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Today I made a conversion of the original handheld microphone purchased with sbitx, similar to the 'Meeting MIC', which I documented in the attached file. If I missed something, please feel free to ask, I will answer when I can. -- Gyula HA3HZ
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Any particular recommendations for a base station power supply for the zBitx? I like to shop Amazon. Thanks ! Jim WB4ILP
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ZBitx Shutdown Function
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#zbitx
After working with Unix/Linux systems for a lifetime, i know that bad stuff will happen if you just disconnect the power on a regular basis. I still feel a twitch in my fingers if I don¡¯t run sync; sync; sync; before a shutdown or halt command ;) I¡¯ve forked Farhan¡¯s code and added a button on the UI to shut down the Pi Zero: https://github.com/khkremer/zbitx.git https://github.com/khkremer/zbitxfrontpanel.git The "Shutdown" function is behind the "Menu" button. After selecting it and confirming, wait until the LED on the Pi Zero (which you can see through the covered USB connector) stop to blink. I moved the confirmation button a bit up so that it¡¯s harder to fat finger the shutdown with an unintentional double tap on the shutdown button. de Karl Heinz - K5KHK
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Update On Shipping Delays from HF Signals
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I ordered my zBitx on April 3rd, 6 weeks ago. I sent sales an email and got this response "Right now, we expect your order(#3941) to ship by early next week. We ran into some unexpected hiccups with sourcing some components which slowed us down a bit" Fingers crossed I should have mine next week. That will be 7 weeks from order date. Clearing a spot on my work bench to bring it up. Got a road trip in a couple weeks that I hope to have it ready for Excited and anxious, 73 de KI7PBR Gary
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Order # 3869 April 2
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HF Signals : Order Tracker Your Order #3869 Current status : Awaiting processing -------- Wish others would post order #'s if they really mean anything.
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Hi all, from what I've understood about the timing issues with CW on zbitx, it seems that the CPU load is at least part of the problem. I personally would love an option to switch off the waterfall (either in menu or set options), because I only need it when searching for signals, but not when I have found one. Apart from that, I wonder why the binary is compiled with debug symbols and no optimization at all. I exchanged the "gcc -g" with a "gcc -O3" in the build script, and the CPU load decreased from 60-70% to 45-55% running FT8, so there is quite some optimization that can be done. Interestingly the CPU load is quite higher on CW, which is 65-70% optimized and 75-80% original (unoptimized). I guess this might be due to polling the key's GPIOs instead of handling them via interrupt (which would make the code more difficult of course). Is there a reason why the build script is not using optimization? (for development side "-g" is perfectly understandable, but for "production" side?) Maybe compiler optimization could at least contribute to the puzzle pieces for optimizing CW response. vy73, Peter DL4PIT
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After letting my zBITX sit unattended in Receive Mode for a while, the main RasPi CPU crashes. I have never timed it because I'm not just sitting there watching it. But it seems like it only takes about an hour or so to crash. I am not able to get a SSH connection to the main CPU at that time. The display CPU is still running at that time. While the device is warm whenever this occurs, I do not think that it is a thermal issue because if I disconnect and reconnect the power it reboots and runs fine. I have never stopped the sbitx application to see if something else on the RasPi could be causing it. I have SSH and VNC enabled, but I am not using either of those connections. I do not have anything else running on the RasPi. So, I really do not think that it is some other RasPi appllication. I think that it is probably a sbitx application memory leak. Don't see how something like a character array overflow would occur after just sitting there unattended for that period - nothing is being done on the GUI during that time. This crashing occurred whenever I had version 3.021 installed, And it is still occurring with version 3.052 installed. If you are running on batteries, the batteries may be depleted before this crash occurs. You will never see it. I am using a 7.5vdc power supply. 72, Jody - K3JZD
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You don't hear it from me
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Hi QRP Labs Hans G0UPL won a zBITx from Farhan yesterday at FDIM :) :) :) It was a random giveaway, random number generator picked Hans's number :) :) :) 73 muhsin TA1MHS
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I tested transmitting from my new zBit into a tinySA with 50 dB of attenuators in between. First the good news, the 2nd and 3rd harmonics seem ok (43 dBc down or more). But I also see spurs at carrier +-2 MHz, and a 2 MHz, that seem to be a higher level than 43 dB below carrier. These 2 MHz sideband spurs were still visible when testing output on multiple other bands, from 40M to 12M. I don't see such 2 MHz spurs when testing my other transceivers, so they don't seem to be from the tinySA. Wierd measurement error? Or is my zBitx bad? Or could this be a hardware design or software issue. Or inter-mod from one of the digital circuit clocks or IO or display, requiring more shielding. I also hear noise on the audio, even with no antenna connected, pulsing at about 3 or 4 Hz. Ideas? Potential solutions? Thanks and 73, Ron, n6ywu
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FOR SALE: zBITX
4
Going to wait for the SBITX V4. Barely used for SWL plus 4 batteries and a 2-cell charger. $230 shipped within USA.
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Sbitx high swr on a 1 to 1 antenna
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Sbitx - antenna switch - swr/power coupler - antenna Previously radio showed power and 1.0 swr on 15, 20, and 40 meters with similar readings on the off board meter. As of this morning swr on the radio and the off board meter show high SFR 2 to 3:1. Removed the radio from the antenna line and replaced it with an antenna analyzer, it shows a perfect 1:1. Another radio shows 1:1 on the radio and the off board meter. Previously, maybe a month ago I had the same problem, spent time chasing down the antenna to no avail. Then one day all was well with no intervention at or in the radio. All bands that were workable for the antenna show the same behavior today. Trouble shooting help welcomed. Tim
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Order is ready
My zBitx has been listed as packed and ready to go. My number is 3926. Just waiting for tracking info. Thank you Jim KE0VVU
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Hello Team, Can anyone explain and assist as to why there is a defecit on FT8, a 25Khz drift between RX & TX frequency If I set my RX to 14.059 on 20M and then track on PSKreporter I can track everything going out, but there is nothing on the RX because I assume it is totally wrong. If I set my RX to 14.074 I can hear all the traffic, but nobody can hear me :-( I have found 1 site in Romania that reports me on 14.101~ so out of band. Is it something obvious that I have done wrong ? I have tried with and without my ATU-10-0A and it makes no difference. I have had similar offset issues with 10M & 15M respectively. Just looking for a little guidance. I'm very happy getting ~2500KM at 2W on a VSWR of ~1.0 - 1.1 But the config needs a little tweak me thinks! Many thanks for any help. 73, Jonn, G8DVB
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Hello to the group -- The yellow spectral display just above the waterfall has disappeared. I think the waterfall is acting a bit strange too, but that might just be noise. I have tried to adjust the IF but it does nothing to bring the spectral display back. Suggestions on how to fix this would be appreciated. Thanks -- Rick W7RNB
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zBitx log timestamps
I have a problem with the timestamps of the zBitx logbook. They are 8 hours ahead of UTC. And yes, I changed the country and timezone. The web interface shows the correct UTC and local time but still log times are 8 hours ahead. Suggestions anyone? 73 Frank PA3CNO
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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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Availability?
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Is there any estimate on when the sBitx v4 and the zBitx will be available for purchase?
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Z bitx poor sensitivity
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Hi all, I received my Zbitx a little over a week ago and have not had time to really try it out. I have noticed it seems to be very insensitive to any signals. When I switch over to my ft 817 signals are strong then immediately back to my zbitx they are either not heard or barely audible. I have varied the if control between 0 and 100 mans have gone the age options to no avail Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you -Sean de g0uvm
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zBITX CW Mode - Proof of Concept
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NOTE ¨C This is focused on zBITX CW using a Straight Key. Scenario Straight Key CW is not really possible unless you send at 20+ WPM. Even then is troublesome, causing sending errors. Background - zBITX runs sBitx in a full RasPi OS install ¨C it is not a stripped down version - A sBitx GUI is always running on the RasPi Desktop - zBITX adds and manages a second GUI running on a Touch Screen LCD - Two GUIs with dynamic Spectrum and Waterfall features require processing time - The sBitx CW is Semi Break-in, not Full Break-In - A Key-Down GPIO Input being detected switches the sBitx to Transmit Mode - No Key Down for ¡®x milliseconds¡¯ switches the sBitx back in to Receive Mode - The Back-To-Receive Mode delay time is currently settable from 0-1000 milliseconds - The Key-Down GPIO Input does not come from a GPIO IRQ (Interrupt) ¨C it is polled. - The frequency of polling for a Key-Down GPIO Input is inconsistent. - The frequency of polling is theoretically every millisecond. But that does not happen. Concept Once in Transmit Mode, all else (except audio which runs in a separate thread), needs to be inhibited in order to allow the device to just manage CW sending . Problem Detail A GLib g_timeout_add() is used to call a ui_tick() function in sbitx_gtk,c every one millisecond (1ms). Polling for a Key-Down GPIO Input is done in this ui_tick() function. The ui_tick() function is very busy as it does a lot of other things, some of which look like they require a lot of time to process. So, it may take much more than 1ms for ui_tick() to complete. If a GLib timeout function is called again before its previous execution has completed, it does not cause any errors or unexpected behavior. The function is simply re-scheduled for the next timeout interval. This will behavior will delay the Polling for a Key-Down GPIO Input. Solution The ui_tick() function was revised to (1) Move the polling for a Key-Down GPIO Input to the top of the function, and (2) after having done that Key-Down GPIO polling, do a Return to get out of that function if we are in Transmit Mode. Result This change allows Straight Key use at very slow speeds. This change also helps with slow speed paddle keying. (however, it is just like the days of old, with nothing to look at while you are sending) This change proved my concept. BUT there are still some glitches, which are probably caused by ui_tick() getting past my ¡°are we in transmit mode?¡± test and proceeding to get caught up in handling all of the other time consuming processing that takes place in the ui_tick() function. So it can be not looking whenever a Key Down occurs. So, it is not the complete answer. A copy of my revised sbitx_gtk,c is attached. Search on k3jzd to find my changes. Next Steps - Look at extending the Semi Break-In Hang Time (called ¡°delay¡± in zBITX). The current limit of 1000ms (1 second) is often not enough - we pause to think a little from time to time. I¡¯m still looking for where this 1000ms limit has been established so that I can change it to 5000 which will let the user set it to suit his style. - Look at using GPIO Pin IRQs (interrupts). I need to sort out how this works with a GPIO Input for DASH, but none that I have found for DOT. 72, Jody ¨C K3JZD
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Image Name
Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am