Smart Response XE Hacks

Although I have not gotten to finishing tge hardware hacks to the device, I have been developing an "OS" for the SRXE that can be flashed to an unmodified device.

Features:

• Menu Based UI, with a settings page. 
• File Manager: Ability to store 31 files on the SPI flash, up to 4KB each. Ability to send/receive files over RF to other SRXE devices with the OS. 
• Text Editor
• Waterfall style RF scanner
• RF Messaging app (sorta pointless, as devices must be in same for RF to work) 
• GRK Interpreter. It is about 15x faster than Arduino BASIC is on this device.  GRK is where this device shines. A very fast and efficient interpreted language created by yours truly. Designed to be as compact as possible, minimizing whitespace and uneeded characters. 

I soldered the connections from TP4056 module to battery, then from module to power switch, and then to the battery terminals on back of device.

Didn't have time to wire SD card, expansion/programming header etc. But I am have tested and verified that the power part of the mod is complete. When I turned it on it looks like I had already installed Arduino basic on this device.

Although I am not sure what is going on with Arduino BASIC's port to this device battery monitoring command. It is showing over 6000mV.

Having several of these devices, I made a pogo pin adapter years ago to program via the ISCP pins accessable in the battery area. 

My main reason for entirely replacing the back side of case was for three reasons

1. Ability to modify device without cutting original case
2. Possibly make device thinner
3. Replace the 4 AAA with a single rechargeable LiPo

As you can see in the photo at the bottom, the original back Case has a space for the batteries, and other than that it is merely supporting the pcb.

Aside from adding the LiPo and charging module, I wanted to do some of the hardware hacks on device listed herehttps://github.com/fdufnews/SMART-Response-XE-schematics

Things I want to improve on this case design are as following, make it thinner, as of now it is only slightly thinner than original case. Using a thinner battery is the only way to accomplish this. As of now the battery I am using is using up the full space.

 I also want to improve how the printed back Case attached to the front. The original case was held in place by snaps all around the perimeter, as well as one screw in battery compartment.  This one screw was no longer an option as that is where the battery sits. So I opted to use the two PCB screws which originally only helped PCB to front. 

Until next time.