Reference
Q codes
Three letters that replace a whole sentence, and stay readable when conditions are poor. Each can be sent as a question or as a statement.
Most used on the air
- QTHMy location is…
QTH? What is your location?
- QRMI am being interfered with by other stations.
QRM? Are you being interfered with?
Man-made. M for man-made is a workable mnemonic.
- QRNI am troubled by static or atmospheric noise.
QRN? Are you troubled by static?
Natural noise — lightning, power lines, weather.
- QSBYour signal is fading.
QSB? Is my signal fading?
- QSYChange to another frequency.
QSY? Shall I change frequency?
- QSLI acknowledge receipt.
QSL? Can you acknowledge receipt?
Also the name for a contact confirmation card.
- QSOI can communicate with … directly.
QSO? Can you communicate with … directly?
Used as a noun for a two-way contact.
- QRZYou are being called by…
QRZ? Who is calling me?
Operating and power
- QRPDecrease power.
QRP? Shall I decrease power?
Also the name for low-power operating as a discipline.
- QROIncrease power.
QRO? Shall I increase power?
- QRTStop sending / I am closing down.
QRT? Shall I stop sending?
- QRVI am ready.
QRV? Are you ready?
- QRXWait — I will call you again at…
QRX? When will you call me again?
- QRLI am busy — please do not interfere.
QRL? Are you busy?
- QRUI have nothing for you.
QRU? Have you anything for me?
- QRAThe name of my station is…
QRA? What is the name of your station?
CW sending
- QRSSend more slowly.
QRS? Shall I send more slowly?
- QRQSend faster.
QRQ? Shall I send faster?
- QRKThe readability of your signals is…
QRK? What is the readability of my signals?
- QSDYour keying is defective.
QSD? Is my keying defective?
- QSKI can hear you between my signals — break in.
QSK? Can you hear me between your signals?
Traffic and routing
- QSPI will relay to…
QSP? Will you relay to…?
- QTCI have … messages for you.
QTC? How many messages have you to send?
- QTRThe correct time is…
QTR? What is the correct time?
- QRGYour exact frequency is…
QRG? Will you tell me my exact frequency?
- QSAThe strength of your signals is…
QSA? What is the strength of my signals?