Graupner MZ-24 as a platform for Deviation?

What do you think about Graupner MZ-24 (MZ-18) as a platform for Deviation?

RF module has SPI bus to main board (photo and pinout attached), CC2500.

Pros:
USB firmware upgrade
SD card support
Color LCD touch screen 3.5" (480x320)
Sound (buzzer and voice, internal speaker or hear phones)
Probably Murata pots (not yet checked, same pots used at Futaba Tx, 1000000 cycles)
Quad bearings Gimbals
and so on
...

Cons: I don't know now, I will say when I get it.

Shop with good prices (Graupner MZ-24 with shipping about 329$):
www.aircraft-world.com/en/c954692-transmitters-systems

I will say all info about used chips (pots and so on) when I get it in my hands. Yesterday it shipped from Japan by EMS.

I've got a transmitter Graupner MZ-24 in my hands.

First external impressions = very + very positive from any side, but:
1. First, it is the set without wall charger for 1S LiPo 4000mAh battery. Do not try charge battery by any wall power supply over "CHARGE" socket!!! Charge lead for external LiPo charger included.
2. Second, set has one receiver GR24L only.
3. Third, top left and right switches (S5 and S6, S7 and S8) are too close each other.
4. Two sliders on the back side placed not at optimal position, they placed too low for my taste (towards to the bottom side of transmitter).

From other side, sticks are very smooth, except throttle, it has slightly ratchet feeling. I think it can be adjusted.

Next impressions I will say when I fully charge included 1S 4000mAh battery.

LCD is bright and I can easily to see display under direct sunlight (sunset time).

Sound from internal speaker is quite loud (default setting 3) with setting 4, with setting 5 it's more then enough.

From original firmware update it looks like Tx has at least 2.0Mb memory for firmware and 1.6Mb for voice.

I'm simply looking for a replacement for Devo transmitters with better functionality (sound, voice) and hardware. HoTT protocol and Rx don't bother me. It looks like at near future we can't use Devo transmitters (supported by Deviation), as they disappear.

What's about RF chip used at Graupner transmitters, it is unimportant. At least Graupner MZ-24 (MZ-18) use RF module with SPI bus, so we can use any RF module with SPI bus.

need to know the MCU. Where can I obtain a copy of the firmware? that may shed some light on it.

I found the firmware on their webpage and took a look.
Looks like it is ARM Cortex based. I'm going to guess it isn't STM32 though. I haven't given it more than 10 seconds worth of investigation, but it doesn't look like it is encrypted which (if true) means we could probably write our own. It is still possible that it is signed or otherwise secured to prevent custom firmware. If it is based off a Cortex MCU which has a data-sheet, and the firmware doesn't appear protected after further analysis, it looks like a good candidate.

I will try to disassemble Graupner MZ-24 and make photos at weekend. Probably after that we will know more about used chips.

A little more investigation, and I'll backtrack on my statements about the firmware. I initially thought I saw the vector table of a ARM Cortex in the top of the bin, but looking at it further this doesn't seem to be the case. i can't really make heads or tails of it right now.

If you like to get original instructions how to flash firmware for Graupner Tx, Rx or other Graupner products, the best source is:

www.graupner.co.kr/downloads

For now I've successfully flashed latest firmware to MZ-24 (Tx) and GR-24L (Rx). The only trick is flashing sound (voice) files for MZ-24, you need to download sound pack manually from:

www.graupner.de/News/Fernsteuerung-mz-24-HoTT-12-Kanal-V1.041/

On the other hand, you can select what language voice to flash. Or you can select version of language voice file for Multikopters.

Without deep disassembling, I haven't time for it.

WARNING, to open back cover you need also unscrew two top hex screws, not only six back cover screws.

MCU
ARM STM32F207IGT6

www2.st.com/content/st_com/en/products/m...2x7/stm32f207ig.html

MCU was painted by silver paint (it looks like big and thick "Z" letter), it takes about half a hour to wash this paint from MCU with different solvents. Best result with acetone, but still it takes about half a hour. Luckily I can wash this paint completely and read marking.

Second chip I can see on the main board:

MX25L3206EZNI

MACRONIX
MX25L Series 3 V 32 Mb (x 1/x 2) 86 MHz Industrial Grade Serial Flash - WSON-8

Guys, this is on the edge of my sight capabilities, it takes about half a hour to read chip marking with lens.

By the way, rear sliders really has Murata pots, I can't determine brand for stick pots.
Both stick are equal, with ratchet and smooth springs, both can be centered by screw. So, transmitter can be used with multikopters with centered throttle stick.

Why not, if it has SPI bus inside. Frsky Taranis has not SPI bus.