TBX1 Chip Upgrade Version 4.5.9

A new chip is available for TBX1 (now shipping with new units) which can be installed in older TBX1 units, meaning units sold before February, 19, 2009.

UPGRADE FEATURES:

  • Power-up sequence requirement for active sensing gear is done away with! (no need to always turn TBX1 ON first)
  • Old RESOLUTION switch becomes a BYPASS switch (only an upgrade for very old TBX1 units - tuning resolution is now fixed at HIGH)
  • Preset BANK select can be set to OFF per preset (since sometimes it is not desired)
  • Preset PATCH changing can be set to OFF per preset (since sometimes it is not desired)
  • All PROGRAMMER navigation now rolls values over from maximum back to 0 and vice versa (more convenient)

If you have an older TBX1 and would like the chip upgrade, please read this page which explains the process of chip swapping. If you are comfortable making this swap yourself, I supply the new chip to you with the agreement that you send the old chip back to me. This is very important! The chips are not cheap, but the exchange can work for just a few dollars by swapping through the mail. Order the chip upgrade using the Upgrade Chip button on the TBX1 order page. Alternatively, you can choose the more expensive option of sending me your TBX1 through the mail with return postage paid, and I will swap the chip for you (please contact me first if you intend to send me your TBX1).

Before Swapping Chips

IMPORTANT: TBX1 stores the list of 128 table names in the chip you will be swapping. The factory preset names are stored on the new chip, so if you have not loaded any custom scales to your TBX1, you can swap the chip and the table names will be correct; however, if you have uploaded any custom scales to the box, you need to make a note of those table numbers and table names before you swap the chip, because you will need to reprogram those custom names onto the new chip. Note that the actual tuning tables are NOT stored in this chip, so all your tuning data will still be there in TBX1, only the table *names* for any custom tables will not be there.

What You Need

  1. TBX1
  2. new chip
  3. large phillips screwdriver (for battery lid removal; a coin also works)
  4. medium phillips screwdriver (for all screw / bolt removal)
  5. small flathead screwdriver (for chip removal)

Swap the Chip

Remember how you do these steps as you also need to do them in reverse.

1. Remove the battery lid.

2. Carefully remove the two 'feet' pads slowly so as not to peel away the surface.

3. Unscrew four screws as shown to remove the side piece nearest the ON/OFF switch.

4. Pull the ON/OFF switch sideways out of its slot.

5. Under the switch is a nut. Hold this with your finger and remove the bolt from the other side.

6. Remove this screw from the other side piece of the unit.

7. Unscrew the four exposed screws in the upper part of the unit (shown in red below, not the battery holder screws) and then carefully remove the base piece so as not to bend the housing.

8. Use the small flathead screwdriver to pry up the chip from the side. Be sure to move the screwdriver under the length of the chip and pry it up evenly across its length, not just on one side, or the pins of the chip will bend.

9. Put the new chip in place by setting one side of the pins into the socket. The chip will set unevenly when you do this, with the upper set of pins out of their sockets. With very slight pressure on the chip from the thumb of one hand, use the small flathead screwdriver to move the pins into their sockets. After you have moved each pin along the length of the chip, the small amount of pressure you apply with your thumb should make the chip at some point 'pop' into place, when you will see that all the pins are in the sockets, but the chip is not yet installed. Note that this picture does not show the thumb of the other hand gently pushing down on the chip.

10. Push the chip into place using equal pressure from the thumbs of both hands.

11. Perform steps 1 through 7 in reverse.

Restore Custom Table Names

You wrote down the table numbers and names for all of your custom scales before you swapped the chip, right? Good. Then you can follow these steps to restore the table names for your custom scales.

  1. Connect your MIDI interface MIDI OUT to TBX1 MIDI IN
  2. Boot CSE
  3. open your custom scale file
  4. choose Tuning Box > Program
  5. select the correct table number for this the table (which you wrote down before swapping the chip)
  6. UNCHECK send table data - you only need to send the table name! (otherwise it takes longer)
  7. Make sure MIDI is routed OUT to the interface correctly
  8. Click OK to program the name
  9. repeat for all custom scales

Return the Old Chip

Please do not forget this last important step! Pack up the old chip (the same way as the chip you received was packed), and mail it to:

H-Pi Instruments
1010 10th Street
Charleston, IL 61920-2822
USA

Thank you!