Q Signals
QUESTION FILE 25 (1 question)
Q CODES
These abbreviated three letter “Q” Codes were evolved by old-time telegraphy operators as a shorthand means for exchanging information about working conditions being experienced over the circuit in use. The 10 Q Codes listed here are only a few of the total list but are the most common ones actually heard on the air.
You will be tested on only 10 of the 40 or so Q Code messages that are used in amateur radio communication. You will need to memorize these Q Codes before your course starts.
Many can be used as a query, if followed by a question mark, e. g. QRM? QTH? or as an answer to a query or as a statement of fact with no question mark, e.g. QTH Auckland, QTH San Francisco etc.
All Q codes may be used while operating CW and some are used during phone transmissions.
QRL? Means “Are you busy” [25.6] Commonly means “is the frequency in use?”
QRM Means “Your transmission is being interfered with” [25.1]
QRN Means “I am troubled by static” [25.2]
QRP? Means “Shall I decrease transmitter power?” [25.7]
Without the query means “I am running low power”
QRQ Means “Please send faster” [25.10]
QRS Means “Please send slower” [25.3]
With a query could mean “shall I (or we) send slower?”
QRZ? Means “Who is calling me?” [25.4]
Commonly means “who is on this frequency?” if you were unable to copy a callsign
QSB As part of a signal report means “your signals are fading” [25.8]
QSY? Means “Shall I change to transmission on another frequency?” [25.9]
Without the query means “I am going to change frequency/up 5 (kHZ)/ to 28.459 etc.”
QTH? Means “What is your location?” [25.5]
Without the query “QTH Melbourne” means “my location is Melbourne”
A more comprehensive list of amateur radio Q Codes is shown below:
Q-Signal/Code Meaning
QRA [name]
QRA? The name of my station is [name].
What is your station name?
QRG [freq]
QRG? Your exact frequency is [freq].
What is my exact frequency?
QRH
QRH? Your frequency varies.
Does my frequency vary?
QRI [tone]
QRI? The tone of your transmission is [tone].
How is the tone of my transmission?
QRK [readability]
QRK? The readability of your transmission is [readability].
How is the readability of my transmission?
QRL
QRL? I am busy (or, the frequency is in use).
Are you busy? (or, is the frequency in use?)
QRM
QRM? Your transmission is being interfered with.
Is my transmission being interfered with?
QRN
QRN? I am troubled by static.
Are you troubled by static?
QRO
QRO? Increase your transmitting power.
Shall I increase my transmitting power?
QRP
QRP? Decrease your transmitting power.
Shall I decrease my transmitting power?
QRQ
QRQ? Send faster.
Shall I send faster?
QRS
QRS? Send slower.
Shall I send slower?
QRT
QRT? Stop sending.
Shall I stop sending?
QRU
QRU? I have nothing for you.
Do you have anything for me?
QRV
QRV? I am ready.
Are you ready?
QRW
QRW? Please inform … that I am calling him.
Shall I tell … that you’re calling him?
QRX [time/freq]
QRX? I will call again at …
When will you call again?
QRZ
QRZ? I am calling you.
Who is calling me?
QSA [signal]
QSA? Your signal strength is [signal].
What is my signal strength?
QSB
QSB? Your signals are fading.
Are my signals fading?
QSD
QSD? Your keying is defective.
Is my keying defective?
QSG [number]
QSG [number]? Send [number] messages at a time.
Shall I send [number] messages at a time?
QSK
QSK? I can work break-in.
Can you work break-in?
QSL
QSL? I acknowledge receipt.
Can you acknowledge receipt?
QSM
QSM? Repeat the last message sent.
Shall I repeat the last message sent?
QSO
QSO? I can communicate with … direct.
Can you communicate with … direct?
QSP
QSP? I will relay to …
Can you relay to … ?
QSV
QSV? I will send a series of V’s.
Shall I send a series of V’s?
QSW [freq]
QSW [freq]? I will transmit on [freq].
Will you transmit on [freq]?
QSX
QSX? I will listen for … on [freq].
Will you listen for … on [freq]?
QSY [freq]
QSY [freq]? I will change frequency (to [freq]).
Will you change frequency (to [freq])?
QSZ [number]
QSZ [number]? Send each word/group twice (or [number] times).
Shall I send each word/group twice (or [number] times).
QTA [number]
QTA [number]? Cancel number [number].
Shall I cancel number [number]?
QTB
QTB? I do not agree with your word count.
Do you agree with my word count?
QTC [number]
QTC? I have [number] messages to send.
How many messages have you to send?
QTH
QTH? My location is …
What is your location?
QTR
QTR? My time is …
What is your time?
QTV
QTV? Stand guard for me.
Shall I stand guard for you?
QTX
QTX? I will keep my station open for further communication with you.
Will you keep your station open for further communication with me?
QUA
QUA? I have news regarding …
Have you news regarding … ?
The R-S-T System or reporting radio signals:
Readability:
1 – Unreadable
2 – Barely readable
3 – Readable w/ difficulty
4 – Readable w/ little difficulty
5 – Perfectly readable
Signal Strength:
1 – Faint
2 – Very weak
3 – Weak
4 – Fair
5 – Fairly good
6 – Good
7 – Moderately strong
8 – Strong
9 – Extremely strong
Tone (CW only):
1 – Sixty cycle AC or less, very rough and broad
2 – Very rough AC, very harsh and broad
3 – Rough AC tone, rectified but not filtered
4 – Rough note, some trace of filtering
5 – Filtered, rectified AC, but strongly ripple-modulated
6 – Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation
7 – Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation
8 – Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation
9 – Perfect tone, no trace of ripple, or modulation of any kind
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