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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?

Q codes are internationally standardised by the ITU. The full list covers aeronautical and maritime use too; these are the ones that come up in amateur operation and in the ASOC syllabus.