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v5.11s for zBitx

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@drexjj drexjj released this 20 Sep 15:32
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v5.11s
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zBitx SD Card Image — v5.11s

Specifically designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W inside the zBitx v1 and v2 models. This is a preconfigured, fresh OS image based on Debian Bookworm (32‑bit) for better performance and the utilities needed to drive the touch display panel controls.

📌 At a glance
Image file zbitx511s.img.xz
Target hardware Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (zBitx v1 / v2)
OS base Debian Bookworm, 32‑bit
Media required 32 GB SD card or USB storage
Front‑panel firmware Requires v5.11f or higher — see below
Default login user pi / password hf12345

⚠️ Front‑panel firmware pairing

The radio runs two pieces of software that must be compatible: this Pi image and the front‑panel firmware (the .uf2 flashed to the Pico that drives the touchscreen).

This release requires front‑panel firmware v5.11f or higher. If your panel firmware is older, update it too — otherwise you may see missing menu items, blank fields, or controls that don't respond.

You can check both versions any time on the radio under Menu → SETUP (it shows Panel version and Software version). Get the latest .uf2 from the zbitxfrontpanel repository.

🛠 About this release

This is the first production release of the zBitx 32‑bit Raspberry Pi image for the Pi Zero 2 W, preconfigured with:

  • zBitx application
  • zBitx Toolbox

🚀 What's new

  • ✅ Updated kernel
  • ✅ OS security patches
  • ✅ Updated zBitx application
  • ✅ Additional Controls, functions, etc designed around portable use.
  • ✅ Front‑panel WiFi control (scan / connect / disconnect) and on‑panel status
  • ✅ USB‑mode switching (CAT ⇄ keyboard/mouse) from the front panel
  • ✅ Panel and software version display under Menu → SETUP
  • ✅ Web interface Watts/SWR meters corrected and rescaled for the 5 W QRP radio
  • 🛠 Additional tweaks and behind‑the‑scenes enhancements to overall responsiveness

💾 Before you begin — back up your data

⚠️ Always back up before flashing. Writing an OS image erases the card completely.

The files worth saving live in /home/pi/sbitx/:

File / location What it holds Save it?
data/sbitx.db Your logbook (QSOs) Yes
data/hw_settings.ini Hardware calibration — unique to your radio Yes — critical
data/user_settings.ini Callsign, grid, passkey, last frequency, band‑stack memories Recommended
web/*.mc Your macros If you customized them

To back up, copy those to a USB drive or another computer. From a terminal on the Pi:

mkdir -p ~/zbitx-backup
cp ~/sbitx/data/sbitx.db ~/zbitx-backup/
cp ~/sbitx/data/hw_settings.ini ~/zbitx-backup/
cp ~/sbitx/data/user_settings.ini ~/zbitx-backup/
cp ~/sbitx/web/*.mc ~/zbitx-backup/ 2>/dev/null

Then move ~/zbitx-backup onto external storage.

hw_settings.ini is the one you cannot recreate easily — it's your radio's individual calibration. Do not lose it.

📥 Download

💿 Write the image to your card

  1. Use a spare 32 GB SD card.
  2. Install Balena Etcher (or Raspberry Pi Imager — video).
  3. Etcher can flash the .xz directly. (If your tool can't, extract zbitx511s.img from zbitx511s.img.xz first with 7‑Zip, WinZip, or WinRAR.)
  4. Select the image, select your card/USB device, and flash.
  5. When it finishes, insert the card into your zBitx.

♻️ Restore your configuration

After the radio boots the new image, copy your backed‑up files back into /home/pi/sbitx/:

# from the folder holding your backup
cp hw_settings.ini ~/sbitx/data/          # required — your calibration
cp sbitx.db        ~/sbitx/data/          # your logbook
cp user_settings.ini ~/sbitx/data/        # callsign/grid/freq/band memories
cp *.mc            ~/sbitx/web/           # your macros (if any)

Then restart the software (or reboot) so it picks up the restored settings.

Always restore hw_settings.ini — without your calibration the radio's frequency and power readings will be off.

✅ First boot & verification

After installing (and restoring), confirm everything is healthy:

  1. Check versions — Menu → SETUP. Confirm the Software version shows v5.11s and the Panel version is v5.11f or higher. Update the panel firmware if it's older.
  2. Set your identity (if you didn't restore it) — Menu → SETUP → enter your callsign and grid.
  3. Connect to WiFi — Menu → WIFI → SCAN → pick your network → enter the password → CONNECT. This also enables accurate time sync, which FT8 needs.
  4. Receive test — tune to a busy band (40 m in the evening) and confirm you hear signals and see the waterfall.
  5. Confirm settings persist — change the frequency, do a clean shutdown (below), power back up, and verify it returns to where you left it.

📺 Touchscreen calibration

The touchscreen often needs to be calibrated after a fresh image or a front‑panel firmware flash. If touches land in the wrong place, run the calibration sequence:

  1. With the calibration triggered (on a fresh flash, or by the method your panel firmware uses), press and hold the screen with the stylus until it flashes white, then lift the stylus.
  2. Four red squares appear in the corners of the display.
  3. Quickly tap each of the four corners in the order indicated by the on‑screen prompt.
  4. Wait for the main screen to appear — calibration is now saved.

Take your time to tap accurately in the center of each corner target; a sloppy calibration makes the whole screen feel "off." If it comes out wrong, repeat the sequence.

🔌 Powering off safely

Always shut down cleanly — this guarantees your settings and logbook are written to the card and protects against corruption.

  1. Menu → SHUTDOWN → OK.
  2. Wait for the green LED on the Pi to turn off before removing power.
  3. Only then disconnect the supply.
    Pulling power before the LED goes out risks a corrupted card and lost setting changes.

🔑 Default login credentials

  • Username: pi
  • Password: hf12345

🆘 Troubleshooting quick hits

Symptom First thing to check
Menu items missing / fields blank / controls dead Panel firmware too old — update to v5.11f+
Touches not responding Run touchscreen calibration (above)
Settings not remembered after power‑off Shut down cleanly and wait for the LED; confirm you're on v5.11s
FT8 decodes poorly Connect to WiFi so the clock can sync
Frequency / power readings look wrong Restore your hw_settings.ini calibration

For more detail, see the project Wiki.

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