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zBitx keyboard and monitor recommendation and advice
6
I and a few friends just got back from Four Days In May with our new zBitx xcvrs. The manual recommends using a monitor and keyboard for setting up time and some other features but I don't have those available. Could members of this email site recommend a small key board and monitor and advise on a size for each. I want it to be portable to take when we go to Florida next winter. Amazon and eBay are fine sources. Dave K8WPE. Djwilcox01 at Gmail dot com PS to Jim (past CARC Club President) Jim, I know you used similar items when active with your small portable rigs. What say you?
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Tiny GNSS Clock for the Field
2
Since RTCs aren't, and since many want to use their sBITX/zBITX in the field doing things that need accurate time, consider the 'guy with the Swiss accent'. https://youtu.be/BGb2t5FT-zw?si=uGZorbISNZTtpwk_ Andreas' project this week is a TINY GPS/ESP32 combo capable of sub-second accuracy via both WIFI and Ethernet. 73, Andy
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I just joined this group.
I ordered a zbitx a couple of weeks ago and I'm looking forward to using it.
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Sbitx v3 HW_settings.ini gone- how fix?
3
Hello All, well I did it this time. I was trying to make a backup of my Sbitx software and I had a usb stick it one port, on my laptop, and an SD Card in another port. When it came for the backup the imager program asked me if drive F, so I thought, was ready for formatting, of course I said yes and I soon found out it was drive E instead of F. Well anyway I deleted my only copy of my Sbitx software for my Sbitx v3. My question is how do I make another HW_settings.ini file. Do I do some type of calibration? I heard that you don¡¯t calibrate the Sbitx v3 the same way you calibrate a Sbitx v2, so I¡¯m stuck. Also I¡¯m moving over to the 64 bit version of the software. Do you still use the same HW_Settings.ini file for the 64 bit versions software? I did a search over the past postings ani I couldn¡¯t I find a definitive answer to my problem. HELP!! thanks for all the participation in advance. All thoughts welcome. Thanks again, 73, Robert, AG6LK
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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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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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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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ZBitx Shutdown Function
10
#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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Displaying/setting the network connection in SET screen on zBitx
7
When using zBitx outdoor, I use my mobile phone as a time source. Additionally I would like to use my mobile to control zBitx via web interface. Unfortunately, my smartphone does not report IP addresses of the connected devices. In case of sBitx, I can find it's IP and connect to it from the smartphone. It would be nice if zBitx could report its IP as well. Another issue is the fact that connecting to the new network requires HDMI connection. I was in a hotel, where the TV didn't offer HDMI connectivity. Thence, I couldn't connect my zBitx to the local network. Adding a possibility to set WiFi SSID and pasword in the SET screen would be a good solution. 73, Wojtek SP5DAA
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zBitx - final messages from my QSO are not shown on the screen
When I use my zBitx in FT8 mode with AUTO set to ON, the messages related to finalizing of my QSO (RR73/RRR and 73) are not displayed on the screen (at the end of the scrollable list). I have to open the log (with OPEN) to check if the QSO was successfully completed. However, when I browse the sbitx.db with sqlitebrowser, I can see those messages in the "messages" table. Is this "feature" somehow configurable? 73, Wojtek SP5DAA
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No Receive
2
Bought a Zbitx in Dayton es no receive, Hook a long wire to it es there is no change in signal or noise. Guess it's back to the booth to have a visit with Ashhar in the morning
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No FT8 bandwidth, can't make FT8 contacts
6
Been unable to make any FT8 contacts, I discovered that if I look at the received waterfall on a separate receiver the transmission begins with a normal looking bandwidth for a few seconds then drops out and looks like just a carrier, I hear the audio tones on the zBITX when transmitting, any ideas?
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zBitx speaker noise?
9
#zbitx
I hear a pulsing noise from my zBitx speaker, even with a dummy load connected instead of an antenna, and both the audio volume and IF gain turn down. Seems to pulse or hum 3 to 5 times per second. Is this normal? Or an issue that needs to be fixed? Anyone else hear this from their unit? If it¡¯s a problem with my unit, any ideas on where I should I look to diagnose and solve this noise issue? 73, Ron
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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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FOR SALE: zBITX
5
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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Update On Shipping Delays from HF Signals
5
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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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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Z bitx poor sensitivity
10
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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Any particular recommendations for a base station power supply for the zBitx? I like to shop Amazon. Thanks ! Jim WB4ILP
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Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am