PHONETIC ALPHABET
Spell out easily misunderstood names and words using the international
phonetic alphabet below. "Subject's name is Sundahl, spelled Sierra
Uniform November Delta Alpha Hotel Lima".
PHONETIC ALPHABET
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu .
146.520 MHz
simplex calling frequency
simplex calling frequency446.000 MHzalternate simplex calling frequency
alternate simplex calling frequencyQ-Codes, or Q-Signals, appear on the examination for the Basic Qualification and they are often used when Amateurs are talking to one another. In the early days of telegraphy, there was an international agreement on a list of abbreviations which could speed up Morse code (CW) transmissions.
If a Q-Code is followed by a question mark, then it is interpreted as a question. If no question mark was sent then the Q-Code is interpreted as a statement. For example QRS? means "shall I send more slowly". QRS means "send more slowly".
The table below lists some of the more common Q-Codes used by Amateurs.
Name
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRA What is the name of your station? The name of my station is ...
What is the name of your station? The name of my station is ...Strength/Quality of Signal
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRI How is the tone of my transmission? The tone of my transmission is ...
How is the tone of my transmission? The tone of my transmission is ...1. Good 2. Variable 3. Bad
QRK What is the intelligibility of my signal (or those of ...)? The intelligibility of your signal (or that of ...) is ...
What is the intelligibility of my signal (or those of ...)? The intelligibility of your signal (or that of ...) is ...1. bad 2. poor 3. fair 4. good 5. excellent
QRO Shall I increase my transmitter power? Increase your transmitter power
Shall I increase my transmitter power? Increase your transmitter powerQRP Shall I decrease my transmitter power? Decrease your transmitter power.
Shall I decrease my transmitter power? Decrease your transmitter power.QSA What is the strength of my signal (or those of ...)? The strength of your signal (or those of ...) is ...
What is the strength of my signal (or those of ...)? The strength of your signal (or those of ...) is ...1. bad 2. poor 3. fair 4. good 5. excellent
QSB Are my signals fading? Your signals are fading
Are my signals fading? Your signals are fadingTransmission Speed
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRQ Shall I send faster? Send faster (... wpm).
Shall I send faster? Send faster (... wpm).QRS Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (... wpm).
Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (... wpm).Interference
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRM Are you being interfered with? I am being interfered with (...)
Are you being interfered with? I am being interfered with (...)1. nil 2. slightly 3. moderately 4. severely 5. extremely
QRN Are you troubled by static? I am troubled by static (...)
Are you troubled by static? I am troubled by static (...)1. nil 2. slightly 3. moderately 4. severely 5. extremely
Frequency
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRG Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ...)? Your frequency (or that of ...) is .. kHz or MHz.
Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ...)? Your frequency (or that of ...) is .. kHz or MHz.QRH Does my frequency vary? Your frequency varies.
Does my frequency vary? Your frequency varies.QSV Shall I send a series of "V's" on this frequency (or ... kHz or MHz)? Send a series of "V's" on this frequency (or ... kHz or MHz).
Shall I send a series of "V's" on this frequency (or ... kHz or MHz)? Send a series of "V's" on this frequency (or ... kHz or MHz).QSW Will you send on this frequency (or on ... kHz or MHz)? I am going to send on this frequency (or on ... kHz or MHz).
Will you send on this frequency (or on ... kHz or MHz)? I am going to send on this frequency (or on ... kHz or MHz).QSY Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ... kHz MHz).
Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ... kHz MHz).Time
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQTR What is the correct time? The time is ... hours.
What is the correct time? The time is ... hours.Establishing Communications
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRL Are you busy? I am busy.
Are you busy? I am busy.QRV Are you ready? I am ready.
Are you ready? I am ready.QRX Will you call me again? I will call you at ... hours (on ... kHz or MHz).
Will you call me again? I will call you at ... hours (on ... kHz or MHz).QRY What is my turn? Your turn is number ...
What is my turn? Your turn is number ...QRZ What is calling me? You are being called by ...
What is calling me? You are being called by ...QSO Can you communicate with ...? I can communicate with ... directly (or by relay through ...).
Can you communicate with ...? I can communicate with ... directly (or by relay through ...).QSP Will you relay to ...? I will relay to ...
Will you relay to ...? I will relay to ...Exchange of Communications
Q-Code Question Answer
Question AnswerQRU Have you anything for me? I have nothing for you.
Have you anything for me? I have nothing for you.QRT Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.
Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.QSK Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission? I can hear you between my signals, break in on my transmission.
Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission? I can hear you between my signals, break in on my transmission.QSL Can you acknowledge receipt? I can acknowledge receipt.
Can you acknowledge receipt? I can acknowledge receipt.QSZ Shall I send each word or group twice (or ... times)? Send each word or group twice (or ... times).
Shall I send each word or group twice (or ... times)? Send each word or group twice (or ... times).QTA Shall I cancel message number ...? Cancel message number ...
Shall I cancel message number ...? Cancel message number ...QTC How many telegrams do you have for me? I have ... telegrams for you (or for ...).
How many telegrams do you have for me? I have ... telegrams for you (or for ...).QTH What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? My position is ... latitude and ... longitude (or according to any other indication).
What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? My position is ... latitude and ... longitude (or according to any other indication).This list of Q-Codes was taken from section 12.2 of RAC Study Guide for the Basic Exam.
Most commonly used 'Q' Codes
QRM .... Interference from others
QRN .... Interference/electrical/atmospheric
QRO .... High power
QRP .... Low power
QRT .... Close(d) down
QRX .... Stand by
QSB .... Fading
QSL .... Confirmation of contact
QSO .... Radio contact
QSY .... Change frequency
QTH .... Location
RST Codes
Readability
R1 .... Unreadable R2 .... Barely readable R3 .... Readable R4 .... Quite good
R5 .... Perfect
Signal
S1 .... Faint S2 .... Very weak S3 .... Weak S4 .... Fair S5 .... Fairly good
S6 .... Good S7 .... Fairly strong S8 .... Strong S9 .... Very strong
