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K3 MD command question

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EmbeddedBob

K3 MD command question

I’ve been trying to set up a macro to automatically choose the correct sideband (USB/LSB) for the current band but have not found a way to do this. The MD command allows specifying the mode, but there does not appear to be an option to select the “proper” sideband mode for the current band. There is no method to query the current frequency and do a conditional MD command.

Is there a way to do this?

BTW I am using the Programmer’s Reference Rev G5, 2/20/2019.

Thanks & 73

Bob - K2UT

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Don Wilhelm-5

Re: K3 MD command question

Bob,

I believe you are ignoring the ALT button (hold of the left side of the
Mode button).

Why use a Macro? Set the K3 to SSB on the band of interest and change
the mode with the MODE button to select SSB the normal sideband for that
band, If it is not correct, hold the left side of the Mode button to
activate ALT. Go to the next band and do the same.

You can do the same thing for VFO B (or use the A>B button).
You can also do the same thing for DATA A and AFSK A modes if you use them.

When you switch to the bands after you have done the above, you should
be on the correct sideband - it will be remembered.

If you are entering the macro into a computer application, then ignore
my suggestion - I only operate "by the buttons".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/16/2021 6:18 PM, Bob Applegate wrote:

> I’ve been trying to set up a macro to automatically choose the correct sideband (USB/LSB) for the current band but have not found a way to do this. The MD command allows specifying the mode, but there does not appear to be an option to select the “proper” sideband mode for the current band. There is no method to query the current frequency and do a conditional MD command.
>
> Is there a way to do this?
>
> BTW I am using the Programmer’s Reference Rev G5, 2/20/2019.
>
> Thanks & 73
>
> Bob - K2UT
>

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EmbeddedBob

Re: K3 MD command question

In reply to this post by EmbeddedBob

A number of people have asked what I am trying to do with the macros, so here is a quick explanation. In a normal day I'm switching between CW, digital and sideband frequently. CW is easy: VFO B is always set the way I want it for CW.

Digital and sideband have to share VFO A (too bad there isn’t a VFO C). To make the switching easier, I created two macros and assigned each to either PF1 or PF2.

Macro 4 (sideband): front panel mic input with bias, VOX off, compression at 15, receive bandwidth at 2.8 KHz.

Macro 5 (digital): line in, VOX on, compression at 0, bandwidth at 4 KHz and USB.

If I’m on bands where USB is the norm for sideband then Macro 4 sets up everything perectly. However, for bands were LSB is the norm, I need to add a press of ALT to get back to LSB. That is why I’m looking for a command to set the “right” mode for sideband based on the band.

Is there a way to do this that I just haven’t seen? To bad there isn’t a MD parameter for selecting the normal sideband mode for the current band. Or maybe there is?

Bob

> On Apr 16, 2021, at 6:18 PM, Bob Applegate <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I’ve been trying to set up a macro to automatically choose the correct sideband (USB/LSB) for the current band but have not found a way to do this. The MD command allows specifying the mode, but there does not appear to be an option to select the “proper” sideband mode for the current band. There is no method to query the current frequency and do a conditional MD command.
>
> Is there a way to do this?
>
> BTW I am using the Programmer’s Reference Rev G5, 2/20/2019.
>
> Thanks & 73
>
> Bob - K2UT
>

Don Wilhelm-5

Re: K3 MD command question

Bob,

I suggest you set up SSB as you want it - Compression and TX EQ as well.
Then for digital, use DATA A - it automatically turns off compression
and TX EQ.

All that can be accomplished with VFO A, no involvement with VFO B
unless you invoke it.
Know that a double tap of A>B will transfer band/frequency/mode of VFO A
to VFO B.

The MODE button will accomplish all you want. You can freely switch
between SSB, DATA A and CW with taps of the MODE button. The sideband
last used on that band and mode will be remembered.

If you are looking at a way to switch from CW to SSB or Digital on a
particular band (set it up for all bands), I recommend you take a look
at the M1 - M4 buttons - these are per band memory buttons.
I set mine up for M1 to send the K3 to the center of the CW section (it
also sets CW mode), and M2 to the center of the SSB portion (and in SSB
mode) - M3 goes to the center of the digital section of the band. M4 is
reserved for remembering a frequency/mode that I think I might want to
come back to later.

I also use the first 10 regular memories to select bands - these are the
Quick Memories. I tap M>V and then one of the numerical buttons to set
the band. After that I tap M>V and either M1, M2 or M3 to get to the
center of the mode I want on that band - easier than using the BAND button.

The Mic selection will be remembered in SSB mode (no need to change it),
and the LINE IN selection will be remembered when you switch to DATA A
mode (again, no need to change it). DATA A mode is nothing more than
SSB mode with different inputs and as I said Compression and EQ turned off.

So I think you are trying to create Macros for things the K3 will do for
you automatically - make full use of the K3 functions and you will have
fewer uses for macros - the K3 does it for you by default.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/16/2021 8:01 PM, Bob Applegate wrote:

Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 MD command question

In reply to this post by EmbeddedBob

Hi Bob,

You're seriously overthinking this, perhaps due to a failure to RTFM. On
sideband, Elecraft firmware automatically defaults to the "right
sideband" for each ham band. If you choose either of the RTTY modes, it
will default to LSB. If you choose DATA A, it will automatically switch
to upper sideband. Both RTTY and DATA A will automatically take their
input only from the Line Input and disable TXEQ. Both digital Modes
(AFSK and DATA-A) disable front panel ALC settings.

Don Wilhelm's suggestions to make use of memories to save settings by
band by mode is a good one. If you study the manual, you will learn that
Elecraft memories are VERY well thought out.

73, Jim K9YC

On 4/16/2021 5:01 PM, Bob Applegate wrote:

> A number of people have asked what I am trying to do with the macros, so here is a quick explanation. In a normal day I'm switching between CW, digital and sideband frequently. CW is easy: VFO B is always set the way I want it for CW.
>
> Digital and sideband have to share VFO A (too bad there isn’t a VFO C). To make the switching easier, I created two macros and assigned each to either PF1 or PF2.
>
> Macro 4 (sideband): front panel mic input with bias, VOX off, compression at 15, receive bandwidth at 2.8 KHz.
>
> Macro 5 (digital): line in, VOX on, compression at 0, bandwidth at 4 KHz and USB.
>
> If I’m on bands where USB is the norm for sideband then Macro 4 sets up everything perectly. However, for bands were LSB is the norm, I need to add a press of ALT to get back to LSB. That is why I’m looking for a command to set the “right” mode for sideband based on the band.
>
> Is there a way to do this that I just haven’t seen? To bad there isn’t a MD parameter for selecting the normal sideband mode for the current band. Or maybe there is?
>
> Bob
>
>
>> On Apr 16, 2021, at 6:18 PM, Bob Applegate <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> I’ve been trying to set up a macro to automatically choose the correct sideband (USB/LSB) for the current band but have not found a way to do this. The MD command allows specifying the mode, but there does not appear to be an option to select the “proper” sideband mode for the current band. There is no method to query the current frequency and do a conditional MD command.
>>
>> Is there a way to do this?
>>
>> BTW I am using the Programmer’s Reference Rev G5, 2/20/2019.
>>
>> Thanks & 73

EmbeddedBob

Re: K3 MD command question

Thanks for all the emails, and I did finally realize there is a simple solution to my problem. BTW, I did RTFM. Band memories? Done that years ago. I am an engineer by profession, but the Elecraft (and any other modern) rigs are complicated and it’s easy to miss things or not interpret things the right way.

For may years I was only on CW and sideband so I used the VFOs to hold the proper settings per mode. Worked perfectly, filled my needs, rarely needed the other VFO while on either mode.

When I went to digital modes the instructions were to use USB, so I did. Tried DATA and DATA-REV without success, so I wrote those off and went back to USB and tweaked computer drive level settings until everything worked on FT8, FT8 and other digital modes. Never tried DATA again.

So the answer to my problem was to just use DATA… now that all the external settings were correct, DATA worked perfectly, so today I’ll get the proper modes set for all the bands again and everything will be perfect.

Thanks for the help.

Bob

> On Apr 16, 2021, at 11:45 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> You're seriously overthinking this, perhaps due to a failure to RTFM. On sideband, Elecraft firmware automatically defaults to the "right sideband" for each ham band. If you choose either of the RTTY modes, it will default to LSB. If you choose DATA A, it will automatically switch to upper sideband. Both RTTY and DATA A will automatically take their input only from the Line Input and disable TXEQ. Both digital Modes (AFSK and DATA-A) disable front panel ALC settings.
>
> Don Wilhelm's suggestions to make use of memories to save settings by band by mode is a good one. If you study the manual, you will learn that Elecraft memories are VERY well thought out.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> On 4/16/2021 5:01 PM, Bob Applegate wrote:
>> A number of people have asked what I am trying to do with the macros, so here is a quick explanation. In a normal day I'm switching between CW, digital and sideband frequently. CW is easy: VFO B is always set the way I want it for CW.
>> Digital and sideband have to share VFO A (too bad there isn’t a VFO C). To make the switching easier, I created two macros and assigned each to either PF1 or PF2.
>> Macro 4 (sideband): front panel mic input with bias, VOX off, compression at 15, receive bandwidth at 2.8 KHz.
>> Macro 5 (digital): line in, VOX on, compression at 0, bandwidth at 4 KHz and USB.
>> If I’m on bands where USB is the norm for sideband then Macro 4 sets up everything perectly. However, for bands were LSB is the norm, I need to add a press of ALT to get back to LSB. That is why I’m looking for a command to set the “right” mode for sideband based on the band.
>> Is there a way to do this that I just haven’t seen? To bad there isn’t a MD parameter for selecting the normal sideband mode for the current band. Or maybe there is?
>> Bob
>>> On Apr 16, 2021, at 6:18 PM, Bob Applegate <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> I’ve been trying to set up a macro to automatically choose the correct sideband (USB/LSB) for the current band but have not found a way to do this. The MD command allows specifying the mode, but there does not appear to be an option to select the “proper” sideband mode for the current band. There is no method to query the current frequency and do a conditional MD command.
>>>
>>> Is there a way to do this?
>>>
>>> BTW I am using the Programmer’s Reference Rev G5, 2/20/2019.
>>>
>>> Thanks & 73
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]