[Elecraft] N1MM/K3/KX3 Programming

[Richard Ferch]

This question would more properly have been sent to the N1MM Logger user 
group.

Be that as it may, the answer is yes, at least in CW mode, provided you 
use the correct N1MM Logger command syntax (see the online documentation).

With a Winkeyer or serial or parallel port CW keying, or (in the case of 
the K3) with CW keying on DTR of the radio control port (this is not 
available with the KX3), the function key command to send the other 
station's call sign followed by 5NN, the rest of the contest exchange 
and your own call sign would be:

F2 Ex,{CALL} 5NN {EXCH} {MYCALL}

If you want to do this using the K3/KX3's internal keyer, the 
corresponding function key command would be:

F2 Ex,{CAT1ASC KY {CALL} 5NN {EXCH} {MYCALL};}

The space between the KY and the first character in the actual message 
is required by the K3/KX3 command syntax, as is the semicolon at the end 
of the message.

There are several limitations to this method:

1. Once the function key containing one of these messages has been 
pressed, you cannot interrupt the message from N1MM Logger, i.e. 
pressing the Esc key will have no effect. You can only interrupt a 
message in progress by pressing the XMIT button on the radio's front panel.

2. The CW speed using this method is controlled from the radio's front 
panel SPEED control, not from N1MM Logger. N1MM Logger's CW speed 
control macros and the PgUp/PgDn keys will not work with this method.

3. If you like to use auto CQ repeat in N1MM Logger, the repeat interval 
has to be longer than the duration of your CQ message at the slowest CW 
speed you use. If you change CW speeds, a repeat interval that is 
appropriate for the slowest CW speed will likely be longer than you 
would like at higher speeds.

4. The maximum number of characters that can be sent in such a message 
is 24. Note that this is the number of Morse code characters the message 
is converted to, not a count of the number of characters in the N1MM 
Logger command. Therefore you need to design your messages so that they 
will take no more than 24 characters with the longest call sign and 
exchange you are likely to need during the contest.

5. You can only put one of these CAT1ASC macro commands in each function 
key message.

6. You cannot send ad lib Morse code this way, i.e. the Ctrl+K command 
to send keyboard CW does not work with this method.

There may be other limitations; these are the ones that occur to me 
offhand. I have tested this in CW and verified that it works. It will 
not work in AFSK A; I am not sure whether it will work in FSK D.

73,
Rich VE3KI


NA1DX wrote:

> Through N1MM and K3 software commands, I am able to send keying messages of
> specific text from n1mm to the K3.  In order to pass variables, such as the
> other station and serial number, I need help to figure that out.