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New zBitx - New User - CW operation

 

I just received my zBitx, and have read the manual as well as been following this group for the past couple months.?
I hope to use this rig primarily on CW and perhaps a little FT8. I am aware of some serious CW issues having been noted on this group.?
What is the current state of usability in CW? Is there a best firmware to be using? I prefer to use an external paddle with the internal keyer and sidetone, but will a straight key or keyboard CW be better for now? Or do I just need to wait for a fix?
I will power the rig with 18650 cells in the attached holder. What is the best way to turn off the rig? Remove the cells? I know that can corrupt SD cards¡­
73, Steve AK0M
 

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Steve,

?

I received my zBitx yesterday and CW works surprisingly well, considering all comments of the last few weeks. At least, when selecting Iambic. I can¡¯t handle Iambic B, but maybe that¡¯s my fault¡­ My front panel firmware is 1.06 and my zBitx version is 3.052. As far as I can see on Github, those are the latest versions.

What does NOT work, is everything that has to do with deviation from the operating frequency. Split does not work, and if you switch between VFO A and B, the frequency of the other VFO appears to change to a random frequency when you switch back. Same with RIT: if I select RIT when tuned to i.e. 7.023, the RIT RX frequency is 6.998. If I dial the RIT frequency to 7.024, the TX frequency changes to 7.049, which you can see when you switch off RIT. That means the TX frequency changed the same amount as the RX (RIT) frequency. Am I the only one with these symptoms?

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73 Frank PA3CNO

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Van: [email protected] <[email protected]> Namens Steve Sutterer AK0M via groups.io
Verzonden: woensdag 7 mei 2025 14:10
Aan: [email protected]
Onderwerp: [BITX20] New zBitx - New User - CW operation

?

I just received my zBitx, and have read the manual as well as been following this group for the past couple months.?
I hope to use this rig primarily on CW and perhaps a little FT8. I am aware of some serious CW issues having been noted on this group.?

What is the current state of usability in CW? Is there a best firmware to be using? I prefer to use an external paddle with the internal keyer and sidetone, but will a straight key or keyboard CW be better for now? Or do I just need to wait for a fix?

I will power the rig with 18650 cells in the attached holder. What is the best way to turn off the rig? Remove the cells? I know that can corrupt SD cards¡­

73, Steve AK0M
 

Frank, thanks for the info.?

However, based on what I am reading, most of this radio¡¯s claimed features are non-functional. CW appears to be unusable in most cases, and I am seeing reports of thermal issues on FT8.?

I won¡¯t bother even powering mine up until some of the issues get resolved. Or maybe try to sell the rig. This is my first experience with HF Signals and it¡¯s not good¡­
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Does anything work right on this rig?
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I finally got on the air(portable) yesterday to do some FT8 running Drive@100 for about 45min on 20M and?
didn't overheat (the back was warm, but nowhere?close to hot). The swr was 1:1 into a 17ft telescopic?whip antenna(red base in the photo)


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On Thu, May 8, 2025 at 1:57?PM Steve Sutterer AK0M via <73ak0m=[email protected]> wrote:
Frank, thanks for the info.?

However, based on what I am reading, most of this radio¡¯s claimed features are non-functional. CW appears to be unusable in most cases, and I am seeing reports of thermal issues on FT8.?

I won¡¯t bother even powering mine up until some of the issues get resolved. Or maybe try to sell the rig. This is my first experience with HF Signals and it¡¯s not good¡­
?
Does anything work right on this rig?
?
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I find mine very functional for what it is¡­Do not expect a FT-891, but if you are concerned about functionality, I will tell you mine works better than I expected. ?Mine is primary for digital modes, but I have done SSB voice contact at over 300mi. ? I have not tried CW, but I assume it works, because I have accidentally called CQ with the macro.?

I am running mine on a 6v ?¡°Trail Camera" battery, ?90% output power (2 or 3W?) and have had contacts all over the USA on FT8, and have been heard 9000 miles away in Australia and in Europe. ? ?It gets warm, but so does my Yaesu, and it has fans for cooling. ?During transmit, it will get warm, but I would say it is not hot. ? It has been on 24/7 for 2 days with no overheating. ? Sure it is not high-end, but for me it will be perfect to throw in a bag and go to the park. ?

Here is my map running a 20g wire up in a tree for an antenna. I am located in the south east USA, so you can see the reach of this little rig on 20, and 15m

image.png

On May 8, 2025, at 12:57?PM, Steve Sutterer AK0M via groups.io <73ak0m@...> wrote:

Frank, thanks for the info.?

However, based on what I am reading, most of this radio¡¯s claimed features are non-functional. CW appears to be unusable in most cases, and I am seeing reports of thermal issues on FT8.?

I won¡¯t bother even powering mine up until some of the issues get resolved. Or maybe try to sell the rig. This is my first experience with HF Signals and it¡¯s not good¡­
?
Does anything work right on this rig?
?
 

Thanks for the user experiences. Sounds like FT8 is usable then. It¡¯s just a mode I very rarely use. SSB even less.?

As for CW¡­. ¡°The zBitx is a CW dream machine¡­.¡± is what the ad says. Perhaps some of you that have Bitx rig experience can tell me to be patient, it will eventually work? I hope so¡­ but progress reports have been pretty quiet this week.?

I guess I need more patience¡­.?
 

I spent some time with my new zBitx today. Sending CW with a paddle is indeed difficult. I can just barely make iambic A work at less than about 22wpm.?
 

CW with the zBitx continues to be a testament to its false advertising.
 

At the moment, yes, the CW doesn't work properly.? ?However, Jody has now demonstrated yet another way to fix the issue for one version and is working on another.? So the solution(s) are well with reach, just as we had to do with the sBitx.? ?Her solution may eventually carry back to the sBitx.
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I dont understand why there is said to be such a delay in going from R to T -- we fixed that a LONG time ago in the sBitx.? ?Perhaps the zbitx users will copy our solution?
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Oh by the way -- I? **just* figured out a problem with N3FJP and its connection to the Winkeyer.Arduino Emulator....and learned how to get around it.? ?We have had problems with N3FJP talking to winkeyers? (arduino emulator) for at least 3 years now....and finally I have a way to make it much more reliably work.? ?This is a famous set of equipment, I think the issue was present in the real winkeyer also -- and FINALLY I learned what is a workaround!? ?YEARS!
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Gordon KX4Z
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Hi Gordon, yes I have been following Jody¡¯s efforts pretty closely. As someone who worked in real time embedded systems for most of my career, I have no doubt the CW timing issue is fixable. Jody has a good latest approach, I think. I am not sure when the right time to try that code personally is.?
Perhaps a more serious issue is how insensitive the receiver is. It¡¯s pretty bad even for being a simple receiver. Not sure that software can fix that.?
Also I really want to be able to touch a signal on the waterfall and have the frequency jump there¡­ just a matter of software.?
Steve AK0M
 

Been making a few Q¡¯s on 20CW at about 20wpm with TR delay at 500mS. Not too bad.?

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