Elecraft KX3 Macros for Multi-Mode POTA Activations

When I activate parks, I often try to operate in more than a single mode to provide a variety of ways for hunters to contact me. But switching between the modes often entails various adjustments and changes to menu settings for optimum performance of the rig. Occasionally when I switched between operating modes, I always seemed to forget one or two settings even with a cheat sheet. Fortunately, the Elecraft KX3 and other rigs make it easy to switch modes and automatically change the different settings using macros. In layman's terms a macro is simply a sequence of codes that automatically perform a repetitive set of actions programmatically. For example, on the KX3 in SSB mode I always set the bandwidth to 2.8 KHz, set AGC to slow, and AFX mode set to "delay." But when I switch to CW mode, I set the bandwidth to 250 Hz, the AGC is set to fast, and AFX mode is set to "pitch," and in FT-8 mode the bandwidth is set to 4 KHz, the AGC is turned off, and the AFX mode is also turned off. These are just a few of the different settings I use when switching between modes. So, instead of having to remember all the customs settings for each mode, I wrote some macros specifically for my Parks on the Air (POTA) activations and uploaded them to my KX3 to make mode and band changes brain-dead simple.  (I have a second set of macros that I use for my 1-Man DXpeditions where I only operate SPLIT for CW (and sometimes SSB) and F/H mode in FT-8 and will detail that in a later post.)

The commands for programming macros for the KX3 (and KX2 and K3) are found in the Programmer's Reference. The programmer's reference explains all the command codes to adjust various settings and menu options in the radio. There are a lot of options, but each macro is limited to 120 characters, so the settings for each macro must be chosen carefully. Elecraft also provides a utility program for each radio that allows users to create macros and test them before uploading them to the radio. So, without further ado, here are the macros I wrote specifically for my US POTA activations with a brief explanation of each. Let's start with my macro for phone mode or SSB. The macro is:

MD2;BW0280;PA1;NB1;NL7;GT004;MG40;MN135;MP000;MN082;MP001; 

MN105;MP001;MN110;SWT27;SWH18;SWT19;SWH26;MN255;

Notice each command is followed by a semi-colon (including the last command in the string), and there are no spaces between commands. The following is an explanation of the settings: 

• MD2; - sets the mode to USB  
• BW0280; - sets the bandwidth filter to 2.80 KHz. 
• PA1; - turns the preamp on
• NB1; - turn on noise blanker
• NL7; - sets noise blanker level to 7 (mid-range)
• GT004; - set AGC to ON (if turned off) and AGC to SLOW
• MG40; - sets MIC GAIN to 40

All MNxxxx commands are settings accessed via the menu functions. MPxxx are the specific bit menu parameters.

• MN135; - MIC BIAS menu item
• MP000; - sets MIC BIAS OFF (not needed for my headset)
• MN082; - MIC BUTTON menu item
• MP001; - sets MIC BUTTON to PTT
• MN105; - AFX mode menu item
• MP001; - AFX audio mode to DELAY

The next set of commands are used to control the macro assignment buttons PF1 and PF2 and which macro they will call. 

• MN110; - Macro Function menu item
• SWT27; - taps the ATTN (#2) button to call MACRO 2 (CW settings)
• SWH18; - assigns MACRO 2 to the PF1 button
• SWT19; - taps the NR (#1) button for MACRO 1 (SSB settings)
• SWH26; - assigns MACRO 1 to the PF2 button
• MN255; - exits the menu 

Let's assume the radio is in SSB mode when we start. PF2 is set to MACRO 1 which are the SSB mode settings. This is because when switching bands, the KX3 will revert to the previous settings used on that band. If I still want to operate in SSB mode, I simply press PF2, and it will automatically reset all the settings based on my SSB macro commands. Pressing the PF1 button will call MACRO 2 and change the radio settings to the configuration I use for CW mode operation and is described below.

MD3;BW0025;NB1;NL7;GT002;PA1;RT1;RC;KS020;MN135;MP000;MN082;MP000;MN105;MP002;MN110;SWT20;SWH18;SWT27;SWH26;MN255;

• MD3; - sets the mode to CW
• BW0025; - sets bandwidth to 250 Hz
• NB1; - turns on noise blanker (NB)
• NL7; - sets noise blanker to 7 (mid-range)
• GT002; - sets AGC to FAST
• PA1; - turns on preamp 
• RT1; - turns on RIT
• RC; - centers RIT
• KS020; - sets key speed to 20 wpm
• MN135; - MIC BIAS menu item
• MP000; - sets MIC BIAS to OFF
• MN082; - MIC BUTTON menu item
• MP000; - sets MIC BUTTON to OFF
• MN105; - AFX Mode menu item
• MP001; - AFX audio mode to PITCH
• MN110; - Macro Function menu item
• SWT20; - taps the APF (#3) button to call MACRO 3 (FT-8 settings)
• SWH18; - assigns MACRO 3 to PF1
• SWT27; - taps the ATTN (#2) button for MACRO 2 (CW settings)
• SWH26; - assigns MACRO 2 to PF2
• MN255; - exits the menu 

For POTA activations in the US, I do not operate SPLIT, so I am not worried about setting VFO B. Also, although VOX is requried on the Elecraft for CW, I do not have a command to turn on VOX because the only way to do that programmatically is to simulate pressing the VOX button. However, if VOX is already turned on in CW mode, and I send a command to 'tap the VOX button' (SWT29), it will actually turn VOX off. So, this is something I must remember to check when switching to CW mode.

Note that the macro assignment portion of MACRO 2 reassigns the PF1 button to MACRO 3 (FT-8 mode), and the PF2 button is assigned to MACRO 2 (CW mode). Again, when changing bands, the band retains the last used configuration, so pressing the PF2 button will reset the radio settings to my CW mode settings to continue using CW on a new band. Pressing the PF1 button will activate MACRO 3 which configures the radio for FT-8 mode, and specifically for FT-8 on 20 meters as shown below.

FA00014074000;DELAY;MD6;DT0;BW0400;AG015;MG040;MN128;MP000;MN105;MP000;MN135;MP000;MN110;SWT19;SWH18;SWT28;SWH26;MN255;

• FA00014074000; - sets VFO A to 14.074 MHz
• DELAY: - delays processing commands for @10 ms for band changes
• MD6; - sets the mode to DATA
• DT0; - DATA A mode
• BW0400; - sets bandwidth to 4 KHz
• AG015; - sets AF Gain to 15
• MG040; - sets Mic Gain to 040 
• MN128; - AGC mode menu
• MP000; - turns AGC off
• MN105; - AFX mode menu
• MP000; - turns AFX off
• MN135; - MIC BIAS menu
• MP000; - turn off MIC BIAS
• MN110; - Macro Function menu
• SWT19; - sets MACRO 1 (SSB macro)
• SWH18; - assigns MACRO 1 to PF1 (loops back to SSB mode)
• SWT28; - taps the SPOT (#4) button to call MACRO 4
• SWH26; - assigns MACRO 4 to PF2
• MN255; - exits the menu 

The AF Gain and Mic Gain settings may vary depending on your sound settings on the computer and the settings in WSJT-X. Also, some rigs may perform better with AGC turned on. These are my preferred settings. 

Notice that in MACRO 1 (SSB Mode), we assign PF1 to MACRO 2 (CW Mode). When we press PF1 to switch to CW mode, PF1 is reassigned to MACRO 3 (FT-8 mode). Pressing PF1 again will change the radio configuration to 20-meter FT-8 mode and reassigns MACRO 1 to the PF1 button again. This is a recursive macro; meaning that simply by pressing PF1 we will cycle from SSB mode to CW mode, to FT-8 mode, and back to SSB mode again. 

Also notice that in FT-8 mode the PF2 button is assigned to MACRO 4 instead of MACRO 3. MACRO 4 - 7 are another set of recursive macros for use when the radio is in FT-8 mode. Pressing PF2 button will cycle from FT-8 on 20 meters, to FT-8 settings on 17 meters, to FT-8 settings on 15 meters, to FT-8 settings on 12 meters, to FT-8 settings on 10 meters, then back to FT-8 settings on 20 meters again. MACROS 4 - 7 are listed below. 

FA00018100000;DELAY;MD6;DT0;BW0400;AG015;MG040;MN128;MP000;MN105;MP000;MN135;MP000;MN110;SWT21;SWH26;MN255;

 

FA00021074000;DELAY;MD6;DT0;BW0400;AG015;MG040;MN128;MP000;MN105;MP000;MN135;MP000;MN110;SWT29;SWH26;MN255;

 

FA00024915000;DELAY;MD6;DT0;BW0400;AG015;MG040;MN128;MP000;MN105;MP000;MN135;MP000;MN110;SWT32;SWH26;MN255; 

 

FA00028074000;DELAY;MD6;DT0;BW0400;AG015;MG040;MN128;MP000;MN105;MP000;MN135;MP000;MN110;SWT28;SWH20;MN255;

These macros set the most common settings, and especially the settings only accessible via the menus that I regularly change between modes during my POTA activations. Using a macro to avoid having to navigate the menu to modify settings is a real time saver, and also ensures that I don't inadvertently forget a menu setting. I recently added the QRPWorks SideKar Decoder Edition to my kit. QRPWorks also has a utility to program macros into the SideKar that can be used to control the radio, and I programed several macros for RTTY and PSK31 modes (that I'll outline in a separate post).

And although this post is focused on the Elecraft KX3, these macros and also be used the KX2 with some minor modifications. But most importantly is knowing that many modern transceivers can be programmed with macros and learning how to program your rig with macros can save some time, and potentially some frustration. If you have other settings, please add your comments. Your advice may be useful to others.