At the Four Days in May (FDIM) Symposium hosted by QRP Amateur Radio Club International in 2024, Ashaar Farhan (VU2ESE) introduced the zBitx—a QRP transceiver designed primarily for CW (Continuous Wave) operators but also capable of SSB (Single Side Band) and digital modes, similar to the sBitx.
Both the sBitx and zBitx utilize a frontend superheterodyne transceiver design powered by small modern SoC boards, such as the Raspberry Pi. However, unlike the sBitx, which requires a built-in Raspberry Pi and either its integrated display or a web interface for control, the zBitx uses the compact Raspberry Pi Zero. This allows for wireless control directly from a smartphone, thanks to the Pi Zero’s built-in Wi-Fi.
The zBitx also introduces the sBitx Hat, a hardware extension compatible with any Raspberry Pi model. Currently, the zBitx pairs the sBitx Hat with a Pi Zero, but this is an actively evolving project.
With its superhet transceiver design, the zBitx offers a familiar operating experience without the steep learning curve often associated with SDR (Software-Defined Radio) technology. While it supports SSB, the zBitx is optimized for CW enthusiasts interested in QRP.
The zBitx package includes a built-in CW decoder, digital modes, and an N1MM-style logger, providing a complete setup for amateur operators.
Explore the full project on GitHub:
https://github.com/afarhan/sbitxhat
