Prosigns, Q Signals and CW Abbreviations
Used in Amateur (Ham) Radio
Procedural Signals (Prosigns) for Morse Code
C Q - Calling any station (does any ham *not* know this one?)
AR - "+" over, end of message
K - go, invite any station to transmit
KN - "(" go only, invite a specific station to transmit
BK - invite receiving station to transmit
R - all received OK
AS - please stand by
SK - end of contact (sent before call)
CL - going off the air (clear)
Q Signals (or Q Abbreviations)
Q Signals take the form of a question only when each is followed by a question mark.
QRG - Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ___)?
Your exact frequency (or that of ___) is ___ kHz.
QRH - Does my frequency vary?
Your frequency varies.
QRI - How is the tone of my transmission?
The tone of your transmission is ___. (1. Good 2. Variable 3. Bad)
QRJ - Are you receiving me badly?
I can not receive you. Your signals are too weak.
QRK - What is the intelligibility of my signals (or those of ___)?
The intelligibility of your signals (or those of ___) is:
(1. Bad 2. Poor 3. Fair 4. Good 5. Excellent)
QRL - Are you busy?
I am busy (or I am busy with ___). Please do not interfere.
QRM - Is my transmission being interferred with?
Your transmission is being interferred with ___.
(1. Nil 2. Slightly 3. Moderately 4. Severely 5. Extremely)
QRN - Are you troubled by static?
I am troubled by static ---. (1-5 as under 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 - Have you anything for me?
I have nothing for you.
QRV - Are you ready?
I am ready.
QRW - Shall I inform ___ that you are calling on ___ kHz?
Please inform ___ that I am calling on ___ kHz.
QRX - When will you call me again?
I will call you again at ___ hours (on ___ kHz).
QRY - What is my turn?
Your turn is numbered ___.
QRZ - Who is calling me?
You are being called by ___ (on ___ kHz).
QSA - What is the strength of my signals (or those of ___)?
The strength of you signals (or those of ___) is ___.
(1. Scarcely perceptable 2. Weak 3. Fairly good 4. Good 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 in between your signals and if so, can I break in on your transmission?
I can hear you between my signals; break in on my transmission.
QSL - Can you acknowledge receipt?
I am acknowledging receipt.
QSM - Shall I repeat the last message I sent you, or some previous message?
Repeat the last message you sent me [or message(s) number(s) ___].
QSN - Did you hear me (or ___) on ___ kHz?
I did hear you (or ___) 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 will relay to ___.
QST - General call proceding a message addressed to all amateurs and ARRL members. This is in effect, "CQ ARRL".
QSU - Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on ___ kHz)?
Send a series of Vs on this frequency (or on ___ kHz).
QSW - Will you send on this frequency (or on ___ kHz)?
I am going to send on this frequency (or on ___ kHz).
QSX - Will you listen to ___ on ___ kHz?
I am listening to ___ on ___ kHz.
QSY - Shall I change to to transmission on another frequency?
Change transmission to another frequency (or ___ kHz).
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 ___.
QTB - Do you agree with my counting of words?
I do not agree with your counting of words. I will repeat the first letter or digit of each word or group.
QTC - How many messages have you to send?
I have ___ messages for you (or for ___).
QTH - What is your location?
My location is ___.
QTR - What is the correct time?
The correct time is ___.
Common abbreviations for CW work AA - All after PBL - Preamble AB - All before PSE - Please ABT - About PWR - Power ADR - Address PX - Press AGN - Again R - Received as transmitted; Are AM - Amplitude Modulation RCD - Received ANT - Antenna RCVR - Receiver BCI - Broadcast Interference RX - Receiver BCL - Broadcast Listener REF - Refer to; Referring to; Reference BK - Break, Break in RFI - Radio frequency interference BN - All between; Been RIG - Station equipment BUG - Semi-Automatic key RTTY - Radio teletype B4 - Before SASE - Self-addressed, stamped envelope C - Yes SED - Said CFM - Confirm; I confirm SIG - Signature; Signal CK -Ckeck SINE - Operator's personal initials or nickname CL - I am closing my station; Call SKED - Schedule CLD - Called SRI - Sorry CLG - Calling SSB - Single Side Band CQ - Calling any station SVC - Service; Prefix to service message CW - Continuous wave T - Zero DLD - Delivered TFC - Traffic DLVD - Delivered TMW - Tomorrow DR - Dear TKS - Thanks DX - Distance TNX - Thanks ES - And TT - That FB - Fine Business, excellent TU - Thank you FM - Frequency Modulation TVI - Television interference GA - Go ahead TX - Transmitter GM - Good morning TXT - Text GN - Good night UR - Your; You're GND - Ground URS - Yours GUD - Good VFO - Variable Frequency Oscillator HI - The telegraph laugh; High VY - Very HR - Here; Hear WA - Word after HV - Have WB - Word before HW - How WD - Word LID - A poor operator WDS - Words MA - Millamperes WKD - Worked MILS - Millamperes WKG - Working MSG - Message; Prefix to radiogram WL - Well; Will N - No WUD - Would NCS - Net Control Station WX - Weather ND - Nothing Doing XCVR - Transceiver NIL - Nothing; I have nothing for you XMTR - Transmitter NM - No more XTAL - Crystal NR - Number XYL - Wife NW - Now; I resume transmission YL - Young lady OB - Old boy 73 - Best Regards OC - Old chap 88 - Love and kisses OM - Old man OP - Operator OPR - Operator OT - Old timer; Old top
