Installing a Preconfigured Pi OS Image on Your zBitx

Installing a preconfigured Pi OS image on your zBitx is necessary when restoring the original system or upgrading to a new version.

You can checkout my YouTube tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwFMoU4_gY0

Requirements

Hardware

• A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer
• A 32GB or larger SD card Do Not Use PNY Brand Cards Because They produce Write Errors
• An SD card reader or USB adapter
• A hex key
• zBitx transceiver

Software

• The zBitx image file: Download here
• A utility to write the image to the SD card:
  • Raspberry Pi Imager
  • Balena Etcher
  • Rufus

Installation Procedure

Step 1: Download and Install an Imaging Tool

Choose and install one of the following tools on your computer:

• Raspberry Pi Imager
• Balena Etcher
• Rufus

Step 2: Prepare the SD Card or USB Drive

1. Insert the SD card into your computer.
2. Ensure the device is recognized and has enough capacity.
3. Backup any important data, as this process will erase everything.

Step 3: Extract the Image File

Before writing the image, you should extract zbitxxxx.img from zbitxxxx.img.xz if you encounter errors:

• Use 7Zip or another extraction tool.
• Video tutorials: 7Zip Guide 1 | 7Zip Guide 2

Step 4: Write the Image to the SD Card or USB Drive

Using Raspberry Pi Imager

1. Open Raspberry Pi Imager.
2. Click "Choose OS" → "Use custom" and select zbitxxxx.img.
3. Click "Choose Storage" and select your SD card.
4. Click "Write" to start the process.
5. Wait for completion and safely eject the SD card.

Using Balena Etcher

1. Open Balena Etcher.
2. Click "Flash from file" and select zbitxxxx.img.
3. Click "Select target" and choose your SD card.
4. Click "Flash" to begin writing.
5. Once finished, safely eject the SD card.

Installing the SD Card into zBitx

1. Remove the zBitx battery cover to access the SD card slot.
2. Insert the newly written SD card.
3. Reassemble the battery cover.
4. Power on your zBitx, and it should boot from the new image.

Troubleshooting

• If the SD card is not recognized, try another card reader or USB port.
• Verify the image file’s integrity using a checksum (if available).
• Ensure the SD card has sufficient capacity before writing.

Your zBitx is now ready with the newly installed Raspberry Pi image!