From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Q code is a standardised collection of three-letter message encodings, all starting with the letter "Q", initially developed for commercial radiotelegraph communication, and later adopted by other radio services, especially amateur radio. Although Q codes were created when radio used Morse code exclusively, they continued to be employed after the introduction of voice transmissions. To avoid confusion, transmitter call signs have often been limited to restrict ones starting with "Q" or having an embedded three-letter Q sequence. The codes in the range QAA-QNZ are reserved for aeronautical use; QOA-QOZ for maritime use, and QRA-QUZ for all services.
Amateur radio
Selected Q codes were soon adopted by amateur radio operators. In December, 1915 the American Radio Relay League began publication of a magazine titled QST, named after the Q code for "General call to all stations". In amateur radio, the Q codes were originally used in Morse Code transmissions to shorten lengthy phrases and were followed by a Morse code question mark (– – ––– ––– – – ) if the phrase was a question. In voice communications, the Q code is commonly used as shorthand nouns, verbs and adjectives making up phrases. For example, an amateur radio operator will complain about QRM (man-made interference), or tell another operator that there is "QSB on the signal"; "to QSY" is to change your operating frequency.
The following table gives the most common Q codes used in amateur radio:
Code Meaning
QRG : Exact frequency
QRI : Tone (T in the RST code)
QRK : Intelligibility (R in the RST code)
QRL : This frequency is busy.
QRM : Man-made interference
QRN : Natural interference, e.g. static crashes
QRO : Increase power
QRP : decrease power
QRQ : Send faster
QRR : Temporarily unavailable/away, please wait
QRRR: Distress
QRS : Send slower
QRT : Stop sending
QRU : Have you anything for me?
QRV : I am ready
QRX : Will call you again
QRZ : You are being called by ________.
QSA : Signal strength
QSB : Fading of signal
QSD : Your keying is defective
QSK : Break-in
QSL : I Acknowledge receipt
QSM : Repeat last message
QSN : I heard you
QSO : A conversation
QSP : Relay
QST : General call to all stations
QSX : I am listening on ... frequency
QSY : Shift to transmit on ...
QTA : Disregard last message
QTC : Traffic
QTH : Location
QTR : Exact time
