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Hi, thank you for the add.
Any chance of a production batch of the zBitx kit / assembled unit?
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The zbitx is just a scratch built sbitx. There are no plans from HF signals to offer a kit.
I hope someone else picks up the slack
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 5:25 PM vincenzo.praturlon via <vincenzo.praturlon= [email protected]> wrote:
Hi, thank you for the add.
Any chance of a production batch of the zBitx kit / assembled unit?
|
Hi Farhan?
Please share at least the code used in the prototype you demonstrated at FDIM this?year.
The OLED support looks promising and suitable to.?
You said you'd be sharing the code during one of your submission, still waiting for it.
Happy to share, Nick Kennedy surely succeeded in realising your idea on zBITX and I'm happy about?it.
He's also stuck at getting the OLED display to work.
Could you please be kind enough to show us the way to get it to work.
Charudatt - VU2UPX?
On Fri, 13 Sept, 2024, 9:23 pm Ashhar Farhan via , <farhanbox= [email protected]> wrote: The zbitx is just a scratch built sbitx. There are no plans from HF signals to offer a kit.
I hope someone else picks up the slack
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 5:25 PM vincenzo.praturlon via <vincenzo.praturlon= [email protected]> wrote: Hi, thank you for the add.
Any chance of a production batch of the zBitx kit / assembled unit?
|
The code base is the same. Checkout the.farhandev branch of sbitx repository
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 10:22 PM Charudatt Uplap via <charudattu= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Farhan?
Please share at least the code used in the prototype you demonstrated at FDIM this?year.
The OLED support looks promising and suitable to.?
You said you'd be sharing the code during one of your submission, still waiting for it.
Happy to share, Nick Kennedy surely succeeded in realising your idea on zBITX and I'm happy about?it.
He's also stuck at getting the OLED display to work.
Could you please be kind enough to show us the way to get it to work.
Charudatt - VU2UPX?
On Fri, 13 Sept, 2024, 9:23 pm Ashhar Farhan via , <farhanbox= [email protected]> wrote: The zbitx is just a scratch built sbitx. There are no plans from HF signals to offer a kit.
I hope someone else picks up the slack
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 5:25 PM vincenzo.praturlon via <vincenzo.praturlon= [email protected]> wrote: Hi, thank you for the add.
Any chance of a production batch of the zBitx kit / assembled unit?
|
Too bad. It would be an instant success.
I can only think HF Signals cannot afford the little investment required (which is not so comforting...)
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@Farhan Why don't we crowfund this?
200$ each, with a discount coupon for the same amount as perk.
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We would produce it if there were demand for it.? It takes 100 pcbs to be viable.
On Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 12:40 PM IU0KVG via <vincenzo.praturlon= [email protected]> wrote: @Farhan Why don't we crowfund this?
200$ each, with a discount coupon for the same amount as perk.
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I think the crowdfund could be the best way to check demand (for the assembled units).
Set up a goal of 20,000$ (200$? * 100) and see what happens.?
If the goal is not reached the money gets back, no harm to anyone.
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It is an odd thing though, the Elecraft KH1 is a CW only radio, selling for 600 USD. Not really, if you add all the essentials, it stacks upto 1000 USD. Yet, they sell about 3000 radios per month. Radioddity sells the Xeigus in even higher numbers.
On the other hand, QRP Labs or HF signals builds open, hackable radios at about 1/5th the price. Yet, they are an acquired taste, to put it mildly.
Some may say that those are complete radios, and these are kits or thst they are not fully functional.
Neither is true, the QMX fully assembled retaila for 220 USD, with the kitchen sink.
The basic function of an sbitx (ssb/cw) is far more stable and superior to the G90. Sure, maybe the FT8 logging doesnt work as expectdd, but the G90 doesnt have it at all!
I guess, this is the nature of open radios and will remain so. Pretty much like Linux.
- f
On Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 1:55 PM IU0KVG via <vincenzo.praturlon= [email protected]> wrote: I think the crowdfund could be the best way to check demand (for the assembled units).
Set up a goal of 20,000$ (200$? * 100) and see what happens.?
If the goal is not reached the money gets back, no harm to anyone.
|
Farhan, you must realize, the Elecraft and Xiegu radios are complete and ready for shipment right away, with warrantees. Its a fastpaced world, many hams have their noses to the grindstone from waking up till bedtime just to keep the lights on (and the tube filaments hot!). I am one of those hams. I was lucky enough to get my job back after covid, now I'm working 2-1/2 jobs just to catch up. I do have your excellent ubitx v5, also a v3, plus Sunil's enclosures, all still in their shipping boxes; someday when I can afford to shut off the fire hose a little, I can build them. I bought a Xiegu x6100 to have an actual radio that I can use, now.? As for the sbitx...interesting radio, may not be practical for me in my present situation. This is the reality... Regardless, thank you for all your wonderful creations! -- Rich
------ Original message------ From: Ashhar Farhan via Date: Sun, Sep 15, 2024 8:11 AM Cc: Subject:Re: [BITX20] Production zBitx #zbitx
It is an odd thing though, the Elecraft KH1 is a CW only radio, selling for 600 USD. Not really, if you add all the essentials, it stacks upto 1000 USD. Yet, they sell about 3000 radios per month. Radioddity sells the Xeigus in even higher numbers.
On the other hand, QRP Labs or HF signals builds open, hackable radios at about 1/5th the price. Yet, they are an acquired taste, to put it mildly.
Some may say that those are complete radios, and these are kits or thst they are not fully functional.
Neither is true, the QMX fully assembled retaila for 220 USD, with the kitchen sink.
The basic function of an sbitx (ssb/cw) is far more stable and superior to the G90. Sure, maybe the FT8 logging doesnt work as expectdd, but the G90 doesnt have it at all!
I guess, this is the nature of open radios and will remain so. Pretty much like Linux.
- f
I think the crowdfund could be the best way to check demand (for the assembled units).
Set up a goal of 20,000$ (200$? * 100) and see what happens.?
If the goal is not reached the money gets back, no harm to anyone.
|
Richard, The comparable radio with the Xeigu is the ubitx. It is completely usable out of the box. We do, offer replacements or refunds for non-working radios. I still think this is a matter of perception.? 73, f?
Farhan, you must realize, the Elecraft and Xiegu radios are complete and ready for shipment right away, with warrantees. Its a fastpaced world, many hams have their noses to the grindstone from waking up till bedtime just to keep the lights on (and the tube filaments hot!). I am one of those hams. I was lucky enough to get my job back after covid, now I'm working 2-1/2 jobs just to catch up. I do have your excellent ubitx v5, also a v3, plus Sunil's enclosures, all still in their shipping boxes; someday when I can afford to shut off the fire hose a little, I can build them. I bought a Xiegu x6100 to have an actual radio that I can use, now.? As for the sbitx...interesting radio, may not be practical for me in my present situation. This is the reality... Regardless, thank you for all your wonderful creations! -- Rich It is an odd thing though, the Elecraft KH1 is a CW only radio, selling for 600 USD. Not really, if you add all the essentials, it stacks upto 1000 USD. Yet, they sell about 3000 radios per month. Radioddity sells the Xeigus in even higher numbers.
On the other hand, QRP Labs or HF signals builds open, hackable radios at about 1/5th the price. Yet, they are an acquired taste, to put it mildly.
Some may say that those are complete radios, and these are kits or thst they are not fully functional.
Neither is true, the QMX fully assembled retaila for 220 USD, with the kitchen sink.
The basic function of an sbitx (ssb/cw) is far more stable and superior to the G90. Sure, maybe the FT8 logging doesnt work as expectdd, but the G90 doesnt have it at all!
I guess, this is the nature of open radios and will remain so. Pretty much like Linux.
- f
I think the crowdfund could be the best way to check demand (for the assembled units).
Set up a goal of 20,000$ (200$? * 100) and see what happens.?
If the goal is not reached the money gets back, no harm to anyone.
|
...which is why I am still a member of this group, and have collected a number of agc kits, one of which will be installed in the v5. I think I may have bought a nextion display too. Just sayin', in a perfect world, we all would have the time and energy to tinker with an sbitx. And I repeat, you are one of my heroes.--Rich.
------ Original message------ From: Ashhar Farhan via Date: Sun, Sep 15, 2024 9:30 AM Cc: Ashhar Farhan via ; Subject:Re: [BITX20] Production zBitx #zbitx
Richard, The comparable radio with the Xeigu is the ubitx. It is completely usable out of the box. We do, offer replacements or refunds for non-working radios. I still think this is a matter of perception.? 73, f?
Farhan, you must realize, the Elecraft and Xiegu radios are complete and ready for shipment right away, with warrantees. Its a fastpaced world, many hams have their noses to the grindstone from waking up till bedtime just to keep the lights on (and the tube filaments hot!). I am one of those hams. I was lucky enough to get my job back after covid, now I'm working 2-1/2 jobs just to catch up. I do have your excellent ubitx v5, also a v3, plus Sunil's enclosures, all still in their shipping boxes; someday when I can afford to shut off the fire hose a little, I can build them. I bought a Xiegu x6100 to have an actual radio that I can use, now.? As for the sbitx...interesting radio, may not be practical for me in my present situation. This is the reality... Regardless, thank you for all your wonderful creations! -- Rich It is an odd thing though, the Elecraft KH1 is a CW only radio, selling for 600 USD. Not really, if you add all the essentials, it stacks upto 1000 USD. Yet, they sell about 3000 radios per month. Radioddity sells the Xeigus in even higher numbers.
On the other hand, QRP Labs or HF signals builds open, hackable radios at about 1/5th the price. Yet, they are an acquired taste, to put it mildly.
Some may say that those are complete radios, and these are kits or thst they are not fully functional.
Neither is true, the QMX fully assembled retaila for 220 USD, with the kitchen sink.
The basic function of an sbitx (ssb/cw) is far more stable and superior to the G90. Sure, maybe the FT8 logging doesnt work as expectdd, but the G90 doesnt have it at all!
I guess, this is the nature of open radios and will remain so. Pretty much like Linux.
- f
I think the crowdfund could be the best way to check demand (for the assembled units).
Set up a goal of 20,000$ (200$? * 100) and see what happens.?
If the goal is not reached the money gets back, no harm to anyone.
|
Richard,
I just found time to put the circuits together. I am more like a magazine editor than a writer. Plus, my business experience has allowed us to assemble a very low cost radio manufacturing unit. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
My rant was out of curiosity alone. I am not sure I would want to run a large business. Been there, done that. It is uninteresting and very taxing, at least for me.
...which is why I am still a member of this group, and have collected a number of agc kits, one of which will be installed in the v5. I think I may have bought a nextion display too. Just sayin', in a perfect world, we all would have the time and energy to tinker with an sbitx. And I repeat, you are one of my heroes.--Rich. Richard, The comparable radio with the Xeigu is the ubitx. It is completely usable out of the box. We do, offer replacements or refunds for non-working radios. I still think this is a matter of perception.? 73, f?
Farhan, you must realize, the Elecraft and Xiegu radios are complete and ready for shipment right away, with warrantees. Its a fastpaced world, many hams have their noses to the grindstone from waking up till bedtime just to keep the lights on (and the tube filaments hot!). I am one of those hams. I was lucky enough to get my job back after covid, now I'm working 2-1/2 jobs just to catch up. I do have your excellent ubitx v5, also a v3, plus Sunil's enclosures, all still in their shipping boxes; someday when I can afford to shut off the fire hose a little, I can build them. I bought a Xiegu x6100 to have an actual radio that I can use, now.? As for the sbitx...interesting radio, may not be practical for me in my present situation. This is the reality... Regardless, thank you for all your wonderful creations! -- Rich It is an odd thing though, the Elecraft KH1 is a CW only radio, selling for 600 USD. Not really, if you add all the essentials, it stacks upto 1000 USD. Yet, they sell about 3000 radios per month. Radioddity sells the Xeigus in even higher numbers.
On the other hand, QRP Labs or HF signals builds open, hackable radios at about 1/5th the price. Yet, they are an acquired taste, to put it mildly.
Some may say that those are complete radios, and these are kits or thst they are not fully functional.
Neither is true, the QMX fully assembled retaila for 220 USD, with the kitchen sink.
The basic function of an sbitx (ssb/cw) is far more stable and superior to the G90. Sure, maybe the FT8 logging doesnt work as expectdd, but the G90 doesnt have it at all!
I guess, this is the nature of open radios and will remain so. Pretty much like Linux.
- f
I think the crowdfund could be the best way to check demand (for the assembled units).
Set up a goal of 20,000$ (200$? * 100) and see what happens.?
If the goal is not reached the money gets back, no harm to anyone.
|
|
|
On Thu, Sep 19, 2024 at 04:03 PM, IU0KVG wrote:
?
11 people replied, in a few days, that they would partecipate in the crowdfunding.
Given the very limited scope of the pool, and no "official" backing, I think it would be possible to achieve the goal, should Ashhar decide to follow this path.
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I voted no, as the cost seems to be too high.? You can purchase a complete sBitx board for $180 or a complete assembled radio for $399, so $200/$300 for the zBitx is too much.
?
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Hi Evan, it was just a "what if" scenario, of course.
However I think that, even with the small display, an assembled and tested zBitx radio will hardly cost less than 300USD in such a small quantity.
Thank you for voting! Ciao, Vincenzo??
Il giorno gio 26 set 2024 alle ore 10:58 Evan Hand via <elhandjr= [email protected]> ha scritto: I voted no, as the cost seems to be too high.? You can purchase a complete sBitx board for $180 or a complete assembled radio for $399, so $200/$300 for the zBitx is too much.
?
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Has anyone tested the concept (zBITX) yet?
Taking a risk with crowdfunding without having tested it is taking a big risk.?
And should anyone of us has tested the concept or idea of zBITX (with Pi-02W+OLED display) should publish/share it here.
Anything other than this is sBITX itself.
Charudatt - VU2UPX?
On Thu, 26 Sept, 2024, 4:56 pm IU0KVG via , <praturlon.vincenzo= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Evan, it was just a "what if" scenario, of course.
However I think that, even with the small display, an assembled and tested zBitx radio will hardly cost less than 300USD in such a small quantity.
Thank you for voting! Ciao, Vincenzo??
Il giorno gio 26 set 2024 alle ore 10:58 Evan Hand via <elhandjr= [email protected]> ha scritto: I voted no, as the cost seems to be too high.? You can purchase a complete sBitx board for $180 or a complete assembled radio for $399, so $200/$300 for the zBitx is too much.
?
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Hello Vincenzo,
Are you sure you read and saw what Farhan shared at the FDIM.
His software might be the same, surely his circuit is not the same.?
I would recommend studying it from whatever was shared and see the difference.
Farhan built his prototype in Manhattan style , and if you think than can be relied?upon for a crowdfunding idea, that's a big risk.?
IMHO, it's not all that easy, as it meets the eye.
Farhan, even hasn't shared a schematic diagram of zBITX anywhere.
So what are you relying?on?
Charudatt VU2UPX?
On Thu, 26 Sept, 2024, 5:11 pm IU0KVG via , <praturlon.vincenzo= [email protected]> wrote: Well of course Farhan did it.
He also said that the zBitx uses the same circuits and sw than the sBitx, so the development stage would be minimal, mainly optimizing the phisical geometry and testing.
With the new 2W I think there should be very little surprises.
The risk exits naturally, but then again crowdfunding is often employed when the risk of production is borderline for a business, but it is acceptable by a motivated community.? ?
Vincenzo
?
Il giorno gio 26 set 2024 alle ore 13:32 Charudatt Uplap via <charudattu= [email protected]> ha scritto: Has anyone tested the concept (zBITX) yet?
Taking a risk with crowdfunding without having tested it is taking a big risk.?
And should anyone of us has tested the concept or idea of zBITX (with Pi-02W+OLED display) should publish/share it here.
Anything other than this is sBITX itself.
Charudatt - VU2UPX?
On Thu, 26 Sept, 2024, 4:56 pm IU0KVG via , <praturlon.vincenzo= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Evan, it was just a "what if" scenario, of course.
However I think that, even with the small display, an assembled and tested zBitx radio will hardly cost less than 300USD in such a small quantity.
Thank you for voting! Ciao, Vincenzo??
Il giorno gio 26 set 2024 alle ore 10:58 Evan Hand via <elhandjr= [email protected]> ha scritto: I voted no, as the cost seems to be too high.? You can purchase a complete sBitx board for $180 or a complete assembled radio for $399, so $200/$300 for the zBitx is too much.
?
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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On Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 04:56 AM, Charudatt Uplap wrote:
Farhan, even hasn't shared a schematic diagram of zBITX anywhere.
It's in the 2024 FDIM compendium, is it not? Superhet RX, TX exciter and amplifier, T/R switches & LPFs, digital board.
?
I'm always hungry for more info, but I think the schematics are there.
?
73
?
Nick, WA5BDU
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Nick Kennedy