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Re: #zbitx I am intereted in CAT control of the zBitx.
#zbitx
On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 06:33 AM, Armando Escalante wrote:
Yes.
1.? ?Congratulations that you got it working on the sBitx (where it was developed).? ? I use a Signalink or equivalent (even homebrewed) and that handles the PTT when the audio is detected on the transmit side of the equation.
2.? ?I hope there will be USB port(s) from the Raspberry PI.? Looking at the photos in the manual, there appears to be a "USB" port to which the UART might be connected by way of some adapter.? ?It is possible that the software will detect the UART when connected to the USB port.? ?I hope so!!? ??
3.? ?I have not been able to understand the internal audio connections of the sBitx series, whichincludes abundant but complicated sound systems.? ?Therefore I have simply used an external Digirig or Signalink (i actually use a homebrew device often) and simply connect to the speaker output and mic input.
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Sorry this is so difficult!? ?I dont think WINLINK is used at all in India so Ashhar is very unfamiliar with it, I think.? ? ?If Winlink had a connection to hamlib (I've never seen one) this would be much easier, of course.? ? Of if someone with more software knowledge than I wrote better software, of course!!
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Gordon KX4Z
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Re: #zbitx I am intereted in CAT control of the zBitx.
#zbitx
Gordon, I tried this without success.
On the zBitX, connecting to the port called CAT on the top of the unit, I do not get the USB port to get recognized by the OS.
I enabled the Serial Ports in Pi Preferences etc.
The icomemulator starts but errors out when It cant find the USB port.
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Tried it on the sBitx unit, the icomemulator does run well, Winlink CAT controls pass and can control the radio frequencies, (not the PTT...)
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The other issue I have is with the Sound card... do the sBitx and zBitx have internal sound cards? if not, I guess I have to use a DigiRig type device?
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Any suggestions?
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Re: zBitx Power Supply
HI Gordon! Gordon Gibby KX4Z via <docvacuumtubes=[email protected]> ezt ¨ªrta (id?pont: 2025. m¨¢j. 4., V 20:04):
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Re: zBITX Time Question
Lots of discussion about DT already here /g/BITX20/topic/112513670 and I've logged it as an issue here |
Re: zBitx Power Supply
Jim, The usual PD setup for operating a ham radio, since my article on it in QRP Quarterly several years back, was either a mains-supplied charger that supports PD voltages and currents, or a battery power bank that supports PD negotiation for PD voltages and currents. (There's also QualComm Quick Charge competing with PD. Generally speaking, you can tell them apart by the fact that QC uses a USB-A to DC coaxial, while PD uses USB-C to DC coaxial.) The charger converts mains AC to DC, at the negotiated specs according to what is set in the cable. A PD cable has a USB-C plug at one end that contains a circuit board that does the negotiating with the charger or power bank for the voltage and current it wants. This cable is called a "trigger" or "sink" cable (not sync, it's not synchonizing, it's a voltage sink as opposed to a voltage source), and while I have the bits to make them (the boards are tiny, and are usually in the body of the USB-C connector on the cable), I prefer to buy them premade. Nearly all of my sink cables are for 12V. The PD limit for 12V is 5A, but sometimes you see 3A cables. Mine are 12V, 5A. The other end is the 5.5x2.1 (or 2.5, depending on the device) DC coaxial plug.? The last item in the chain is the radio itself. What the radio expects for operating voltage and current is what needs to be communicated to the power source via the sink cable. As I said, most of my cables are 12v, but that's only because most of my radios want 12v. The zBitX is the orange cat among the gray, and as such, wants 9V instead. So I have a few sink cables that negotiate 9V, with the proper connector to supply power to the zBitX. The reason I mention plugging the sink cable into the power source BEFORE connecting to the radio, is because the negotiation process does not jump directly to the requested voltage in some sink boards. Instead, it starts with 5v, then finishes the negotiation and goes to the requested amount. Many radios simply don't play well with this process, if connected first. Some react by releasing the magic smoke. Some just don't turn on, having detected 5v, and then figuring that was simply insufficient, and locks it out. You have to disconnect and reconnect to get it to negotiate again. This is avoided by connecting the sink cable to the power source first, then the radio second. I have a PD cable for the sBitX as well, since we have one. Instead of the coaxial DC barrel, I have an XT60 connector that matches the radio. It works quite nicely. In addition, I have an Omnicharge Ultimate power bank that doesn't even need me to use a PD sink cable, though I could, as the Ultimate has USB-C PD connections. But it also has an XT30 socket for powering devices up to 60v. It's easy to set that socket for 12V, then plug the XT30 end of the cable into the power supply, then the XT60 end to the sBitX, or I have an XT30 to DC barrel for using at 9V with the zBitX. Since I can actually set the Ultimate to the voltage and current necessary directly, I don't need to use PD at all for that power bank, and can just set it for what the radio wants. It's a great power bank, just a tad pricey. I paid about $300 for it, but I cheated. I used to get points back on my credit card that could be redeemed for cash on various gift card brands. Since the Ultimate wasn't available on Amazon, but WAS at Staples, I got the correct amount on Staples gift cards, and used those to buy the power bank. The only power bank I have that surpasses it is the Anker Powercore 300 DC. It's like their standard Powercore 300, but lacks any AC outlets. If I need a power bank with an AC inverter, I use the Ultimate, as it has one. To make sure I'm covering all of your question, The PD charger or power bank I use for the zBitX only requires the USB-C to DC coaxial PD sink cable. I have not found that they cause any birdies on Amateur frequencies that would require additional filtering. I mostly use PD with power banks, though. I have a couple of very well-made AC > DC Power Delivery chargers that work extremely reliably. Pre-lockdown, I used to go around to several little parks near me where I could set up and play radio. One is a POTA/WWFF park, and it was my favorite. But another about a mile away has available AC power sockets, and I will use them if available.? I have a GaN charger by Baseus that is technically rated for 65 Watts, but the reviews say it tends to overheat when used to its maximum, and will drop back to 45W, then to 30W if the demand is too high. Since it is rated for PD 12V/3A, that comes out to 36, but I haven't hit that level with any QRP radio I've used it with. It may get a little warm, but since QRP has very low demand while receiving, I am not concerned about some reviews that complain about overheating. Even when transmitting, it's usually a max of 5W out (though the sBitX, having a QRP+?output will be higher), and even when transmitting 25W, considering overhead, 30W demand would be about as much as a QRP or QRP+ radio would require. Baseus 65W PD Charger: The PD sink cables I've used with 12v radios come from JacobsParts, a dealer on both Amazon and eBay I've had no problems with whatsoever. Here's the Amazon 12V sink cables I use:? The 9V sink cables I'm using with the zBitX are from a different vendor, but I've had no issue with them:? JacobsParts does have a 9v cable, and I would probably have ordered from them if I thought about it more at the time, but I took the one I saw that fit the need. If you want to try JacobsParts, here's their 9v PD cable (I have not tested this, but it should work fine):? A note. 12v is, from what I gather, being or has been phased out for the main PD spec. However, the wider PPS spec contains 12v, and there are lots of PPS sink boards around. PD still has 9V, however. I have ordered, and will test, the new generation of GaN II Anker Nano PPS charger I just saw on Amazon:? I'll let everyone know what I find out. If all the acronyms being flung about are confusing, Anker did a very nice page disambiguating the different specs:? There are other sources out there. I just put "pps vs pd" into google and got a nice pageful of sources. I chose the Anker description because I use a lot of Anker devices. If I can be of any help, please ask. If it's not topical here, email me offline. My email in QRZ is good if you can't get it from here. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 73, Gwen, NG3P |
Re: N8ME Firmware Day/Night Colors Switch Mod
I just downloaded and installed your version on my uBitx V6, and it's much better than the stock firmware, great job! I do have a question, looking through the code, and that's how do I add to the 5 memory slots? I am guessing they are for quick CW messages or possibly favorite frequencies, but I can't find any reference to them in the code, or on the menus / config. --
-- J R Parrick (K0TBS) |
Re: Thanks for the info. Power supply
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýReally? Shipping Chinese 9v power adapters from via DHL?HF Signals would have to import them from China, stock them, then resell them and charge shipping. I think HF Signals is doing the right thing regarding power sources for the zBitx. Ken, N2VIP On May 4, 2025, at 18:49, Ronny Julian via groups.io <k4rjjradio@...> wrote:
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zBITX Time Question
Hello?
I received my zBITX in their 2nd shipment release a few days ago.
I have linked it to my WiFi, an easy task.? It's internal clock should be locked and on time now.
I then went on 20m to make a single FT8 test and was successful to work a station, that you can see in the Logbook image.
What I am confused about is the TIME that is recorded in the integral Logbook.
The Logbook display shows what I think is the time as "32:29".? See attached image.
On the PI screen that I displayed on my HDMI monitor it does show a correct time of 194915 as
"194915? 13? -04? 1647 - WB4KTF? AJ5S? EM42", see attached image.
So why does the logbook show this odd 32:29 for time?
Are we supposed to EXPORT the logbook to see the correct time of the QSO?
?
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Glen, WB4KTF, Austin, TX |
Re: zBITX CW Mode - Proof of Concept
Hi Gordon,
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That's my thinking also.? If I can get a GPIO Interrupt on key-down working, having that enable Tx Mode would be my first step.? Have not though it out beyond that - I'm just taking it one step at a time - will have to see how the system reacts to having that switchover made to see how to proceed from there.?
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Agree that Ashhar will have to consider all ideas for making his product usable on CW.??
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72,
Jody - K3JZD? ? |
Re: zBitx Power Supply
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýYou guys might try putting a big electrolytic capacitor across the output of that switching power supply. Like two or 3000 ?F.Gordon kx4z? On May 4, 2025, at 14:03, HA8LKT Laci via groups.io <lhancz@...> wrote:
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Re: zBitx Power Supply
I listened to my own FT8 signal. Unfortunately, it wasn't clear. Yvon AE7YD via <Yvon=[email protected]> ezt ¨ªrta (id?pont: 2025. m¨¢j. 4., V 19:56):
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Re: zBitx Power Supply
I did not noticed it on mine but maybe I didn't test it right. How did you check it?
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On the reset able fuse, I tested it yesterday night and discovered that it takes over 10A and too many seconds to trip.
I though it was a magnetic trigger but it is thermal.
I'll go back to the miniature blade fuses.
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73, Yvon
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Re: Batteries on ZbitX
I don't believe any capacity beyond 4000mAh. Or maybe somebody can explain why I pay $15 for a single 3600mAh cell but $3.95 for two 15.000mAh cells including a charger at Ali's. Simple check: check the weight. It's an indication for the capacity. 73 Frank PA3CNO? Op 4 mei 2025 14:09 schreef "matjaz via groups.io" <matjaz_zejn@...>:
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Re: Batteries on ZbitX
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýLink 18650 lipo 9900mA. Most, be careful to handel and use. 73 Matjaz S56ZVD Robert Fairbairn via groups.io je 3.
05. 2025 ob 16:05?napisal:
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ZBitx Shutdown Function
#zbitx
After working with Unix/Linux systems for a lifetime, i know that bad stuff will happen if you just disconnect the power on a regular basis. I still feel a twitch in my fingers if I don¡¯t run sync; sync; sync; before a shutdown or halt command ;) ? I¡¯ve forked Farhan¡¯s code and added a button on the UI to shut down the Pi Zero: https://github.com/khkremer/zbitx.git https://github.com/khkremer/zbitxfrontpanel.git The "Shutdown" function is behind the "Menu" button. After selecting it and confirming, wait until the LED on the Pi Zero (which you can see through the covered USB connector) stop to blink. I moved the confirmation button a bit up so that it¡¯s harder to fat finger the shutdown with an unintentional double tap on the shutdown button. ? de Karl Heinz - K5KHK |