Assembling my uConsole!
The ext module is completely empty. I did not order a cellular version, so this module being relatively empty makes sense. But it seems to be missing a jack for headphones. See pic. I don’t see any additional parts related to audio (the speakers are installed beneath the ext module). Am I actually missing something here?
headphone jack is on the other side.
You’re right, I do have an audio jack on the main board. Thanks for pointing that out.
The assembly instructions have one drawn in this spot, too, so I guess I just let that freak me out too soon.
That doesn’t look right at all, it looks to me like you got an unpopulated board. The EXT. module is keyed so the components like the 4G chip and other stuff should be on the side you are looking at, it isn’t like it is upside down because of aforementioned keying and the core is visible on that same side of the mainboard. You should absolutely have a headphone jack, not to mention literally everything else there - see
I think you need to contact support and I probably wouldn’t power it on with that in there, not that I think anything would actually break but I think it better not to tempt fate and have to wait for an entire new set of innards.
Edit: re-read your post, so if you didn’t order it then you obviously don’t need to go to support for it, I would just leave it out entirely. Is this a common thing? I wonder if this ships with all uConsole versions or was this a mistake on yours?
Edit 2: Speakers. Ignore me, ill leave this up for people to see my lack of reading the post lol. I have the module so I had no idea it was being shipped as an unpopulated board. Makes sense though as the only place the speakers have to go.
It seems this board is required to run the speakers (they’re installed beneath the board.) but seeing it totally unpopulated compared to the diagram freaked me right out. I hope everything needed to run the speakers is included …
Edit: We are editing right past each other - cheers! 
I assume there are just traces going straight those speaker terminals from the mainboard without the need for any additional circuitry.
Just received mine and was confused the ext board was unpopulated. I didn’t order the 4g/lte so it makes some sense, but I assumed it would at least be populated with SOMETHING since the speakers contact it.
I am currently not getting any audio from the speakers, and the only output device option is the ‘AV Jack’. Am I missing something?
You may want to check if audio comes out from the 3.5mm jack first. There’s a gpio controlling how the audio is routed, to either the speakers or headphone jack. The official os image provided by CPi uses a python script to detect/change the routing. You may also want to try latest official image or community distros.
The unpopulated dummy board in the WiFi only kit does pass through the necessary contacts to the mainboard for connecting the speakers. It should just work. If it doesn’t, I’d try reseating it and the speakers.
(You can also use contacts on the board for connecting USB devices.)
I have tested the 3.5mm jack and it works fine, as does bluetooth, and have already tried reseating the speakers several times. I’m using the os image that came on the provided memory card, so I will try flashing the current official os image and see if that works.
That was it. Whatever ships with the unit (at least mine) on the SD card doesn’t properly use the speakers. Flashed the latest image from clockwork downloads for uConsole CM4 and now speakers work fine.
looks like it’s probably “/usr/local/bin/audio_3.5_patch.py”.that handles that. I’ll see if that exists and/or is even running on the version that shipped with the unit.
Edit #1: Nevermind, the shipped card also now works. No idea why it’s working now, it wasn’t working after the last time I reseated it and tested it.
Must have been haunted.
Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out because I’ve encountered a frustrating issue with my uConsole. The original mainboard had a broken headphone jack, and after receiving a replacement from the support team, I found that the new board has the exact same problem!
I’ve taken a photo of the faulty soldering on the headphone jack. Should I try to fix it myself, or is it worth asking for yet another replacement? Has anyone else dealt with this kind of soldering issue? I’d love to hear your experiences and any tips you might have.
Thanks for your help!
I’d say that if you are within your warranty period, get ahold of Alex and seek another main board. If you are outside the warranty give replacing the port a try. I assume the main boards work as they are, but are just missing the utility of a working headphone jack.
Be sure you have the proper replacement. I imagine there are many variations of that audio jack.
A good fine tip soldering iron, liquid flux, solder wick and low melt solder will help you get the old one off and the new one on. I like the repair videos by stezstix fix on youtube. He desolders and replaces ports quite often his repair videos. Best of luck. seeing as this is a port and not a chip you are replacing, I think you should go for it.
Here is an example of his work: https://youtu.be/GbqHzjCIsjY?si=NesuBMHSwfGrDRae
