The sBitx comes equipped with a remote interface that can be accessed via any web browser on any device connected to the local network and allows you to control and transmit from a local machine.

To use the web interface:

1. Power up the sBitx, connect to your local WiFi or Ethernet network and use the “SET” button on the radio to check/change your PIN. This is used to login to the web interface.
2. Open the web browser on the remote machine and navigate to sbitx.local. Login to the interface by entering the PIN you had set earlier.
3. If done correctly, the web interface will now mirror the screen on the sBitx. The received audio should also be heard on the remote device.
4. The sBitx can only remotely transmit using the native FT8 and CW (macros and keyboard only) modes. Please note that there is bound to be some mild latency in the connection which is inherent in remote networks.

Setting the time

The sBitx, out of the box, has some time offset built into the software.

Here is the procedure to get the time in sync.

1. Open file manager on the sBitx and navigate to the /home/pi folder. Right click and select the “Show hidden” option.
2. Open the “.profile” file and scroll down to the last line. Comment out this line by adding a “#” before the line. If done correctly the line should read “#TZ=America/Phoenix; export TZ”
3. Save the file and open terminal by using Ctrl+Alt+T.
4. In the Terminal program, enter the command “sudo ntpdate -u time.nist.gov” and hit enter.
5. If the command has been executed correctly, you will see a message indicating the current date and time and the offset in seconds.
6. Once this is done, reboot the sBitx. When the sBitx reboots, the correct time should be displayed in the taskbar.

sBitx user manual – printer friendly version

 

Here is a printable version of the sBitx user manual.

Please note that the user manual is still under development.  Please reach out to support (at) hfsignals (dot) com to report any errors or to share any suggestions.

V3 Disassembly guide

 

1. Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the indicated front panel screws on the top and bottom.

   

2. Gently lift the front panel to make sure not to damage any of the wires inside.

   

3. Unplug the microphone and speaker connector on the left hand side of PCB, near the Earphone, Microphone and Key jacks. These require very little force and can be undone by hand or tweezers.

   

4. Remove the flat ribbon cable on the pub, under the Raspberry Pi. Next remove the screen power connector, near the RTC module.

   

5. Remove display cable on the display, using a toothpick or a tweezers to undo the cable lock mechanism on both sides by gently nudging the black clip. Be careful not to fold the cable!

   

   If done correctly, the latch should be released as seen in the photo and the cable should slip out easily.

 Now you can access the Raspberry Pi and the other modules. Proceed further only if you plan to remove the PCB from the enclosure.

6. Remove power switch connector and remove the indicated back panel screws on the top and bottom. Skip this step if you’re trying to replace the Raspberry Pi, but remove the top and bottom screws of the right side panel.

7. Remove the four screws securing the raspberry pi. Gently nudge the pi out. You could use a finger under the ethernet port to help the Pi out of it’s connector.

8. Remove the five indicated screws that secure the main PCB.: Two near the BNC connector, one under the Pi, one near the earphone jack and the final one near the power switch.

9.  After the last screw in removed, the board can be gently removed by sliding it out at an angle. You can also loosen the Pi’s display port cover for better access.
10. To put everything back together, follow this guide in reverse.

Installing stock software on your sBitx

Here is a link to the Raspbian OS image that ships with the radio, in case you need to do a fresh install of the OS.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T0cUdQjLZ-0lBFqwywaNBh3rToGb4UJ3/view?usp=drive_link

The image will work with DE, V2, and V3 units.

It is recommended to backup your files in the sbitx/data and sbitx/web folders so that you don’t lose your logbook, calibration, and user settings.

To write the image file to an SD card:

1. Download the RAR file from the link above and extract it to a folder.
2. Download and install Raspberry Pi imager from the Raspberry Pi website.
3. Insert the SD card into a USB card reader and plug it into a USB port on your computer.
4. Open Raspberry Pi imager and select “Raspberry Pi 4” from the “Choose device” option.
5. In the “Choose OS” options, scroll down and select the “Use Custom” option. Select the “sBitx_3.21.img.” image file from the location you extracted the image file to.
6. Select your SD card in the “Choose storage” option and click “Next.”
7. In the OS Customisation dialogue box, click “No.”
8. Click “Yes” in the warning dialogue box.Raspberry Pi imager will now write the image file to the SD card.
9. Once this is complete, your SD card will be ready for use. To finalise the setup, simply transfer the previous hardware calibration settings to the new SD card to ensure optimal performance.