Q-Signals


The Q-Signals are a set of 'standardized' abbreviations used to convey commonly requested or needed information when operating CW. Q-Signals can be sent in two forms: as a statement or as a question.

The most commonly used Q-Signals are listed below.

Q-Signal Meaning As A Statement Meaning As A Question
QRL
The frequency is busy
Is the frequency busy?
QRM
Your transmission is being interfered with
Is my transmission being interfered with?
QRN
I am troubled by static
Are you troubled by static?
QRO
Increase power
Should I increase power?
QRP
Decrease power. Also used to designate a station using low power
Should I decrease power?
QRQ
Send faster
Should I send faster?
QRS
Send slower
Should I send slower?
QRT
Stop transmitting
Should I stop transmitting?
QRU
I have nothing for you
Have you anything for me?
QRV
I am ready
Are you ready?
QRX
Please standby for ...
Should I standby?
QRZ
You are being called by ...
Who is calling me?
QSB
Your signal is fading
Is my signal fading?
QSK
I can operate break-in
Can you operate break-in?
QSL
I acknowledge receipt
Do you acknowledge receipt?
QSO
I can communicate with ...
Can you communicate with ...?
QST
General call preceding a message to all amateurs
.
QSX
I am listening on ...
Will you listen on ...?
QSY
I will change my transmit frequency
Should I change my transmit frequency?
QTH
My location is ...
What is your location?

The less commonly used Q-Signals are listed below. Most of them are used mostly by stations who pass message traffic.

Q-Signal Meaning As A Statement Meaning As A Question
QLF**
Send with your left foot
Should I send with my left foot?
QRA
The name of my station is ...
What is the name of your station?
QRB
The approx. distance between our stations is ...
How far approximately are you from my station?
QRG
Your exact frequency is ...
What is my exact frequency?
QRH
Your frequency varies.
Does my frequency vary?
QRI
The tone of your transmission is ...
How is the tone of my transmission?
QRK
The readibility of your signal is: (1) Bad, (2) Poor, (3) Fair, (4) Good, (5) Excellent
What is the readibility of my signal?
QRW
Please inform ______ that I am calling him on _____ KHz
Should I inform ______ that you are calling him on _____ KHz?
QSA
The strength of your signal is: (1) Barely perceptible, (2) Weak, (3) Fair, (4) Good, (5) Excellent
What is the strength of my signal?
QSD
Your signal is defective
Is my signal defective?
QSG
Send ____ messages at a time
Should I send ____ messages at a time?
QSM
Please repeat the last message sent
Should I repeat the last message sent?
QSN
I heard you on ____ KHz
Did you hear me on ____ KHz?
QSP
I will relay to ...
Will you relay to ...?
QSU
Send or reply on this frequency (on ___ KHz)
Should I send or reply on this frequency (on ___ KHz)?
QSV
Send a series of V's
Should I send a series of V's?
QSW
I will send on this frequency (on ___ KHz)
Should I send on this frequency (on ___ KHz)?
QSZ
Send each word or group ___ times
Should I send each word or group ___ times?
QTA
Canel message number ...
Should I cancel message number ...?
QTB
I do not agree with your counting of words
Do you agree with my counting of words?
QTC
I have traffic for you
Do you have traffic for me?
QTR
The time is ...
What is the correct time?
** Unoffical Q-Signal

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