The Q Signals as Used by Ham Radio and 11-Meter Operators
| Q Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| QRA |
What is the name of your station? The name of your station is _____. |
| 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 cannot 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 interfered
with? Your transmission is being interfered 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 your signals (or those of ____) is ____ (1. Scarcely perceptible; 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 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. |
| 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 preceding a message adressed 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 or reply on this frequency (or ___ kHz). |
| QSV |
Shall i send a series of Vs 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 transmission on
another frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ____ 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 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 ____ |
| QTV | Shall i stand guard for you? Stand guard for me. |
| QTX | Will you keep your station open for further communication
with me? Keep your station open for me. |
| QUA | Have you news of ____? I have news of ____. |
This is the list of Q signals as in the ARRL handbook, the ARRL QN signals are not listed as those do not serve any major purpose on 11-meter band.
(Q abbreviations take the form of questions only when each is sent followed by a question mark.)
Some Q signals are misunderstood on 11m band, especially QRZ is widely misused. QRZ is only used when you didn’t copy the station who was calling you and you want him to call again (i.e. repeat his callsign).