Operating Reference
The shorthand of the airwaves — Q-codes, phonetics, signal reports, and CW prosigns, all on one page.
Common Q-Codes
- QRL
- Is this frequency in use? / It is in use.
- QRM
- Man-made interference
- QRN
- Natural noise / static
- QRO
- Increase power
- QRP
- Reduce power (or low-power operating, ≤5 W)
- QRT
- Stop sending / going off the air
- QRV
- I'm ready
- QRX
- Stand by / wait
- QRZ
- Who is calling me?
- QSB
- Your signal is fading
- QSL
- I acknowledge receipt / confirmation
- QSO
- A contact / conversation
- QSY
- Change frequency
- QTH
- My location
- QRG
- Your exact frequency is…
- QSK
- I can hear you between my signals (full break-in)
NATO Phonetic Alphabet
RST Signal Reports
R — Readability
- 1 — Unreadable
- 2 — Barely readable, occasional words
- 3 — Readable with difficulty
- 4 — Readable with little difficulty
- 5 — Perfectly readable
S — Strength
- 1 — Faint, barely perceptible
- 3 — Weak
- 5 — Fairly good
- 7 — Moderately strong
- 9 — Extremely strong
T — Tone (CW)
- 1 — Extremely rough
- 5 — Slightly modulated
- 9 — Pure DC, perfect tone (CW only)
e.g. “599” = perfectly readable, extremely strong, perfect tone.
CW Prosigns & Abbreviations
- CQ
- Calling any station
- DE
- From (this is)
- K
- Go ahead, any station
- KN
- Go ahead, named station only
- AR
- End of message (+)
- SK
- End of contact
- BK
- Break — quick back-and-forth
- 73
- Best regards
- 88
- Love and kisses
- ES
- And
- FB
- Fine business (good)
- OM / YL / XYL
- Old man / young lady / wife
- TU
- Thank you
- WX
- Weather
- HI
- Laughter
Frequently asked questions
What are Q-codes in ham radio?
Q-codes are three-letter shorthand starting with Q — QTH is your location, QSL means “I confirm,” QRZ is “who is calling me?”, QRM is interference, QSB is fading. They began in commercial radiotelegraphy and let operators communicate across any language barrier.
What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
It’s the standard way to spell letters out loud so they’re unmistakable over a noisy channel — Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and so on. Hams use it constantly to pass callsigns and signal reports clearly.
What does a 59 or 599 signal report mean?
Signal reports use the RST system: Readability (1–5), Strength (1–9), and, for CW, Tone (1–9). A “59” means perfectly readable and very strong; “599” adds a perfect tone for Morse contacts.
What does QSL mean?
“QSL” means “I acknowledge / I confirm.” On the air it confirms you received something; afterward, a “QSL card” is the postcard hams exchange to confirm a contact for awards.
What does 73 mean in ham radio?
“73” means “best regards” — the standard friendly sign-off between operators. You’ll also hear “88,” which means “love and kisses,” usually between family or close friends.