiler when aggressive optimizations are enabled.
The compression scheme is simple, it basically has 3 modes:
1) copy from ROM to RAM
2) zero bytes in RAM
3) copy from RAM to RAM
The trick was to find a sequence which decoded the same way and used the same number of bytes (since there is no way to change the size of the byte array). I got lucky, and found that by changing the right 3 bytes, I could change the memory size from 116k to 244k. I then verified that I could use the new bootloader to upload an image >128k in size, and everything worked.
So my 7e is now back in business
I have the 'ultimate' firmware built, but I forgot to enable the ADC for the pots, so while they show in the menu, they don't actually work yet. I'll fix that tomorrow, but for now I'm done for tonight.
It turns out that the RAM initialization is compressed in the bootloader. This makes it difficult to search for strings. My guess is that this is not some sort of encryption/obfuscation, but instead is a capability of the compiler when aggressive optimizations are enabled.
The compression scheme is simple, it basically has 3 modes:
1) copy from ROM to RAM
2) zero bytes in RAM
3) copy from RAM to RAM
The trick was to find a sequence which decoded the same way and used the same number of bytes (since there is no way to change the size of the byte array). I got lucky, and found that by changing the right 3 bytes, I could change the memory size from 116k to 244k. I then verified that I could use the new bootloader to upload an image >128k in size, and everything worked.
So my 7e is now back in business
I have the 'ultimate' firmware built, but I forgot to enable the ADC for the pots, so while they show in the menu, they don't actually work yet. I'll fix that tomorrow, but for now I'm done for tonight. Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
29 Jun 2015 15:39 - 29 Jun 2015 15:39 #34836
by blackmoon
Replied by blackmoon on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
Impressive work as always [unpacking spare devo7E...] 
Maybe I'll finally settle on selling my 10 when the UniTX and the ultimate firmware are ready, and I can do all these mods to the spare 7E. I've grown fond of my 7E, so much that I barely touch the 10.
Maybe I'll finally settle on selling my 10 when the UniTX and the ultimate firmware are ready, and I can do all these mods to the spare 7E. I've grown fond of my 7E, so much that I barely touch the 10.
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29 Jun 2015 22:56 - 29 Jun 2015 23:02 #34863
by grnd flyr
Replied by grnd flyr on topic In search of the ultimate Devo7E
Forgive my ignorance but what is the difference between the UTX & MultiModule v1.3 (supposed to arrive in a couple days)? Also curious for any pics of the MultiModule all hooked up, i.e. mounting location...
PhracturedBlue, fwiw... I found that post from SadSack where he described how he went about it. I ended up using ~ 400 grit mesh paper, swimming in mineral spirits, polished with toothpaste & microfiber washcloth. Worked pretty well... Any offense to using:
DEVO 7E
d e v i a t e d
in stead of deviation? I sure want to give credit where it's due, and much thanks for all the time and effort you and everyone else here has put into this. I just can't wait to turn my 7E for the first time!
[EDIT] OH, forgot a question... think I remember someone, somewhere mentioning adding red LEDs with them hooked up to the piezo alarm. Anyone have pics of that mod?
PhracturedBlue, fwiw... I found that post from SadSack where he described how he went about it. I ended up using ~ 400 grit mesh paper, swimming in mineral spirits, polished with toothpaste & microfiber washcloth. Worked pretty well... Any offense to using:
DEVO 7E
d e v i a t e d
in stead of deviation? I sure want to give credit where it's due, and much thanks for all the time and effort you and everyone else here has put into this. I just can't wait to turn my 7E for the first time!
[EDIT] OH, forgot a question... think I remember someone, somewhere mentioning adding red LEDs with them hooked up to the piezo alarm. Anyone have pics of that mod?
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