Q-signals reference
Common Q-codes used in amateur radio. QTH, QSL, QRM, QRZ, and more explained.
Q-code shorthand used in amateur radio and maritime communications.
Common Q-signals in amateur radio
Q-signals originated in maritime radiotelegraphy as shorthand codes. Amateur radio adopted the most useful ones. Each Q-signal can be a question (with a question mark) or a statement.
Most frequently used
| Q-signal | As a question | As a statement |
|---|---|---|
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by... |
| QTH | What is your location? | My location is... |
| QSL | Can you confirm receipt? | I confirm receipt |
| QSY | Shall I change frequency? | Change frequency to... |
| QRM | Are you being interfered with? | I am being interfered with |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static |
| QSB | Is my signal fading? | Your signal is fading |
| QRP | Shall I decrease power? | Decrease power / low power operation |
| QRO | Shall I increase power? | Increase power / high power operation |
| QRT | Shall I stop transmitting? | I am stopping transmission |
| QRX | When will you call again? | I will call again at... |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready |
Less common but useful
| Q-signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| QSO | A radio contact (conversation) |
| QST | General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs (the ARRL journal takes its name from it) |
| QRA | What is the name of your station? / My station name is... |
| QRG | What is my exact frequency? / Your frequency is... |
| QRI | How is my tone? / Your tone is... |
| QRK | How readable is my signal? / Your signal readability is... |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? / Send more slowly |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? / Send faster |
| QRU | Do you have anything for me? / I have nothing for you |
| QSA | What is my signal strength? / Your signal strength is... |
| QTR | What is the correct time? / The time is... |
The unofficial one
| Q-signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| QLF | Are you sending with your left foot? |
QLF is not in any official list and never was. It's traditional CW humor for rough sending, and operators have been needling each other with it for generations. If someone sends it to you, mind your spacing. Some hams answer "QLF? I was!"
Usage in practice
Most hams use only a handful of Q-signals in daily operating:
- "What's your QTH?" = Where are you located?
- "QRZ?" = Who's calling? (used by the station in charge of a frequency)
- "I'll QSY to 14.250" = I'll move to 14.250 MHz
- "QRM on this frequency" = There's interference here
- "Running QRP today" = Operating low power
- "QRT for dinner" = Signing off to eat
- "QSL via bureau" = Confirmation card sent via the QSL bureau system
Q-signals are used on both CW and voice, though on voice some operators consider them lazy shorthand when plain language would be clearer.