Re: zBitX radio hanging randomly.
If you have a keyboard with a mouse pad on it, you connect the usb connector(from the keyboard) into the OTG dongle into the zbitx. If you
don't have a keyboard with the mouse, you may need to use a usb hub to be able to connect the keyboard and mouse, to the OTG. Once thats setup you can control what you see on the monitor.?
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Re: zBitX radio hanging randomly.
I'm confused. You use the OTG dongle and? microUSB to the CAT for a keyboard and mouse? Wouldn't you use a USB-C cable to connect a keyboard and mouse, or do those only go to the Pico running the screen? Also, if I use the OTG dongle, I'll have a cable with microUSB on each end. I don't know that there's anywhere on my computer I can connect that. Again, foggy brain, tomorrow. Then we can sort that out. Hopefully. Sigh...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 73, Gwen, NG3P
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?D'oh. Looks like I was imagining things when I thought the barrel was smaller. Turns out it's 5.5x2.5, or 5.5x2.1, whichever is usual. Because that's what I got a bunch of pigtails for, and put PowerPoles on them for a bunch of other 12v radios. So that's ok. I've got one with an XT30 on it for connecting to the DC out jack on my Omnicharge Ultimate power bank. You can specify the voltage and amperage on that connector without resorting to PD. It HAS PD on it, but those are USB-C connectors. XT30 and XT60 are popular in drone battery power, the connector used on the SBitX. I have two battery boxes with LiFePO4 12v batteries in them. I got one from HRO, and I think the battery is 7Ah, and the one I bought is a 12Ah battery. I used PowerPoles for that output as well. I have a PowerPole to XT60 for the sBitX, to connect it to one of my more usual 12v battery boxes. The Omnicharge doesn't have PowerPoles, so I'll use the smaller XT30 for that. I'll have to put a flag on the cable to only use it for the zBitX at 9V.?
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I had a couple of flat-top 18650s all charged up and waiting. They work very nicely.
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Gwen, NG3P
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PS: Sorry, I'm a little foggy in the brain tonight.
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
What does it show on the screen? Can you send us a screenshot of your HDMI screen about 30 seconds after it displays the "tubes"? On Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 7:28?AM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via <crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
Updated the firmware.? Plugged in a HDMI screen Still after 10 minutes no joy.? I'll try a few more things, then set it on the shelf and hope a solution shows up.? It's been recycled many, many times still no joy, have the same message that it's booting.
Tom KT4XN
Updated the firmware.? Plugged in a HDMI screen Still after 10 minutes no joy.? I'll try a few more things, then set it on the shelf and hope a solution shows up.? It's been recycled many, many times still no joy, have the same message that it's booting.
Tom KT4XN
As said above mine is 20-30 seconds.??
Have you restarted the radio.?
If that doesn't work.? Try to connect to a monitor via the HDMI cable and connect to the wife and do the updates?
?
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 8:38?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via
<crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
10 minutes and it's still hung-up with the message.??
Tom KT4XN
Takes 30" to boot with V1.04.
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
Updated the firmware.? Plugged in a HDMI screen Still after 10 minutes no joy.? I'll try a few more things, then set it on the shelf and hope a solution shows up.? It's been recycled many, many times still no joy, have the same message that it's booting.
Tom KT4XN
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Updated the firmware.? Plugged in a HDMI screen Still after 10 minutes no joy.? I'll try a few more things, then set it on the shelf and hope a solution shows up.? It's been recycled many, many times still no joy, have the same message that it's booting.
Tom KT4XN
As said above mine is 20-30 seconds.??
Have you restarted the radio.?
If that doesn't work.? Try to connect to a monitor via the HDMI cable and connect to the wife and do the updates?
?
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 8:38?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via
<crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
10 minutes and it's still hung-up with the message.??
Tom KT4XN
Takes 30" to boot with V1.04.
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
Did you also try this front panel FW update?
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 9:51?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via <crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
Updated the firmware.? Plugged in a HDMI screen Still after 10 minutes no joy.? I'll try a few more things, then set it on the shelf and hope a solution shows up.? It's been recycled many, many times still no joy, have the same message that it's booting.
Tom KT4XN
As said above mine is 20-30 seconds.??
Have you restarted the radio.?
If that doesn't work.? Try to connect to a monitor via the HDMI cable and connect to the wife and do the updates?
?
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 8:38?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via
<crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
10 minutes and it's still hung-up with the message.??
Tom KT4XN
Takes 30" to boot with V1.04.
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Re: zBitX radio hanging randomly.
Thanks, David. I think I understood all that. I'll try it tomorrow.?
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I ordered a PD USB-C -> 9V tonight. But I ordered it with the fairly standard 5.5x2.5 barrel plug. Not realizing the zBitX used a WAY smaller barrel. What IS that size, anyway? I'll see if I have an adapter, as I don't think I can get a PD cable with it. Maybe. But I'll need the size and polarity of the barrel to even try. (Heck, I need the polarity of the barrel anyway, in case the cable I ordered is wrong!)
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I'm also having problems transmitting. Set to IAMBIC, which I assume is A, but I find out after I've been a ham for over 25 years that it's only relevant to SQUEEZE keying. But IAMBIC is working very badly (and IAMBICB is WORSE). I'm usually better at keying a paddle, but it's throwing in random dits and dahs in elements...I have to run really slow to get it to come out correct. It's very similar to trying to key a rig listening to the sidetone in a Bluetooth headset, with all that latency. Is there latency that needs to be adjusted in the paddle on the zBitX? Is that the key delay setting in the SET menu for CW? I couldn't fathom what those settings were FOR. Please Ashhar, explain me!
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Gwen, NG3P
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
Updated the firmware.? Plugged in a HDMI screen Still after 10 minutes no joy.? I'll try a few more things, then set it on the shelf and hope a solution shows up.? It's been recycled many, many times still no joy, have the same message that it's booting.
Tom KT4XN
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
As said above mine is 20-30 seconds.??
Have you restarted the radio.?
If that doesn't work.? Try to connect to a monitor via the HDMI cable and connect to the wife and do the updates?
?
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 8:38?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via
<crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
10 minutes and it's still hung-up with the message.??
Tom KT4XN
Takes 30" to boot with V1.04.
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has a good selection of 18650 rechargeable flat-top unprotected batteries and chargers at good prices.? My zBitx works great using 2-2500 mAH 18650 rechargeable batteries.? Bill AG5ZN
You can, at a pinch even go up to 12v but I wouldnt transmit with 12v. The advise is anywhere from 6v to 9v. The specs are upto 12v. The back panel?that doubles up as a heatsink can't take more heat. Apart from the PA, the rest of the circuitry is regulated down to 9v anyway (if it exceeds 9v, that is).? We thought of adding a heatsink to the backpanel, but it was just too bulky. One day, maybe Hans wil design a class E amplifier for the zBitx and we will be able to run 50 watts output on a future zBitx. - f
Don,
No one said 8.2 volts was a "requirement", Farhan said that's what he has always used to power his zBitx.
I'm sorry if my previous post confused anyone, my intention was quite the opposite.
?
Ken, N2VIP
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Re: zBitX radio hanging randomly.
To update the time.? Connect to the HDMI port a monitor and using the OTG dongle to keyboard and connect the radio to your wifi and it will take the time up?
First thing to note is the firmware is 1.02. I'm unsure how to upgrade it, but I saw there was a topic on it, so I'll try that.
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Second thing to note is that most of the interface chrome is working most of the time. My issue is that the radio just stops working. Audio stops, the waterfall stops, the decode window stops. Nothing besides a reboot helps. It seems to be caused by raising the frequency. I have it on 7.046.330, and I'm trying to tune up to 7.047.5, to try and tune in W1AW. I have a strong signal in the right third of the waterfall, and it doesn't stop to let replies go, so I'm thinking this may be W1AW. The decoder is not decoding it properly. I'm not sure why W1AW would be so offset, but it seems about 700hz low. Is that a factor of the offset affecting the frequency of the station? That seems odd to me.
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For some reason, the radio portion would just stop. I've tried to adjust it more slowly, in case loading of the processor was too much for it, but I don't know that it was having that effect.
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I've got a decent signal at 7.052 that is decoding well. It's a slower signal, around 12-15wpm, but that's good, because I can follow along in my head for some of it. Once in a while I hear the station in Texas he's talking to. I'm not sure where he is. But now it seems to be working.
?
I need to update my time in this lovely beast, but am totally unsure how. It doesn't have a GPS. I'll have to see if I can find one and figure out how to get the value into the radio. Until then, my FT8 just isn't decoding anything. I hope a manual will be out sometime soon, I'm one of THOSE who needs to read the fancy manual!
?
Gwen NG3P
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
As said above mine is 20-30 seconds.??
Have you restarted the radio.? If that doesn't work.? Try to connect to a monitor via the HDMI cable and connect to the wife and do the updates?
?
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 8:38?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via <crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
10 minutes and it's still hung-up with the message.??
Tom KT4XN
Takes 30" to boot with V1.04.
|
zBitX radio hanging randomly.
First thing to note is the firmware is 1.02. I'm unsure how to upgrade it, but I saw there was a topic on it, so I'll try that.
?
Second thing to note is that most of the interface chrome is working most of the time. My issue is that the radio just stops working. Audio stops, the waterfall stops, the decode window stops. Nothing besides a reboot helps. It seems to be caused by raising the frequency. I have it on 7.046.330, and I'm trying to tune up to 7.047.5, to try and tune in W1AW. I have a strong signal in the right third of the waterfall, and it doesn't stop to let replies go, so I'm thinking this may be W1AW. The decoder is not decoding it properly. I'm not sure why W1AW would be so offset, but it seems about 700hz low. Is that a factor of the offset affecting the frequency of the station? That seems odd to me.
?
For some reason, the radio portion would just stop. I've tried to adjust it more slowly, in case loading of the processor was too much for it, but I don't know that it was having that effect.
?
I've got a decent signal at 7.052 that is decoding well. It's a slower signal, around 12-15wpm, but that's good, because I can follow along in my head for some of it. Once in a while I hear the station in Texas he's talking to. I'm not sure where he is. But now it seems to be working.
?
I need to update my time in this lovely beast, but am totally unsure how. It doesn't have a GPS. I'll have to see if I can find one and figure out how to get the value into the radio. Until then, my FT8 just isn't decoding anything. I hope a manual will be out sometime soon, I'm one of THOSE who needs to read the fancy manual!
?
Gwen NG3P
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
Takes 30" to boot with V1.04.
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Re: zBitx upgrading the firmware.
The video showing how to do it is on?
On Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 4:19?AM Ashhar Farhan via <farhanbox= [email protected]> wrote: The documentation should be here in the next 12 hours. But here is how you upgrade the firmware: 1. Go to ? 2. Download the uf2 file to your computer. 3. Unplug the zbitx power. 4. Keeping the knob button pressed, attach the supplied USB cable between the PC and the CAT USB port on the zbitx. 5. Remember, you have to attach to the CAT USB port, not the other. 6. Now, let go of the knob pressed. The zbitx front panel will light up with an all grey screen. The Pico controller will show up as a drive on your PC. 7. Copy the .uf2 file from the PC to the Pico controller. 8. You are done, remove the USB cable. Start up the zbitx. 9. The latest firmware should show up on the front panel.
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You can, at a pinch even go up to 12v but I wouldnt transmit with 12v. The advise is anywhere from 6v to 9v. The specs are upto 12v. The back panel?that doubles up as a heatsink can't take more heat. Apart from the PA, the rest of the circuitry is regulated down to 9v anyway (if it exceeds 9v, that is).? We thought of adding a heatsink to the backpanel, but it was just too bulky. One day, maybe Hans wil design a class E amplifier for the zBitx and we will be able to run 50 watts output on a future zBitx. - f
Don,
No one said 8.2 volts was a "requirement", Farhan said that's what he has always used to power his zBitx.
I'm sorry if my previous post confused anyone, my intention was quite the opposite.
?
Ken, N2VIP
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
This might be a silly question, but… how long did you wait? From the videos it looks like the display boots instantly, but it takes awhile for the Raspberry Pi to boot, during which time it displays that message.
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025 at 6:53?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via <crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote:
Just received my zbitx.? Plugged in the batteries and the unit is hung up with the message: zbitx firmware v1.02? Waiting for zbitx to start...?
?
Has any one seen this and how to get the radio working.? I can change modes and enter my call sign change parameters.? No volume and no signal detected
?
Tom Crowley KT4XN?
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Don,
No one said 8.2 volts was a "requirement", Farhan said that's what he has always used to power his zBitx.
I'm sorry if my previous post confused anyone, my intention was quite the opposite.
?
Ken, N2VIP
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Re: zbitx hung-up on startup
Had that happen as well. I believe it went away when I rebooted/pull the power again. The other step I did do was connected it to a micro HDMI to connect to my wifi
On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 7:53?PM Tom Crowley KT4XN 1738 via <crowleytj= [email protected]> wrote: Just received my zbitx.? Plugged in the batteries and the unit is hung up with the message: zbitx firmware v1.02? Waiting for zbitx to start...?
?
Has any one seen this and how to get the radio working.? I can change modes and enter my call sign change parameters.? No volume and no signal detected
?
Tom Crowley KT4XN?
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Gwen Patton
Bill AG5ZN