Q Signals
Q-signals are a type of radio shorthand that is based on old wireless and telegraph codes. By using these universal abbreviations, we can easily communicate with amateur operators who might speak a different language and share information with them.
While the full meanings of the Q-signals are listed below in a second table, they are often used casually and very informally in conversation. When listening, you hear them used to simply substitute or replace a word. Here is a list of those more common “short” meanings.
| Sign | Meaning |
| QRA | Name |
| QRB | Distance |
| QRG | Frequency |
| QRK | Intelligibility |
| QRL | Busy |
| QRM | Interference |
| QRN | Noise |
| QRO | High power |
| QRP | Low power |
| QRQ | High speed CW |
| QRS | Low speed CW |
| QRSS | Very low speed CW |
| QRT | Shut down the station |
| QRV | Ready |
| QRX | Stand by |
| QRZ? | Who is calling me? |
| QSB | Fading |
| QSD | Defective keying |
| QSK | Break in |
| QSL | Confirmation or card to confirm contact |
| QSO | Radio contact |
| QSY | Change frequency |
| QTC | Message |
| QTH | Location |
| QTR | Time |
The Q-signals that amateurs radios operators use are a subset of the larger collection of International Q-signals. While they are based on older systems, today we use them all the time in ham radio. Here is a more detailed “formal” list of commonly used Q-signals.
Note that the Q-signal is only considered a question if it is followed by a “?” character.
| Sign | Question | Answer |
| QRA | What is the name (or call sign) of your station? | The name (or call sign) of my station is … |
| QRB | How far are you from my station? | The distance between our stations is … nautical miles (or km). |
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of …)? | Your exact frequency (or that of … ) is … kHz (or MHz). |
| 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) |
| QRK | What is the readability of my signals (or those of …)? | The readability of your signals (or those of …) is … (1: bad .. 5: excellent). |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy. (or I am busy with … ) Please do not interfere. |
| QRM | Do you have interference? | I have interference. |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static noise? | I am troubled by static noise. |
| QRO | Shall I increase transmit power? | Please increase transmit power. |
| QRP | Shall I decrease transmit power? | Please decrease transmit power. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Please send faster (… words per minute). |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Please send more slowly (… words per minute). |
| QRT | Shall I cease or suspend operation? | I am suspending operation. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRX | Shall I standby? / When will you call me again? | Please standby. / I will call you again at … (hours) on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by … (on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (or those of … )? | The strength of your signals (or those of …) is … (1: very weak .. 5: very strong). |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? | Your keying is defective. |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals (while transmitting), and if so can I break in on your transmission? | I can hear you between my signals (while transmitting); break in on my transmission. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I am acknowledging receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram (message) which I sent you, or some previous telegram (message)? | Repeat the last telegram (message) which you sent me (or telegram(s) (message(s)) numbers(s) …). |
| QSN | Did you hear me (or …) on … kHz (or MHz)? | I did hear you (or …) on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSO | Can you communicate with … direct or by relay? | I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …). |
| QSP | Will you relay a message to …? | I will relay a message to … . |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? | Please send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of “V” on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? | Please send a series of “V” on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSX | Will you listen to … on … kHz (or MHz)? | I am listening to … on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSY | Shall I change transmission frequency (to … kHz (or MHz))? | Please change transmission frequency (to … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice (or … times). |
| QTC | How many telegrams (messages) have you to send? | I have … telegrams (messages) for you (or for …). |
| QTH | What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? | My position is … latitude, … longitude. |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is … hours. |