Command Tester/K3 Macros

This page may be used to try out K3 remote control commands. You can save commands as reusable macros, and execute them from their assigned buttons. You can even send macros to the K3, where they can be assigned to programmable function switches. See below for sample macros and instructions for using them. Complete details on K3 remote control commands can be found in the K3 Programmer's Reference.

Another function of this page is to capture decoded text from the K3 when text decode is enabled (e.g., via the command "TT1;"). The Terminal page provides a much better interface for sending and receiving CW and DATA using the K3.

Commands are shown in green, K3 responses are shown in black.

Some K3 command responses may contain unprintable characters. The command tester converts unprintable characters (those outside the range from \x20 to \x7E) into a hexadecimal representation. For example, the response to the "IC;" command on my K3 is displayed as "IC\x80\x88\x94\x80\x80;". When my K3's VFO A display reads " 7.078.36 ", the response to the "DS;" command is displayed as "DS@7\xB078\xB36@\x90\x80;". See the K3 Programmer's Reference for a description of K3 commands and their responses.

Buttons on the Command Tester page are enabled only when the K3 Utility has established communications with your K3.

Macro Buttons

There are several rows of Macro buttons between the input and output areas. The Macro buttons may be configured by selecting the "Edit Macros" button to display the Edit Command Testers/K3 Macros dialog.

Edit Command Tester/K3 Macros

The first eight macros may be stored in the K3 and assigned to K3 front panel switches for single-switch execution. Each K3 macro may have up to 7 characters of Macro Label and 120 characters of associated Macro Commands. The 7-character Macro Label length limitation corresponds to the length of the K3 VFO B display area.

Prepare and test your K3 macros in the Command Tester, then click the "Send Macros 1-8 to K3" button. Be patient, as it takes a few seconds to store the macros in K3 EEPROM.

The Save button stores Macro Labels and Macro Commands on your Personal Computer. Select "Send Macros 1-8 to K3" to send macros to your K3.

K3 macro capability was introduced in MCU revision 03.51. See the Firmware Release Notes and the K3 Programmer's Reference (version C6 or later) for information on writing macros and how to assign a macro to a specific K3 front panel switch.

The remaining macros, 9-16, are not stored within the K3. They may be executed by clicking the corresponding button on the Command Tester page.

Macro assignment procedure overview

• Start the K3 Utility.
• Select the Command Tester/K3 Macros tab.
• Select the Edit Macros button.
• Enter a short (up to 7 character) label in one of the first eight Macro Label text boxes. This label will appear in the K3's VFO B display area when you invoke the macro.
• Enter the sequence of K3 commands in the corresponding Macro Commands text box. You may use the Windows copy and paste functions to copy Macro Commands from source documents (such as the sample macros below) into the edit boxes of the Edit Command Tester/K3 Macros dialog.
• Select "Send Macros 1-8 to K3". This sends all eight macros to your K3's EEPROM memory.
• Leave the Edit Macros dialog by selecting Save or Cancel.
• On the K3 front panel, hold CONFIG and adjust VFO B until the word "MACROS" appears in the VFO B area.
• Tap 1-8 on the K3 numeric keypad to choose one of the 8 macros you wish to assign to a function switch.
• Assign this macro to a function switch by holding PF1 or PF2, or tap or hold M1-M4.
• Tap CONFIG to exit the menu.
• Try out your macro execution by tapping or holding the assigned function switch.
• To restore M1-M4 to their standard Memory functions, tap REC and then tap or hold the desired M1 through M4 switch. If you tap REC while in one of the voice modes, the associated KDVR3 memory will be erased. If you tap REC while in CW or DATA modes, the existing CW memory content won't be disturbed unless you touch the paddle.

Sample Macros

Refer to the K3 Programmer's Reference (revision C6 or later) sections headed "Command Examples" and "Creating and Using Macros" for a further introduction.