Macros
for DX4WIN / MMTTY operation - by K8UT
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I operate
several "keyboard assisted" modes - PSK, RTTY, and CW. To keep things
simple for me, I coordinated all of my macros in each of the keyboard modes:
CW, PSK, and RTTY, to be exactly the same function. F1 calls CQ; F2 replies to
a CQ; F3 starts a QSO reply; F4 ends a QSO reply; F5 is a standard
introduction; F6 is my brag sheet; F7 is custom configured for whatever contest
I am running; F8 is just my callsign.
I also
arranged the shift-function keys to be similar to the function keys, to make it
easier for me to remember. For example, F1 is "Call CQ", shift-F1 is
"Call QRZ"; F4 is "End reply", shift-F4 is "End
QSO".
LESSONS
LEARNED:
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* Lesson
1: Use the <control>T command in a macro to put MMTTY/DX4WIN into
transmit mode, but put it at the END of a macro string!
* Lesson
2: Use the \ to revert to receive mode when you want to automatically shift
from transmit back to receive at the end of a macro.
* Lesson
3: Use DX4WINs Function labeling feature to make life easier.
* Lesson
4: Use the same keys for the same functions in CW, PSK and RTTY
* Lesson
5: Clear all of the macros in MMTTY so that you don't hit a function key when
MMTTY is the "active" window, causing you to inadvertently send a
whole stream of junk (voice of experience here...)
Here are
a few of my macros:
F1 - Call
CQ: "Call
CQ|%fFK_RTTY_CallCQ%\%T"
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- This macro shifts to transmit mode, opens
the file named "FK_RTTY_CallCQ", sends the information, then
automatically shifts back to receive mode. The \ shifts back to receive mode,
the %T AT THE END OF THE MACRO starts the transmission.
Shift-F1
- QRZ?: "QRZ QRZ de ~1 ~1
-K-%\%T"
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- This macro shifts to transmit mode, sends my
callsign twice (%~), sending a "-k-" for end of transmission, and
automatically shifts back to receive. The \ shifts back to receive mode, the %T
AT THE END OF THE MACRO starts the transmission.
F2 -
Reply CQ: "Reply CQ|%M%@ de %~ %~ -k-%M\%T"
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- This
macro replies to a station calling CQ by shifting to transmit, sending a
carriage return (%M), sending his callsign (%@), sending my callsign twice
(%~), sending a "-k-" for end of transmission, and automatically
shifting back to receive (\). Note that the %T to start transmitting is at the
very end.
F3 -
Start reply: "Start Reply|%M%@ de %~%MFB %n%T"
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- This
macro is used to begin the reply to a station during a QSO. It shifts to
transmit, sends a carriage return (%M), sends his callsign (%@) followed by my
callsign (%~), followed by a carriage return (%M), then sends "FB <his
name>" (%N) to start the reply. This macros leaves the rig in keyboard
transmit mode so that I can continue typing my reply.
F4: End
Reply: "End Reply|%MBTU %n %@ de %~ -k-%M\"
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- This
macro assumes I am already in keyboard transmit mode, and ends a QSO reply. It
sends a carriage return (%M), followed by "BTU <his name>"
(%n), followed by his callsign (%@), my callsign (%~), an end of transmission
"-k-", another carriage return (%M - to clean up my RTTY window and
put his reply on a new line!), and automatically shifts back to receive mode
(\).
Shift-F4:
End QSO: "End QSO|73 %n %@ de %~ -sk-\%T"
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- This
macro send my final sign-off in a QSO. "73 <his name>" (%n),
followed by his callsign (%@), my callsign (%~), an end of transmission
"-sk-", and automatically shifts back to receive mode (\).
F5:
Introduction: "_Intro_|%fFK_RTTY_INTRO%%T"
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- This macro shifts to transmit mode, opens
the file named "FK_RTTY_Intro", sends the information, then leaves me
in keyboard transmit mode. The information in the file is too long to fit on a
macro line, so I go to a file. The info transmitted includes his callsign, my
callsign, "tnx for the call", his signal report, my name and QTH. At
the end of sending that info, the macro leaves me in keyboard transmit mode so
that I can send additional info, or end the reply by simply pressing
<F4>.
F6: Brag
Sheet: "Brag #1|%fFK_RTTY_BRAGSHEET1%%T"
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- This macro shifts to transmit mode (if I am
not already there....), opens the file named "FK_RTTY_BragSheet1",
sends the information, then leaves me in keyboard transmit mode. My Brag sheet
info is too long to even fit in a single file, so I have three keys defined
(F6-Brag1, Shift-F6-Brag2, Shift-F7-Brag3) to send my equipment list in RTTY by
opening three separate files and sending their contents. [NOTE: this buffer
overflow does not happen in CW or PSK... only RTTY. I do not know why... this
is just my work-around]
F7:
Contest: "Contest|%@ %r %#-%# de %~%M\%T"
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- I
redefine this key to suite whatever the contest happens to be. This particular
macro was used for the SP RTTY test. It puts MMTTY in transmit mode (the %T at
the end of the macro), sends his callsign (%@), signal report (%r), QSO number
twice (%# %#) my callsign (%~), a carriage return (%M - more to clean up my
receive window than anything else), and shifts me back to receive mode (\).
F8: K8UT:
"K8UT|%~\%T"
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- This
key merely sends my callsign. It puts MMTTY in transmit mode (the %T at the
end), sends my call (%~), then shifts back to receive mode (\).