Readability Strength Tone
(RST)
Readability
1
Unreadable
2
Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable
3
Readable with considerable difficulty
4
Readable with practically no difficulty
5
Perfectly readable
Signal Strength
1
Faint signals, barely perceptible
2
Very weak signals
3
Weak signals
4
Fair signal
5
Fairly good signals
6
Good signals
7
Moderately strong signals
8
Strong signals
9
Extremely strong signals
Tone
1
Sixty-cycle ac or less, very rough and broad
2
Very rough ac, very harsh and broad
3
Rough ac tone, rectified but not filtered
4
Rough note, some trace of filtering
5
Filtered rectified ac but strong ripple-modulated
6
Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation
7
Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation
8
Near perfect tone, slight trace of ripple modulation
9
Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind
If the signal has the characteristic steadiness of crystal control, add the letter X to the report. If there is a chirp, add the letter C. Similarly for a click, add K.
The above reporting system is used on both CW and voice; leave out the "tone" report on voice.
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