CW Geek’s Guide to Having Fun With Morse Code: Q-Signals

Below, are the most commonly used Q-signals in amateur radio. There are many more, and you can find many sites on the Internet that list them all. Many of them are no longer in use in amateur radio, or are only used when formal message traffic is being passed, or are for other purposes, notably aviation. I’ve left those off this list because you rarely, if ever, hear them being used on the air. 

You’ll note that in many cases, we no longer use a Q-signal exactly as intended. When this is the case, I’ve tried to explain the current usage. I think that this is something that’s missing from most of the Q-signal lists, even those published by amateur radio operators.

As with the abbreviation list, if I’ve left off your favorite Q-signal, let me know.

QRG ____ / QRG?

Your frequency is ____. / What’s my exact frequency?

QRL / QRL?

I am busy. / Are you busy?
The most common usage for this Q-signal is to ask if a frequency is in use before beginning to call CQ or another station. The station wishing to use the frequency sends “QRL?” If the frequency is in use, the station using the frequency, should send “QRL” or simply “C.”

QRM / QRM?

You are being interfered with. / Is my transmission being interfered with?
QRM is often used (incorrectly) as a noun. For example, someone might send, “LOTS OF QRM TONITE.”

QRN / QRN?

You are being troubled by static or atmospheric noise. / Are you troubled by static or atmospheric noise?
Like QRM, QRN is often misused as a noun. For example, someone might send, “LOTS OF QRN ON THE BAND TONITE.”

QRO / QRO?

I will increase power. / Shall I increase transmitter power?
Often, QRO is used as an adjective. For example, someone might send, “I AM QRO NW,” meaning that his transmitter is running a significant amount of power, usually more than the 100 W, typical of today’s transceivers.

QRP / QRP?

I will decrease power. / Shall I decrease transmitter power?
QRP is most often used as an adjective. If someone says, “RIG HR IS QRP,” what they mean is that the power output of the transmitter is 5 W or less. To qualify for the QRP category of most contests your transmitter output power must be 5 W or less.

QRQ / QRQ?

Send faster. / Shall I send faster?

QRS / QRS?

Send slower. / Shall I send slower?
Feel free to use this Q-signal should you get into a contact with someone who is sending faster than you can receive. The courteous thing to do is for the faster operator to slow down when requested to do so.

QRT / QRT?

Stop sending. / Shall I stop sending?
Common amateur usage is a little different than the original meaning. When someone sends “MUST QRT” or “WILL QRT ON NXT XMSN” they mean that they are going to go off the air.

QRU / QRU?

I have nothing for you. / Do you have anything for me?
Sometimes you’ll hear stations say, “I AM QRU.” What this means is that unless you have something further, they wish to end the contact. They probably also mean this if they send “QRU?”

QRV / QRV?

I am ready. / Are you ready?
Originally, this meant that a station was ready to copy a message. Nowadays, it means that they are ready to get on the air.

QRZ ____ / QRZ?

____ is calling you. / Who is calling me?
In contests or DX operation, a station will often send “QRZ?” to denote that he’s finished with one contact and will begin listening for other stations. This is a little different than the original meaning.

QSB / QSB?

Your signals are fading. / Are my signals fading?
Like QRM and QRN, QSB is often used as a noun (instead of the word “fading”) even sometimes as an adjective. For example, someone might say, “THE BAND IS VY QSB TONITE.”

QSK / QSK?

I can work break-in. / Can you work break-in?
Stations that have break-in capability switch rapidly from transmit to receive even between individual dits and dahs. That allows the receiving station to “break in” in the middle of a transmission. When this happens, the transmitting station should stop sending to allow the receiving station to make a comment. In practice, few operators actually do this, though.

QSL / QSL?

I acknowledge receipt. / Can you acknowledge receipt?
QSL was originally meant to be used to acknowledge receipt of a formal message. Now, it is often used to denote that a transmission was received, whether or not it contained a formal message. We also use it as an adjective, as in “QSL card.” A QSL card acknowledges that we had a contact with the station to whom we sent the card.

QSO___ / QSO___?

I can communicate with ___ directly. / Can you communicate with ___ directly?
QSO was often used in the early days of amateur radio when the range of a station was limited and stations relayed messages from one to another. Nowadays, we mostly use QSO as a noun, meaning a contact with another station.

QSY / QSY?

I will change frequency. / Shall I change frequency?

QTH / QTH?

My location is. / What is your location?
You often hear QTH used as a noun. People often send “QTH IS XXXX.” While not an egregious use of this Q-signal, it is incorrect.