TQ Link 2.4GHz - 2 to 4 Channel Mod

[noir 522]

5th channel : is it available without being connected to channel 4? If you can seperate it (and make it work completely seperate) how it the wiring done?


I have just finished wiring up my new 4 channel conversion. But before I close everything up I wanted to sqeeze all I can out of it.

Ok just reread the prior post and I believe that the two channels are linked permanently

[danielhr77]

Channels 4 and 5 are "linked" together and cannot be separeted, I'm afraid... But, they are both available separately...

[Jencek7]

hi, my TQ 2.4 GHz radio 2ch model 2238 in the menu only flashes green four times and switch does not work. my english is not good so I can not read the whole topic I did not know what you're talking about. so I ask for help, thanks for the answer
http://jencek8.rajce.idnes.cz/vysilac_2ch_to_4ch/

[gman1_2]

I would like to use a momentary push button switch with just 2 prongs on the back. Can someone help with how to wire it up? I have the ISW up/down that is open to use. Does both sides of the switch hook to them or does one of the wires need to go somewhere else. I am new to this type mods so any help is greatly appreciated.

[gman1_2]

Found a video on YouTube on how to do it great mod.

[noir 522]

Finally got my project up to snuff. I now have four channels, I cut the throttle switch and attached a 3rd rocker switch in its place. Then I tor the transmitter down to its core (circuit board, switches, antennae, steering knob) and stuck it all into a radio shack project box

from this


to this



to this



to this



to this





now back to my main project

[Redsawacs]

ok. been reading alot about this! someone please tell me how to turn 2 sets of lights on and off remotely!

[noir 522]

you will need a special circuit board



here a thread started

[skcolb]

I haven't been able to get additional channels working using the methods described on the more recent posts. I'm skeptical of the claims that shorting VCC to GND does anything productive, since all that would so is overload the regulator on the mainboard.

[danielhr77]

+1 on skcolb comments...

[sunde4]

grounding the vcc port works! tried on 2 controllers and both are now 5 channel

[skcolb]

I wrote up my experience trying to mod my transmitter. The only new things to add to the conversation are the pinout of the programming header, and that the microcontroller memory is readout-protected.
http://www.blargh.co/2012/01/modding...ansmitter.html

Still extremely skeptical of grounding the VCC pin.
@sunde4, how long did you ground VCC for?

[sunde4]

about 5 seconds, the green led went out when i connected them then came back on when i removed the wire
1.turn on controler
2.take wire and touch to ground and vcc(led will go out while these are connected), i used the ground right next to the vcc
3.disconnect wire(led comes back on)
4.cycle through menus and POOF 5ch

[gman1_2]

I had to ground the vcc on mine also. Did it just like sunde4 said and it worked.

[danielhr77]

I'll research further into the VCC / GND method... I have a spare transmitter and I think it has only 2 channels enabled...

[Newth Cox]

I'm a little nervous to short these out also. I did it just briefly, but no success.
I'm worried I might damage it & be stuck with no controller at all.

[AFerreira]

hello everyone!

i've just found this thread and tried to unlock my 2ch TQ Link.
after a few tries i have succeeded!

my TX is:
Traxxas TQ Link 2.4ghz high output (red buttons)
model: 2238
serial: A011xxx

here's what i did:

- open transmitter
- turn on transmitter and receiver (mine was installed on a hpi sprint 2 flux )
- plug servo on channel 3 (or plug the steering servo if you don't have another servo)
- turn the servo by hand to one side
- on the transmitter, use a piece of wire to connect GND to VCC
- transmitter LED will turn off and turn on again when you remove the wire.
- when it turns on again the servo connected on channel 3 will return to center!
- check if you can access the 5 channels on the menu.
- ENJOY!

[Jimmie Neutron]

I was able to get my 2238 Tx from 2 channels to 5 channels by using the ground to VSS method.

I have figured out how to wire everything but channels 4 and 5...

I can get channel 4 to work by itself by grounding to TSW UP (or is it ISW?)
I can get channel 5 to work by itself by grounding to TSW DWN

From what I am reading, I should be able to get 5 to turn on with 4... but I cannot figure out how!!

PLEASE HELP!!

[Ceefman]

I'm confused.
I have 2 TX transmitters and both give 5 blinks. On the first one none of the other channels work. I have tryed all methods as described in this topic but no extra channels.
On the second one I do have sometimes extra channels. Once they work and the next time they don't. Very strange. Soldered the cables again, took new cables, took another switch, took another servo, took another ESC (all from CC) but nothing changes.
Sometimes when it doesn't work and I switch from "off" to "on" I do hear the servo for a second buzzing but it doesn't move to left or right.
Anybody ideas what it can be?

[Ceefman]

Just found out that when the switch doesn't work and I stick the servo in the channels 3 to 5 that is does the following:
Channel 3: servo goes to center
Channel 4: servo turns to left
Channel 5: servo turns to right

[Ceefman]

I finally got it working on both TQ's .
I think that I have found the problem. The soldering of the resistor on both sides at channel 3 was connected to each other. I found that out by holding a wire on the resistors. When I removed the wire from the resistor the servo started moving without doing anything. When I looked with a magnifying glass at the resistors I saw the connection in the soldering. Scratched it away with a tiny screwdriver and the problem was solved.
Don't know if the connection was already there or that it has come through soldering of the wires. I only used a soldering iron of 18 Watt .

Before I forget:
Thank you all for sharing your experiences, especially Danielhr77, in this great thread.

[Shea al'Thor]

Just wanted to chime in with another 2-5 channel mod Thanks to everyone here for all the knowledge and know how about this mod that made is so easy to do!

[danielhr77]

Before I forget:
Thank you all for sharing your experiences, especially Danielhr77, in this great thread.

You're welcome! Wish I could get a TQi to hack the speed limit...

[Jimmie Neutron]

I've got one for sale... lol

[danielhr77]

Hahaha... I need one that has never been unlocked before and of course I need the MMM ESC too, and an Ipod... I would love to hack this one and I'm pretty sure I can do it, but I'm afraid an XO-1 is not in my list of things I want to buy for now...

[Jimmie Neutron]

I was able to get my 2238 Tx from 2 channels to 5 channels by using the ground to VSS method.

I have figured out how to wire everything but channels 4 and 5...

I can get channel 4 to work by itself by grounding to TSW UP (or is it ISW?)
I can get channel 5 to work by itself by grounding to TSW DWN

From what I am reading, I should be able to get 5 to turn on with 4... but I cannot figure out how!!

PLEASE HELP!!

I got it figured out:

SPDT 3 position (on-off-on) switch wired TSW DWN-GRD-TSW UP will give you off-4-4+5

[PauloRZR]

Greetings from Brazil guys!

First I want to thank everyone who posted information about the Traxxas Link Radio.
I've read quite a bit before posting anything.
Now comes my doubts ...
Any Traxxas Link 2.4GHz 2 channel radio can be modified or there is some model that has no possibility?
Appeared an opportunity to get a Traxxas Link 2.4Ghz 3 channel radio that has the buttons "menu" and "set" with yellow color.
The modification of the 4th and 5th channel may have done it?
Is there any method to unlock radios that 3rd, 4th, 5th channel are blocked?
I'm looking to buy a radio from a friend, but I need to know if there is a rapid method to know if the radio accept the changes before I can buy it. I can not spend too much money. Would be easier because then shall I know that I can buy and make modifications.

I'm waiting for information to start converting the radio.
Thanks for everything, until next time!

[Jimmie Neutron]

There is no way to tell if it can be modified via ground to VSS until the procedure is actually performed.
You can count blinks, however, when using the menu/set buttons to see if it is already open for 4/5 channel use.

[Jimmie Neutron]

Update on Ground to VSS method to activate more channels that your radio...

THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY
Please continue at your own risk...

1) Set up a servo ready to operate in channel 4 on the Rx
-- Be sure to power on the Rx
2) Open up the case of your Tx
3) Carefully pull out the board/battery tray and set it along side of the Tx
-- You may need to remove a rubber wire holder and some black tape
4) Expose the ends of a length of wire (long enough to work with)
5) Insert one end of the wire in the spring with the black wire in the battery tray
6) With the power on, touch the wire (now ground) to VCC on the board for 4-5 seconds
7) Now touch the wire to TSW UP
-- The servo you have hooked up in channel 4 should activate
8) Confirm this by switching off the board (switch to the left) and performing the following:
--Switch the board on
--Press and hold the left (menu) red button until it blinks green
--Press the menu button again... you should get two green blinks
--Press the right (set) red button... you should go back to a single green blink
--Press the menu button to cycle through green blink sets... 2 for 2nd channel, 3 for 3rd channel, ect.


I have confirmed this method on radio (Tx) models 2238 and 2239, both with the 2218x receiver (Rx)

[jolynsbass]

Where is VSS? I see a VCC next to ground, but I'm not seeing the VSS. Could we have a pic to go with the above post?

I've tried grounding VCC, but my connected servos don't center (one on ch3 and one on ch4).

Thanks!

[Jimmie Neutron]

I corrected my post.

Channels 4 and 5 are two position channels... full left or full right. They do not center.

[PauloRZR]

Jimmie, my radio will arrive this Thursday and I want to know if it is unlocked or locked. If it is locked, I'll do what you described in your post above.
Thanks again for your help, you rock!

[jolynsbass]

I tried Jimmie's outlined steps with both a 2228 and a 2239 - no luck on either one. The servo on Ch 4 never moved... (it was about 3/4 through travel, so that I'd see if it either centered or moved to full left/right). I guess some radios are still just out of luck, and me, too!

Any one figure out a use for the pinout in the bottom of the battery holder? Could that be used to do anything to awaken the extra channels?

[Jimmie Neutron]

That's funny... I have done this to 5 radios now with out a problem.

[Redsawacs]

I too have not had any issues. HOWEVER, the menu is a pain to navigate. I sure hope you arent initiating detonation sequences on the U.S. nuclear cache when you are trying to get your channels programmed!!

[Jimmie Neutron]

No kidding!!
There is room for an LCD in the base, with the screen facing up...
I wonder why Traxxas did not have one put in??
I would definitely pay a few extra bucks ($10-15) for this feature!

[andrewid]

Hey collegues!
unfortunately all my attemps to add channels was unsuccessful..
But found smth interesting: when you do reseting procedure (both buttons + pow on)
Then if i push MENU button - red led flashes ones then pause,
if twice - flashes twice.. up 5 times ! Have thank "wow! here is" - channel choise`g mode!
But.. not helped (

[schatts]

i did this mod and had some problems with the menu tree but after awhile i got it. a Buddie of mine got a emaxx off ebay with a summit tranny, but he didn't get a 3 channel remote. i taped in to it and the channel will not open. are the some remote that don't work. he has the same remote as i. the 2.4GHz and i got all five channels open on mine

[Psyclone75]

Update on Ground to VSS method to activate more channels that your radio...

THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY
Please continue at your own risk...

1) Set up a servo ready to operate in channel 4 on the Rx
-- Be sure to power on the Rx
2) Open up the case of your Tx
3) Carefully pull out the board/battery tray and set it along side of the Tx
-- You may need to remove a rubber wire holder and some black tape
4) Expose the ends of a length of wire (long enough to work with)
5) Insert one end of the wire in the spring with the black wire in the battery tray
6) With the power on, touch the wire (now ground) to VCC on the board for 4-5 seconds
7) Now touch the wire to TSW UP
-- The servo you have hooked up in channel 4 should activate
8) Confirm this by switching off the board (switch to the left) and performing the following:
--Switch the board on
--Press and hold the left (menu) red button until it blinks green
--Press the menu button again... you should get two green blinks
--Press the right (set) red button... you should go back to a single green blink
--Press the menu button to cycle through green blink sets... 2 for 2nd channel, 3 for 3rd channel, ect.


I have confirmed this method on radio (Tx) models 2238 and 2239, both with the 2218x receiver (Rx)

Thanks Jimmy N! This worked!

[MotorStuff]

Do any of these mods apply to the TQI two-channel model number 6509 or has anyone found any that can?