Understanding sBitx Hat With Podcast
The sBitx Hat is a Raspberry Pi Hardware Attached on Top (HAT) designed by HF Signals to facilitate Software-Defined Radio (SDR) experimentation. It serves as an interface between the analog components of a radio and a Raspberry Pi, enabling developers and hobbyists to build and test various SDR applications.
GitHub
Key Features:
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Si5351 Clock Generator: Capable of producing up to three clock signals ranging from 10 kHz to approximately 200 MHz, essential for frequency synthesis in SDR applications.
GitHub
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WM8731 Audio Codec: A low-noise, dual-channel (stereo) audio codec that samples at 96 ksps, crucial for high-quality audio processing in SDR systems.
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GPIO Accessibility: All other General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins are accessible via the side of the Raspberry Pi connector, allowing for additional customization and expansion.
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Compatibility:
The sBitx Hat has been tested with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and Raspberry Pi 4B, and is expected to function well with other Raspberry Pi models.
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Software Integration:
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Audio Codec Activation: To enable the WM8731 audio codec, add the following line to the
/boot/config.txt
file on the Raspberry Pi:dtoverlay=audioinjector-wm8731-audio
GitHub
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Si5351 Control: The Si5351 clock generator is controlled via I2C protocol using bit-banging on two GPIO lines. To utilize the Si5351, include the following files from the sBitx repository in your project:
i2cbb.c
,i2cbb.h
,si5351v2.c
, andsi5351.h
. Compilation requires the WiringPi library.GitHub
Applications:
The sBitx Hat is intended to promote experimentation with SDRs, providing a platform for developers to create custom radio solutions. It was introduced alongside the zBitx transceiver, a QRP transceiver optimized for CW operations but also capable of SSB and digital modes. The zBitx pairs the sBitx Hat with a Raspberry Pi Zero, allowing for wireless control via smartphone due to the Pi Zero’s built-in Wi-Fi.
Ham Radio
For more detailed information, including circuit diagrams and software drivers, visit the sBitx Hat GitHub repository:
GitHub
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