These are common pieces of information you will need to exchange during conversations on the air. While Q-Codes and RST reports are intended to be a shorthand for rapidly exchanging information. The Phonetic alphabet is intentionally not a short hand to ensure clear legible communication.
Many new HAM’s are tempted to substitute phonetics instead of memorizing the standard alphabet. Don’t be tempted to think the “Siera” for “S” can be substituted for “Sugar” or “Sam”. In other languages “Sugar” does not start with a “S” (Spanish: azúcar, Italian: zucchero, French: sucre, German: Zucker); and Sam may not be a common name where they come from.
It’s important to remember that we all learn a universal phonetic alphabet among English speakers, so that when we are speaking with non-Native English speakers we are not throwing new words at them that don’t translate to their alphabet. There are also plenty of native English speakers whose dialects are far enough apart from who they are speaking with that they can not understand each other easily.
Be a courteous HAM and learn the proper phonetics
Standard ITU Phonetics
| A | Alfa | H | Hotel | O | Oscar | U | Uniform | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Bravo | I | India | P | Papa | V | Victor | ||||||
| C | Charlie | J | Juliet | Q | Quebec | W | Whiskey | ||||||
| D | Delta | K | Kilo | R | Romeo | X | X-Ray | ||||||
| E | Echo | L | Lima | S | Sierra | Y | Yankee | ||||||
| F | Foxtrot | M | Mike | T | Tango | Z | Zulu | ||||||
| G | Golf | N | November |
Common Q Signals
Q Signals are short hand codes that take their roots in morse code. While HAM’s are no longer required to learn morse code for the exam, it is still alive and well on the air waves.
Digital modes are also very popular on the airwaves. When communicating using your computer, Q-Codes are still used by HAM’s as a means of shortening what they are typing to one and other.
Q Signals followed by a Question Mark take the form of a question
| QRG | Your exact frequency (or that of ___) is ___kHz. Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ___)? |
|---|---|
| QRL | I am busy (or I am busy with ___). Are you busy? |
| QRM | Your transmission is being interfered with ___. 1. Nil; 2. Slightly; 3. Moderately 4. Severely 5. Extremely Is my transmission being interfered with? |
| QRN | I am troubled by static ___. (1 to 5 as under QRM) Are you troubled by static? |
| QRO | Increase power. Shall I increase power? |
| QRP | Decrease power. Shall I decrease power? |
| QRQ | Send faster (___wpm). Shall I send faster? |
| QRS | Send more slowly (___wpm). Shall I send more slowly? |
| QRT | Stop sending. Shall I stop sending |
| QRU | I have nothing for you. Have you anything for me? |
| QRV | I am ready. Are you ready? |
| QRX | I will call you again at ___ hours (on ___kHz). Will you call me again? |
| QRZ | You are being called by ___ (on ___kHz). Who is calling me? |
| QSB | Your signals are fading. Are my signals fading? |
| QSK | I can hear you between signals; break in on my transmission. Can you hear me between your signals and if so may I break in on your transmission? |
| QSL | I am acknowledging receipt. Can you acknowledge receipt (of a message or transmission)? |
| QSN | I did hear you (or ___) on ___kHz. Did you hear me (or ___) on ___kHz? |
| QSO | I can communicate with ___ direct (or relay through ___). Can you communicate with ___ direct or by relay? |
| QSP | I will relay to ___. Will you relay to ___? |
| QST | General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs and ARRL members. This is in effect “CQ ARRL.” |
| QSX | I am listening to ___ on ___kHz. Will you listen to ___ on ___kHz? |
| QSY | Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ___kHz). Shall I change to transmission on another frequency (or On ___kHz)? |
| QTB | I do not agree with your counting of words. I will repeat the first letter or digit of each word or group. Do you agree with my counting of words? |
| QTC | I have ___ messages for you (or for ___). How many messages have you to send? |
| QTH | My location is ___. What is your location? |
| QTR | The time is ___. What is the correct time? |
| QUA | I have news of ___. Do you have news? |
RST Reports
Readability, Strength and Tone reports are intended to be a shorthand way of reporting back another stations signal qualities. As the name suggests, the 3 elements are given back numerically.
For example a top quality RST report would be 599. Meaning Readability is 5, Strength is 9 and Tone is 9.
Conversely a very bad RST report would be 111.
-
Readability
- A signal is “there” but is unreadable
- Words or characters can be detected, but much of the transmission is missed
- Readable with difficulty; most of the transmission can be understood
- Readable with only a little difficulty
- Readable without difficulty
-
Strength
- Signal just barely audible
- Very weak signal
- Weak signal
- Fair signal
- Medium signal
- Good Signal
- Moderately strong signal
- Strong signal
- Powerful, “local quality signal
-
Tone
- Very rough, noisy sound-painful to hear!
- Rough, noisy sound
- “Buzzing” sound
- Smoother “buzzing” sound
- Rough, varying tone without “buzz”
- Slightly smoother varying tone
- Tone varies in a steady pattern
- Slightly varying tone
- Pure, steady tone