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Communication Aids

Q-Code Lookup

Look up the meaning of Q-codes and see how they are used as both statements and questions.

Tool

53 of 53 codes

QRA

My station name is ...

QRA? What is the name of your station?

QRB

The distance between our stations is ...

QRB? How far are you from my station?

QRD

I am bound for ... from ...

QRD? Where are you bound, and from where?

QRE

My estimated time of arrival at ... is ...

QRE? What is your estimated time of arrival?

QRF

I am returning to ...

QRF? Are you returning to ...?

QRG

Your exact frequency is ...

QRG? Will you tell me my exact frequency?

QRH

My frequency varies

QRH? Does my frequency vary?

QRI

The tone of your transmission is ... (1 good, 2 variable, 3 bad)

QRI? How is the tone of my transmission?

QRJ

Your signals are too weak for me to copy

QRJ? Are you receiving me badly?

QRK

The readability of your signals is ... (1 to 5)

QRK? What is the readability of my signals?

QRL

I am busy — this frequency is in use

QRL? Are you busy? Is this frequency in use?

QRM

I am being interfered with by other stations

QRM? Are you being interfered with?

QRN

I am troubled by static and natural noise

QRN? Are you troubled by static?

QRO

I will increase transmitter power

QRO? Shall I increase transmitter power?

QRP

I will decrease power — also means low-power operating

QRP? Shall I decrease transmitter power?

QRQ

I will send faster

QRQ? Shall I send faster?

QRRR

ARRL official distress call (United States only)

QRRR? Not used as a question

QRS

I will send more slowly

QRS? Shall I send more slowly?

QRT

I am stopping transmission and closing down

QRT? Shall I stop sending?

QRU

I have nothing for you

QRU? Have you anything for me?

QRV

I am ready

QRV? Are you ready?

QRW

Please tell ... that I am calling on ... kHz

QRW? Shall I tell ... that you are calling?

QRX

Please stand by — I will call you again at ...

QRX? When will you call me again?

QRY

Your turn is number ...

QRY? What is my turn in the queue?

QRZ

You are being called by ...

QRZ? Who is calling me?

QSA

The strength of your signals is ... (1 to 5)

QSA? What is the strength of my signals?

QSB

Your signals are fading

QSB? Are my signals fading?

QSD

Your keying is defective

QSD? Is my keying defective?

QSG

Send ... messages at a time

QSG? Shall I send ... messages at a time?

QSK

I can hear you between my signals — full break-in

QSK? Can you hear me between your signals?

QSL

I confirm receipt — also the paper confirmation card

QSL? Can you acknowledge receipt?

QSM

Repeat the last message you sent me

QSM? Shall I repeat the last message?

QSN

I heard you on ... kHz

QSN? Did you hear me on ... kHz?

QSO

I can communicate with ... direct — also a two-way contact

QSO? Can you communicate with ... direct?

QSP

I will relay your message to ...

QSP? Will you relay to ...?

QSR

Repeat your call — I did not copy it

QSR? Shall I repeat my call?

QSS

I will use the working frequency ...

QSS? What working frequency will you use?

QST

General call to all radio amateurs

QST? Not used as a question

QSU

Send or reply on this frequency

QSU? Shall I send or reply on this frequency?

QSV

Send a series of V characters for tuning

QSV? Shall I send a series of V's?

QSW

I will send on this frequency

QSW? Will you send on this frequency?

QSX

I am listening on ... kHz — the split-operation announcement

QSX? Will you listen on ... kHz?

QSY

Change to another frequency

QSY? Shall I change frequency?

QSZ

Send each word or group twice

QSZ? Shall I send each word more than once?

QTA

Cancel message number ...

QTA? Shall I cancel message number ...?

QTB

I do not agree with your word count

QTB? Do you agree with my word count?

QTC

I have ... messages for you

QTC? How many messages have you to send?

QTH

My location is ...

QTH? What is your location?

QTR

The correct time is ...

QTR? What is the correct time?

QTU

My station is open from ... to ...

QTU? What hours is your station open?

QTV

Stand guard for me on ... kHz

QTV? Shall I stand guard for you on ... kHz?

QTX

I will keep my station open for you until ...

QTX? Will you keep your station open for me?

QUM

Normal working may be resumed

QUM? May I resume normal working?

How it works

Q-codes are three-letter abbreviations originally established for maritime radio in 1909 and adopted by ITU. In the amateur (QRA–QUZ) range, each code can be a question (add '?') or a statement. Example: 'QTH?' = 'What is your location?'; 'QTH London' = 'My location is London.'

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How to use

Type any letters or words to filter the table.
Each entry shows the code, its meaning as a statement, and the same code used as a question.

Frequently asked questions

Are Q-codes still used on voice?

Yes — QTH, QRZ, QSY, QSL, QRM, and QSB are all common on phone as short jargon.

Where do I find the full list?

ITU-R M.1172 defines the complete Q-code series. This tool covers the QRA–QUM range that amateurs actually use.

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