Q-codes consist mostly out 3 capitals which always begin with a Q. They are used to increase the speed during a CW contact. HamRadio operators also use the Q-codes in voice contacts (QSO’s), because Q-codes are familiar around the globe in radio communication.
HamRadio operators only use a small amount of Q-codes. Every Q-code has 2 explantions: question or answer. Below you will find a list of Q-codes which are commenly used by HamRadio operators.
| Code | Question | Answer |
| QRA | What is the name (or call sign) of your station? | The name (or call sign) of my station is … |
| QRB | How far are you from my station? | The distance between our stations is … nautical miles (or km). |
| 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 (or those of …)? | The readability of your signals (or those of …) is … (1: bad .. 5: excellent). |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy. (or I am busy with … ) Please do not interfere. |
| QRM | Do you have interference? | I have interference. |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static noise? | I am troubled by static noise. |
| QRO | Shall I increase transmit power? | Please increase transmit power. |
| QRP | Shall I decrease transmit power? | Please decrease transmit power. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Please send faster (… words per minute). |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Please send more slowly (… words per minute). |
| QRT | Shall I cease or suspend operation? | I am suspending operation. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRX | Shall I standby? / When will you call me again? | Please standby. / I will call you again at … (hours) on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by … (on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (or those of … )? | The strength of your signals (or those of …) is … (1: very weak .. 5: very strong). |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? | Your keying is defective. |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals (while transmitting), and if so can I break in on your transmission? |
I can hear you between my signals (while transmitting); break in on my transmission. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I am acknowledging receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram (message) which I sent you, or some previous telegram (message)? |
Repeat the last telegram (message) which you sent me (or telegram(s) (message(s)) numbers(s) …). |
| QSN | Did you hear me (or …) on … kHz (or MHz)? | I did hear you (or …) on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSO | Can you communicate with … direct or by relay? | I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …). |
| QSP | Will you relay a message to …? | I will relay a message to … . |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? |
Please send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of “V” on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? |
Please send a series of “V” on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSX | Will you listen to … on … kHz (or MHz)? | I am listening to … on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSY | Shall I change transmission frequency (to … kHz (or MHz))? |
Please change transmission frequency (to … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice (or … times). |
| QTC | How many telegrams (messages) have you to send? | I have … telegrams (messages) for you (or for …). |
| QTH | What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? |
My position is … latitude, … longitude. |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is … hours. |
RST is an abbreviation for R(eadability), S(trenght) and T(one). With speech contacts they use only RS. When using CW and other digitale modes they add the T(one) to the report. The RSV report is also used when there is a Digital Mode contact.
| Number | R – Readability | S – Strength | T – Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unreadable | Faint signal, barely perceptible |
Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad |
| 2 | Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable |
Very Weak | Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad |
| 3 | Readable with considerable difficulty | Weak | Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered |
| 4 | Readable with practically no difficulty | Fair | Rough note, some trace of filteringfrequency |
| 5 | Perfectly readable | Fairly Good | Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated |
| 6 | not used | Good | Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation |
| 7 | not used | Moderately Strong | Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation |
| 8 | not used | Strong | Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation |
| 9 | not used | Very strong signals | Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind |
| Number | R – Readability | S – Strength | V – Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0% copy – undecipherable | barely perceptible trace | splatter over much of the spectrum |
| 2 | 20% copy -occasional words distinguishable |
not used | not used |
| 3 | 40% copy – readable with difficulty, many missed characters |
Weak trace | multiple visible pairs |
| 4 | 80% copy – Readable with no difficulty |
not used | not used |
| 5 | 95%+ copy – Perfectly readable | Moderate trace | One easily visible pair |
| 6 | not used | not used | not used |
| 7 | not used | Strong Trace | One barely visible pair |
| 8 | not used | not used | not used |
| 9 | not used | Very strong trace | Clean signal – no visible unwanted sidebars |
RSQ
