Can do. I will bung this into the SET(tings) of the front panel. - f
On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 8:29?AM David T-- VE3TOS via <digiital= [email protected]> wrote: Thats actually a pretty good idea. When in a contact be it CW or FT8 or Voice, don't always need to have the waterfall going.?
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Thats actually a pretty good idea. When in a contact be it CW or FT8 or Voice, don't always need to have the waterfall going.?
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I'm using the batteries.? They are older(recovered from Laptops) batteries. So that could be the case why it's dipping.?
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Re: ZbitX battery holder wiring
I will design a batter cover. This is unnecessarily dangerous!
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-JJ
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Just a thought, but what if the user could simply toggle the waterfall display off? That could be an easy way to avoid the problem until a better solution presents itself?
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Ken, N2VIP
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You will get 5w if your power supply holds to 8.4 volts o transmit? i can see from your readings that the dc supply is dipping to 6.8v on transmit. This indicates that the power supply is current starved
On Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:08 AM David T-- VE3TOS via <digiital= [email protected]> wrote: ?
What are other seeing with the power levels? I have a QRP Labs dummy load that I connect my volt meter to get a peak voltage reading.?
The voltage on the radio is 7.7v, drops down to about 6.8-6.9v when tx. The Driver is set to 100 on all of the tests, and the mode was 2TONE.
When I tx into the dummy load. Based on the calculation its showing I'm outputting about:
?
Band? |? DummyLoad? |? Radio
80m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.5w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
40m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.8w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
20m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.4w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
17m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.8w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
15m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.2w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
10m? ? ? ? ? ? 1.25w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?2w
?
I'm thinking that's on the lower power levels than I would have expected. Are others seeing the same thing ??
?
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What are other seeing with the power levels? I have a QRP Labs dummy load that I connect my volt meter to get a peak voltage reading.?
The voltage on the radio is 7.7v, drops down to about 6.8-6.9v when tx. The Driver is set to 100 on all of the tests, and the mode was 2TONE.
When I tx into the dummy load. Based on the calculation its showing I'm outputting about:
?
Band? |? DummyLoad? |? Radio
80m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.5w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
40m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.8w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
20m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.4w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
17m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.8w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
15m? ? ? ? ? ? 2.2w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3w
10m? ? ? ? ? ? 1.25w? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?2w
?
I'm thinking that's on the lower power levels than I would have expected. Are others seeing the same thing ??
?
https://qrp-labs.com/images/dummyload/dummyload.pdf
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The chugging sound is actually?from the I2C lines to the Pico processor that is on the same board as the speaker. They are absent with the head phones.? If I reduce?the data running on the I2C lines the chugging sound goes away. I hope that in a future update we will be able to compress the data (most of it is the waterfall data). - f
I received mine today as well, very exciting! I upgraded the software to 1.05/3.05, everything seems to work. I noticed the "chugging" as well, along with the decoder portion of the screen flickering. I am wondering if something is getting bogged down with the decoding/display/audio process
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 5:31?PM Nigel Evans M0NDE via <nigel.m0nde= [email protected]> wrote: My Zbitx arrived today. I am new to these radios so expect a learning curve. I have only received so far but here are my observations and questions.
I installed the batteries and followed the set up in the manual including setting the time using an hdmi screen. I linked the wifi to my phone hoping this would pay dividends when in the field. It first the radio seemed deaf, but playing around with the IF I started to hear signals on 20m and 40m. I found CW reception difficult the radio seemed to make a chugging sound as the decoder tried to work. The back of my radio was warm but was not excessively hot on rx. I tried FT8 decode seemed sluggish to start but once running was fine.
When the time needs adjusting must I always connect to an hdmi screen or is connecting to my phone wifi sufficient to update the time? Is the chugging sound in cw mode normal? Will the operating manual be updated further as time progresses. Should I be upgrading software and firmware or are these updates to be considered as beta and optional. How would HF signals prefer feedback to be given as I assume they cannot monitor every post trawling for bugs and questions.
Finally I like the radio and form factor. Thinking about a 3d printed sloping stand which when reversed protects screen and knob. Thinking 3d printing battery cover or using stand to hold battery holder. Can audio be directed via Bluetooth to an amplified speaker??
Thank you Farhan for this radio?
73 Nigel M0NDE
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I have updated the zbitx keyer with a minor update. the new software update version of sbitx is now 3.051 (moving from 3.05). Can the cw users try out this version and let me know? I could manage upto 25 wpm (my paddle skills are lousy) You have to just run ./update to get to the new version - f
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Re: zBitX ft8 TX signal comes speaker
Oh -- and make sure that some sort of "split" isn't turned on.? ?I've done that by accident more than once, and you get zero output power, if a totally different band is selected (or so it seemed to me at the time).? ? That was the most frequent reason that I had zero output.
Good luck!? ? Ham radio is a learning hobby!
73 gordon kx4z
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 9:14?PM Gordon Gibby KX4Z via <docvacuumtubes= [email protected]> wrote:
Ben, I and others here have helped a ton of people.? And many of us, like me have worked for very long periods to fix our own units! I bought two units used and I had to fix lots of things. Sometimes people have been assisted for long periods of time to help them solve their problems and generally, there was a lot of learning involved on both sides. The reason I suggested you contact HF SIGNALS directly is it looks like you need to send it back and there’s nothing any of us can do for you here.? So I was trying to help you get the fastest good outcome.
This group is incredibly helpful, but we are just volunteer free help. We can’t refund your money or give you a new unit.
You’ll get used to us.
Cheers, Gordon?
On Mar 31, 2025, at 21:03, Benjamin Kelley - KC0BLK via <benjamin.kelley=[email protected]> wrote:
? Gordon, this is where HFSignals website says to post for support related issues.? Thats what I'm doing. If you have issue with HFSignal sending technical support here, feel free to contact them on your own and request a process update from them.
As their customer that purchased a product, I am doing what they asked on their help page.
My post you replied to did state that if I'm unable to resolve this issue I will be inquiring with HFSignals on how to return it for refund, which is what you are suggesting. I thank you for that suggestion.
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If you do not care for this post, kindly ignore it and move on.
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Thanks,
--ben
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Re: zBitX ft8 TX signal comes speaker
Ben, I and others here have helped a ton of people. ?And many of us, like me have worked for very long periods to fix our own units! I bought two units used and I had to fix lots of things. Sometimes people have been assisted for long periods of time to help them solve their problems and generally, there was a lot of learning involved on both sides. The reason I suggested you contact HF SIGNALS directly is it looks like you need to send it back and there’s nothing any of us can do for you here. ?So I was trying to help you get the fastest good outcome.
This group is incredibly helpful, but we are just volunteer free help. We can’t refund your money or give you a new unit.
You’ll get used to us.
Cheers, Gordon?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 31, 2025, at 21:03, Benjamin Kelley - KC0BLK via groups.io <benjamin.kelley@...> wrote:
? Gordon, this is where HFSignals website says to post for support related issues. ?Thats what I'm doing. If you have issue with HFSignal sending technical support here, feel free to contact them on your own and request a process update from them.
As their customer that purchased a product, I am doing what they asked on their help page.
My post you replied to did state that if I'm unable to resolve this issue I will be inquiring with HFSignals on how to return it for refund, which is what you are suggesting. I thank you for that suggestion.
?
If you do not care for this post, kindly ignore it and move on.
?
Thanks,
--ben
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Re: zBitX ft8 TX signal comes speaker
Gordon, this is where HFSignals website says to post for support related issues. ?Thats what I'm doing. If you have issue with HFSignal sending technical support here, feel free to contact them on your own and request a process update from them.
As their customer that purchased a product, I am doing what they asked on their help page.
My post you replied to did state that if I'm unable to resolve this issue I will be inquiring with HFSignals on how to return it for refund, which is what you are suggesting. I thank you for that suggestion.
?
If you do not care for this post, kindly ignore it and move on.
?
Thanks,
--ben
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ZbitX battery holder wiring
Point of caution! Noticed the battery pigtail has bare wires exposed probably when stripping outer insulation. Could short if wires twisted. ?Easy to fix however .? 
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Re: zBitX ft8 TX signal comes speaker
Hi Ben, -- did you email HFSignals themselves (this is a user group) and inquire about returning it for a replacement (or if you prefer, refund)?? ?Perhaps they can help you.
73 Gordon KX4Z
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 7:01?PM Benjamin Kelley - KC0BLK via <benjamin.kelley= [email protected]> wrote:
I'm beginning to regret my decision to purchase this device.
It's clearly defective and does not work and no support is being offered.?
If I do not receive an answer soon I'll be inquiring with HFSignals how to return it for a refund.
?
Thanks,
--ben
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Re: zBitX ft8 TX signal comes speaker
I'm beginning to regret my decision to purchase this device.
It's clearly defective and does not work and no support is being offered.?
If I do not receive an answer soon I'll be inquiring with HFSignals how to return it for a refund.
?
Thanks,
--ben
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I received mine today as well, very exciting! I upgraded the software to 1.05/3.05, everything seems to work. I noticed the "chugging" as well, along with the decoder portion of the screen flickering. I am wondering if something is getting bogged down with the decoding/display/audio process
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 5:31?PM Nigel Evans M0NDE via <nigel.m0nde= [email protected]> wrote: My Zbitx arrived today. I am new to these radios so expect a learning curve. I have only received so far but here are my observations and questions.
I installed the batteries and followed the set up in the manual including setting the time using an hdmi screen. I linked the wifi to my phone hoping this would pay dividends when in the field. It first the radio seemed deaf, but playing around with the IF I started to hear signals on 20m and 40m. I found CW reception difficult the radio seemed to make a chugging sound as the decoder tried to work. The back of my radio was warm but was not excessively hot on rx. I tried FT8 decode seemed sluggish to start but once running was fine.
When the time needs adjusting must I always connect to an hdmi screen or is connecting to my phone wifi sufficient to update the time? Is the chugging sound in cw mode normal? Will the operating manual be updated further as time progresses. Should I be upgrading software and firmware or are these updates to be considered as beta and optional. How would HF signals prefer feedback to be given as I assume they cannot monitor every post trawling for bugs and questions.
Finally I like the radio and form factor. Thinking about a 3d printed sloping stand which when reversed protects screen and knob. Thinking 3d printing battery cover or using stand to hold battery holder. Can audio be directed via Bluetooth to an amplified speaker??
Thank you Farhan for this radio?
73 Nigel M0NDE
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The "git checkout main" fixed my problem as well. All is working properly now.
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I'm going to add a comment to the issue and close it, since it's working now.
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My Zbitx arrived today. I am new to these radios so expect a learning curve. I have only received so far but here are my observations and questions.
I installed the batteries and followed the set up in the manual including setting the time using an hdmi screen. I linked the wifi to my phone hoping this would pay dividends when in the field. It first the radio seemed deaf, but playing around with the IF I started to hear signals on 20m and 40m. I found CW reception difficult the radio seemed to make a chugging sound as the decoder tried to work. The back of my radio was warm but was not excessively hot on rx. I tried FT8 decode seemed sluggish to start but once running was fine.
When the time needs adjusting must I always connect to an hdmi screen or is connecting to my phone wifi sufficient to update the time? Is the chugging sound in cw mode normal? Will the operating manual be updated further as time progresses. Should I be upgrading software and firmware or are these updates to be considered as beta and optional. How would HF signals prefer feedback to be given as I assume they cannot monitor every post trawling for bugs and questions.
Finally I like the radio and form factor. Thinking about a 3d printed sloping stand which when reversed protects screen and knob. Thinking 3d printing battery cover or using stand to hold battery holder. Can audio be directed via Bluetooth to an amplified speaker??
Thank you Farhan for this radio?
73 Nigel M0NDE
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Thanks for that tip, I had completely forgot about that.
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Dean
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Gyula,
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Thanks for the detailed operations but I think I answered my own question.
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With the new Pi4 I flashed an operating system and installed it. Insert sd card and Pi works like a Pi should but now 64 bit.
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I made the image? of ?sb64p3.img.xz on a different new SD card with a program using ? Balena etcher. Thanks David
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I pulled the OS usd out of the Pi and inserted the new image and when powered up the Pi now has a 64 bit operating system and? all SBITX 64 bit program running.Obviously there is no "radio" but I see the toolbox and other things I never saw before.
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So, without any objections I will disassemble the rig and change cards.
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Please let me know if you have a different opinion or approach to this surgery.
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Dean
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Gwen Patton
Nigel Evans M0NDE