Using the lookup
Type one or more Q-codes. A code on its own reads as the answer or statement, and a code with a question mark after it, like QTH?, reads as the question. To find a code, type a word with no code in it, such as frequency or power, and the codes that mention it are listed.
ARRL LIST
The Q-codes hams use most
| Code | Question (with ?) | Answer or statement |
|---|---|---|
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of …)? | Your exact frequency (or that of …) is …kHz. |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy (or I am busy with …). |
| QRM | Is my transmission being interfered with? | Your transmission is being interfered with … (1. Nil; 2. Slightly; 3. Moderately; 4. Severely; 5. Extremely.) |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static … (1 to 5 as under QRM.) |
| 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 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 (on …kHz). |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by … (on …kHz). |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission? | I can hear you between signals; break in on my transmission. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt (of a message or transmission)? | I am acknowledging receipt. |
| QSO | Can you communicate with … direct or by relay? | I can communicate with … direct (or relay through …). |
| QSP | Will you relay to …? | I will relay to … |
| QST | – | General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs and ARRL members. |
| QSX | Will you listen to … on …kHz? | I am listening to … on …kHz. |
| QSY | Shall I change to transmission on another frequency (or on …kHz)? | Change to transmission on another frequency (or on …kHz). |
| QTC | How many messages have you to send? | I have …messages for you (or for …). |
| QTH | What is your location? | My location is … |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The time is … |
The Q-codes hams use moststringmash.com/q-codes
How Q-codes work
Each Q-code is three letters starting with Q, and each is both a question and its answer. Sent with a question mark, QRS asks shall I send more slowly? Sent without one, it tells the other station to send more slowly. That made them quick to send in Morse, and they work across languages, since the meaning doesn't depend on the words.
The codes are set by the ITU, the International Telecommunication Union, in Recommendation M.1172. The ones here are its QRA to QUZ series. The QO codes, for the maritime mobile service, are left out. ARRL, the US amateur radio association, publishes a shorter sheet of the codes used most on the air, and gives some of them plainer wording, so QTH, a position in latitude and longitude in the ITU text, is simply my location is.
ITU-R M.1172
The rest of the ITU Q-codes
| Code | Question (with ?) | Answer or statement |
|---|---|---|
| QRA | What is the name of your vessel (or station)? | The name of my vessel (or station) is … |
| QRB | How far approximately are you from my station? | The approximate distance between our stations is … nautical miles (or kilometres). |
| QRC | By what private enterprise (or state administration) are the accounts for charges for your station settled? | The accounts for charges of my station are settled by the private enterprise … (or state administration). |
| QRD | Where are you bound for and where are you from? | I am bound for … from … |
| QRE | What is your estimated time of arrival at … (or over …) (place)? | My estimated time of arrival at … (or over …) (place) is … hours. |
| QRF | Are you returning to … (place)? | I am returning to … (place). or Return to … (place). |
| 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 radiotelephone calls have you to book? | I have … radiotelephone calls to book. |
| QRK | What is the intelligibility of my signals (or those of … (name and/or call sign))? | The intelligibility of your signals (or those of … (name and/or call sign)) is … 1. bad 2. poor 3. fair 4. good 5. excellent. |
| QRR | Are you ready for automatic operation? | I am ready for automatic operation. Send at … words per minute. |
| QRW | Shall I inform … that you are calling him on … kHz (or MHz)? | Please inform … that I am calling him on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QRY | What is my turn? (Relates to communication.) | Your turn is Number … (or according to any other indication). (Relates to communication.) |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (or those of … (name and/or call sign))? | The strength of your signals (or those of … (name and/or call sign)) is … 1. scarcely perceptible 2. weak 3. fairly good 4. good 5. very good. |
| QSC | Are you a low traffic ship station? | I am a low traffic ship station. |
| QSD | Are my signals mutilated? | Your signals are mutilated. |
| QSE | What is the estimated drift of the survival craft? | The estimated drift of the survival craft is … (figures and units). |
| QSF | Have you effected rescue? | I have effected rescue and am proceeding to … base (with … persons injured requiring ambulance). |
| QSG | Shall I send … telegrams at a time? | Send … telegrams at a time. |
| QSH | Are you able to home with your direction-finding equipment? | I am able to home with my direction-finding equipment (on … (name and/or call sign)). |
| QSI | – | I have been unable to break in on your transmission. or Will you inform … (name and/or call sign) that I have been unable to break in on his transmission (on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSJ | What is the charge to be collected to … including your internal charge? | The charge to be collected to … including my internal charge is … francs. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram which I sent you (or some previous telegram)? | Repeat the last telegram which you sent me (or telegram(s) number(s) …). |
| QSN | Did you hear me (or … (name and/or call sign)) on … kHz (or MHz)? | I did hear you (or … (name and/or call sign)) on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QSQ | Have you a doctor on board (or is … (name of person) on board)? | I have a doctor on board (or … (name of person) is on board). |
| QSR | Shall I repeat the call on the calling frequency? | Repeat your call on the calling frequency; did not hear you (or have interference). |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use the working frequency … kHz (or MHz) (in the high frequency bands normally only the last three figures of the frequency need be given). |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class …)? | Send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class …). |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of Vs (or signs) for adjustment on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? | Send a series of Vs (or signs) for adjustment on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSW | Will you send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class …)? | I am going to send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class …). |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice (or … times). |
| QTA | Shall I cancel telegram (or message) number …? | Cancel telegram (or message) number … |
| QTB | Do you agree with my counting of words? | I do not agree with your counting of words; I will repeat the first letter or digit of each word or group. |
| QTD | What has the rescue vessel or rescue aircraft recovered? | … (identification) has recovered … 1. … (number) survivors 2. wreckage 3. … (number) bodies. |
| QTE | What is my TRUE bearing from you? or What is my TRUE bearing from … (name and/or call sign)? or What is the TRUE bearing of … (name and/or call sign) from … (name and/or call sign)? | Your TRUE bearing from me is … degrees at … hours. or Your TRUE bearing from … (name and/or call sign) was … degrees at … hours. or The TRUE bearing of … (name and/or call sign) from … (name and/or call sign) was … degrees at … hours. |
| QTF | Will you give me my position according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which you control? | Your position according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which I control was … latitude, … longitude (or other indication of position), class … at … hours. |
| QTG | Will you send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by your call sign (or name) (repeated … times) on … kHz (or MHz)? or Will you request … (name and/or call sign) to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by his call sign (and/or name) (repeated … times) on … kHz (or MHz)? | I am going to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by my call sign (or name) (repeated … times) on … kHz (or MHz). or I have requested … (name and/or call sign) to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by his call sign (and/or name) (repeated … times) on … kHz (or MHz). |
| QTI | What is your TRUE course? | My TRUE course is … degrees. |
| QTJ | What is your speed? (Requests the speed of a ship or aircraft through the water or air respectively.) | My speed is … knots (or … kilometres per hour or … statute miles per hour). (Indicates the speed of a ship or aircraft through the water or air respectively.) |
| QTK | What is the speed of your aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth? | The speed of my aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth is … knots (or … kilometres per hour or … statute miles per hour). |
| QTL | What is your TRUE heading? | My TRUE heading is … degrees. |
| QTM | What is your MAGNETIC heading? | My MAGNETIC heading is … degrees. |
| QTN | At what time did you depart from … (place)? | I departed from … (place) at … hours. |
| QTO | Have you left dock (or port)? or Are you airborne? | I have left dock (or port). or I am airborne. |
| QTP | Are you going to enter dock (or port)? or Are you going to alight (or land)? | I am going to enter dock (or port). or I am going to alight (or land). |
| QTQ | Can you communicate with my station by means of the International Code of Signals (INTERCO)? | I am going to communicate with your station by means of the International Code of Signals (INTERCO). |
| QTS | Will you send your call sign (and/or name) for … seconds? | I will send my call sign (and/or name) for … seconds. |
| QTT | – | The identification signal which follows is superimposed on another transmission. |
| QTU | What are the hours during which your station is open? | My station is open from … to … hours. |
| QTV | Shall I stand guard for you on the frequency of … kHz (or MHz) (from … to … hours)? | Stand guard for me on the frequency of … kHz (or MHz) (from … to … hours). |
| QTW | What is the condition of survivors? | Survivors are in … condition and urgently need … |
| 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). |
| QTY | Are you proceeding to the position of incident and if so when do you expect to arrive? | I am proceeding to the position of incident and expect to arrive at … hours (on … (date)). |
| QTZ | Are you continuing the search? | I am continuing the search for … (aircraft, ship, survival craft, survivors or wreckage). |
| QUA | Have you news of … (name and/or call sign)? | Here is news of … (name and/or call sign). |
| QUB | Can you give me in the following order information concerning: the direction in degrees TRUE and speed of the surface wind; visibility; present weather; and amount, type and height of base of cloud above surface elevation at … (place of observation)? | Here is the information requested: … (The units used for speed and distances should be indicated.) |
| QUC | What is the number (or other indication) of the last message you received from me (or from … (name and/or call sign))? | The number (or other indication) of the last message I received from you (or from … (name and/or call sign)) is … |
| QUD | Have you received the urgency signal sent by … (name and/or call sign)? | I have received the urgency signal sent by … (name and/or call sign) 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 … (name and/or call sign)? | I have received the distress signal sent by … (name and/or call sign) at … hours. |
| QUH | Will you give me the present barometric pressure at sea level? | The present barometric pressure at sea level is … (units). |
| QUM | May I resume normal working? | Normal working may be resumed. |
| QUN | 1. When directed to all stations: Will vessels in my immediate vicinity … or (in the vicinity of … latitude, … longitude) or (in the vicinity of …) please indicate their position, TRUE course and speed? 2. When directed to a single station: Please indicate your position, TRUE course and speed. | My position, TRUE course and speed are … |
| QUO | Shall I search for … 1. aircraft 2. ship 3. survival craft in the vicinity of … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication)? | Please search for … 1. aircraft 2. ship 3. survival craft in the vicinity of … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication). |
| QUP | Will you indicate your position by … 1. searchlight 2. black smoke trail 3. pyrotechnic lights? | My position is indicated by … 1. searchlight 2. black smoke trail 3. pyrotechnic lights. |
| QUR | Have survivors … 1. received survival equipment 2. been picked up by rescue vessel 3. been reached by ground rescue party? | Survivors … 1. are in possession of survival equipment dropped by … 2. have been picked up by rescue vessel 3. have been reached by ground rescue party. |
| QUS | Have you sighted survivors or wreckage? If so, in what position? | Have sighted … 1. survivors in water 2. survivors on rafts 3. wreckage in position … latitude, … longitude (or according to any other indication). |
| QUT | Is position of incident marked? | Position of incident is marked by … 1. flame or smoke float 2. sea marker 3. sea marker dye 4. … (specify other marking). |
| QUU | Shall I home ship or aircraft to my position? | Home ship or aircraft … (name and/or call sign) … 1. to your position by sending your call sign and long dashes on … kHz (or MHz) 2. by sending on … kHz (or MHz) TRUE track to reach you. |
| QUW | Are you in the search area designated as … (designator or latitude and longitude)? | I am in the … (designation) search area. |
| QUX | Do you have any navigational warnings or gale warnings in force? | I have the following navigational warning(s) or gale warning(s) in force: … |
| QUY | Is position of survival craft marked? | Position of survival craft was marked at … hours by … 1. flame or smoke float 2. sea marker 3. sea marker dye 4. … (specify other marking). |
| QUZ | May I resume restricted working? | Distress phase still in force; restricted working may be resumed. |
The rest of the ITU Q-codesstringmash.com/q-codes
Q-codes on the air today
Hams use Q-codes in speech as well as in Morse, often as plain words. QTH means where you are, QSL means confirmed, and QRZ asks who is calling. QST isn't an ITU code at all. ARRL uses it for a general call to all amateurs.
Questions
What does QSL mean?
I am acknowledging receipt. As a question, QSL? asks whether the other station can confirm it got the message.
What does QTH mean?
My location is. In the ITU text, it's a position given in latitude and longitude, or any other way.
What does QRZ mean?
QRZ? asks who is calling me. The answer form says who is calling, and on what frequency.
Why a question mark?
Every Q-code has a question form and an answer form. The question mark tells the other station which one is meant.
Sources
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