7 Inch Touch Display 2 Configuration - drexjj/sbitx GitHub Wiki

Raspberry Pi finally released an upgraded version of the 7 inch Touch Display named Touch Display 2. https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/touch-display-2/

This display has some advantages over the existing display in the sBitx DE to V3.

The new display offers a higher resolution 720 × 1280 so 3rd party apps can be viewed on the screen much easier such as WSJTX and JTDX.

There are some caveats of the display that we've overcome.

  • It is not a drop-in direct replacement.
    • The physical dimensions of the display do not fit the housing or mounting points because it it taller top to bottom and narrower side to side.
    • The dev team created a new display bezel that can be 3D printed to house the new display. STL files are available on our Discord server.
  • The screen's resolution means that the touch surface and icons are more precise.
    • Most of this can be adjusted by changing the desktop interface settings to a larger font.
  • The Pi4/Pi5 must be updated with newer software to add the new overlay.
    • We've come up with the magic settings to update your system configuration to accept both the old and new display. See below.
  • The existing screen brightness app does not work.
    • A new app for Toolbox is in the process of being created.
  • The power connector needs to be cut and soldered to the existing wires.
    • The power connector can be cut and directly soldered to the existing connector. Please note the polarity. Black is ground and Brown is positive.

Please note that all preconfigured, 64 bit sBitx Pi images after v3.1 BTS will include most these changes automatically.

Step 1 - Updating the Raspberry Pi.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y
sudo rpi-update
sudo reboot

Step 2 - Updating the config file

sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt

Find this line and change fkms to kms

# Enable DRM VC4 V3D driver
dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d,noaudio
max_framebuffers=2

Add this below it

# 7-Inch Touch Display 2
dtoverlay=vc4-kms-dsi-ili9881-7inch,rotation=270,swapxy,invy

Reboot your system

Step 3 - Update the touchscreen orientation

  • Go into the screen configuration application and set the DSI-1 (or DSI-2 on Pi5) orientation to LEFT
  • Click touchscreen and press the 10-005d Goodix Capacitive Touchscreen*
  • Click Apply

The existing display cable can be used. Ensure that you have the shiny side up (pins showing) when connecting the cable.