# Audio and Keyers

## CW keyer

A CW keyer with **macros** on F-keys (F1–F9; empty slots are hidden). The keyer
**engine** is selectable (Settings → CW Keyer):

- **WinKeyer** — K1EL WK1/2/3 over a COM port. The log names the generation
  detected, and a byte-level trace can be enabled for bug reports.
- **Serial port (DTR=CW / RTS=PTT)** — OpsLog keys CW by toggling a serial
  control line itself, the hardware method N1MM/WSJT-X use with a Yaesu SCU-17
  or a generic keying interface. No WinKeyer needed. Choose the COM port, which
  line carries CW, and *Invert keying* for interfaces that key backwards. This
  is also the engine for an **FTDX10** (whose CAT refuses `KY`), on the rig's
  second COM port.
- **Icom** — the radio's own keyer over CI-V, no extra hardware. Works over the
  remote link too. (Set break-in to SEMI/FULL or the rig keys the sidetone but
  stays in RX.)
- **FlexRadio (CWX)** — keys CW straight over the SmartSDR connection, with
  type-ahead and mid-send backspace.
- **Yaesu (rig keyer)** — the radio's internal keyer over CAT (`KY`), for the
  FTDX101 / FT-991A / FT-710 family. See [[Yaesu]].
- **TCI** — for TCI backends.

**ESC** stops CW on whichever engine is active; typing a callsign aborts a
running macro. `<LOGQSO>` inside a macro logs the contact at that exact point.
**Auto-call** repeats a CQ with the gap you set measured *after* the message.

### ESM — Enter Sends Message

N1MM-style, for CW (Settings → CW Keyer). With the keyer on, **Enter** fires a
macro by QSO stage instead of logging: empty callsign → F1 (CQ); callsign
entered → F2 (report), focus jumps to RST; Enter in RST → F3 (TU), which logs
if the macro contains `<LOGQSO>`.

## Digital Voice Keyer (DVK)

Record **F1–F6** voice messages and transmit them. Set the audio devices, PTT
method and gains in Settings → Audio.

- **PTT** method: CAT (whichever backend is active — every one supports PTT),
  RTS, DTR, or none (VOX).
- **Auto CQ** repeats a CQ-labelled message on a timer until you stop it.
- The DVK refuses to transmit on non-phone modes — no speech on FT8.
- A **message level** control (Settings → Audio) drives the rig at the right
  level even from a quietly recorded microphone. If the rig transmits almost
  nothing, check its rear-input setting (on an FTDX10: SSB MOD SOURCE = REAR).

## QSO audio recording

Continuous rolling capture. On **Log QSO** the contact is saved to a per-QSO
WAV/MP3 (`CALL_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS`), with pre-roll. With automatic recording off, a
**red dot** beside the callsign records the contact by hand.

A recording can be **replayed on the air** to the station being worked, like a
voice-keyer message — with its **own level**, separate from the voice keyer (a
receiver line-out needs far less gain than a microphone). The play button
becomes a **stop** button while it transmits. Hidden on CW.

## CW decoder (RX audio → text)

**Tools → CW decoder** (or the ear button) decodes received CW while the mode
is CW: adaptive envelope with noise squelch, per-character dit/dah
classification, follows 12–40 WPM and sloppy fists, rides QSB. Shows WPM /
pitch / level, locks onto the FlexRadio CW pitch automatically, and clicking a
decoded word fills the callsign. Clean-to-moderate signals decode solidly;
weak-signal pileups remain CW Skimmer territory.

## RX audio monitor (USB rigs)

Settings → Audio → **Listen to radio** pipes the rig's received audio (its "USB
Audio CODEC" input) through your speakers — the level applies live as you drag
it. **Talk to radio** keys PTT and pipes your mic to the rig's audio input.