Ham Radio Signal Reporting

In amateur radio, or “ham radio,” signal reporting is a way for operators to describe the quality and strength of a radio signal that they are receiving from another operator. Signal reporting is often used in ham radio to help assess the effectiveness of different antennas, radios, and operating techniques, and to provide feedback to other operators about the performance of their equipment and stations.

There are various ways to do signal reporting in ham radio, but here is a general outline of the process:

1. Listen to the signal: Begin by listening to the signal that you are receiving from the other operator. Pay attention to the quality and clarity of the audio, as well as any interference or noise that you may hear.
2. Assess the strength of the signal: Use a signal strength meter or other tool to measure the strength of the signal that you are receiving. This can give you a more objective measure of the signal’s performance and can help you to make more accurate signal reports.
3. Use the RST/RSQ system: The RST/RSQ system is a standard system for signal reporting in ham radio, and it is used to describe the quality and strength of a signal. The RST/RSQ system consists of three elements: readability, strength, and tone or quality.
   • A detailed list of which modes use RST or RSQ can be found below.
   • To make a signal report using the RST system, you would describe the readability of the signal on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being unreadable and 5 being perfectly readable. Next, you would describe the strength of the signal on a scale from 1 to 9, with 1 being very weak and 9 being extremely strong. Finally, you would describe the tone of the signal, using terms such as “sharp,” “flat,” or “normal.”

Here is an example of a signal report using the RST system: “Your signal is a 579, with a readability of 5, strength of 7, and tone of 9.” This would indicate that the signal is of high quality and is extremely strong, with a clear and sharp tone.

It is important to remember that signal reporting is subjective and can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as the quality of the equipment, the operating conditions, and the skill of the operator. As a result, it is always a good idea to use multiple methods and tools to

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Mode: SSB

• System: Readability, Strength, and Quality (RSQ)
• Report Definitions:
  • R is a value from 1 to 5. The value 5 means easy to understand, and 3 means difficult to understand; 1 and 2 are rarely used.
  • S is a value from 1 to 9. This number generally corresponds to the radio’s signal-strength-meter reading on voice peaks.
  • Q is a value from Q1 to Q5. This number indicates overall quality. Q5 indicates excellent readability; reports below Q3 are rare.

Mode: CW

• System: Readability, Strength, and Tone (RST)
• Report Definitions:
  • R is a value from 1 to 5; the values mean the same as for SSB.
  • S is a value from 1 to 9; the values mean the same as for SSB.
  • T is a value from 1 to 9. The value 9 is a pure tone, and 1 is raspy noise. The letter C is sometimes added to indicate a chirpy signal.

Mode: Digital (alternative)

• System: Readability, Strength, and Quality (RSQ)
  • FT8, MSK144, JT65, etc. – the signal report built into the messages is the signal-to-noise ratio.
• Report Definitions:
  • R is a value from 1 to 5. The values mean the same as for SSB.
  • S is a value from 1 to 9. The values mean the same as for SSB.
  • Q is a value from 1 to 9, reflecting the quality of your signal’s modulation.

Mode: FM

• System: Level of quieting
  • The signal report is for the station calling, not the repeater’s output signal strength.
• Report Definitions:
  • Full quieting means that all noise is suppressed. Scratchy means that noise is present, possibly enough to disrupt understanding. Flutter means rapid variations in strength as a vehicle is moving. Just making it means that the signal is only strong enough to activate the repeater and not good enough for contact.