Q-Code
Meaning (Question/Answer)
Usage Context
QSO
Can you communicate with ___? / I can communicate with ___
Used to establish contact or confirm a contact
QTH
What is your location? / My location is ___
Used to ask or give station location
QRZ
Who is calling me?
When hearing a call but unsure who it is
QSL
Can you acknowledge receipt? / I acknowledge receipt
Used to confirm contact or receipt
QSY
Shall I change frequency? / Change frequency to ___
Requesting or confirming a frequency change
QRM
Is my transmission being interfered with? / Your transmission is...
Report or inquire about interference (man-made)
QRN
Are you troubled by static? / I am troubled by static
Inquire/report atmospheric or static noise
QRP
Shall I decrease power? / I am transmitting at low power
Used to identify low power operation
QRX
When will you call again? / I will call again at ___
"Stand by" or "wait"
QRO
Shall I increase power? / I am transmitting at high power
Opposite of QRP
QRT
Shall I stop sending? / I am stopping transmission
Ending or suspending operation
QRV
Are you ready? / I am ready
Confirming operational readiness
QSK
Can you hear me between signals? / I can hear you between signals
Full break-in CW operation
QRK
What is my signal intelligibility? / Your signal is ___
For reporting readability (1–5 scale)
QSB
Is my signal fading? / Your signal is fading
Inquire about or report signal fading
QRG
What is my exact frequency? / Your exact frequency is ___
Asking for frequency precision
QTR
What is the correct time? / The correct time is ___
Time synchronization
Code
Meaning
Usage Context
1
Wait a minute
Historic telegraphy code
22
Wire test
Obsolete telegraph usage
30
End of message
Sometimes still used as “30” in CW
33
Love sealed with friendship
Used among YL (female) operators
44
Respect for Earth/Green radio ops
Used in environmental or eco-radio contacts
55
Best success
Rare, sometimes seen in DX operations
66
Best regards
Obsolete; superseded by 73
73
Best regards
Universally used to end a QSO politely
75
Goodbye
Historical, informal
77
Good night and best wishes
Obsolete
88
Love and kisses
Friendly or romantic QSOs (not pluralized)
99
Go to hell! (joking/sarcastic)
Very informal, not commonly used
100
Message received
Occasionally seen in digital comms
Code
Message Text
Usage
1
Everyone safe here. Please don’t worry.
Emergency communications
4
Everything is OK.
Routine message traffic
5
I am moving to a new location. Will contact you soon.
Routine
12
Emergency conditions here are improving.
Health/welfare
25
Please contact me as soon as possible.
Priority/emergency
(There are 60 standard numbered ARRL messages total, used during traffic nets.)
Abbreviation
Meaning
Usage Context
73
Best regards
Sign-off; do not pluralize
88
Love and kisses
Friendly/personal QSOs
de
From (e.g., "W1ABC de K7XYZ")
Used in CW and voice ID
OM
Old Man
Male ham (term of respect)
YL
Young Lady
Female ham operator
XYL
Wife (Ex-Young Lady)
Refers to wife of a ham operator
SK
Silent Key / End of Contact
(1) Operator deceased, (2) Signing off CW
TU
Thank You
CW, digital and voice comms
CQ
Calling any station
General call for contact
CQ DX
Calling long-distance stations
Seeking international/distant contacts
AGN
Again
Repeat, e.g., "PSE AGN"
BK
Break
Used to pause/interrupt transmission
ES
And
Morse shorthand for “and”
GM
Good morning
Greeting
GA
Good afternoon
Greeting
GE
Good evening
Greeting
GN
Good night
Parting greeting
GL
Good luck
Often said during contest/DX
GB
Goodbye
Parting signal
PSE
Please
Used in requests
R
Roger / Received
Acknowledgment
RRR
Received, Received, Received
Full confirmation (esp. in digital modes)
RST
Readability-Strength-Tone
Signal report, usually 599
VY
Very
As in "VY 73"
WX
Weather
Weather report
HR
Here
As in “WX HR is sunny”
(Not officially part of ham radio but sometimes borrowed from CB or emergency services.)
10-Code
Meaning
Usage
10-1
Poor reception
Obsolete in ham, CB use
10-4
Acknowledged / OK
Occasionally heard informally
10-7
Out of service
Some use for "signing off"
10-20
Location
Like QTH
QSO:
Meaning: Contact (e.g., "I had a QSO with a station in Japan.")
Usage: Commonly used to refer to a radio contact or conversation.
QTH:
Meaning: What is your location? My location is ___.
Usage: Frequently used to ask or state a location.
QRZ:
Meaning: Who is calling me? Who is calling?
Usage: Commonly used to identify who is trying to establish contact.
QSL:
Meaning: Can you acknowledge receipt? I acknowledge receipt.
Usage: Used to confirm that a message or contact has been received.
QSY:
Meaning: Shall I change frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ___ kHz (or MHz)).
Usage: Commonly used to request or indicate a change in operating frequency.
QRM:
Meaning: Is my transmission being interfered with? Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1-Nil, 2-Slightly, 3-Moderately, 4-Severely, 5-Extremely).
Usage: Used to report or inquire about interference.
QRN:
Meaning: Are you troubled by static? I am troubled by static.
Usage: Used to report or inquire about static noise.
QRP:
Meaning: Shall I decrease transmitter power? Decrease transmitter power.
Usage: Commonly used to request or indicate a reduction in power.
QRX:
Meaning: Shall I wait? Wait.
Usage: Used to request or indicate a pause in communication.
QRO:
Meaning: Shall I increase transmitter power? Increase transmitter power.
Usage: Used to request or indicate an increase in power.
QRT:
Meaning: Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.
Usage: Used to request or indicate the end of transmission.
QSL Card:
Meaning: A postcard used to confirm a contact.
Usage: Commonly used to exchange confirmation of a contact.
QRV:
Meaning: Are you ready to receive? I am ready to receive.
Usage: Used to confirm readiness to receive a message.
QSK:
Meaning: Can you hear me between your signals and copy? I can hear you between my signals.
Usage: Used in CW (Morse code) to indicate that the operator can hear between signals.
QSY:
Meaning: Shall I change frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ___ kHz (or MHz)).
Usage: Commonly used to request or indicate a change in operating frequency.
QTH:
Meaning: What is your location? My location is ___.
Usage: Frequently used to ask or state a location.
QSY:
Meaning: Shall I change frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ___ kHz (or MHz)).
Usage: Commonly used to request or indicate a change in operating frequency.
QRT:
Meaning: Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.
Usage: Used to request or indicate the end of transmission.
QSL:
Meaning: Can you acknowledge receipt? I acknowledge receipt.
Usage: Used to confirm that a message or contact has been received.
QRM:
Meaning: Is my transmission being interfered with? Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1-Nil, 2-Slightly, 3-Moderately, 4-Severely, 5-Extremely).
Usage: Used to report or inquire about interference.
73:
Meaning: Best regards.
Usage: Commonly used to politely conclude a conversation.
88:
Meaning: Love and kisses.
Usage: Used to convey affection, often in more personal conversations.
de:
Meaning: From (e.g., "K6XYZ de W1ABC
Q codes are a standardized set of three-letter abbreviations that begin with the letter Q, originally designed for radiotelegraph communication but now widely used in amateur radio and other radio services. In amateur radio, Q codes are used extensively and are often necessary to obtain a ham radio license in many countries.
In ham radio, Q codes are used both in Morse code (CW) and voice communications. They serve as shorthand for common phrases and can be used to convey information quickly and efficiently.
 For example, QTH is commonly used to ask "What is your location?" or to state "My location is ____".
While many Q codes are still in use, some have fallen out of common usage.
 The most commonly used Q codes in ham radio include QSO (contact), QRT (shut down the station), QRM (interference), QRN (noise), QRP (low power), QRX (stand by), and QSY (change frequency).
Similar to Q codes, other codes used in ham radio include 10-codes, which are more commonly used in public safety communications, and Z codes, which are used by military radio operators.
 However, Q codes are more widely recognized and used across different radio services and languages.
In informal ham language, some Q codes have slightly diverted from their original meaning and are used just as a replacement for specific words.
 For example, QTH is sometimes used as a noun to refer to a location, even though technically it should be followed by a question mark to form a question.
Despite the availability of plain speech, Q codes remain useful, particularly in Morse code operations where brevity is crucial.
 However, their use in voice communications can sometimes be less efficient and may lead to misunderstandings, especially in weak signal conditions.
Q codes are still relevant and useful in ham radio, serving as a shorthand for quick and efficient communication.
Ham radio Q codes are frequently used to facilitate quick and efficient communication among amateur radio operators. Here are some of the most commonly used Q codes, particularly those related to frequency and transmission:
QRG: What’s my exact frequency? Your exact frequency is ___ kilohertz (kHz). This code is often used to confirm or request the precise frequency being used.
QSY: Shall I change frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ___ kHz (or MHz)). This code is used to request or indicate a change in the operating frequency.
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)). This code is used to confirm or request the continuation of transmission on a specific frequency.
QRM: Is my transmission being interfered with? Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1-Nil, 2-Slightly, 3-Moderately, 4-Severely, or 5-Extremely). This code is used to report or inquire about interference.
These Q codes are essential for maintaining clear and concise communication, especially when dealing with frequency adjustments and interference issues.