Taranis X9D Global Issue?

A

azure

Member
Our aerial cinema company has been using Taranis X9Ds for both aircraft and camera operator command and control for the past year. We have approximately 20 of these units, which are used for our fleet of multiple HL aircraft. We have found them to be reliable for the most part, but as of a couple days ago (Sept. 1st?), when powering on the X9Ds, almost ALL of them are freezing on the start-up page, for no reason that we can discern. We've changed SD cards, tried multiple fully charged batteries, and can only surmise that it's a firmware bug.

To this end, when connecting via USB to the computer -- in an attempt to reload the firmware to correct it if it's been corrupted (latest update was 7/13) using FrSky's firmware program -- it sees the DFU, but will not upgrade and gives a target error. After multiple attempts, the unit will not even power up and is totally bricked.

We directly flashed an SD card with firmware (not through the X9D) and installed the card into another X9D, and found it had no effect. It would still get stuck on the splash screen.

We are confused: what could be the cause of so many units malfunctioning at once and wonder if any other X9D users are having a similar issue?
 


A

azure

Member
Of the ones tested, 9 have now failed, 7 of them today. 5 are still working to this point. All have same build date sticker. Very confused.
 

Motopreserve

Motopreserve

Drone Enthusiast
That seems beyond bizarre. Have they all worked regularly up to this point, or is this the first time turning them on in a while?
 

A

azure

Member
Some have been used regularly in the last five months, including within the last few days. Some have been sitting for up to seven months. So far no rhyme or reason.
 




A

azure

Member
Someone else said that if we updated to the X9D "plus" firmware, it would fix the issue. We will try both on Tuesday when back in the office. Thanks.
 

fltundra

fltundra

Member
Just go to opentx, don't bother with the factory firmware. I've been using opentx since I purchased the taranis almost 2 years ago without issue.
 

A

azure

Member
Fltundra, we'd been using factory firmware because our understanding, as communicated from multiple sources including the tech guys at GetFPV, was that there were less issues / bugs in factory when compared to Open TX. We've had no problems until now. So, from your perspective, OpenTX has been issue free?

I'm not even sure how to update firmware since we can't get the splash page and/or some units won't even power on at this point.
 

fltundra

fltundra

Member
Go to one of the taranis threads. I even followed with updating the firmware on a regular basis and have fortunately never had an issue. Over 130hrs in the air so far.:)
 



A

azure

Member
Epilogue: We returned to the shop on Tuesday and powered one of the Taranis that would not move past the splash page in an attempt to update the firmware. To our surprise, we found that the transmitter started and was operating NORMALLY. We then began powering the other frozen units; all of them booting up and working as they should. We've since updated to the latest OpenTX version. So far, all seems good.

We can only surmise that this anomaly was some kind of date / bug issue in the FrSky firmware that came with the units. ...Or was it a ghost in the machine?

Thanks all for your suggestions.
 

Motopreserve

Motopreserve

Drone Enthusiast
azure said:
Epilogue: We returned to the shop on Tuesday and powered one of the Taranis that would not move past the splash page in an attempt to update the firmware. To our surprise, we found that the transmitter started and was operating NORMALLY. We then began powering the other frozen units; all of them booting up and working as they should. We've since updated to the latest OpenTX version. So far, all seems good.

We can only surmise that this anomaly was some kind of date / bug issue in the FrSky firmware that came with the units. ...Or was it a ghost in the machine?

Thanks all for your suggestions.
Click to expand...

That is so bizarre. But I'm glad you got it straightened around.
 

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