# Foundation License - Q - code

Effective communication by telegraphy implies the use of internationally agreed symbols and abbreviations so that difficulties arising from language differences are eliminated to a fairly large extent. An entire contact can take place on telegraphy between two people who share no common language by use of these codes and the standard procedural characters.

At the Foundation License level you are NOT required to know this code, and will not be assessed on it. It is provided here as extra information useful to you because of its endemic use in amateur radio related conversation as well as contacts both by phone and telegraphy.

The symbols and abbreviations used in amateur radio are based on the international Q-code and the procedures used in marine and commercial radio telegraphy. Many other abbreviations are based on phonetic English.

The international Q-code is a series of questions and answers, and the Q-signals in Table 1, which are taken from the official list, are commonly used in the amateur service. Amateurs use many of the Q-signals as nouns as well as in question-and-answer form (see Table 2).

## Table 1 - International Q-Code (Extract)

QRG | What is my exact frequency? | Your exact frequency is......kHz
QRH | Does my frequency vary? | Your frequency varies
QRI | What is the tone of my transmission? | The tone of your transmission is .. (amateur T1- T9)
QRK | What is the readability of my signals? | The readability of your transmission is... (amateur R1 - R5)
QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy. Please do not interfere.
QRM | Are you being interfered with? | I am being interfered with.
QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static.
QRO | Shall I increase power? | Increase power.
QRP | Shall I decrease power? | Decrease power.
QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster
QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly.
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.
QRX | When will you call me again? | I will call you again (at .... hours.)
QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by ......... (on ....kHz)
QSA | What is the strength of my signals? | The strength of your signals is ..... (amateur S1 - S9)
QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading.
QSD | Is my keying defective? | Your keying is defective.
QSL | Can you give me acknowledgement of receipt? | I give you my acknowledgment of 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....
QSV | Shall I send a series of V's ? | Send a series of V's.
QSY | Shall I change to another frequency? | Change to another frequency (or to .....kHz)
QSZ | Shall I send each word more than once? | Send each word twice
QTH | What is your location? ... | My location is....
QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is ..... hours

## Table 2 Use of Q-Codes as nouns

QRG | Frequency
QRI | Bad note
QSD | Bad sending other stations
QRK | Signal strength / Readability
QSL | Verification card
QSO | Radio contact
QSY | Change of frequency
QTH | Location
QRT | Close down
QRX | Stand by
QSB | Fading
QRM | Interference from other stations
QRN | Interference from atmospherics
QSP | Relay message electrical apparatus
QRO | High power
QRP | Low power

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