Re: Failure on first use?
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Re: Sbitx v3 frequency off by 300 hz
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Re: Sbitx v3 frequency off by 300 hz
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On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 10:31?AM Robert Strauss via <sea130= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Niles,
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How to adjust the calibration depends on the software version you are using.? ?I highly recommend switching to the 64-bit version that JJ leads:
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The calibration is handled in the "Toolbox."
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The stock version requires a modification to the C program and a rebuild of the software.
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73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: Sbitx v3 frequency off by 300 hz
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Hi Niles,
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How to adjust the calibration depends on the software version you are using.? ?I highly recommend switching to the 64-bit version that JJ leads:
?
The calibration is handled in the "Toolbox."
?
The stock version requires a modification to the C program and a rebuild of the software.
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: old calibrating uBITX
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Hi Antonio,
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What software are you using for the Nano?? That can influence the calibration method.
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Since it is receive only, zero beating is the best solution that I know of.? Any known CW, AM, or FM source in the receive area can work.? Tune the radio to the signal source frequency (I use a known, accurate signal generator) and follow the general steps of:
1 - Adjust the BFO to receive the low-frequency audio tones by positioning the plateau to the left of the 300 to 3,000 Hz range
2 - Calibrate the Master frequency using the zero beat method
3 - Readjust the BO to center the audio plateau between 300 and 3,000 Hz.
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Here is a v6 video to do the calibration:
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The steps to turn on the BFO and Calibration functions in the Nano depend on the software you use.
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The BFO tuning page from HFSignals is no longer functional.? I use a PC based audio spectrum analyzer to set the BFO:
or
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73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: Sbitx v3 frequency off by 300 hz
Hi Niles,
?
How to adjust the calibration depends on the software version you are using.? ?I highly recommend switching to the 64-bit version that JJ leads:
?
The calibration is handled in the "Toolbox."
?
The stock version requires a modification to the C program and a rebuild of the software.
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: old calibrating uBITX
Hi Antonio,
?
What software are you using for the Nano?? That can influence the calibration method.
?
Since it is receive only, zero beating is the best solution that I know of.? Any known CW, AM, or FM source in the receive area can work.? Tune the radio to the signal source frequency (I use a known, accurate signal generator) and follow the general steps of:
1 - Adjust the BFO to receive the low-frequency audio tones by positioning the plateau to the left of the 300 to 3,000 Hz range
2 - Calibrate the Master frequency using the zero beat method
3 - Readjust the BO to center the audio plateau between 300 and 3,000 Hz.
?
Here is a v6 video to do the calibration:
?
The steps to turn on the BFO and Calibration functions in the Nano depend on the software you use.
?
The BFO tuning page from HFSignals is no longer functional.? I use a PC based audio spectrum analyzer to set the BFO:
or
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
?
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Re: old calibrating uBITX
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Sbitx v3 frequency off by 300 hz
?Can anyone tell me how to adjust the frequency offset on the Sbitx? To hear any frequency ie 7.196 I have to use 7.196.3 ¡ the truSDX has a setting for this and I am hoping this radio does as well.
Thanks in advance, Niles. KC8RJH
Sent from my iPhone
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Hi everyone, I built a uBitx v5 (so 11.059 filter) from scratch only receiver. I know it's an obsolete and trite topic, but I wanted to ask you if there is a good method to calibrate its VFO and perform the calibration. I've read a lot of things, but I can't do it optimally.
I have calibrated the frequencies output from the raduino via software. But the receiver I just can't understand the logic.
I hope to receive some safe suggestions, to then transfer it to a container.
Also, the VFO calibration and calibration, must be done on an amateur radio frequency or on a commercial one (also much debated)?
Thanks and 73 by Antonio IU7SUX
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Re: Activate auto-hotspot on zBitx?
Is there any way you can carry a cable to connect direct to a router in where ever you are staying? ?I am an old newbie but I can connect my Bridgecom hotspot (for DMR) direct to the router in the condo we rent each winter and therefore don¡¯t have to connect through the wifi. ?When reading your email I just wondered if that was possible in this case. ?If I am way out in left field I am comfortable out there as I have been there much of my life. Ha!?
Many of the motels and condos we stay at have the router right behind the TV. So for the gurus out there is the above thought possible with the zBitX? ?Remember guys, I am a big proponent of the ¡°There are NO dumb questions in a hobby¡±. ?Please be kind. Ha!
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On May 25, 2025, at 6:46?AM, Vic WA4THR via groups.io <vhklein@...> wrote:
? Has anyone activated the auto-hotspot feature on the zBitx and can explain how to do it? I do have VNC running and I am connected to my WiFi, but I want to be able to connect when around unknown WiFi such as on vacation where I don't know the WiFi name and password until I get there.
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=Vic=
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Activate auto-hotspot on zBitx?
Has anyone activated the auto-hotspot feature on the zBitx and can explain how to do it? I do have VNC running and I am connected to my WiFi, but I want to be able to connect when around unknown WiFi such as on vacation where I don't know the WiFi name and password until I get there.
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=Vic=
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Waterfall and CW decoder on/off
The receiver noise would go away if the waterfall could be stopped. Could someone put a "Wfall on/off" icon in the SET or MENU functions that would stop the waterfall.
It would be nice if the CW decoder could be stopped as well.
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Re: Failure on first use?
On Sat, May 24, 2025 at 06:11 AM, David Wilcox K8WPE wrote:
Check your power supply (or batteries if using). ?Two of us from our club bought the zBitX at FDIM and bought batteries in the flea market. ?After about 15 minutes of just listening the screen flickered, went gray, and the radio shut down. ?We thought we had bought duds. ?But on getting home I used a stable power supply (and later with new 18650 batteries) it works well. ?Later we heard that the flea market seller was selling 8 year old batteries he had bought cheep as one of our group went back to exchange a defective charger.
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The says:
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It is a hungry radio in terms of power consumption. It draws 500mA (4.5 Watts) just when it is turned on and I¡¯ve seen peaks up to 4A on transmit.
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Your fifteen minutes at 4.5W would mean the batteries were asked to deliver 60W for a quarter of an hour so 4*4.5=18 watt-hours.??
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suggests a typical 3000 mAh battery is around 11 watt-hours, two would deliver 22 watt-hours.
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My late night couch math suggests that perhaps the batteries weren't exactly duds, especially if priced accordingly.
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Sorry if I made any mistakes, corrections are welcome.
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Either way, I would be interested in the listening time you get on the two fresh 18650 batteries, along with their milliamp-hour specification.
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--
Regards,
Dave, N1AI
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Built this wiring harness this afternoon to convert a HT Mic(Kenwood connector style 2.5mm/3.5mm) to the Zbitx, and I assume it would work with the sbitx.?
The microphone's speaker is amplified, I tested with a regular mic and found the sound levels were too low. The amplified audio on the mic really helps.?
The one thing to take note is that the speaker(EAR) needs to be connected as well because the MIC and PTT take the ground from the EAR's ground. If it's not connected you won't be able to TX.?
I haven't tried it on air, but listening to myself on my other radio and it sounded really good. About the same level as the internal mic.
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Re: First Satellite Downlink Reception over sBitx (for me at least)
Unfortunately, SATPC32 does not appear to be able to do CAT control via Hamlib (otherwise it would be easy to control the sBitx)? -- but it can control ICOM type CIV on "Radio2"? ? Unfortunately, it also does not have capabilities to handle an sBitx with a TRANSVERTER.
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There are probably many solutions to this, but I have limited skills.
I already have an ICOM emulator system that can handle CI-V commands over serial port (see the WIKI for MODS)
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If I then intercept the CI-V commands coming from the SAT32PC program, and adjust for the transverter, and then forward them to my icom emulator -- that should work.? ?( A brighter person would go directly to the hamlib interface over tcp/ip....but I don't know quite how to do that....)
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I think I can do the interception with an Arduino, so maybe I'll work at that.... or alternatively I could just alter my ICOM emulator and produce versions that are based on this or that Local Oscillator frequency!? ? That is probably the easiest way!!? ?I may work on that.
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In that case, I could have the sBitx with its spectrum display, paralleling the receiver in the ic820H simultaneously.? ?That would be quite nice!
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Gordon KX4Z
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Finally I can Boot zbitx From USB
I finally managed to boot from an external USB on my zbitx.
I had to modify /boot/cmdline.txt? on the internal sdcard to point rootfs to the external device UUID.
Of course if I remove the external device the zbitx doesn't boot because it is waiting for the root file system which is not there .
Not sure how the zbitx boot process works but it appears that the internal sdcard is needed to actually boot from the external sdcard. Not sure why that is?
Once the zbitx is up and running on the external device I am able to unmount the internal sdcard and everything runs ok.
/dev/sda1 is mounted as /boot and
/dev/sda2 is mounted as /rootfs
It looks like what is needed is a? check to see if the internal card is present and the external card is not then boot from the internal card and its file systems otherwise boot from the external sdcard?
Ideas?
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This is what I did.
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1. Ran sd card copy creating the USB mounted sdcard partitiongs changing the UUID's.
2. Copied `/boot/bcm2710-rpi-3-b.dtb` to `/boot/bcm2710-rpi-zero-2.dtb` on the internal sdcard.
3. Copied `/boot/bcm2710-rpi-3-b.dtb` to `/boot/bcm2710-rpi-zero-2-w.dtb` on the internal sdcard.
4. Added `program_usb_boot_mode=1` to /boot/config.txt on the internal sdcard.
5. Modified /boot/cmdline.txt changing rootfs to point to the UUID of the USB sdcard rootfs.
6. Rebooted the zbitx.
7. Unmounted the internal sdcard boot and rootfs dev's.
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Leo, AI5II
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Re: First Satellite Downlink Reception over sBitx (for me at least)
Great advice, Dave! The loss through the coax is considerable and I should reduce that length and improve that problem.
As for power output I haven¡¯t measured it, supposed to be better than 30 W. Not sure I¡¯m getting that, used radio. ?I should measure that
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the 70 cm Yagi turned out to be quite well tuned, but the 2 m ?yagis have a few more problems¡ª a little more effort, there could have good outcome. This has been a prototype from the beginning all the way to now and it could certainly stand some improvement!
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thanks!
gordon kx4z?
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zBitx built-in FT8 another problem with complex callsigns
Today I managed to do three POTA activations with my zBitx. Everything went fine, with the only exception that I couldn't complete QSO with those using complex callsigns.
Below is an example of related records exported from my "messages" table in sbitx.db:
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41796,FT8,14074600,20250524,93629,0,SP5DAA IK1MJK/P -06
41817,FT8,14074600,20250524,93630,1,IK1MJK/P SP5DAA R-01
41819,FT8,14074600,20250524,93659,0,SP5D IK1MJK/P -08
41843,FT8,14074600,20250524,93700,1,IK1MJK/P SP5DAA R-01
41846,FT8,14074600,20250524,93729,0,SP5D IK1MJK/P -09
It looks like despite the fact that my response is "IK1MJK/P SP5DAA R-01" my interlocutor sees my callsign as "SP5D".
That means that it's not only me who can't use a complex callsign, but also I can't have a QSO with others having complex callsigns.
In a standalone SOTA/POTA radio it is a big problem :(.
I know, that using WSJT-X on a computer/laptop may be a solution, but that negates the benefit of having a small transceiver with built-in FT8 support.
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Re: Up and Running Fully Portable
Took the next step this morning and brought up 'web mode on both my desk top PC and my tablet.
This is an awesome feature.? Sitting at the dining room table on my tablet and connected to my zBitx in the shack.??
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"POWER, WE DONT NEED NO STINKIN' POWER" - Every KX2 Owner
Always respect the air waves,
73 de KI7PBR, Gary
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IU7SUX Antonio
David Wilcox K8WPE
Vic WA4THR
Dave, N1AI
Gary-KI7PBR