开云体育

  1. BITX20
  2. Messages
Expanded Topics Messages Polls
Date
Z bitx poor sensitivity

 

Hi all, I received my Zbitx a little over a week ago and have not had time to really try it out.
I have noticed it seems to be very insensitive to any signals.
When I switch over to my ft 817 signals are strong then immediately back to my zbitx they are either not heard or barely audible.
I have varied the if control between 0 and 100?
mans have gone the age options to no avail?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you -Sean de g0uvm
Re: zBitx - TX pitch in FT8 not shown on the displayed spectrum

 

I have updated the RPi Pico with UF2 downloaded today from , as described in (Updating the Pico) . However, when booting it shows v1.06, and the red line is still at the same position despite changing PITCH.
?
73,
Wojtek - SP5DAA
zBitx - TX pitch in FT8 not shown on the displayed spectrum

 

When working in FT8 on my zBitx I can see the spectrum of the received signal, but I can't check if my TX pitch is at the unused frequency.
In sBitx it was shown with the red line on the spectrum.
I can see the red line on the spectrum, but its position does not depend on the TX pitch value.
Do others have the same problem? Is it a problem with wrong version of the display firmware (i have not upgraded it)?
?
73,
Wojtek - SP5DAA
Re: sBITX 64 bit and V4 upgrade

 

Just a small addition: when we talk about sbitx v3 or v4, it's the hardware version.
This is done by the manufacturer, so you can buy it (v4 is currently planned).
When we talk about software, the manufacturer ships the 32-bit version, currently v3.21 (which is slower in development).
Don't confuse it with zbitx, which uses sbitx software, because the software there is currently v3.052.

There is a 64-bit version maintained by the development team, which is currently under development and you can find it on github on the pages maintained by JJ.
The 64-bit software currently uses v4.4. If you want to switch from 32 to 64-bit now, you need to download the (which contains sbitx v4.2).
After that, you can update to the newer sbitx version or use it right away.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
Re: sBITX 64 bit and V4 upgrade

 

Visit to get started :)
Re: SBit V4 Thoughts

 

Hi Gerry
?
The core 64bit development team and contributors are listed on github :)
?
?
?
?
-JJ
SBit V4 Thoughts

 

These are just things to think about.? I am making some presumptions here, based on the way I am interpreting emails I am seeing.? If any facts are wrong, I stand corrected.

The current 64-bit software seems to be reasonably complete, thanks to the good work of several individuals.? If I were to try and name them all, I would miss too many, so I won't try.? Thanks to you all for your hours of work.

The V4 is apparently some time in the future, as there appears to be several weeks of work to clear zBit orders before anything is done on the V4.

If I understand correctly, the only change from the present V3 to the future V4 is the change in the display from the older one to the new Touch 2.? The T2's pixel resolution is in portrait orientation, and this has to be changed to landscape.

One thing that might be worthwhile is to offer the V4 with different Pis, depending on the amount of RAM (2, 4, or 8 Gb) individual users desire.? I realize this option would have to be reflected in the pricing.? I would be willing to pay more for more memory.

Another thing might be to add the Synaptic utility and the link to the Pi software repository.? I would want to add Firefox to my V4.? I would want to add a few .PDF files I have created, and links to a few useful URLs.

Maybe some people would like to comment further.

Gerry Sherman
Re: zBitx power draw

 

开云体育

Hi,

Indeed. I wonder if you can set up the wifi network from a wpa_supplicant in the boot partition? In any case, definitely keep me posted on it. Pretty exciting!?


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV, WRVB670?-?Erie, PA
Email: buddy@...
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



On May 10, 2025, at 3:04?PM, Travis Siegel <tsiegel@...> wrote:

Yep, sure did, it arrived yesterday.

Can't do the initial setup w/o sighted assistance though, so have to wait until I can get some help with that, but after that's done, I can certainly either use it at the terminal command line, or use the web interface to operate the radio.? Likely the web interface would be easiest until I can work out how to get it talking on it's own.? Likely I'll need to remove it from the case, and swap out the pico for another pi that can handle the speech generation, then I won't need to use the web interface anymore.? It would be really nice being able to use the radio directly from the unit without having to hook up/connect to additional pieces.


On 5/9/2025 11:35 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
Ooh, did you order one of these?!?


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV, WRVB670?-?Erie, PA
Email: buddy@...
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



On May 9, 2025, at 6:37?PM, Travis Siegel <tsiegel@...> wrote:

Sorry to change the subject (slightly), but I'd like to know how far outside the specs in the manual we can go with power adapters.? The zbitx manual says 6-9 volts is preferred.? Will a 5V or a 10V supply break the radio? I have both of these, and was wondering which one (if either) I could use on the radio.? Failing that, what kind of setup would I need to attach a 12-volt deep cycle battery (taken from a power scooter) to the radio.? My wife had two of these batteries for her power chair, but it has since stopped working.? I use them directly to power my yaesu 857, and it works just fine, but since that radio doesn't transmit, I'd like to try using them on the zbitx.? Would I need a voltage regulator to reduce power to 6-9 volts, or can it handle the 12 volts directly?

The manual says we need 6-9 volts, with at least 3A for the radio, but I'm hoping there's some wiggle room in there, because I'm hard pressed to find such an adapter already lying around here.? I'll have to go find one on amazon or something, but until then, can I use either of the above mentioned supplies w/o fear of burning up the radio?
sBITX 64 bit and V4 upgrade

 

Is there one place where instructions for swapping to a 64bit pi and installing the V4 are located. I'm an old geezer, but new to this Groups thing, I poked around but only found a lot of fragments to what I was looking for
Mouse & Monitor Help

 

So I finally was able to chase down enough cables and a micro USB hub to hook up to a HDMI monitor, mouse and keyboard and got it all working along with connection to my laptop over wifi. My question is when I mouse click settings boxes with the remote mouse and monitor, the item high lights, but can't see to be able to change the value like say the drive setting. What am I missing?
Re: Raspberry Pi desktop on internal display

 

If you want to see the Pi desktop on a small display, you could try running VNC or a Remote Desktop on your mobile phone, and connect to the Pi via WiFi or ethernet adapter. ?73, Ron, n6ywu
Re: zBitx power draw

 

开云体育

Yep, sure did, it arrived yesterday.

Can't do the initial setup w/o sighted assistance though, so have to wait until I can get some help with that, but after that's done, I can certainly either use it at the terminal command line, or use the web interface to operate the radio.? Likely the web interface would be easiest until I can work out how to get it talking on it's own.? Likely I'll need to remove it from the case, and swap out the pico for another pi that can handle the speech generation, then I won't need to use the web interface anymore.? It would be really nice being able to use the radio directly from the unit without having to hook up/connect to additional pieces.


On 5/9/2025 11:35 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote:

Ooh, did you order one of these?!?


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV, WRVB670?-?Erie, PA
Email: buddy@...
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



On May 9, 2025, at 6:37?PM, Travis Siegel <tsiegel@...> wrote:

Sorry to change the subject (slightly), but I'd like to know how far outside the specs in the manual we can go with power adapters.? The zbitx manual says 6-9 volts is preferred.? Will a 5V or a 10V supply break the radio? I have both of these, and was wondering which one (if either) I could use on the radio.? Failing that, what kind of setup would I need to attach a 12-volt deep cycle battery (taken from a power scooter) to the radio.? My wife had two of these batteries for her power chair, but it has since stopped working.? I use them directly to power my yaesu 857, and it works just fine, but since that radio doesn't transmit, I'd like to try using them on the zbitx.? Would I need a voltage regulator to reduce power to 6-9 volts, or can it handle the 12 volts directly?

The manual says we need 6-9 volts, with at least 3A for the radio, but I'm hoping there's some wiggle room in there, because I'm hard pressed to find such an adapter already lying around here.? I'll have to go find one on amazon or something, but until then, can I use either of the above mentioned supplies w/o fear of burning up the radio?
About ready to order

 

Ashhar,
?
could you please help with a couple of questions regarding radio ordering status.
?
- Will the latest software updates (e.g. CW improvements) be included on zBitx orders placed now?
- Are there any hardware updates anticipated (and if possible, on what schedule)?
?
Thank you.
?
--
Mike
WA0YCN
Re: Raspberry Pi desktop on internal display

 

HI! I would like to have an option to turn off the LCD and RP pico. This way it would work with an external monitor with less noise and lower power consumption.


Ryan Wesolowski via <cosmo1stgen=[email protected]> ezt írta (id?pont: 2025. máj. 10., Szo 19:18):

I have run mine multiple times without the display connected via no machine.
?
Ryan
Kk6dzb
Re: Raspberry Pi desktop on internal display

 

I have run mine multiple times without the display connected via no machine.
?
Ryan
Kk6dzb
Re: Raspberry Pi desktop on internal display

 

I installed nomachine on my zbitx and on my cell phone so I can run the desktop without a HDMI
monitor attached. A little small compared to a full size monitor but it works for me.

A question for the group.

Since there is a noise issue with the zbitx display and current draw while receiving, will the zbitx boot if I remove the display board from the box and run it headless or does the display board have to be present for the zbitx to work?


Leo, AI5II


On Sat, May 10, 2025, 10:57?AM Joerg DB2OO via <db2oo.ju=[email protected]> wrote:
On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 02:24 AM, N7IHQ wrote:
Could the zBitx display Pico code be modified to show the Raspberry Pi desktop on the internal display?
The short answer is NO.
?
The long answer:
Currently the sBitx code on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W communicates through a custom protocol via I2C to the Raspberry Pi Pico, that controls the display.
This protocol exchanges information between the two, that is sBitx/zBitx specific, e.g. through commands like "change frequency to x", "change band to y", "go to transmit", ...
?
In contrast to that, the operating system running on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W controls a display through a display specific driver, that controls how the pixels on the screen are created.
By default this driver controls the HDMI output in the integrated graphics HW for that.
You can instruct the operating system to use a different driver for display purposes, but there is NO driver for this very specific combination of Raspberries connected through I2C.
?
You would have to write the drivers on both Raspberry sides (Zeor 2W and Pi Pico), which would be a huge effort and contradict to the idea, to create a low cost system with the zBitx.
Moreover it would not be fun, to run a desktop on a a 480x320 pixel display...
?
For a little bit more money there are 2 solutions:
  • the sBitx leveraging the video connector on the Raspberry Pi4 together with the appropriate display,
  • alternatively connect a display to the HDMI conector. This display could also be a small 7" or 10" HDMI display, which could get its power through USB. Keyboard could be Bluetooth connected.
?
--
73, Joerg - DB2OO
Re: How to turn off FT8 TX sound on zBitx

 

开云体育

Thank you! This works. Didn’t want to upset other members of the household?

On May 9, 2025, at 10:36?PM, HA8LKT Laci via groups.io <lhancz@...> wrote:

?

HI LI. Set SIDETONE 0.

HA8LK, Laci


Li Cao via <licao081=[email protected]> ezt írta (id?pont: 2025. máj. 10., Szo 4:29):
Hi!
I’m wondering how to turn the sound off? Thanks!
Li KQ4EXQ




Re: Raspberry Pi desktop on internal display

 

开云体育

Joerg explained very well why this isn't possible, but I'm curious why you want that option?

I *think* (or maybe *suspect*) that you get the RPi Zero 2 W desktop on an external device via WiFi and, say, VNC, and that would be vastly superior to a desktop with the tiny resolution the zBitx display offers.

Ken, N2VIP

On May 9, 2025, at 20:24, N7IHQ via groups.io <n7ihq@...> wrote:

?
Could the zBitx display Pico code be modified to show the Raspberry Pi desktop on the internal display?
Re: Raspberry Pi desktop on internal display

 

On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 02:24 AM, N7IHQ wrote:
Could the zBitx display Pico code be modified to show the Raspberry Pi desktop on the internal display?
The short answer is NO.
?
The long answer:
Currently the sBitx code on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W communicates through a custom protocol via I2C to the Raspberry Pi Pico, that controls the display.
This protocol exchanges information between the two, that is sBitx/zBitx specific, e.g. through commands like "change frequency to x", "change band to y", "go to transmit", ...
?
In contrast to that, the operating system running on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W controls a display through a display specific driver, that controls how the pixels on the screen are created.
By default this driver controls the HDMI output in the integrated graphics HW for that.
You can instruct the operating system to use a different driver for display purposes, but there is NO driver for this very specific combination of Raspberries connected through I2C.
?
You would have to write the drivers on both Raspberry sides (Zeor 2W and Pi Pico), which would be a huge effort and contradict to the idea, to create a low cost system with the zBitx.
Moreover it would not be fun, to run a desktop on a a 480x320 pixel display...
?
For a little bit more money there are 2 solutions:
  • the sBitx leveraging the video connector on the Raspberry Pi4 together with the appropriate display,
  • alternatively connect a display to the HDMI conector. This display could also be a small 7" or 10" HDMI display, which could get its power through USB. Keyboard could be Bluetooth connected.
?
--
73, Joerg - DB2OO
Re: add a wifi network to zbitx

 

开云体育

I just added my phone to the Wifi config using the desktop. It now recognizes both my home network and my phone mobile hotspot. Had to reboot the zBitx to switch between the networks though.

?

73 Frank PA3CNO

?

?

Van: [email protected] <[email protected]> Namens Ted via groups.io
Verzonden: zaterdag 10 mei 2025 12:26
Aan: [email protected]
Onderwerp: Re: [BITX20] add a wifi network to zbitx

?

?

Consider setting up your phone hotspot with the same SSID and PWD as home; you're about never going to use your hotspot while at home....

?

-Ted

? K3RTA

Justice will not come (to Athens) until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured.

Thucydides

?
341 - 360 of 116818