From Wikipedia.
Selected Q codes were soon adopted by amateur radio operators. In December 1915, the American Radio Relay League began publication of a magazine titled QST, named after the Q code for “General call to all stations”. In amateur radio, the Q codes were originally used in Morse code transmissions to shorten lengthy phrases and were followed by a Morse code question mark (··— —··) if the phrase was a question.
Q codes are commonly used in voice communications as shorthand nouns, verbs, and adjectives making up phrases. For example, an amateur radio operator will complain about QRM (man-made interference), or tell another operator that there is “QSB on the signal” (fading); “to QSY” is to change your operating frequency, or to break in on a conversation QSK is often used even on VHF and UHF frequencies. (See also Informal usage, below.) Q
Q-Code | Description |
---|---|
QRK | The readability of your signals (or those of …) is … (1 to 5). |
QRK? | What is the readability of my signals (or those of …)? |
QRM | I have interference. |
QRM? | Do you have interference? |
QRN | I am troubled by static. |
QRN? | Are you troubled by static? |
QRO | Increase power. |
QRO? | Shall I increase power? |
QRP | Decrease power. |
QRP? | Shall I decrease power? |
QRS | Send more slowly (… wpm) |
QRS? | Shall I send more slowly? |
QRT | I am suspending operation. /shutting off the radio |
QRT? | Shall I cease or suspend operation?/ shutoff the radio |
QRV | I am ready. |
QRV? | Are you ready? |
QRX | Please standby / I will call you again at … (hours) on … kHz (or MHz) |
QRX? | Shall I standby / When will you call me again? |
QRZ | You are being called by … on … kHz (or MHz) |
QRZ? | Who is calling me? |
QSB | Your signals are fading. |
QSB? | Are my signals fading? |
QSL | I am acknowledging receipt. |
QSL? | Can you acknowledge receipt? |
QSO | I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …). |
QSO? | Can you communicate with … direct or by relay? |
QSY | Change to transmission on another frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)). |
QSY? | Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? |
QTH | My position is … latitude…longitude |
QTH? | What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? |