Q codes are three-letter abbreviations radio operators use to ask and answer: QTH means “where are you”, QRZ — “who is calling me”. In the USSR they were written as Щ-codes, because Q and the Cyrillic Щ sound the same in Morse — so every code here has two readings and sound.
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QDMЩДМWhat is the magnetic heading for me to steer to reach you (with zero wind)?The magnetic heading for you to steer to reach me (with zero wind) is … degrees.
QDRЩДРWhat is my magnetic bearing from you?Your magnetic bearing from me is … degrees.
QFEЩФЕWhat is the atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation?The pressure at aerodrome elevation is … hPa; with this setting the altimeter reads height above the aerodrome.
QNEЩНЕWhat will my altimeter read on landing with the standard setting of 1013.2 hPa?With the standard setting of 1013.2 hPa your altimeter will read … (pressure altitude).
QNHЩНХWhat altimeter setting will make my altimeter read altitude above sea level?Set your altimeter to … hPa to read altitude above sea level.
QRAЩРАWhat is the name of your vessel (or station)?The name of my vessel (or station) is …hamstation name / call sign
QRBЩРБHow far approximately are you from my station?The approximate distance between our stations is … nautical miles (or kilometres).
QRCЩРЦBy what private enterprise (or state administration) are the accounts for charges for your station settled?The accounts for charges of my station are settled by the private enterprise … (or state administration).
QRDЩРДWhere are you bound for and where are you from?I am bound for … from …
QREЩРЕWhat is your estimated time of arrival at … (place)?My estimated time of arrival at … (place) is … hours.
QRFЩРФAre you returning to … (place)?I am returning to … (place). Or: return to … (place).
QRGЩРГWill you tell me my exact frequency (or that of …)?Your exact frequency (or that of …) is … kHz (or MHz).
QRHЩРХDoes my frequency vary?Your frequency varies.
QRIЩРИHow is the tone of my transmission?The tone of your transmission is …1 — good · 2 — variable · 3 — bad
QRJЩРЙHow many radiotelephone calls have you to book?I have … radiotelephone calls to book.
QRKЩРКWhat is the intelligibility of my signals (or those of …)?The intelligibility of your signals (or those of …) is …1 — bad · 2 — poor · 3 — fair · 4 — good · 5 — excellent
QRLЩРЛAre you busy?I am busy (or I am busy with …). Please do not interfere.hamis this frequency in use?
QRMЩРМIs my transmission being interfered with?Your transmission is being interfered with …1 — nil · 2 — slightly · 3 — moderately · 4 — severely · 5 — extremelyhaminterference from other stations
QRNЩРНAre you troubled by static?I am troubled by static …1 — nil · 2 — slightly · 3 — moderately · 4 — severely · 5 — extremelyhamatmospheric noise (static)
QROЩРОShall I increase transmitter power?Increase transmitter power.hamoperating with high power
QRPЩРПShall I decrease transmitter power?Decrease transmitter power.hamlow-power operation, up to 5 W in CW
QRQЩРЩShall I send faster?Send faster (… words per minute).
QRRЩРРAre you ready for automatic operation?I am ready for automatic operation. Send at … words per minute.
QRSЩРСShall I send more slowly?Send more slowly (… words per minute).
QRTЩРТShall I stop sending?Stop sending.hamclosing down the station
QRUЩРУHave you anything for me?I have nothing for you.
QRVЩРЖAre you ready?I am ready.
QRWЩРВShall I inform … that you are calling him on … kHz (or MHz)?Please inform … that I am calling him on … kHz (or MHz).
QRXЩРЬWhen will you call me again?I will call you again at … hours on … kHz (or MHz).hamstand by, wait
QRYЩРЫWhat is my turn (for communication)?Your turn is number …
QRZЩРЗWho is calling me?You are being called by … (on … kHz or MHz).hamwho is calling? — asks callers to repeat call signs
QSAЩСАWhat is the strength of my signals (or those of …)?The strength of your signals (or those of …) is …1 — scarcely perceptible · 2 — weak · 3 — fairly good · 4 — good · 5 — very good
QSBЩСБAre my signals fading?Your signals are fading.hamfading
QSCЩСЦAre you a low traffic ship station?I am a low traffic ship station.
QSDЩСДAre my signals mutilated?Your signals are mutilated.
QSEЩСЕWhat is the estimated drift of the survival craft?The estimated drift of the survival craft is … (figures and units).
QSFЩСФHave you effected rescue?I have effected rescue and am proceeding to … base (with … persons injured requiring ambulance).
QSGЩСГShall I send … telegrams at a time?Send … telegrams at a time.
QSHЩСХAre you able to home with your direction-finding equipment?I am able to home with my direction-finding equipment (on …).
QSIЩСИWill you inform … that I have been unable to break in on his transmission (on … kHz or MHz)?I have been unable to break in on your transmission.
QSJЩСЙWhat is the charge to be collected to … including your internal charge?The charge to be collected to … including my internal charge is … francs.
QSKЩСКCan you hear me between your signals and if so may I break in on your transmission?I can hear you between my signals; break in on my transmission.
QSLЩСЛCan you acknowledge receipt?I am acknowledging receipt.hamQSL card confirming a contact; “I acknowledge receipt”
QSMЩСМShall I repeat the last telegram which I sent you (or some previous telegram)?Repeat the last telegram which you sent me (or telegram(s) number(s) …).
QSNЩСНDid you hear me (or …) on … kHz (or MHz)?I did hear you (or …) on … kHz (or MHz).
QSOЩСОCan you communicate with … direct (or by relay)?I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …).hama two-way radio contact
QSPЩСПWill you relay to … free of charge?I will relay to … free of charge.
QSQЩСЩHave you a doctor on board (or is … on board)?I have a doctor on board (or … is on board).
QSRЩСРShall I repeat the call on the calling frequency?Repeat your call on the calling frequency; did not hear you (or have interference).
QSSЩССWhat working frequency will you use?I will use the working frequency … kHz (or MHz).
QSTЩСТShould I repeat the prior message to all amateurs I contact?not ITUGeneral call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs.
QSUЩСУShall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?Send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSVЩСЖShall I send a series of Vs for adjustment on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?Send a series of Vs for adjustment on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSWЩСВWill you send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?I am going to send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSXЩСЬWill you listen to … on … kHz (or MHz)?I am listening to … on … kHz (or MHz).
QSYЩСЫShall I change to transmission on another frequency?Change to transmission on another frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).hammoving to another frequency
QSZЩСЗShall I send each word or group more than once?Send each word or group twice (or … times).
QTAЩТАShall I cancel telegram (or message) number …?Cancel telegram (or message) number …
QTBЩТБDo you agree with my counting of words?I do not agree with your counting of words; I will repeat the first letter or digit of each word or group.
QTCЩТЦHow many telegrams have you to send?I have … telegrams for you (or for …).
QTDЩТДWhat has the rescue vessel or rescue aircraft recovered?… (identification) has recovered …1 — … (number) survivors · 2 — wreckage · 3 — … (number) bodies
QTEЩТЕWhat is my TRUE bearing from you (or from …)?Your TRUE bearing from me (or from …) is … degrees at … hours.
QTFЩТФWill you give me my position according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which you control?Your position according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which I control was … latitude, … longitude, class … at … hours.
QTGЩТГWill you send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by your call sign (repeated … times) on … kHz (or MHz)?I am going to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by my call sign (repeated … times) on … kHz (or MHz).
QTHЩТХWhat is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)?My position is … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication).hamstation location, town
QTIЩТИWhat is your TRUE course?My TRUE course is … degrees.
QTJЩТЙWhat is your speed (through the water or air)?My speed is … knots (or kilometres per hour or statute miles per hour).
QTKЩТКWhat is the speed of your aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth?The speed of my aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth is … knots (or kilometres per hour or statute miles per hour).
QTLЩТЛWhat is your TRUE heading?My TRUE heading is … degrees.
QTMЩТМWhat is your MAGNETIC heading?My MAGNETIC heading is … degrees.
QTNЩТНAt what time did you depart from … (place)?I departed from … (place) at … hours.
QTOЩТОHave you left dock (or port)? Or: are you airborne?I have left dock (or port). Or: I am airborne.
QTPЩТПAre you going to enter dock (or port)? Or: are you going to alight (or land)?I am going to enter dock (or port). Or: I am going to alight (or land).
QTQЩТЩCan you communicate with my station by means of the International Code of Signals (INTERCO)?I am going to communicate with your station by means of the International Code of Signals (INTERCO).
QTRЩТРWhat is the correct time?The correct time is … hours.
QTSЩТСWill you send your call sign (and/or name) for … seconds?I will send my call sign (and/or name) for … seconds.
QTTЩТТIs the identification signal which follows superimposed on another transmission?The identification signal which follows is superimposed on another transmission.
QTUЩТУWhat are the hours during which your station is open?My station is open from … to … hours.
QTVЩТЖShall I stand guard for you on the frequency of … kHz (or MHz) (from … to … hours)?Stand guard for me on the frequency of … kHz (or MHz) (from … to … hours).
QTWЩТВWhat is the condition of survivors?Survivors are in … condition and urgently need …
QTXЩТЬWill you keep your station open for further communication with me until further notice (or until … hours)?I will keep my station open for further communication with you until further notice (or until … hours).
QTYЩТЫAre you proceeding to the position of incident and if so when do you expect to arrive?I am proceeding to the position of incident and expect to arrive at … hours (on … (date)).
QTZЩТЗAre you continuing the search?I am continuing the search for … (aircraft, ship, survival craft, survivors or wreckage).
QUAЩУАHave you news of …?Here is news of …
QUBЩУБCan you give me the surface wind (TRUE direction and speed), visibility, present weather and cloud at … (place of observation)?Here is the information requested: … (with units indicated).
QUCЩУЦWhat is the number (or other indication) of the last message you received from me (or from …)?The number (or other indication) of the last message I received from you (or from …) is …
QUDЩУДHave you received the urgency signal sent by …?I have received the urgency signal sent by … at … hours.
QUEЩУЕCan you speak in … (language), with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies?I can speak in … (language) on … kHz (or MHz).
QUFЩУФHave you received the distress signal sent by …?I have received the distress signal sent by … at … hours.
QUHЩУХWill you give me the present barometric pressure at sea level?The present barometric pressure at sea level is … (units).
QUMЩУМMay I resume normal working?Normal working may be resumed.
QUNЩУНWill vessels in my immediate vicinity (or in the vicinity of …) please indicate their position, TRUE course and speed?My position, TRUE course and speed are …
QUOЩУОShall I search for … in the vicinity of … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication)?Please search for … in the vicinity of … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication).1 — aircraft · 2 — ship · 3 — survival craft
QUPЩУПWill you indicate your position by …?My position is indicated by …1 — searchlight · 2 — black smoke trail · 3 — pyrotechnic lights
QURЩУРHave survivors …?Survivors …1 — received survival equipment (dropped by …) · 2 — been picked up by rescue vessel · 3 — been reached by ground rescue party
QUSЩУСHave you sighted survivors or wreckage? If so, in what position?Have sighted … in position … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication).1 — survivors in water · 2 — survivors on rafts · 3 — wreckage
QUTЩУТIs position of incident marked?Position of incident is marked by …1 — flame or smoke float · 2 — sea marker · 3 — sea marker dye · 4 — … (other marking)
QUUЩУУShall I home ship or aircraft to my position?Home ship or aircraft (…) …1 — to your position by sending your call sign and long dashes on … kHz (or MHz) · 2 — by sending on … kHz (or MHz) TRUE track to reach you
QUWЩУВAre you in the search area designated as … (designator or latitude and longitude)?I am in the … search area.
QUXЩУЬDo you have any navigational warnings or gale warnings in force?I have the following navigational warning(s) or gale warning(s) in force: …
QUYЩУЫIs position of survival craft marked?Position of survival craft was marked at … hours by …1 — flame or smoke float · 2 — sea marker · 3 — sea marker dye · 4 — … (other marking)
QUZЩУЗMay I resume restricted working?Distress phase still in force; restricted working may be resumed.
03
Prosigns
a bar on top — the letters are sent as one, with no gap
readability, strength and tone — the three digits of a report
Rreadability5 — perfectly readable
Sstrength7 — moderately strong
Ttone — CW only9 — pure tone
By meaning:
Your report
57957Ncut
Readability: perfectly readable, strength: moderately strong, tone: pure tone
····· −−··· −·
06
Sample QSO
eight lines of a typical contact · call signs are made up
RX0ABC · KrasnoyarskUB9XYZ · Ekaterinburg
01General call
CQ CQ CQ DE RX0ABC RX0ABC K
General call from RX0ABC, over
CQgeneral call to all stationsCQgeneral call to all stationsCQgeneral call to all stationsDEfrom (before a call sign)RX0ABCcall signRX0ABCcall signKover, go ahead
02Answer
RX0ABC DE UB9XYZ UB9XYZ K
RX0ABC from UB9XYZ, over
RX0ABCcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)UB9XYZcall signUB9XYZcall signKover, go ahead
03Report
UB9XYZ DE RX0ABC GE TNX FER CALL UR RST 599 5NN QTH KRASNOYARSK NAME VASILY HW? UB9XYZ DE RX0ABC KN
UB9XYZ from RX0ABC: good evening, thanks for the call, your RST is 599 (perfect), I'm in Krasnoyarsk, my name is Vasily, how copy? UB9XYZ from RX0ABC, over
UB9XYZcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)RX0ABCcall signGEgood eveningTNXthanksFERforCALLcall, call signURyour / you areRSTreadability, strength, tone5995 · 9 · 95NN5 · 9 · 9QTHlocationKRASNOYARSKNAMEnameVASILYHW?how do you copy?UB9XYZcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)RX0ABCcall signKNover to the named station only
04Report back
RX0ABC DE UB9XYZ R TNX UR RST 579 QTH EKATERINBURG NAME IVAN RX0ABC DE UB9XYZ KN
RX0ABC from UB9XYZ: received, thanks, your RST is 579, I'm in Ekaterinburg, my name is Ivan. RX0ABC from UB9XYZ, over
RX0ABCcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)UB9XYZcall signRreceivedTNXthanksURyour / you areRSTreadability, strength, tone5795 · 7 · 9QTHlocationEKATERINBURGNAMEnameIVANRX0ABCcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)UB9XYZcall signKNover to the named station only
05Rig and weather
UB9XYZ DE RX0ABC FB IVAN RIG IC7300 PWR 100W ANT DIPOLE WX COLD KN
UB9XYZ from RX0ABC: fine, Ivan. Rig IC-7300, power 100 W, antenna dipole, weather cold, over
UB9XYZcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)RX0ABCcall signFBfine business, excellentIVANRIGstation equipmentIC7300PWRpower100WANTantennaDIPOLEWXweatherCOLDKNover to the named station only
06Thanks
RX0ABC DE UB9XYZ TNX QSO 73 GL KN
RX0ABC from UB9XYZ: thanks for the contact, best regards, good luck, over
RX0ABCcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)UB9XYZcall signTNXthanksQSOcontact73best regardsGLgood luckKNover to the named station only
07Goodbye
UB9XYZ DE RX0ABC TNX 73 CUL SK
UB9XYZ from RX0ABC: thanks, best regards, see you later. End of contact
UB9XYZcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)RX0ABCcall signTNXthanks73best regardsCULsee you laterSKend of contact
08End of contact
RX0ABC DE UB9XYZ 73 TU SK
RX0ABC from UB9XYZ: best regards, thank you. End of contact
RX0ABCcall signDEfrom (before a call sign)UB9XYZcall sign73best regardsTUthank youSKend of contact
07
Quiz
ten questions on common codes, prosigns and abbreviations
Question 1 of 10correct 0
What does YL?
08
How to read Q codes
Question and answer
The “?” sign
QRZ? · QRZ RX0ABC
With a question mark a code is a question: QRZ? — “Who is calling me?”. Without it, an answer or statement: QRZ RX0ABC — “You are being called by RX0ABC”.
Number parameters
Scale
QRK 3 · QSA 5
A number after the code sets a value on a scale: QRK 3 — “readability fair”, QSA 5 — “signal strength excellent”.
History
1909 · 1912 · 1913
QRA … QUZ
A British list appeared around 1909, the first international one was adopted in 1912 and came into force on 1 July 1913. Today the general section is kept by the ITU in Recommendation ITU-R M.1172.
Щ-codes
Q = Щ
−−·− = Q = Щ
The Cyrillic letter Щ is sent with the same signal as Q, so Soviet military and service radio wrote the codes as ЩТХ, ЩРЗ, ЩСЛ — by ear they are the same codes.
09
Frequently asked questions
International three-letter abbreviations starting with Q, used in radio communication. With a question mark a code is a question: QRZ? means “Who is calling me?”; without it, an answer or a statement. The general section from QRA to QUZ is kept by the ITU in Recommendation ITU-R M.1172, and codes starting with QN and QF are used in aviation. Radio amateurs mostly need about thirty common ones.
The same Q codes written in Cyrillic. The Russian letter Щ is sent with the same Morse signal as Q (−−·−), so Soviet military and service radio wrote the codes as ЩТХ, ЩРЗ, ЩСЛ. By ear they are identical to QTH, QRZ and QSL. Every code in the table shows its Щ-form, and the search understands both spellings, so ЩТХ finds QTH.
73 means “best regards” and closes a contact. 88 means “love and kisses” and is used with a female operator or family. They are not Q codes but number abbreviations from the days of the wire telegraph, when operators saved every character. On the air they often sit next to other sign-offs: TNX 73 CUL — “thanks, best regards, see you later”.
QTH is the location of a station: “QTH KRASNOYARSK” means “I am in Krasnoyarsk”. QRZ? means “Who is calling me?”. QSL means “I acknowledge receipt”, and for radio amateurs it is also the card that confirms a contact, with the call sign, date, time and frequency. Press a code in the table to hear it; in the QSO decoder codes link to their row.
A three-digit signal report: readability 5 of 5, strength 9 of 9, tone 9 of 9 — a perfect copy. In CW the nines are often cut to N, so 599 becomes 5NN. Voice contacts have no tone, so the report has two digits — 59. You can pick a report and hear how it sounds in Morse code in the RST block on this page.
Press Print the cheat sheet: an A4 page opens for printing with the Latin alphabet, common Q codes, prosigns, abbreviations and RST. To get a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print dialog. The page is always black on white and readable at arm's length on a wall. The Russian alphabet with chants prints from the Russian Morse code page.