The spur is not from the Si5311, its from trying to drive the TX chain hard enough to get
power on the upper bands.?
?
The MS5351 will not help that.??
As they say suit yourself.
?
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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zBitx receiver sensitivity ...
I have compared my zBitx with my KX3 & KX2 in practical RX use, ofcourse at the same antenna.
Result is , that in most of cases the signal readability is better with the zBitx than the KX3 .
The zBitx pulsed audio noise caused by display is to 90% away when using headphones or external loudspeaker .
At least that's true for my zBitx model.
So much for the reports that zBitx receiver would be deaf.
In CW TX, I have no problems with lambic-A, 700 ms delay but only up to speed 28.
Lambic-B is a disaster.
Next, I'll test SSB-TX...
?
73 , Jens / HB9JOI
?
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Does it have some improvements?
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I'm with you 2, Waiting for updates. I think I remember Ashhar mentioning in Dayton that they should be out in about 2 weeks.?
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I have worked CW, FT8 es SSB, local es DX.
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Is it my FT-DX101MP,? nope,? but what can I expect for 170$. I think it's a great fun little rig
?
KB?QBT Doug?
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Gary,
You, like me, are waiting for upgrades and improvements of this neat little inexpensive radio. ?I am old and lack time and energy to learn the digital and computer skills but I am sure the improvements will come. ?I am about to order a Raspberry Pi learning kit just to get up to speed in that area like I did for the Arduino years ago. ?All part of this wonderful hobby. ?Be patient little cricket (grass hopper) or something like that from an old TV show is my mantra now. ?I hope to live long enough to see this little gem really come alive. Until then will work with rigs more satisfactory. ?But then again this is a hobby, something to help me deal with the stresses and strains of this mixed up world. ?It has worked for 65 years (first licensed in 1960) and I don¡¯t expect it to fail me now.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 28, 2025, at 8:38?PM, Gary-KI7PBR via groups.io <ki7pbr@...> wrote:
?
I am hesitant to call these 2 a
show stopper but certain kills certain aspects of CW for me on
the zBitx.? I confirmed what i had already ready on the
groups.io that RIT and SPLIT do not work.? For me I need one of
these features since so many SOTA and DXers will work CW with
UP1, DOWN1 etc.? If I can split my TX and RX then I can't work
those stations.? I have made several CW and FT8 contacts with
this unit.? No SSB yet, but this is more a band condition thing
I believe.
I hope these are resolved in the
next firmware release.? It's still a lot of fun to play and
learn with.? Overall I am happy with the purchase and believe
it's "work in progress" and most of these types of issues will
be resolved.
--
"POWER, WE DON'T NEED NO STICKIN' POWER" - EVERY KX2 OWNER
Always respect the airwaves,
73 de KI7PBR, Gary
|
I am hesitant to call these 2 a
show stopper but certain kills certain aspects of CW for me on
the zBitx.? I confirmed what i had already ready on the
groups.io that RIT and SPLIT do not work.? For me I need one of
these features since so many SOTA and DXers will work CW with
UP1, DOWN1 etc.? If I can split my TX and RX then I can't work
those stations.? I have made several CW and FT8 contacts with
this unit.? No SSB yet, but this is more a band condition thing
I believe.
I hope these are resolved in the
next firmware release.? It's still a lot of fun to play and
learn with.? Overall I am happy with the purchase and believe
it's "work in progress" and most of these types of issues will
be resolved.
--
"POWER, WE DON'T NEED NO STICKIN' POWER" - EVERY KX2 OWNER
Always respect the airwaves,
73 de KI7PBR, Gary
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I'm parting with my ZBITX.
$230 shipped within the USA ¡ª flat rate medium box with tracking included.
Payment via PayPal or Zelle accepted.
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orange waterfall/error opening loopback
#zbitx
Zbitx suddenly quit working.? Need help figuring out what is wrong.
?
I was using the zbitx? when suddenly the waterfall turned orange and I lost audio.? The waterfall stays orange regardless of the IF setting and there is no audio output even with the volume turned all the way up.
?
Thinking I had scrambled something on the SD card, I downloaded and wrote a fresh image following the instructions on sbitx.net.? The zbitx rebooted once and worked normally for a few minutes, with noise from the speaker, then the orange waterfall returned with lost audio.? The problem persists over repeated reboots.
?
Connecting to a monitor, I get the following messages from sbitx.sh:
?
sbitx v3.052
Audio Output Device is: plughw:0,0
hw version: 4
'Error opening loopback playback device plughw:1,0: no such file or directory
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This repeats several times until it finally aborts.? There are other messages about time synchronization, RTC read, etc.
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I can ssh into the zbitx and tried sbitx/update. This did not help.
?
Any idea where I should start looking?? Something in alsamixer?
?
TIA for any help.
?
?
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Re: New zBitx does not transmit or show SWR
HI! I experienced this too. Reinstall the software on a new memory card. That will fix it.
73' HA8LKT Laci
Recently received a new zBitx.? Using batteries I can receive signals, albeit at low volume, but when transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load see no output at any drive level or on any mode.? Suggestions?
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New zBitx does not transmit or show SWR
Recently received a new zBitx.? Using batteries I can receive signals, albeit at low volume, but when transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load see no output at any drive level or on any mode.? Suggestions?
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
It is hard coded in the software.?
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
Evan,
My experience where my call and location would disappear after a power up, I did some editing on the HW_setting.ini
file and every time the user file got corrupt the system would reboot with a copy derived from HW_**.ini file.
As I remember from last year.
Raj
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Show quoted text
On 28/05/2025 7:10 PM, Evan Hand via groups.io wrote: Hi Dave,
I'm not sure who told you that it was unlikely to happen.? ?I have had it happen on each of my DE, V3, and multiple Raspberry Pi devices.? To reduce the likelihood, wait 15 to 30 seconds after changing a setting on a band to allow the file to be written before turning off the radio.? A quick power disconnect after a command to the radio increases the likelihood of a corrupted file.
The zBitx needs a way to shut down the Raspberry Pi cleanly.
The above are my beliefs based on my experiences.? Others may be different.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
"Otherwise, the default is to create a file with Ashhar Farhan's info on the first successful start of the radio."
So, where is THAT file kept?
--
ww6x
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
Hi Dave,
?
I'm not sure who told you that it was unlikely to happen.? ?I have had it happen on each of my DE, V3, and multiple Raspberry Pi devices.? To reduce the likelihood, wait 15 to 30 seconds after changing a setting on a band to allow the file to be written before turning off the radio.? A quick power disconnect after a command to the radio increases the likelihood of a corrupted file.
?
The zBitx needs a way to shut down the Raspberry Pi cleanly.?
?
The above are my beliefs based on my experiences.? Others may be different.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
On Wed, May 28, 2025 at 08:45 AM, Evan Hand wrote:
As such, it is the most likely to be corrupted when the radio is powered down without a proper shutdown.?
?
Wasn't I just told the odds of that happening were so small I shouldn't worry about that happening when we pull the power cord on the zbitx, and that everyone carried an up-to-date backup sdcard taped to the back side of the radio??
?
--
Regards,
Dave, N1AI
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
Note that this file is being updated anytime a band, mode, or other type of user command is entered.? As such, it is the most likely to be corrupted when the radio is powered down without a proper shutdown.? Additionally, no default file is provided in the original distribution.? To make a backup, you need to copy the data folder contents to a backup device after setting the call sign and grid location.? Otherwise, the default is to create a file with Ashhar Farhan's info on the first successful start of the radio.
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
Hi Niel,
?
Should be in the file:
/sbitx/data/user_settings.ini
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: First Satellite Downlink Reception over sBitx (for me at least)
I'm away at our family vacation home in the western North Carolina mountains (where it is MUCH COOLER!!!) and without satellite gear.
?
Now that I have proven that with a $100 preamp and $150 transverter, an sBitx can hear even the linear satellites without problems, I'm working on how to get it integrated into a satellite setup.? ?
?
#1)? Using GPREDICT should be pretty straightfoward because it can output tcp/ip hamlib commands to control frequency of sBitx.? It also allows you to list the local oscillator frequency of a transverter.? You would need a second setup that could do the transmission, maybe more than the sbitx/transverter system normally produces.? ?FT991A or Icom7100 would work!? ?A problem is that I don't see a way to make little bitty offsets so you can hear your own signal immediately.? ?Not sure how to fix that....? ?Someone may know the solution, or else this would be a great thing for the 64-bit crew to create -- a way to set up an offset for the hamlib (rigctld) response.
?
#2) Using SATPC32 (which Amsat encourages) makes it easier to adjust the offset and correctly handled my old ICOM820H (which Gpredict could not seem to be).? ?I updated my homebrew USB-connection software allowing Icom7300 emulation. so that I could work better at taking commands from SATPC32.? ?(I made it try USB0, USB1, USB2 before giving up, for example, a huge improvement).? ?I had it test the incoming frequency command and subtract the proper LO Oscillator for typical transverters for 144-146 146-148? 430-432? 432-434 MHz freuqencies and I got that to work properly!? ??
?
The software continues to accept commands from WINLINK perfectly.
I also tested it with ION2G (the ALE software currently used by USA SHARES) -- and amazingly it works for that also!? ?I have the ION2G "scanning" using the sBitx!? ?(If you adjust the frequency limits of some of the configuration files, you should be able to get it to be able to sound and answer in the USA SHARES Federal Frequencies, if you have the proper licensure, outside of the ham bands).? ?I don't think there is much ALE usage INSIDE the ham bands, but with the proper QRG files, it should work fine.
?
THE PROBLEM I'm having is that SATPC32 does not continue to update the frequency of the sBitx? ?It sends the initial frequency (and my software properly sets the sBitx in the 10 meter band) -- but then does not continue to send the Doppler-corrected updates.? ?Instead it is sending a zillion ICOM CIV commands 03hex (requesting reading the frequency)? ?I've tried to answer the requeist multiple ways, to no avail.? ?I'm not doing something right because I've watched this work with a 7300 I believe.? ?Oddly, if you tweak the offset in the CAT menu option (say, by 20 Hertz) the SATPC32 again sends the proper freuqency to the sBitx and it is synced up again!!!? ? ?If anyone know how to get it to keep doing that, and how I might be improperly answering their 0x03 frequency read reqeuest -- let me know!!!
?
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The spectrum display of the sBitx is a HUGE help on the receiver side of linear satellite operations.? ??
?
Gordon KX4Z
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?
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Re: #sBitx config - where?
#sBitx
Should be in a HW_settings or similar INI file.
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Show quoted text
On 28/05/2025 11:25 AM, Neil K6NCX via groups.io wrote: After several months of using my sBitx happily on FT-8, with two different US calls and about a dozen US grids, it suddenly came up with VU2ESE and an Indian grid.
Full disclosure time: It was after I foolishly ran my 12v battery down to where the BMS shut it down.
I could have - and eventually did - just set call and grid back to what I need. But I had no confidence it wouldn¡¯t go wonky again, so first I went looking through the file system for those values and updated them there. It came up the same. I commented them out. Same. I renamed the file. Same.
So where is that information kept?
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Thanks for the link.?
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Being the spur issue in another thread I'm trying to avoid using the SI53511A as I've read that the MS5351M is a slightly better part in some ways?
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Jens/HB9JOI
David Wilcox K8WPE
Gary-KI7PBR
Raj vu2zap
Dave, N1AI
Cory Lytle KO4SWI