Join us Monday, September 25th on Brandmeister talk group 3126 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET for the DMR Tech Net.

We’re going to talk about the letter Q, as in QSL cards and Q-codes. We’re curious if you use Q-codes and QSL cards? When was the last time you sent or received a QSL card?

Tom N8TJ, Stan WB8QJZ, Steve KC8WXM, & Dana KC0MYP,

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COMMON HAM RADIO Q SIGNALS

Hams use three-letter Q signals on every mode and even in face-toface conversation.

Here are the Q signals most commonly used in day-to-day operation.

Each signal can be a question or an answer, as shown in the Meaning column.

A complete list of ham radio Q signals, including those used on nets and repeaters, is available from

the AC6V website.

Q Signal Meaning

QRL Is the frequency busy? The frequency is busy. Please do not interfere.

QRM Abbreviation for interference from other signals.

QRN Abbreviation for interference from natural or human-made static.

QRO Shall I increase power? Increase power.

QRP Shall I decrease power? Decrease power.

QRQ Shall I send faster? Send faster (__words per minute [wpm]).

QRS Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (__wpm).

QRT Shall I stop sending or transmitting? Stop sending or transmitting.

QRU Have you anything more for me? I have nothing more for you.

QRV Are you ready? I am ready.

QRX Stand by.

QRZ Who is calling me?

QSB Abbreviation for signal fading.

QSL Did you receive and understand? Received and understood.

QSO Abbreviation for a contact.

QST General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs.

QSX I am listening on ___ kHz.

QSY Change to transmission on another frequency (or to ___ kHz).

QTH What is your location? My location is ____.

https://www.w8dyy.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CHEAT-SHEET.pdf

Ham Radio Q Codes

Ham radio “Q” codes are short codes used to communicate with other ham radio operators — also known as hams. Similar to the acronyms used in text messaging, Q codes can help you shorten longer messages. All ham radio users should learn these codes to effectively communicate with other hams.

A lack of Q code knowledge also can lead other hams to view you as inexperienced. To avoid that perception, keep reading to learn more about these useful codes.

Table of Contents:

Why You Should Learn Q Codes

Ham radio Q codes are standardized codes hams use to communicate with each other. They make it easier to send common messages.

Similar to how people instantly recognize the acronym ETA as shorthand for “estimated time of arrival,” Q codes do the same for ham radio jargon.

Key Reasons for Using Q Codes:

To Standardize Lingo
To Ask Questions
To Provide Answers
To Communicate Faster
To Communicate More Clearly
To Reduce Confusion
To Reduce Distortion

Key Reasons To Learn Q Codes:

To Communicate Like an Experienced Ham Radio Operator
To Better Understand Other Hams

Read our guide to learn more about HAM radio and HAM Radio Communication

How Do Q Codes Work?

Q codes use three-letter codes that all begin with the letter Q. Each code has a unique meaning that hams can use to ask a question or provide a standard response.

Example:

QRA is the Q code for asking: What’s your station name?

To answer, you’d reply: QRA [station name].

Notice how much easier this is than saying, “My station name is [station name].”

How to Use Q Codes

Using Q codes takes a little practice, but, before long, you’ll spout them off naturally like any other experienced ham radio operator.

Follow these steps when learning Q codes:

Memorize some common Q codes. The list below provides a good starting point.
Mimic how other hams use Q codes.Listening to others on the radio or on scanners will help with this.
Practice until you use them unconsciously. Joining a ham radio club or simply practicing enough will help you master the use of Q codes.

Common Q Codes

Hams commonly use a variety of Q codes in almost every ham radio interaction. Learning these codes will clue you in on the conversation and help you master Q code communication.

Q Code	Definitions
QRA	What’s your station name? The name of my station is ___.
QRG	What’s my exact frequency? Your exact frequency is ___ kilohertz (kHz).
QRH	Is my frequency varying? Your frequency is varying.

QRA: What’s your station name? The name of my station is ___.
QRG: What’s my exact frequency? Your exact frequency is ___ kilohertz (kHz).
QRH: Is my frequency varying? Your frequency is varying.
QRI: How’s my transmission tone? Your transmission tone is ___ (1-Good, 2-Variable, or 3-Bad).
QRJ: Are you receiving me badly? I can’t receive you, you have a weak signal.
QRK: What’s the clarity of my signal? The clarity of your signal is ___ (1-Bad, 2-Poor, 3-Fair, 4-Good, or 5-Excellent).
QRL: Are you busy? I’m busy, please don’t reach out to me now.
QRM: Is my transmission being interfered with? Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1-Nil, 2-Slightly, 3-Moderately, 4-Severely, or 5- Extremely).
QRN: Are you experiencing static? I’m experiencing static ___ (use the same 1 to 5 scale as for QRM).
QRO: Shall I increase power? Increase power.
QRP: Shall I decrease power? Decrease power.
QRQ: Shall I send faster? Send faster (___ WPM).
QRS: Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (___ WPM).
QRT: Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.
QRU: Do you have anything for me? I don’t have anything for you.
QRV: Are you ready? I’m ready.
QRW: Shall I tell ___ that you’re calling? Please tell ___ that I’m calling.
QRX: When will you call me again? I’ll call you at ___ hours.
QRZ: Who’s calling me? You’re being called by ___.
QSA: What’s my signal strength? Your signal strength is ___ (1-Scarcely Perceptible, 2-Weak, 3-Fairly Good, 4-Good, or 5-Very Good).
QSB: Are my signals fading? Your signals are fading.
QSD: Is my keying defective? Your keying is defective.
QSG: Shall I send ___ messages at a time? Send ___ messages at a time.
QSK: Can you hear me between your signals and, if so, may I break in on your transmission? I can hear you between my signals, break in on my transmission.
QSL: Can you acknowledge receipt? I’m acknowledging receipt.
QSM: Shall I repeat the last message I sent you? Repeat the last message.
QSN: Did you hear me on ___ kHz? I heard you on ___ kHz.
QSO: Can you communicate with ___ direct or by relay? I can communicate with ___ direct (or by relay through ___).
QSP: Will you relay to ___? I’ll relay to ___.
QSR: Do you want me to repeat my call? Please repeat your call.
QSS: What working frequency will you use? I’ll use the working frequency … kHz or megahertz (MHz).
QST: Here’s a broadcast message to all amateurs.
QSU: Shall I send or reply on this frequency? Send a series of Vs on this frequency.
QSW: Will you send on this frequency? I’m going to send on this frequency.
QSX: Will you listen to … call sign(s) on … kHz or MHz? I’m listening to … call sign(s) on … kHz or MHz.
QSY: Shall I change to another frequency? Change to another frequency.
QSZ: Shall I send each word or group more than once? Send each word or group twice (or ___ times).
QTA: Shall I cancel message number ___? Cancel message number ___.
QTC: How many messages do you have to send? I have ___ messages to send to you.
QTH: What’s your location? My location is ___.
QTR: What’s the correct time? The correct time is ___.

A Short History of Q Codes

The British government created Q codes in 1909 on maritime ships and in shipping ports. Adoption of these codes was especially important because many ship captains and crew members came from countries that don’t speak English. Using these codes made it possible to communicate across languages.

Early radiotelegraph services also adopted Q codes for much the same reason — to make communication easier between those who spoke different languages as well as in general.

Ham radio operators began to use Q codes in the early days of amateur radio and continue to do so today have remained in use since.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Q codes used for?

Q codes are radio shorthand for commonly asked questions and responses. Similar to the short codes people use in text messages on cell phones, Q codes also make communication easier — in this case, for ham radio operators.

What does the Q signal QRL mean?

Sending the code QRL is the same as asking if someone is busy. If you’re replying to this Q code or you’re just simply too busy to talk, you might respond by saying QRL. That will indicate you’re busy and can’t talk at the moment.

What are Q signals?

Q signals are short codes called Q codes that ham radio operators use to send someone a message without having to say the whole message. It’s an abbreviated form of communication.

What does QRZ mean?

QRZ is a Q code that asks the question, “Who’s calling?” Alternatively, ham radio operators use it to indicate that a particular person is calling. For instance, “QRZ [your name]” means “You’re being called by [your name].”

What does QRV mean?

QRV is the Q code to ask, “Are you ready?” It also can mean, “I’m ready.”

https://militaryalphabet.net/ham-radio-q-codes/

A QSL card is a written confirmation of a radio communication between two amateur radio stations. The term “QSL” comes from the international Q code and means “I confirm receipt of your transmission”. The sending of QSL cards dates back to the 1920s when AM radio broadcasts were still a novelty and stations wanted to know how far away they were being received.

QSL cards are specially designed postcards that hams exchange in the mail whenever they make contact with one another for the first time. Hams exchange cards in friendship and to prove that they actually made radio contact.

QSL may refer to:

Q code acknowledgement of receipt of radio message
- QSL card, acknowledging receipt

What is a QSL Card: Ham QSL Cards

QSL cards have been exchanged by radio amateurs since the beginning of the hobby to confirm contacts. Find out more about these ham radio QSL cards.

QSL cards includes:
QSL cards Electronic QSLs QSL bureau QSL managers Vintage QSL gallery

QSL cards are widely exchanged between ham radio operators to confirm contacts between two radio stations or to acknowledge short wave listener reports.

These cards are often said to be the final courtesy of a contact, and indeed many millions of QSL cards are exchanged each year.

Whilst QSL cards can provide a proof for operating awards of a contact with a particular country or area, they are also interesting to collect as they will have come from many people, often from distant lands or islands where few people live.

What is a QSL card?

The term QSL comes from the radio “Q” code meaning “I confirm reception”, and purpose of a QSL card is to confirm a contact. The cards themselves are normally post card sized, many being colourful and very attractive. Quite a few have photographs of the ham radio station, the operator or the area in which he lives, and this makes them very interesting.

The idea for the QSL card dates back to the time when the first long distance amateur radio or ham radio contacts were being made on the short wave bands. Initially the ham radio stations exchanged letters to confirm a contact, but the idea for a pre-printed card soon arose. It is not certain which was the first QSL card, or the first station to use them, but the idea soon caught on.

Today ham radio operators send QSL cards for a variety of reasons. It is interesting to collect them. Having made contact with a particular ham radio station it is often nice to have a card from them to remember the contact. It may be a particularly interesting contact, or one with a rare country where few ham radio operators are active. It may even be with a famous personality as there are a number of famous people around the globe who hold amateur radio licenses. In addition to this the cards can displayed in the radio shack. Being colourful and interesting they can brighten up any ham radio shack.

QSL card content

A QSL card should contain sufficient information to confirm a ham radio contact. Normally the card is pre-printed with the call sign of the originating ham radio station placed prominently on it. In addition to this the ham radio QSL card should have a number of other details. These include:

Operator’s name and address: This is obviously very important as it states where the station is located and who is operating the station. Some items associated with the location may be required on some occasions:
- QRA locator: This is important for many people operating on the VHF and UHF bands.
- Island: For people located on an island, this can also be important as many operators work towards awards where they have to contact people on different islands.
Callsign of station being contacted:
Date: This is an obvious requirement for any QSL card, and care should be taken in ensuring this is filled in correctly.
Time : The time is included on the QSL cards and is normally given in GMT – Greenwich Mean Time or UTC – Universal Time Coordinated. These are exactly the same and by using one standard globally there is no need for time zone conversions. Sometimes the letter ‘z’ may be used to denote UTC / GMT.
Signal report : The signal report given is useful because it confirms the signal strength, readability and other factors related to the conditions at the time.
Frequency / band: The band, or preferably the frequency of the contact should be included.
Mode of operation : The mode of operation is important. Some DX stations may run several stations at the same time, and therefore the mode of operation is important. It is also important when claiming awards as it may be necessary to detail the mode for the award.
Equipment used: It is always interesting to see what toher stations use. It also help determine how your own station is working out if it is possible to see reports and also the equipment used by the other station.
Pse / Tnx QSL: It is helpful to have space to say whether a card has been received, or whether one is wanted from the other station. Something like “PSE/TNX QSL” (please / thanks QSL) is often used.

Who uses QSL cards?

Many people send QSL cards. Although they are not nearly as widely used, they are still useful and also attractive to collect;

Radio amateurs: Many transmitting ham radio operators, particularly those using the HF bands send them regularly. The practise is less common for contacts above 30 MHz, although for DX contacts many stations still need to collect QSL cards for awards.
Short wave listeners: Listeners often send QSL cards as well. They may send a card to a transmitting station to give a listener report in the hope of receiving a card back. However many DX stations receive vast numbers of listener reports that are of little use. Many say little more than “I heard you please QSL”. If a report is to stand a good chance of receiving a reply and a return QSL card then it should give some useful information. Band conditions, whether any other stations from the same area were heard, or any significant characteristics of the signal.
Broadcast stations: Occasionally other stations may send QSL cards. Often short wave broadcast stations may send them to listeners who send in good reports. To qualify for a QSL card, broadcast stations often require that the listener has listened to the station over a period of time. However as budgets for HF broadcast stations are being cut, QSL cards are becoming more difficult to obtain.

Collecting QSL Cards

Collecting QSL cards can be an interesting addition to the hobby of amateur radio. Cards from distant corners of the earth can be attractive and interesting. Not only do they brighten up the shack, but they can act as an encouragement to hear or contact some more interesting stations as well as being used to apply for operating awards.

https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/ham_radio/qsl-cards/ham-qsl-cards.php