Quick reference
The shorthand you will hear on the air and see on the exams.
Phonetic alphabet
Phonetics make letters unmistakable on a weak or noisy signal. The FCC encourages them when identifying on phone. Practice with the phonetic speller.
- AAlfa.-
- BBravo-...
- CCharlie-.-.
- DDelta-..
- EEcho.
- FFoxtrot..-.
- GGolf--.
- HHotel....
- IIndia..
- JJuliett.---
- KKilo-.-
- LLima.-..
- MMike--
- NNovember-.
- OOscar---
- PPapa.--.
- QQuebec--.-
- RRomeo.-.
- SSierra...
- TTango-
- UUniform..-
- VVictor...-
- WWhiskey.--
- XX-ray-..-
- YYankee-.--
- ZZulu--..
The ITU spells two words Alfa and Juliett. Other references differ: the ARRL Q-signals card prints Juliet, and the General exam pool prints Alpha. They are spoken the same way.
Sources: Radio Regulations (2024), Appendix 14 (ITU); Aeronautical Information Manual 4-2-7, Phonetic Alphabet (FAA); 47 CFR 97.119(b)(2) (eCFR); International Morse code, ITU-R M.1677-1 (ITU-R)
Q signals
Three-letter abbreviations from the days of telegraphy, now used on voice too. Followed by a question mark, a Q signal asks a question.
| Signal | Meaning | As a question |
|---|---|---|
| QRG | Your exact frequency is ... kHz. | Will you tell me my exact frequency? |
| QRL | I am busy. | Are you busy? (Used to ask whether a frequency is in use.) |
| QRM | Your transmission is being interfered with (1 nil to 5 extremely). | Is my transmission being interfered with? |
| QRN | I am troubled by static (1 to 5). | Are you troubled by static? |
| QRO | Increase power. | Shall I increase power? |
| QRP | Decrease power. | Shall I decrease power? |
| QRQ | Send faster. | Shall I send faster? |
| QRS | Send more slowly. | Shall I send more slowly? |
| QRT | Stop sending. | Shall I stop sending? |
| QRU | I have nothing for you. | Have you anything for me? |
| QRV | I am ready. | Are you ready? |
| QRX | I will call you again at ... (minutes are usually implied). | When will you call me again? |
| QRZ | You are being called by ... | Who is calling me? |
| QSB | Your signals are fading. | Are my signals fading? |
| QSK | I can hear you between signals; break in on my transmission. | Can you hear me between your signals? |
| QSL | I am acknowledging receipt. | Can you acknowledge receipt? |
| QSO | I can communicate with ... direct. | Can you communicate with ... direct or by relay? |
| QSP | I will relay to ... | Will you relay to ...? |
| QST | General call preceding a message to all amateurs and ARRL members. | |
| QSX | I am listening to ... on ... kHz. | Will you listen to ... on ... kHz? |
| QSY | Change to another frequency. | Shall I change to another frequency? |
| QTC | I have ... messages for you. | How many messages have you to send? |
| QTH | My location is ... | What is your location? |
| QTR | The time is ... | What is the correct time? |
RST signal reports
A report such as 599 means readability 5, strength 9, tone 9. On voice, leave out the tone: 59. Add X for a crystal-steady signal, C for chirp, or K for key clicks.
Readability
- Unreadable.
- Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable.
- Readable with considerable difficulty.
- Readable with practically no difficulty.
- Perfectly readable.
Strength
- Faint signals, barely perceptible.
- Very weak signals.
- Weak signals.
- Fair signals.
- Fairly good signals.
- Good signals.
- Moderately strong signals.
- Strong signals.
- Extremely strong signals.
Tone (CW)
- Sixty cycle AC or less, very rough and broad.
- Very rough AC, very harsh and broad.
- Rough AC tone, rectified but not filtered.
- Rough note, some trace of filtering.
- Filtered rectified AC but strongly ripple-modulated.
- Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation.
- Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation.
- Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation.
- Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind.
Source: ARRL FSD-220: Communications Procedures, ITU Phonetic Alphabet, R-S-T System.
Procedural signals
| CW | Morse | Voice | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | -.- | Go ahead | Any station is invited to transmit; used after calling CQ or at the end of a transmission. |
| AR | .-.-. | Over | Used after a call to a specific station, before the contact is established. |
| KN | -.--. | Over | Only the specific station contacted is invited to answer. |
| AS | .-... | Stand by or wait | A temporary interruption of the contact. |
| R | .-. | Roger | The transmission was received correctly and in full. |
| SK | ...-.- | Clear | End of contact; sent before the final identification. |
| CL | -.-. .-.. | Closing the station | Going off the air and not answering further calls; sent after the final identification. |
A line over two letters means they are sent as one character with no gap. Source:ARRL FSD-220: Communications Procedures, ITU Phonetic Alphabet, R-S-T System.