Single-Board Universal Module

mwm wrote: Sounds like you haven't found the rcgroups forum on the DIY multiprotocol JR module. That use the multi-module and deviation protocol code ported to an ATTiny in a JR module. I believe someone already has OpenTx support for it, but I'm not positive. Because of that, one of the requirements on the board is that it fit inside a JR module.

I saw early versions of it. Pretty cool. But not so great because every module has it's own antenna.
And it just takes PPM.

mwm wrote: Most of PB's code is GPL'ed under V3, but I couldn't find the sources for the board design to verify that.

Well, I'm only really interested in what the guys have been doing here in this thread.

mwm wrote: I'd like to create a non-profit organization that could coordinate contacts between people willing to build them gratis and those wanting to use them, maybe keep a US stock of parts that need ordering from china, but haven't been able to find anyone else interested, so don't have enough people to set up a legal non-profit.

It all depends on how the author(s) of the module feel about 'commercialisation' by others. Hobbyking has a tradition of bringing opensource hardware projects to market. I see a reasonable chance in getting such a amazing product to market.
(Not with Bluetooth. It would need a little SPI display and a few buttons to select the protocol and bind mode)

Oh, I only just saw.
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2165676 has notonly PPM mode but also a digital serial mode supported by er9x. That would be easy tpo port to OpenTX.

TilmanBaumann wrote:

mwm wrote: I'd like to create a non-profit organization that could coordinate contacts between people willing to build them gratis and those wanting to use them, maybe keep a US stock of parts that need ordering from china, but haven't been able to find anyone else interested, so don't have enough people to set up a legal non-profit.

It all depends on how the author(s) of the module feel about 'commercialisation' by others.

By releasing something under the GPL, the authors have given up the ability to keep you from commercializing their work. You can't create a proprietary version, but if you can sell it under those conditions, you're golden. Since the point wasn't to create a commercial version - that's why it would be a non-profit - but to create a service to help deviaiton users, those condition's aren't a problem. Of course, if PB asked me not to, I wouldn't.

Right now, the only way to get someone to make you a multi-module if you feel it's beyond your abilities is to ask here, preferably offering to pay for their work, which makes it technically illegal in the US. Similarly, only one person has offered to build them for others - for a fee. The universal module will be even worse, as you go from simply being able to do it with relatively simple soldering - mostly through-hole, even to getting a lot of SMD components in place. Building and selling them would require dealing with the FCC or significant legal risks. Selling bags of components for cost + shipping and keeping a list of people willing to build things and give them away, not so much.

I don't mind building my own. But investing much work in driver code only makes sense if this thing will be used by a few more than a hand full of people.

Anyone who has built one already. What are the expected part costs?
And where is the latest BOM and schematic?

bitbucket.org/deviationtx/universaltx

Using eagle cad you'll be able get bom which can be used at digi.
bitbucket.org/PhracturedBlue/deviation-u...versaltx/?at=default
Current published code

I'm not up to date but layout posted on oshpark was one pb is working with now. I tidied top layer but missed few minor thing on bottom layer.
Pb was happy with it but completion of 100 functioning unit was quite there. More a solder layer/build issue than design problem.
I could try look at eagles file and see if anything pop out.. If that helps?
There's another thread started by mwn about wants one. Form you own ideas from it but I think it's a winner. Would open the door too any brand to to use other brand rx<< if it got Fcc ticket everyman and his dog would have it!

Pb has started Bluetooth/ android app. Don't have link for thread sorry.

Devation for mobile devices

www.deviationtx.com/forum/7-development/...devices?limitstart=0

Can someone who has Eagle installed export a BOM for me? That would make life a lot easier for me.

Ordering the PCB from OSHPark now. Version 0.9.4

Anyone know of a good place to get the SI2369DS-T1-GE3. Seem to be out of stock everywhere and wont be in stock for another 5 months If it was a month or so it wouldn't be a big deal since I have to wait a month or so for most of the transceiver chips to come in from china.

this is a 2A 30V PMOS in SOT-23, nothing too special almost anything could work here.

quevernick wrote: Anyone know of a good place to get the SI2369DS-T1-GE3. Seem to be out of stock everywhere and wont be in stock for another 5 months If it was a month or so it wouldn't be a big deal since I have to wait a month or so for most of the transceiver chips to come in from china.

RS have them.
uk.rs-online.com/web/c/semiconductors/di...44532D54312D47453326

So a beefier 30v 5.9A in sot23 like this should work in a pinch:
www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/SI2343...-T1-GE3CT-ND/2441906

or one of these thats a bit cheaper:

www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/NTR417...1PT1GOSCT-ND/2705209
www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/IRLML5...03TRPBFCT-ND/2441088

Hello,
is there a chance for a readable schematic diagram (pdf) and/or a set of gerber files?
I tried several ways to import the eagle stuff into actual KiCAD but no result seems fine

Why not download a copy of EagleCAD? The demo works good for smaller boards.
www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/

Gerbers are already available for the project, or you can just order the boards from OSHpark.

If you want to contribute to the project get a full version of EagleCAD. It is not perfect but better than KiCad,
I think. (different subject).
www.bigmessowires.com/2014/12/09/eagle-vs-kicad-revisited/

I use a separate free program for analyzing Gerber files: Gerbv gerbv.geda-project.org/

Free version of eagle cad will only let you look at top/bottom layer, need full version!

Pm me if you want help with that.

...as I can remember, you can look at 4 layer boards, but not edit them. This may no longer be true, but I'm pretty sure.
I have full version available now.
Thanks!

These modules look interesting:

world.taobao.com/item/27232304992.htm?fr...a.7728556.0.0.nN6PUc

world.taobao.com/item/526271178299.htm?f....4&qq-pf-to=pcqq.c2c

gdenton wrote: These modules look interesting:

world.taobao.com/item/27232304992.htm?fr...a.7728556.0.0.nN6PUc

world.taobao.com/item/526271178299.htm?f....4&qq-pf-to=pcqq.c2c

If you can read Chinese, that is.

I tried Google Translate, and could make some sense of a few things, but Chinese is difficult to translate and a lot of things come out as Chin-glish nonsense.

One thing that I did notice was no LNA, I think that means that there is no telemetry possible with this unit. Another was extremely poor range for nRF24L01 protocols.

That said, it might be worth a shot for someone that is fluent in Chinese, so that they can follow all of the documentation as to the installation of this module. It would be nice to find out if it actually works, and if so, how well it works.

I see DSM2 but not DSMX protocol, Most of the protocols looks to be either obsolete or for cheap flying devices.

While it's nice to see someone making these, they aren't really a substitute for the UM. Like the UM, they use SMD rf modules, which would be a win if their choice of modules weren't so poor.

The four-module one is the DIY multi-protocol TX module, and isn't all that interesting for deviation. It implements the protocols itself instead of getting them from deviation, and uses PPM to communicate channel information back and forth. The protocol is selected by the rotary switch on the module, and you have to update the module to update protocols. Newer versions of the DIY module use a serial interface instead of PPM, and the software on the Tx can be used to select the protocol. A major improvement, but still not all that interesting for deviation.

The other one is a bit more interesting. It's not quite a multi-module, as it doesn't use an mcu to switch the signals around, but has three chip enable lines instead. Two are the two already used, and the third is shared with the button matrix. This makes me worry that using it will screw up the button that also use that pin

On the other hand, it does point out that it's possible to get three modules in a Tx without a multimodule. You just need to solder to an otherwise unused pin on the mcu. I may have realized that earlier, but it's not something I'm willing to try so I forgot about it. Since they have you soldering on mcu pins for the 7E version, I have to wonder why they used a button matrix pin.