Q Codes

Question 1

QRG

Answer 1

Your exact frequency (or that of ______) is _________kHz.

Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of __________)?

Question 2

QRL

Answer 2

I am busy (or I am busy with _________).

Are you busy?

The most common usage for this Q-signal is to ask if a frequency is in use before beginning to call CQ or another station. The station wishing to use the frequency would send QRL? If the frequency is in use, the station using the frequency, should send QRL or simply C.

Question 3

QRM

Answer 3

Your transmission is being interfered with _________ (1. Nil; 2. Slightly; 3. Moderately; 4. Severely; 5. Extremely.)

Is my transmission being interfered with?

QRM is often used (incorrectly) as a noun. For example, someone might send, LOTS OF QRM TONITE.

Question 4

QRN

Answer 4

I am troubled by static _________. (1 to 5 as under QRM.)

Are you troubled by static?

Like QRM, QRN is often misused as a noun. For example, someone might send, LOTS OF QRN ON THE BAND TONITE.

Question 5

QRO

Answer 5

Increase power.

Shall I increase power?

Often, QRO is used as an adjective. For example, someone might send, I AM QRO NW, meaning that his transmitter is running a significant amount of power, usually more than the 100 watts of output power that most HF transceivers have today.

Question 6

QRP

Answer 6

Decrease power.

Shall I decrease power?

QRP is most often used as an adjective. If someone says, RIG HR IS QRP, what they mean is that the power output of the transmitter is 5 W or less.

Question 7

QRQ

Answer 7

Send faster (_________wpm).

Shall I send faster?

Question 8

QRS

Answer 8

Send more slowly (_________wpm).

Shall I send more slowly?

Question 9

QRT

Answer 9

Stop sending.

Shall I stop sending?

Common amateur usage is a little different than the original meaning. When someone sends MUST QRT or WILL QRT they mean that they are going to go off the air.

Question 10

QRU

Answer 10

I have nothing for you.

Have you anything for me?

You’ll sometimes hear stations say, I AM QRU, meaning that unless you have something further to say, they wish to end the contact. They probably also mean this if they send QRU?

Question 11

QRV

Answer 11

I am ready.

Are you ready?

Originally, this meant that a station was ready to copy a message. Nowadays, it means that they are ready to get on the air.

Question 12

QRX

Answer 12

I will call you again at ______hours (on ______kHz).

When will you call me again?

Minutes are usually implied rather than hours.

Question 13

QRZ

Answer 13

You are being called by _________ (on ______kHz).

Who is calling me?

In contests or DX operation, a station will often send QRZ? to denote that he’s finished with one contact and will begin listening for other stations. This is a little different than the original meaning.

Question 14

QSB

Answer 14

Your signals are fading.

Are my signals fading?

Like QRM and QRN, QSB is often used as a noun (instead of the word “fading”) even sometimes as an adjective. For example, someone might say, THE BAND IS VY QSB TONITE.

Question 15

QSK

Answer 15

I can hear you between signals; break in on my transmission.

Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission?

Question 16

QSL

Answer 16

I am acknowledging receipt.

Can you acknowledge receipt (of a message or transmission)?

QSL was originally meant to be used to acknowledge receipt of a formal message. Now, it is often used to denote that a transmission was received, whether or not it contained a formal message. We also use it as an adjective, as in “QSL card.” A QSL card acknowledges that we had a contact with the station to whom we sent the card.

Question 17

QSO

Answer 17

I can communicate with _________ direct (or relay through ______).

Can you communicate with ______ direct or by relay?

QSO was often used in the early days of amateur radio when the range of a station was limited and stations relayed messages from one to another. Nowadays, we mostly use QSO as a noun, meaning a contact with another station.

Question 18

QSP

Answer 18

I will relay to ______.

Will you relay to ______?

Question 19

QST

Answer 19

General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs and ARRL members. This is in effect “CQ ARRL.”

Question 20

QSX

Answer 20

I am listening to ______ on ______kHz.

Will you listen to ______on ______kHz?

Question 21

QSY

Answer 21

Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ______kHz).

Shall I change to transmission on another frequency (or on ______kHz)?

Question 22

QTC

Answer 22

I have ______messages for you (or for ______).

How many messages have you to send?

Question 23

QTH

Answer 23

My location is _________.

What is your location?

You often hear QTH used as a noun. People often send QTH IS ________. While not an egregious use of this Q-signal, it is technically incorrect.

Question 24

QTR

Answer 24

The time is _________.

What is the correct time?