Transmitting

Transmitting needs a connection at a rate that allows it (see Connect to a station) and a working microphone (see Audio setup). The transmit controls are the Transmit group at the bottom of the radio panel.

Before you key up, know how you will identify: see Identifying yourself on the air.

Push to talk

• The PTT button — press and hold it with the mouse, or touch and hold on a phone or tablet. Letting go, or moving the pointer off the button, stops transmitting. The button shows the key it is bound to, for example PTT (Ctrl).
• The PTT key — hold it anywhere in the console. Choose it under Tools → Console Settings → General → PTT Key: Ctrl (Default), Shift, Ctrl + Shift, Alt/Option + Shift or Alt/Option + Spacebar.
• VOX — voice-operated keying, in the Transmit group. Lower the sensitivity slider to make it trigger more easily (Lower is more sensitive), and set VOX Delay, 0.1 to 2.0 s, for how long it holds after you stop talking. VOX runs in your browser: it keys the radio when your microphone level crosses the threshold.
• Voice macros — recorded calls on F1 to F5; see Voice macros.

The PTT button is disabled while PWR is set to zero.

Power and audio

• PWR — RF power in watts, up to the station's maximum for the rate you chose. The amplifier, where the station has one, is controlled from its own panel; see Amplifiers.
• MON — the transmit monitor, with a level, so you hear your own audio and sidetone.
• CW … Hz and … WPM — the CW pitch and keyer speed; see CW.

Meters

PWR (watts), SWR and ALC (percent) appear under the VFOs while you transmit, as far as the radio reports them. High SWR with the amplifier on usually means the wrong antenna is selected for the band; check the antenna panel.

Transmit lockouts

While the station can't key — while its tuner is moving, for example — a TX locked badge appears next to Transmit with the reason. It clears on its own when the station is ready. If you tune outside the amateur bands the radio panel warns you, and the station will not transmit there.