Q-codes, sometimes also called Q-signals, are a collection of standardized three character codes that all start with the letter Q and were developed to help improve morse code communication in radio telegraphy.
Q-codes were first introduced around 1909 by the British government for use in their ships and stations as a means to improve communication between maritime and ship-to-shore radio operators. Because each individual Q-code had a specific meaning it was possible to communicate with international stations regardless of language thus helping to improve the speed and reliability of ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore radio telegraphy. Q-codes rapidly became an accepted standard and by 1912 were recognized internationally as evidenced by their inclusion in the 1912 International Radiotelegraph Convention. The US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation, in its 1913 rules on Radio Call Signs lists the entire Q range as being reserved for code abbreviations. Over the years many of the code meanings have changed their original meanings to adapt to advances in radio technology.
Q-codes can be brokendown by the service that uses them:
- QAA-QNZ is used by Aviation.
- QNA-QNZ is also used by the amateur radio service in North America for the ARRL NTS nets and the ARRL has a list of specific codes for this purpose.
- QOA-QQZ is used by the Maritime Mobile Service.
- QRA-QUZ is used by the ITU-R.
Of specific interest to Amateur Radio operators are the ITU-R signals and the QN signals that were developed by the ARRL.
The following are the Q-codes as set by the ITU-R and commonly used by Amateur Radio Operators world wide:
| Code | Question | Answer or statement |
| QRA | What is the name (or call sign) of your station? | The name (or call sign) of my station is ____ |
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ____)? | Your exact frequency (or that of ____ ) is ____ kHz (or MHz). |
| 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 | How many voice contacts do you want to make? | I want to make ____ voice contacts. |
| QRK | What is the readability of my signals (or those of ____)? | The readability of your signals (or those of ____) is ____ (1 to 5). |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy (in contact with ____ ). Please do not interfere. |
| QRM | Do you have interference? | I have interference. |
| 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 (____ wpm). |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly (____ wpm). |
| QRT | Shall I cease or suspend operation? / shutoff the radio? | I am suspending operation / shutting off the radio. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have ____ messages for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRW | Shall I inform ____ that you are calling (him) on ____ kHz (or MHz)? | Please inform ____ that I am calling (him) on ____ kHz (or MHz). |
| QRX | Shall I standby? / When will you call me again? | Please standby / I will call you again at ____ (hours) on ____ kHz (or MHz) |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by ____ on ____ kHz (or MHz) |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (or those of ____ )? | The strength of your signals (or those of ____) is ____ (1 to 5). |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? | Your keying is defective. |
| QSG | Shall I send ____ telegrams (messages) at a time? | Send ____ telegrams (messages) at a time. |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals? | I can hear you between my signals. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I will acknowledge receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram (message) which I sent you, or some previous telegram (message)? | Repeat the last telegram (message) which you sent me (or telegram(s) / message(s) numbers(s) ____ ). |
| QSN | Did you hear me (or ____ (call sign)) on ____ kHz (or MHz)? | I did hear you (or ____ (call sign)) on ____ kHz (or MHz). |
| QSO | Can you communicate with ____ direct or by relay? | I can communicate with ____ direct (or by relay through ____ ). |
| QSP | Will you relay a message to ____ ? | I will relay a message to ____ . |
| QSR | Do you want me to repeat my call? | Please repeat your call; I did not hear you. |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use the working frequency ____ kHz (or MHz). |
| QST | Should I repeat the prior message to all amateurs I contact? | Here follows a broadcast message to all amateurs. |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on ____ kHz (or MHz))? | Send or reply on this frequency (or on ____ kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSW | Will you send on this frequency (or on ____ kHz (or MHz))? | I am going to send on this frequency (or on ____ kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSX | Will you listen to ____ (call sign(s) on ____ kHz (or MHz))? | I am listening to ____ (call sign(s) on ____ kHz (or MHz)) |
| QSY | Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? | Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ____ kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice (or ____ times). |
| QTA | Shall I cancel telegram (message) number ____ as if it had not been sent? | Cancel telegram (message) number ____ as if it had not been sent. |
| QTC | How many telegrams (messages) have you to send? | I have ____ telegrams (messages) for you (or for ____ ). |
| QTH | What is your position in latitude and longitude? (or according to any other indication) | My position is ____ latitude ____ longitude. |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is ____ hours UTC. |
| QTU | At what times are you operating? | I am operating from ____ to ____ hours. |
| QTX | Will you keep your station open for further communication with me until further notice (or until ____ hours)? | I will keep my station open for further communication with you until further notice (or until ____ hours). |
| QUA | Have you news of ____ (call sign)? | Here is news of ____ (call sign). |
| QUC | What is the number (or other indication) of the last message you received from me (or from ____ (call sign))? | The number (or other indication) of the last message I received from you (or from ____ (call sign)) is ____. |
| QUD | Have you received the urgency signal sent by ____ (call sign of mobile station)? | I have received the urgency signal sent by ____ (call sign of mobile station) at ____ hours. |
| QUE | Can you speak in ____ (language) – with interpreter if necessary – if so, on what frequencies? | I can speak in ____ (language) on ____ kHz (or MHz). |
| QUF | Have you received the distress signal sent by ____ (call sign of mobile station)? | I have received the distress signal sent by ____ (call sign of mobile station) at ____ hours. |
Amateur Radio net operations in North America use a set of QN codes that were developed by the ARRL and originally introduced in 1939. These codes are:
| QN Signal | Meaning/Question |
|---|---|
| QNA* | This is a request from the Net Control Station for all respondents to answer in a prearranged sequence, as a congestion avoidance measure. |
| QNB* | This is a request from the Net Control Station for one station to relay traffic between 2 other stations who cannot read each other. |
| QNC | An announcement alerting all stations on the Net to standby for an “All Stations” message, that is, a message of interest to all stations on the Net. |
| QND* | An announcement by the Net Control Station, that the Net is currently operating “Directed”, that is, the Net Control Station is controlling all traffic. Often done during times of high Net usage. c.f. QNF. |
| QNE* | A broadcast announcement to all stations by the Net Control Station, asking all stations on the Net to stop transmitting and stand by. |
| QNF | An announcement that the net is no longer “Directed”, but is now free. c.f. QND. |
| QNG | A request for a named station to assume the role of Net Control Station. |
| QNH | A notice to a named station that the frequency that the station is transmitting on is higher than the Net’s nominal frequency. c.f. QNL. |
| QNI | When used by the Net Control Station, this is a request for all stations to announce themselves. When used by a regular Net member, it simply is an announcement that they have joined. |
| QNJ | When used by itself, this asks the Net if the calling station can be heard. When used in conjunction with a station’s call sign, it is asking if the Net can read that particular station. |
| QNK* | A request from the Net Control Station to send a message from a third party to a specific station. |
| QNL | A notice to a named station that the frequency that the station is transmitting on is lower than the Net’s nominal frequency. c.f. QNH. |
| QNM* | A notice from the Net Control Station to a particular station or stations, informing them that they are causing interference on the Net, and asking them to stop transmitting. |
| QNN | As a question, asks whom the Net Control Station is. As a declarative, it announces what station is the active Net Control Station. |
| QNO | An announcement by a particular station that they are signing off from the Net. |
| QNP | By itself, announces that the sending station was unable to understand the last station. When used with a station’s call sign, announces that the sending station was unable to copy that named station. |
| QNQ* | A complex request from the Net Control Station asking a specific station to change frequency to a specified one, then to wait for a named station on that frequency to finish whatever traffic it is currently engaged in, and then to send that station traffic on behalf of yet a third named station. c.f. QNV. |
| QNR | Requesting that any station please respond to a specific named station and receive traffic from them. |
| QNS* | As a question, asks for a listing of all stations currently on the net. As a declarative, announces what stations are on the Net, followed by the list thereof. |
| QNT | Request by a station to leave the net for a specified number of minutes. |
| QNU* | An announcement by the Net Control Station to a specific station, informing them that there is Net traffic for them, and to stand by to copy it. |
| QNV* | A complex request from the Net Control Station asking a specific station to make contact on the current frequency with a named station, and upon successful contact, to move to another specified frequency, and then to send that station traffic on behalf of yet a third named station. c.f. QNQ. |
| QNW | A question from a station inquiring on how to route traffic for a specific named station. |
| QNX | As a question, a request from a station to leave the net. The Net Control Station will then reply with the same code, informing them that they may leave. |
| QNY* | A request by the Net Control Station for a station to change to another specified frequency and exchange all pending traffic with another named station. |
| QNZ | A request from one station to a second, asking that station to “Zero Beat” with the first station: a method of ensuring 2 stations are on the same frequency by transmitting simultaneously and fine-tuning the frequency until no acoustic beat is heard. |
