MTESTER M328 T4 Component Tester  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: N4PUM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 08, 2022, 06:53:55 pm
content: Does anyone know or have the HEX files and Fuse maps to upgrade a yellow board Chinese M328 T4 to a V 2.68 or later version from an old stock V 2.07.I bought a new one-off eBay this week from a big seller that stated "THE LATEST SOFTWARE", yea right. And paid more just to get the newer software.Looked all over the net and none was to be found by me.Thanks for any help.Fred

author: bffargo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2022, 07:39:25 pm
content: Please see the following thread for information related to the ATMega328 based clones:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/7650/This site has lots of stock software if you don't want to build it yourself, and screenshots of the fuse settings:https://disk.yandex.ru/d/yW8xa5NJgUo5z

author: N4PUM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 08, 2022, 08:51:02 pm
content: Thanks, lots of good info. Searched all but could not find anything close that could be used as a V 2.68 version or better substitute. Still prefer the OEM stock hex files and the supplier has no answers.

author: bffargo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2022, 06:18:54 pm
content: You're probably not going to be able to find, download and install the Chinese 2.68 version because it is likely locked for read on many of the devices, so no one would have been able to dump it yet; but not sure. That is the case with a number of the versionsPlease realize that all of this clone software is simply built / altered off an old version of the official firmware that created this device as open source to begin with. That main fork has been updated repeatedly over the years adding more features, bug fixes/accuracy improvement and whatever.Just my $0.02, but I'd chose one of the main two branches and put that on the device for a better instrument instead of trying to find the latest hacked clone of it. Then you have support of it with thorough documentation and both authors contributing to the massive thread linked earlier, here in this very forum.

author: N4PUM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 10, 2022, 12:29:39 am
content: Point well taken, and I agree 100%.I just wanted to see if the V 2.68 had any major improvements or increases in accuracy. The unit for what it is, works fine for the quick ID job.As they say, this is a great little device for what it is and the cost.If I was in the mode to do rewriting, compiling, and debugging, I sure would not waste my time on this limited hardware platform.Thanks again

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2022, 01:42:57 am
content: The accuracy of the device can be improved by using precision resistors in a few key places.It's spelled out in the documentation which you can find here:https://github.com/Mikrocontroller-net/transistortester/tree/master/Doku/trunk/pdftex/english(the resistors in question are the 470K and the 680R resistors.)Or if you'd rather watch a video check out the "better resistors" chapter of this video:#108 Building and testing an eBay Transistor Tester kit -- TheHWCavehttps://youtu.be/h9_XkkmFfAk&t=1491s

author: N4PUM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 10, 2022, 03:48:25 am
content: Last Note:Will give the Chinese yellow board thumps up for what it is,the graphics are bright and clear, 14 Ma draw when on,the critical resistors seem to be testing at .1%,true TL431 voltage reference, no Zener diode.A 1 to 1 ISP connector on the back direct connect to my STK500The board I received just this week unlocked, and read Flash, EEprom, Fuses, with the 2.07 code.