Q-Codes
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The "official" codes were assigned meanings by the International Telecommunications Union in 1959. The abridged definitions of the "official" codes are derived from a very detailed list compiled by using information extracted from Allied Communications Publication 131(B), Amendment 1.
Also included, are the "unofficial" meanings assigned by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to QST and to codes in the QNA to QNZ series, which are defined in the ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs and should only be used in amateur CW nets. These net codes should not be used in casual amateur CW conversations or in phone nets. When used by the Amateur Service, meanings assigned to codes in the QNA to QNZ series by other Services do not apply. Most, but not all, of the codes can be used either as a statement or a question, depending on the context of their use.
These Q-Codes were intended for CW use, where the question form would be denoted by following the code with a question mark (..--..). When using the ARRL definitions of codes in the QNA to QNZ series, no question mark is necessary, even though the meaning may be interrogatory. Radio amateurs, and some professional operators, also use these codes on telephony, where the context is more obvious. Also, in amateur radio use, Q-Codes are often used as an abbreviation for a longer phrase. For example, QTH is used to indicate the location of the station as in "My QTH is Storrington", whereas QTH actually means "What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to some other recognised location system)" or "My position is .......".
Q-CodesThe Q abbreviations take the form of questions only when followed by a question mark. |
|
| Q-code | Question | Information |
|---|---|---|
| QRA | What is the name of your station? | The name of my station is... |
| QRB | How far approximately are you from my station? | The approximate distance between our stations is ... nautical miles (or ... kilometers) |
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ... )? | Your exact frequency (or that of ...) is ... Khz (or Mhz) |
| QRH | Does my frequency vary? | Your frequency varies. |
| QRI | How is the tone of my transmission? | The tone of your transmission is 1=good 2=variable 3=bad |
| QRK | What is the readability of my signals? | The readability of your signals is 1=bad 2=poor 3=fair 4=good 5=excellent |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy |
| QRM | Are you being interfered ? | 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: 1=nil 2=slightly 3=moderately 4=severely 5=extremely |
| QRO | Shall I increase transmitter power? | Increase transmitter power. |
| QRP | Shall I decrease transmitter power? | Decrease transmitter power. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster (or ... words per minute). |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly (or ... words per minute). |
| QRT | Shall I stop sending? | Stop sending. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRW | Shall I inform ... that you are calling him (on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz)?. | Please inform ... that I am calling him (on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz) |
| QRX | When will you call me again? | I will call you again at ... hours (on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz) |
| QRY | What is my turn? | Your turn is number....(or according to any other indication). |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by ... (on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz)). |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals? | The strength of your signals (or those of ...) is ... 1=scarcely perceptible 2=weak 3=fairly good 4=good 5=very good |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? | Your keying is defective |
| QSG | Shall I send ... messages at a time? | Send ... messages at a time |
| QSK | Can you work break in? | I can hear you between my signals; break in on my transmission |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I acknowledge receipt. |
| QSO | Can you communicate with ... direct? | I can communicate with ... direct (or by relay through ... ) |
| QSP | Will you relay to ... ? | I will relay to ... |
| QST | Is there any message for hams? | Calling all hams |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz)? | Send or reply on this frequency ? (on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz) |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of V's on this frequency (or on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz)? | Send a series of V's on this frequency (or on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz) |
| QSW | Will you send on this frequency (or on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz)? | I will send on this frequency (or on ... Khz)(or ... Mhz) |
| QSX | Will you listen to...? | I am listening to ... (call sign) on ... Khz (or Mhz). |
| QSY | Shall I send on an other frequency ? | Transmit on an other frequency (or on ... Kkhz)(or ... Mhz) |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word/group more than once? | Send twice, or send ... times |
| QTA | Shall I cancel message number ... ? | Cancel message number ... |
| QTB | Do you agree with my word count? | (Answer negative) |
| QTC | How many messages have you to send? | I have ... messages for you. |
| QTH | What is your position? | My position is ... |
| QTR | What is the correct time (in UTC) ? | The correct time is...(in UTC) |
| QTX | Will you keep your station open for further traffic from me? | I will keep my station open . . . |
| QUA | Have you had news of ... ? | News of ... is ... |
QNA
Used in running Networks (Addopted by ARRL)
QNA Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Answer in prearranged order". (This code should only be used by the Net
Control Station).
QNB Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Act as relay station between ..... and .....". (This code should only
be used by the Net Control Station).
QNC Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"All net stations copy. I have a message for all net stations".
QND Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Net is directed (controlled by net control station)". (This code should
only be used by the Net Control Station).
QNE What indication will my altimeter give on landing at ...(place).
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Entire net stand by". (This code should only be used by the Net Control
Station).
QNF Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Net is free (not controlled)".
QNG Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Take over as net contol station".
QNH What should I set on the sub-scale of my altimeter so that the
instrument would indicate my elevation if I were on the ground at
your station.
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Your net frequency is high".
QNI Between what heights above ...(datum) has turbulence been observed at
...(position).
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Net stations report in" OR "I am reporting into the net". (Follow with a
list of traffic or QRU).
QNJ Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Can you copy me".
QNK Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Transmit messages for ..... to .....". (This code should only be used by
the Net Control Station).
QNL Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Your net frequency is low".
QNM Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"You are QRMing the net. Stand by". (This code should only be used by
the Net Control Station).
QNN Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Net control station is ....." OR "What station has net control".
QNO I am not equipped to give the information/provide the facility requested
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Station is leaving the net".
QNP Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Unable to copy you" OR "Unable to copy .....".
QNQ Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Move frequency to ..... and wait for ..... to finish handling traffic.
Then send him traffic for .....".
QNR I am approaching my point of no return.
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Answer ..... and receive traffic". (This code should only be used by the
Net Control Station).
QNS Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Following stations are in the net" (Follow with list), when used by Net
Control Station OR "Request list of stations in the net", when used by
other net members.
QNT What is the maximum gust speed of the wind at ...(place).
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"I request permission to leave the net for ..... minutes".
QNU Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"The net has traffic for you. Stand by". This code should only be used
by the Net Control Station.
QNV Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Establish contact with ..... on the frequency. If successful, move
to ..... and send him traffic for .....". (This code should only be used
by the Net Control Station).
QNW Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"How do I route messages for .....".
QNX Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"You are excused from the net", when used by Net Control Station OR
"Request to be excused from the net", when used by other net members.
QNY What is the present weather, and intensity thereof, at ...(place).
Also adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Shift to another frequency, or to .....kHz, to clear traffic with .....".
(This code should only be used by the Net Control Station).
QNZ Unassigned, but adopted by the ARRL, for use only in CW nets, as meaning
"Zero beat your signal with mine".
QSL ????
