0 - $0.00

So you want to use a FrSky DJT module and 9Xtreme or TelemetrEZ with your 9x radio, but you don't want to cut a hole in your case to do it?  I can't say I blame you.  Cutting the hole is definately the easiest way to go, but the following provides a neater end result.

There's three main steps:  1) Modify the DJT module;  2) Modify the 9x's "backplane" circuit board;  3) Make the connection to your 9Xtreme or TelemetrEZ.

1. Modify the DJT Module:

  • Remove the two case screws and carefully bring the lid away from the body {note that there are the two screws at one end and two tabs at the other}.
  • The circuit board is very firmly seated in the body and you have to pull it out.  Its in there really tight.  Don't break anything... but be strong!
  • Solder two wires as shown (click image for full size) in order to bridge the external rdx and tdx lines with the two "unused" module pins.
  • Re-assemble.  Be sure to get the circuit board all the way down - remember its a tight fit!
If you have any plans for using the module in a Taranis system as well as your 9X, then please read this forum post.

2. Modify the Backplane:

  • First remove the 4 screws holding the backplane circuit board to the radio body.  You'll probably also want to slide the external power/charge jack out of its slot to get some extra mobility.
  • Pin #2 (2nd from the top) and Pin #5 (bottom pin) are the "unused" ones that we're going to take advantage of.  They aren't really unused though... FlySky connected #2 to ground, which is entirely redundant,{#4 is ground} and #5 is used for the old-school FM connection.  But for our purposes, they're currently useless so let's get some use out of them!  Since the FM connection is already isolated, we just need to connect it (see next step), but the extra ground connection needs to be isolated, and that means some cutting.  Get a very sharp knife and a shot of whatever makes your hands steady.  If you look at the first image below, I illustrate how pin #2 has to be isolated from ground (painted brown in the picture) and I also isolated #5 from the antenna (painted purple), although it has since been confirmed this is unnecessary.  The red line represents the required cut {again, the lower cut for pin #5 is unnecessary}.  You'll figure out how deep to go by testing with a meter (discussed below).  The second image below shows the results of my cuts.  As you can see, it is easy to slip and make a mess of things!  But it is OK as long as you don't cut through any neighbouring traces (the lighter green tracks are traces.  The darker green areas are empty)


  • Now you might be inclined to get out a multimeter to check that you've actually cut through, but you won't succeed at this point and you'll still get continuity between it and ground!  Why?  Because the sneeky devil's at FlySky connected this pin at the back too!  Bothersome...
  • So now you flip over the board and do a couple of "blind" cuts.  You'll see that the black coating applied to this side of the board hides where you need to cut!  You can scratch it off to see the traces, but I didn't bother since you don't have to be as careful here because the other pins are only connected on the top side.  However, be aware of the traces to the left of the pins that you can just see through the coating (I've artificially highlighted them yellow in the image below).  Cut on either side of pin #2 as shown.  Again, its easy to slip... the red lines represent what I was trying to do vs the scratches I actually made.  As before, it is OK if you aren't perfectly neat about it as long as you don't cut the nearby traces!
  • After cutting, now is the time to use your meter.  Check tha there's no longer any continuity between #2 and ground.{Ground is most easily checked at either of the big metal rectangles above the pins}  If there is, then go back over your cuts on the front and back of pin #2.

Make the Connection:

  • Snip off the black connector from the 2-wire black & white cable that came with your 9Xtreme or TelemetrEZ and solder the wires to your newly isolated pins as shown.  Finally plug the white connector from that cable into the "FrSky" socket on the board and you're done!