Do not run this on the zbitx
Because I was bored, I thought about upgrading buster to bullseye just to see what would happen.
Do not run this RPI-UPDATE.
This program updates the rpi firmware and breaks the sbitx software. It changes WiringPi and doing a rebuild does not reset it. Also running the sbitx/update does not help. I had to replace the sdcard with a backup to get the radio working again.
?
Leo, AI5II
?
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I forgot to add that the line is there with power supply or on battery.
?
73, Dean/ N2TNN
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So, just recently I have noticed a carrier line which is very annoying. See on the photo my frequency is 14.044 and there is a constant noise line on 14.045. It is always there on every frequency and every band. I can diminish the sound by turning the IF down near 40. The line also follows any RIT movement. 
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Re: Tariffs and zBitx Shipments
#zbitx
You should have included the very first paragraph of the Whitehouse fact sheet - It clearly states that the de minimus exception is indeed gone as relates to China, and only China:
CLOSING LOOPHOLES IN THE TARIFF SYSTEM:Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating duty-free?de minimis?treatment for low-value imports from China, a critical step in countering the ongoing health emergency posed by the illicit flow of synthetic opioids into the U.S.
Source:?
I believe all of HF Signals products are assembled in India, and while the components inside their products most certainly come from China, they are not subject to U.S. import tariffs having passed thru India.
Ken, N2VIP On Apr 6, 2025, at 00:52, AndyH via groups.io <awhecker@...> wrote:
? De minimis is gone.
?
?
"
- All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the?de minimis?exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders."
?
A technical term from a lifetime in uniform rears it's ugly head yet again: BOHICA.
?
On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 05:33 PM, Andrew wrote:
Tariffs are kind of a moving target but your radio shouldn't be affected due to the de minimis exception.
Awaiting my new toy, but wondering what, if any, impact the new tariffs announced by the US will have on shipments to the US.?
AC9KQ
?
?
?
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That (every 4 ticks) would probably work - but only if you make the qsk delay high enough.
?
That delay stops the waterfall/decoder display from updating, and that seems to be taking a bit more time than the current loop allows, one tick is not 1ms, but a bit over 2.
I think it would be fine to do the screen updates less frequently even when receiving, I like a slower waterfall, but that's one of the tradeoffs that I'm sure Farhan has considered and will fine tune.
?
Erik
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Re: Tariffs and zBitx Shipments
#zbitx
If Trump is serious he will enforce the Rules of Origin that will tariff goods shipped to an entity in the US that does not perform "substantial transformation" of the product. Otherwise everyone could just rent an office in Delaware for a paper transshipment company and claim their products are made in the USA.
?
In the past suppliers like DigiKey broke out tariff cost as a line item in the invoice so customers could see the actual costs. Others may choose to do that rather than raise prices and take the blame for the cost increase. This seems to be the route that Europeans take with their VAT.
?
If a tariff applies to a product that we in the US buy, we get hit with a double whammy. Not only the tariff itself, but the carrier, like DHL, charges a fee for handling the paperwork. I experienced that when buying a telescope from Germany years ago that was over the De Minimis.
--
73
??? Bob? KD8CGH
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You guys go for it!
More power to you!
I¡¯m working on satellite antenna controls right now
Gordon kx4z
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 6, 2025, at 07:19, Mike Johnshoy via groups.io <mike.johnshoy@...> wrote:
?Ron, I think you are going down the same path I did on the 64 bit baseline last year. In sbitx_gtk.c we made the tweak like yours which leaves Farhans code and the polling rate undisturbed for all current and future modes, except for new special treatment (more frequent polling) for MODE_CW and CWR.
I like Gordon's comment about the Shannon limit, but there is no limit on how much people will complain when you clip off one of their dits or dahs!
I originally started to go through all the CW related stuff between modem_poll and key_poll to see if it should be streamlined but Farhans original code seems pretty good.
if (ticks % 20 == 0)
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
else
{
// calling modem_poll every 20 ticks isn't enough to keep up with a fast
// straight key, so now we go on _every_ tick in MODE_CW or MODE_CWR
if ((mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value)) == MODE_CW ||
(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value)) == MODE_CWR)
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
}
and over here in sbitx_gtk
if (ticks % 20 == 0 || cw_tx_now ){
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
cw_tx_now = 0;
}
Sat, Apr 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM, Ron Carr wrote:
and over here in sbitx_gtk
if (ticks % 20 == 0 || cw_tx_now ){
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
cw_tx_now = 0;
}
--
Mike KB2ML
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Re: sBitx update to 3.051?
Steve,
?
Follow what Gyula says. He got me started and I am enjoying my sBitx.
?
Dean
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Stephen Clark via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, April 6, 2025 7:20 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] sBitx update to 3.051?
?
Thanks for your response, I¡¯ll read more about the upgrade to 64-bit OS.?
On Apr 5, 2025, at 10:12?AM, HA3HZ <gyula@...> wrote:
?
Steve,
if I understand correctly, you have sBitx v3 hardware. I recommend upgrading to 64-bit, the forum discussion for which can be found here:
New sBitx V3 to me
|
The last word from HF Signals was supposed to be by the end of last month, who knows. I'm planning to purchase one also.?
?
Aaron W4AAN?
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Re: Homebrew satellite control system that can run on sBitx
Heard first ?satellite voice signals, single side band, on A07 this morning? Gordon kx4z?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 6, 2025, at 04:40, Gordon Gibby KX4Z via groups.io <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:
? The homebrew satellite antenna controller boards arrived and a prototype has been built and I have it now controlling a G Dash 450ADC ?quite nicely from gpredict?
?
unfortunately thesbitx /transverter doesn¡¯t seem to be sensitive enough (without any preamp) , but I think I just heard the beacon from AO ¨C 73 using an older ICOM ¨C 820H?
?
<IMG_5389.jpeg> <IMG_5390.jpeg>
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Re: sBitx update to 3.051?
Thanks for your response, I¡¯ll read more about the upgrade to 64-bit OS.? Steve
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 5, 2025, at 10:12?AM, HA3HZ <gyula@...> wrote:
? Steve, if I understand correctly, you have sBitx v3 hardware. I recommend upgrading to 64-bit, the forum discussion for which can be found here: New sBitx V3 to me--
Gyula HA3HZ
|
Ron, I think you are going down the same path I did on the 64 bit baseline last year. In sbitx_gtk.c we made the tweak like yours which leaves Farhans code and the polling rate undisturbed for all current and future modes, except for new special treatment (more frequent polling) for MODE_CW and CWR.
I like Gordon's comment about the Shannon limit, but there is no limit on how much people will complain when you clip off one of their dits or dahs!
I originally started to go through all the CW related stuff between modem_poll and key_poll to see if it should be streamlined but Farhans original code seems pretty good.
if (ticks % 20 == 0)
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
else
{
// calling modem_poll every 20 ticks isn't enough to keep up with a fast
// straight key, so now we go on _every_ tick in MODE_CW or MODE_CWR
if ((mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value)) == MODE_CW ||
(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value)) == MODE_CWR)
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
}
and over here in sbitx_gtk
if (ticks % 20 == 0 || cw_tx_now ){
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
cw_tx_now = 0;
}
Sat, Apr 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM, Ron Carr wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
and over here in sbitx_gtk
if (ticks % 20 == 0 || cw_tx_now ){
modem_poll(mode_id(get_field("r1:mode")->value));
cw_tx_now = 0;
}
--
Mike KB2ML
|
Re: Homebrew satellite control system that can run on sBitx
The homebrew satellite antenna controller boards arrived and a prototype has been built and I have it now controlling a G Dash 450ADC ?quite nicely from gpredict?
?
unfortunately thesbitx /transverter doesn¡¯t seem to be sensitive enough (without any preamp) , but I think I just heard the beacon from AO ¨C 73 using an older ICOM ¨C 820H?
?
|
Re: zBitx firmware update using Macbook/Raspbian
I updated mine on my Linux machine no problems. I am running mint 22. ?Farhans video looked like he was running Ubuntu.
?
Ryan
KK6DZB
|
Re: zBitx firmware update using Macbook/Raspbian
I thought the instructions said a Windows type pc was required 73 de Nigel Evans
Callsign: M0NDE QTH: Rhyl Locator: IO82
On Sun, 6 Apr 2025 at 08:17, Peter Watkins via <peterjwatkins50= [email protected]> wrote: Hi all,
?
I have been trying to update the firmware on the zBitx using a Mac and RPi box but without success. I have 1.04 installed as received.
?
I¡¯ve followed the instructions on YouTube using the recommended approach but no drive is shown at all.
?
No problems with update at the terminal.
?
Any suggestions/recommendations would be welcomed.
?
Tnx and 73 Peter VK3TKK
|
zBitx firmware update using Macbook/Raspbian
Hi all,
?
I have been trying to update the firmware on the zBitx using a Mac and RPi box but without success. I have 1.04 installed as received.
?
I¡¯ve followed the instructions on YouTube using the recommended approach but no drive is shown at all.
?
No problems with update at the terminal.
?
Any suggestions/recommendations would be welcomed.
?
Tnx and 73 Peter VK3TKK
|
Thanks Ken, N2VIP for keeping an eye on what's going on.
Unfortunately, many people ignore all respect and understanding regarding the deceased amateur.
Unfortunately, this policy comes from the street and spares no one.
I thought about calling the questioner's attention, but who am I to instruct him in order.
A 74-year-old old man who knows how much time he has left, because our fate is not only influenced by our actions.
For me, Mike, W9MDB helped a lot at the end of December last year, when I asked in another forum how to eliminate the error message 'Error in SoundInput'.
Since then, with his help, I can use the jtdx program on sbitx without restarting.
So my thanks go to Mike, which I did back then in response.
?
--
Gyula HA3HZ
|
Re: Tariffs and zBitx Shipments
#zbitx
De minimis is gone.
?
?
"
- All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the?de minimis?exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders."
?
A technical term from a lifetime in uniform rears it's ugly head yet again: BOHICA.
?
On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 05:33 PM, Andrew wrote:
Tariffs are kind of a moving target but your radio shouldn't be affected due to the de minimis exception.
Awaiting my new toy, but wondering what, if any, impact the new tariffs announced by the US will have on shipments to the US.?
AC9KQ
?
?
?
|
Any word on when this will be available?? I am planning to order one.
Gerry Sherman
|
I recently powered up my zbit.? I had an official Pi keyboard and
mouse connected through the supplied OTG adapter before applying
power.? The zbit power and drive were both set to zero as I had no
antenna connected.? The radio seemed to key OK from the keyboard,
according to the sidetone I was hearing.
A couple of comments and questions.
Why is it necessary to use an HDMI monitor when updating the
software?
I couldn't see the mouse pointer with the above-mentioned
connection.
Gerry Sherman
On 2025-04-06 00:07, Erik Erkelens -
N2EPE via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I think Gordon KX4Z is spot on, the timing of items in the
ui_tick() loop need adjusting.
?
I slowed down a few things, and made polling the key more
frequent, and now I was able to send at 30WPM (not really - but
I'm confident any mistakes were mine, and not the zbitx's).
?
Ron Carr's fix for iambic B is also essential to make that
work correctly.
?
My changes are in my , and worked for the very few things I tried, but well
may have broken others.
?
I am very excited about this radio and having the ability to
see and change how it's working!
?
Erik - n2epe
?
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Bob Benedict, KD8CGH
Nigel Evans M0NDE
HA3HZ