The Q Code


Group of three letters codes, always beginning with Q character, used to speed up message transmission, mainly in CW. They are used very often by amateurs, even in phone modes, because their meaning is standard and common to all languages.
Hams use only a subset of Q code, not being interested in the words created for aircrafts, ships and postal messages. Each code has two different meanings (although usually related) when used alone (affirmative) meaning) or followed by a question mark (interrogative meaning).

Most popular Q codes used by radio amateurs

    Code   Affirmative                      Interrogative
    -----  ------------------------------   ---------------------------------
     QRA   My name is ...                   What is your name ?
     QRB   Distance is ... Km               What is the distance ?
     QRG   Frequency is ...                 What is the frequency ?
     QRK   Understandability is ...         Am I understandable ?
     QRL   I am busy                        Are you busy ?
     QRM   There are interferences          Are there interferences ?
     QRN   There is static noise            Is there static noise ?
     QRO   I augment power                  Should I augment power ?
     QRP   I diminish power                 Should I diminish power ?
     QRQ   Please transmit quicker          Should I transmit quicker ?
     QRS   Please transmit slower           Should I transmit slower ?
     QRT   I stop transmitting              Should I stop transmitting ?
     QRV   I am ready                       Are you ready ?
     QRX   I'll call at ... on ...          When will you call again ?
     QRZ   You are called by ...            Who  is calling me ?
     QSA   Your signal strength is ...      What is my signal strength ?
     QSB   Your signal strength is varying  Does my signal strength vary ?
     QSK   I can hear while transmitting    Can you hear while transmitting ?
     QSL   I received well                  Did you receive well ?
     QSO   You can talk with ...            Can I talk with ... ?
     QSY   Please change tr. frequency      Should I change tr. frequency ?
     QTC   I have messages for you          Have you messages for me ?
     QTH   My exact position is ...         What is your exact position ?
     QTR   Current time is ...              What time is it ?
Some codes are also used as names. For example QSL is the name for the postcards that amateurs send each others to confirm the radio contacts. QRP, as a name, indicates a low power station (less than 10 W, or even 5), and so on.
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