Setting up CW and FT8 macros

The macros of the sBitx makes it very handy for users to transmit frequently shared information during an exchange such as signal reports or the operator’s QTH and operating setup. These macros are mapped to the function keys and allow the operator to quickly transmit information.

The macros automatically fetch certain inputs like the user’s callsign, grid locator (from initial setup), signal report and the other stations callsign(from the logger) and inserts it in the transmission, according to the format of the macro.

To setup macros, navigate to the /home/pi/sbitx/web folder. Here you will find the macros stored in .mc files.  Simply open the files in a text editor, make the required changes and save the files. Fire up the sBitx application and either use the on-screen keyboard or a physical keyboard to send out the macro messages by simply using the F1-F12 keys. The user can choose to stop transmitting the macro at any point by hitting the escape key on the keyboard.

When using the web interface to operate the radio, a macro selector box appears near the on-screen keyboard. This can be used to select a different set of macros, like the macros set for the CQWW CW contest. The user can also create a custom set of macros by simply duplicating an existing file, editing it to suit their need and saving it under a different name.