Q Codes
Along with the R-S-T systems, radio operators use a set of codes called the Q-Codes. The origin of the Q codes date back to the early 1900s when they were used to simplify radio telegraph communication so that a three letter code could be sent instead of a much longer message. They have proved to be so useful that they are now widely used by all radio operators. They are especially useful where an operator is working a station (talking to another operator) that may have limited capacity to spend time on a longer conversation (QSO) or the other station may speak a different language and simple codes will make the the interaction a lot easier.
For example: When an English-speaking operator receives QTH? they know that the other station is asking, “What is your location?”
A list of the current codes most widely used by radio operators are shown below:
| Q Code | Question |
|---|---|
| QRA | What is the name of your station? |
| QRB | How far (approximately) are you from my station? |
| QRG | What is my exact frequency? |
| QRK | What is the intelligibility of my signals? |
| QRL | Are you busy? |
| QRM | Do you have nay interference? |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static noise? |
| QRO | Shall I increase the transmit power? |
| QRP | Shall I decrease the transmit power? |
| QRT | Shall I stop transmitting? |
| QRV | Are you ready? |
| QRX | When will you call me again? |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? |
| QSA | What is my signal strength? |
| QSB | Does my signal fade? |
| QSK | Can you hear me? |
| QSL | Can you receive me? |
| QSO | Can you communicate with me? |
| QSP | Will you transmit a message to? |
| QSY | Shall we change frequency? |
| QTH | What is your location? |
| QTR | What time is it? |