Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Discussion about this major DATV Project. See https://wiki.batc.org.uk/The_Portsdown_Transmitter
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gm0otb
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Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:10 pm

Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by gm0otb » Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:12 pm

HI, I have been trying to install Portsdown4 on my Raspberry Pi4 8gb, The display loads fine, but the touch screen doesn't appear to be working correctly. I have tried it with a recent up to date kernel and all work as it should. Any suggestions would be appreciated, I thought any 7" display as long as it was DSI would work.

FREENOVE 7" DSI Display with Touch Screen.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BPP6MFFJ? ... title&th=1


Displayed error "-bash: /home/pi/rpidatv/bin/rpidatvgui: Permission denied"

Thanks. Ray GM0OTB

G8GKQ
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Re: Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by G8GKQ » Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:28 pm

Hi Ray

When you say "I have tried it with a recent up to date kernel " what do you mean?

Portsdown 4 ONLY works with the Buster operating system that you should download from here: https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspi ... ite.img.xz It does not work with more recent operating systems.

Not sure that we ever said that it would work with any DSI screen - just that only DSI screens would work.

However, your problem seems to be more operating system than screen related from what you have said.

73

Dave, G8GKQ

gm0otb
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:10 pm

Re: Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by gm0otb » Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:06 pm

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply, I tried one of the Lite Debian Pi4 versions and all worked well, Display and touch screen. tried installing Portsdown4 over SSH on to it, didn't work. I'm new to Linux stuff, I'll purchase a different screen and try again.

With the version you posted above, the display works perfect, it's just the touch screen that doesn't.

Thanks for your advise, much appreciated.

Ray. GM0OTB

radiogareth
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Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:46 am

Re: Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by radiogareth » Thu Dec 18, 2025 7:57 am

Ray, One of these does work and is probably the cheapest 7"DSI around.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006739026067.html
Prices vary, although this listing has £3 off as its over £25.
Gareth

gm0otb
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Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:10 pm

Re: Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by gm0otb » Thu Dec 18, 2025 10:50 am

Look very similar to my Freenove 7" DSI?

Cheers Gareth 👍

radiogareth
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Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:46 am

Re: Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by radiogareth » Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:10 am

Ray, just on the off-chance, have you tried inverting the touch screen (on the SSI menu to make it easier to do) 'just in case' you are touching a part with no button??
Gareth

gm0otb
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:10 pm

Re: Portsdown4 with 7" Freenove DSI Screen?

Post by gm0otb » Thu Dec 18, 2025 3:03 pm

Gareth, Your a super star!.. Inverted the screen and all work as it should. Thanks for you help.. A trap for newbies!

Ray. GM0OTB

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