zBitx - Orders open
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Folks, We’re excited to announce that we are now accepting orders for the zBitx. If you’d like to place an order, simply visit this link. Please note that the radios are expected to ship in 4 weeks from the date of order. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email (sales at hfsignals dot com). 73, Ragav VU3VWR
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zbitx cw keyer
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I have updated the zbitx keyer with a minor update. the new software update version of sbitx is now 3.051 (moving from 3.05). Can the cw users try out this version and let me know? I could manage upto 25 wpm (my paddle skills are lousy) You have to just run ./update to get to the new version - f
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zBit 3404
In Cincinnati at the moment. Supposed to deliver today in "Winterpeg". We'll see if it makes it. Gerry
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Initial Impressions
Spent about an hour with the radio and so far I'm pretty impressed with what it can do for that price. Firstly, follow the videos on YouTube. Connect to your WiFi and then update all software, the process is simple and elegant versus some other radios I have. Fits my needs for how I operate. Did I mention the value versus cost? Getting out in the field tomorrow. Ed N2KVZ
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zbitx Power
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What are other seeing with the power levels? I have a QRP Labs dummy load that I connect my volt meter to get a peak voltage reading. The voltage on the radio is 7.7v, drops down to about 6.8-6.9v when tx. The Driver is set to 100 on all of the tests, and the mode was 2TONE. When I tx into the dummy load. Based on the calculation its showing I'm outputting about: Band | DummyLoad | Radio 80m 2.5w 3w 40m 2.8w 3w 20m 2.4w 3w 17m 2.8w 3w 15m 2.2w 3w 10m 1.25w 2w I'm thinking that's on the lower power levels than I would have expected. Are others seeing the same thing ? https://qrp-labs.com/images/dummyload/dummyload.pdf
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LATEST .UF2 FILE
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Couldn't download zbitx_front_panel_sw.ino.uf2 from HFSIGNALS page. Downloaded code from zBitx page.- zbitx_front_panel_sw.ino.uf2 dated 3/30 9:15 AM. Xfer to zBitx - no response (stays on gray screen) Xfer v1.04 and zBitx reboots to 1.04.........
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sBitx schematic for rotary encoder board?
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#sBitx
#sBITX_v3
I've been digging through all the schematics and I don't see anything for the rotary encoder board? While the board that's in there is functional, I'm not a fan of how bent the board is. Seems like a quick easy task for me to design a board that fits properly, but I need to know which encoders are used and if there's any other devices on that board.
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Back to basics - 20 meter SSB - all analog - all the way
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Hi all - While everyone has been busy with s and the z I've gone back to basics with a bitx20 inspired, all-analog SSB rig. In a fit of "spontaneous construction" [(C) N2CQR] I put togeter the receiver over a couple of days. The VFO is a 9MHz rescue puppy from an FT-401 (thaks Pete, N6QW for the $35 eBay find). The Tx PA was already built - leftover from one of my revs of a homebrew sBitx. Audio amp and first mixer came out of a box I call "boards that could be rigs." Had to wait for 5Mhz crystals to arrive from Mosuser so I put most of the rest of the rig together including a crystal controlled BFO (with a junk box crystal). TIA IF amplifiers using boards from Todd at MostlyDIYRF. This rig has soul! Crystals arrived - built the ladder filter with help from the Dishal software, subbed out the junk box crystal in the BFO for one of the extra 5MHz crystals and the rig received great first thing. Something that has never happened to me before, ever. KK4DAS - Amateur Radio Explorations - ham radio blog: KK4DAS MB 20 Transceiver - now Receiving on 20 meters This has been so much fun..... the transmitter should be done this weekend - if my luck continues I will brand this the Miracle 20! 73, Dean KK4DAS
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Zbitx
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Hi friends, I’m new to these forums and I’m having problems navigating this app; I really don’t know where things are. Please, if anybody could point me in the right direction on how to purchase the Zbitx? A link would be helpful. thank you so much, asis
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Zbitx 9vdc
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Bought one of these. Hope it works Leo Aniol, AI5II
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Using sBitx v3 with various firmwares without disassembling (also upgrading to 64 bit version)
I wanted to check the 64 bit version without disassembling my sBitx v3. It was possible via changing the boot order. The procedure is quite simple. Just run "raspi-config" utility (in the terminal session and via "sudo"). Then in the advanced options you may set the boot order so that the USB disk is tried before the SD card. With that I could boot my sBitx v3 from the 64-bit version installed (with dd) on the USB pendrive. After successful testing, I could backup the original SD card. I have done it via dd, sending the output to the file on my server (mounted via sshfs). I made a separate copy of the whole /home/pi/sbitx to recover the hardware calibration and my settings. Finally I could install the 64 bit version with: $ sudo bash # wget http://172.19.1.1:8000/sb64p3.img -O - | dd of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=4M status=progress (172.19.1.1 is the IP of my server, where I have started an ad-hoc http server running "python3 -m http.server" in a directory where sb64p3.img was downloaded.) After that I could mount the /dev/mmcblk0p2 partition and copy the saved configuration files. The whole testing and installation was possible without disassembling the sBitx v3. 73, Wojtek SP5DAA
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ZBitx hangs on startup
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ZBitx hangs on startup TC Tom Crowley ? To:[email protected]? Thu 3/27/2025 16:30 Ashhar, with a monitor, keyboard and mouse plugged in. The zBitx screen image remains the same (no change during boot-up). The monitor shows a normal startup with a window showing what may be an issue. Rebooted the machine and the zBitx window did not change, however the monitor showed a normal reboot. Unable to kill the zBitx program using the normal tools.
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sbitx v3 no output after upgrading to 64bit
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Hi eveyone. I have been trying for the last couple weeks to upgrade to the 64 bit software. On the 32 bit, output is about 17.5 watts but when I swap to the 64 bit I get very little to none as far as output (my watt meter doesn't even register). I have redownloaded, reimaged multiple times and still can't get any output. I can reimage to the 32 bit image and everthing works correctly on transmit. What am I missing here? The 64 bit works much better in every way except the transmit.
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zBitx DOA
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Good morning My zBitx arrive DOA. I sent a message HFSIGNALS but got no response. It will not power up with the connector in place. I used my multimeter to test the power on the connector from the fully charged batteries and it is 8.33v, so the power source is good. The radio will not come on. I can bring up the screen with the CAT port so that is all. I think I need to exchange it. How do I get that started. This is very disappointing https://youtu.be/I2fcVvsSaQQ?si=KRBCrjFCZKEzHMk- Mike,, N4GW
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zBitx User Manual
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Hello folks, The zBitx user manual is available for download on https://www.sbitx.net/index.php/zbitx-user-manual-download/ If you are unable to find what you are looking for, please send us an email (support at hfsignals dot com) 73, Ragav
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zBitX radio hanging randomly.
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First thing to note is the firmware is 1.02. I'm unsure how to upgrade it, but I saw there was a topic on it, so I'll try that. Second thing to note is that most of the interface chrome is working most of the time. My issue is that the radio just stops working. Audio stops, the waterfall stops, the decode window stops. Nothing besides a reboot helps. It seems to be caused by raising the frequency. I have it on 7.046.330, and I'm trying to tune up to 7.047.5, to try and tune in W1AW. I have a strong signal in the right third of the waterfall, and it doesn't stop to let replies go, so I'm thinking this may be W1AW. The decoder is not decoding it properly. I'm not sure why W1AW would be so offset, but it seems about 700hz low. Is that a factor of the offset affecting the frequency of the station? That seems odd to me. For some reason, the radio portion would just stop. I've tried to adjust it more slowly, in case loading of the processor was too much for it, but I don't know that it was having that effect. I've got a decent signal at 7.052 that is decoding well. It's a slower signal, around 12-15wpm, but that's good, because I can follow along in my head for some of it. Once in a while I hear the station in Texas he's talking to. I'm not sure where he is. But now it seems to be working. I need to update my time in this lovely beast, but am totally unsure how. It doesn't have a GPS. I'll have to see if I can find one and figure out how to get the value into the radio. Until then, my FT8 just isn't decoding anything. I hope a manual will be out sometime soon, I'm one of THOSE who needs to read the fancy manual! Gwen NG3P
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zbitx getting ready to be shipped ...
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Yahoo. Getting close. I happened to check the status(link was provided in your email order confirmation ) of my order and saw that it's packed and ready to go.
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Zbitx external microphone recommendations
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What seems to be the most practical external microphone for the Zbitx? Thinking about one for POTA or SOTA.
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The Pi zBitx process is locking when I select an FT8 station
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Ok. I managed to get the WiFi going, which updated the time. Now I'm seeing decodes in the FT8 screen I wasn't seeing before. I ran the update for the firmware on the pi from the HDMI screen. I updated the pico, and it is showing 1.04 firmware for the interface. So now, I'm in FT8, looking at decodes, and followed the example in the "Working FT8" video. I tapped on the decodes with my finger, then turned the encoder, which showed a white outline around the decodes, moving from entry to entry. The problem is, when I choose a decode to work, and press the encoder to grab the callsign and start to work the station, the radio process in the Pi locks up tight. I can't get the process going again without simply rebooting. But this doesn't fix the problem. It only repeats. When I select a decode by tapping, turning the encoder, and pushing the encoder to engage the switch, the radio process locks up. The interface part run by the pico continues just fine, but the waterfall stops, and the signals stop decoding. I can move the selection to another decode, because that's farmed by the pico, but if I press the encoder at that point, nothing happens, because the radio process is still hung. If I have the HDMI output showing on my monitor when I press the encoder, the radio process stops displaying there, too. Unfortunately, while I had a good pointing device to get the WiFi going, that mouse is no longer causing the pointer on the screen to move. I can't try selecting another from the Bluetooth stack, because I can't point to it, and my knowledge of Linux is shaky enough that while I can move the focus from window to window, I don't remember how to bring up the Pi menu or select anything without a mouse. I just need to get a new keyboard/pointing device, so I can fix part of that problem. Just as an aside, I never managed to get that USB-A > microUSB adapter supplied with the unit to work. The dongle I put in that adapter never seemed to be tightly held, and I doubted it was making proper contact. I had a different USB-A > microUSB adapter, which allowed me to access the radio at all. Getting a tad frustrated. I'll probably take a break for a while at this point. 73, Gwen, NG3P
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zbitx hung-up on startup
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Just received my zbitx. Plugged in the batteries and the unit is hung up with the message: zbitx firmware v1.02 Waiting for zbitx to start... Has any one seen this and how to get the radio working. I can change modes and enter my call sign change parameters. No volume and no signal detected Tom Crowley KT4XN
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