Q-Codes Show Notes

HISTORY The Q code is a standardized collection of three-letter codes all of which start with the letter "Q". It is a brevity code initially developed for commercial radiotelegraph communication and later adopted by other radio services, especially amateur radio. The original Q codes were created, circa 1909, by the British government as a "list of abbreviations... prepared for the use of British ships and coast stations licensed by the Postmaster General". The Q codes facilitated communication between maritime radio operators speaking different languages, so they were soon adopted internationally. A total of forty-five Q codes appeared in the "List of Abbreviations to be used in Radio Communications", which was included in the Service Regulations affixed to the Third International Radiotelegraph Convention in London (The Convention was signed on July 5, 1912, and became effective July 1, 1913.) To distinguish the use of "Q" codes transmitted as questions from those transmitted as statements, operators used the Morse question mark code (dit dit dah dah dit dit) as a prefix to the "Q" code. Although Q codes were created when radio used Morse code exclusively, they continued to be employed after the introduction of voice transmissions. To avoid confusion, transmitter call signs are restricted; no country is ever issued an ITU prefix starting with "Q". Each code is composed by three letters always starting with Q. Each code can be a question if followed by a question mark or an answer (or statement) if not. To avoid confusion, no station call-sign begins with Q. Even if initially designed for telegraphy, it's also used in voice communications. Over the years the original Q codes were modified to reflect changes in radio practice. For example, QSW/QSX originally stood for, "Shall I increase/decrease my spark frequency?", but in the 1920s, spark-gap transmitters were banned in the United States, rendering that meaning obsolete. By the 1970s, the Post Office Handbook for Radio Operators listed over a hundred Q codes, covering a wide range of subjects including radio procedures, meteorology, radio direction finding, and search and rescue.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevity_codehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevity_codehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotelegraphyhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotelegraphyhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radiohttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radiohttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governmenthttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governmenthttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmaster_General_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmaster_General_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languagehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languagehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Radiotelegraph_Convention_%281912%29https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Radiotelegraph_Convention_%281912%29https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_codehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_codehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_signhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_signhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_prefixhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_prefixhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark-gap_transmitterhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark-gap_transmitterhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark-gap_transmitter

Breakdown by service

● QAA to QNZ – Assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ● QOA to QQZ – For the Maritime Mobile Service. ● QRA to QUZ – Assigned by the International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication

Sector (ITU-R). ● QN- - The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has also developed its own codes for

message handling located in this range. Even though they overlap with other signals, the ARRL determined that their exclusive use in NTS nets limits confusion.

● "Q" has no official meaning, but it is sometimes assigned with a word with mnemonic value, such as "Queen's" (e.g. QFE = Queen's Field Elevation), "Query", "Question", or "reQuest"

Amateur radio

Amateur radio actually has adapted two different sets of Q codes for use in amateur communications. The first set come from the ITU civil series QRA through QUZ. Most of the meanings are identical to the ITU definitions, however, they must be looked at in the context of amateur communications. For example, QSJ? asks what the charges are for sending the telegraph. Since amateur communications are without charge, this Q code would not make sense. The second set is the set of QN Signals, used only in ARRL NTS nets. These operating signals generally have no equivalent in the ACP 131 publication or ITU publications, and are specifically defined only for use in ARRL NTS nets. They are not used in casual amateur radio communications.[12][13]

Selected Q codes were soon adopted by amateur radio operators. In December 1915, the American Radio Relay League began publication of a magazine titled QST, named after the Q code for "General call to all stations". In amateur radio, the Q codes were originally used in Morse code transmissions to shorten lengthy phrases and were followed by a Morse code question mark (··— —··) if the phrase was a question. Q codes are commonly used in voice communications as shorthand nouns, verbs, and adjectives making up phrases. For example, an amateur radio operator will complain about QRM (man-made interference), or tell another operator that there is "QSB on the signal" (fading); "to QSY" is to change your operating frequency, or to break in on a conversation QSK is often used even on VHF and UHF frequencies.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU-Rhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Radio_Relay_Leaguehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Radio_Relay_Leaguehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonichttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonichttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QN_Signalshttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QN_Signalshttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code#cite_note-12https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code#cite_note-12https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_operatorhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_operatorhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Radio_Relay_Leaguehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Radio_Relay_Leaguehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QSThttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QST

Amateur radio informal Q-code In informal ham language, some codes have slightly diverted from their original meaning and are used just as a replacement for a specific word. The table below summarizes the 25 most common:

QRA Name

QRB Distance

QRG Frequency

QRK Intelligibility

QRL Busy

QRM Interference

QRN Noise

QRO High power

QRP Low power

QRQ High speed CW

QRS Low speed CW

QRSS Very low speed CW

QRT Shut down the station

QRV Ready

QRX Stand by

QRZ? Who is calling me?

QSB Fading

QSD Defective keying

QSK Break in

QSL Confirmation or card to confirm contact

QSO Radio contact

QSY Change frequency

QTC Message

QTH Location

QTR Time

http://www.giangrandi.ch/electronics/radio/qcode.shtml#qcodeham

Works Cited http://www.giangrandi.ch/electronics/radio/qcode.shtml#qcodeinformal https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code http://www.qsl.net/w5www/qcode.html http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Get%20on%20the%20Air/Comm%20w%20Other%20Hams-Q%20Signals.pdf http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Get%20on%20the%20Air/Comm%20w%20Other%20Hams-Q%20Signals.pdf http://www3.telus.net/rcarc/forms/q_codes.pdf http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code http://www.ac6v.com/73.htm#pro

http://www.giangrandi.ch/electronics/radio/qcode.shtml#qcodeinformalhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_codehttp://www.qsl.net/w5www/qcode.htmlhttp://www.arrl.org/files/file/Get%20on%20the%20Air/Comm%20w%20Other%20Hams-Q%20Signals.pdfhttp://www.arrl.org/files/file/Get%20on%20the%20Air/Comm%20w%20Other%20Hams-Q%20Signals.pdfhttp://www3.telus.net/rcarc/forms/q_codes.pdfhttp://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Codehttp://www.ac6v.com/73.htm%23pro

ORIGIN OF THE PROSIGNS

From the 1969 ARRL "The Radio Amateur's Operating Manual" Many of the expressions and procedure signals still in use in radiotelegraph had their origins in the early days of the landline telegraph - long before Marconi sent his letter "S" across the Atlantic. In sending formal messages by CW, the first thing a beginner hears is "don't send punctuation. Separate the parts of the address from each other with the prosign AA." This is ironic, because in the American Morse Code the sound didahdidah is a comma and was doubtless the origin of our prosign.

Originally, a correctly addressed letter was punctuated with commas following the name and the street address, each of which was (and still is) on a separate line although the commas have been dropped, even in mail addresses on letters. The comma was transmitted by Morse operators and thus, AA came to mean that the receiving operator should "drop down one line" when sent after each part of the address and it is so defined in the operating manuals of the time.

Our familiar prosign SK also had its origin in landline Morse. In the Western Union company's "92 code" used even before the American Civil War, the number 30 meant "the end. No more". It also meant "good night". It so happens that in Landline Morse, 30 is sent didididahdit daaah,the zero being a long dash. Run the 30 together and it has the same sound as SK. -Louise Ramsey Moreau W3WRE/WB6BBO ------------------------------------- Where Did They Come From? The end-of-message signal, AR comes from the American Morse letters FN, meaning 'finish'. SK, from the American Morse 30, meaning half-past the hour, the end of an operator's shift. ES, for 'and' from the American Morse symbol for '&', used extensively in written English in earlier times. And when old-timers send a long dash for 'zero', they are actually sending the correct American Morse symbol. History casts a long shadow. ------------------------------------- Procedural Signals (Prosigns) for Morse Code C Q - Calling any station (does any ham *not* know this one?) AR - over, end of message K - go, invite any station to transmit KN - 'X' go only, invite a specific station to transmit BK - invite receiving station to transmit R - all received OK AS - please stand by SK - end of contact (sent before call) CL - going off the air (clear)

Prosigns for Morse code From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Procedure signs or prosigns are shorthand signals used in radio telegraphy procedures, for the purpose of simplifying and standardizing communications related to radio operating issues among two or more radio operators. They are distinct from general Morse code abbreviations, which consist mainly of brevity codes that convey messages to other parties with greater speed and accuracy.

There are also specialized variations used in radio nets to manage transmission and formatting of messages.[1][2] In this usage, Morse prosigns play a role similar to the role played by the nonprinting control characters of teleprinter and computer character set codes such as Baudot or ASCII.

The development of prosigns began development in the 1860s for wired telegraphy. They can be distinguished from abbreviations because prosigns have exact equivalents for radio telephony (voice) procedure words.

Although as written, some of the prosigns appear to be simply two adjacent letters, most prosigns are instead digraphs that have zero spacing between the patterns that represent the "combined" letters, and are properly written with an overbar (if more than one single character) to indicate this.[3] The difference is subtle, but the meaning is not. For example, the prosign AA (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄) has the same meaning as the voice procedure word UNKNOWN STATION, but the prosign AA (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄) has the same meaning as the voice procedure word "ALL AFTER", and is used to indicate that part of the previously transmitted message needs to be re-transmitted; the only difference between the Morse code prosigns is an inter-letter space between the two "dot dash dot dash" sequences".

History In the early decades of telegraphy many operating efficiency improvements were incorporated into telegraph operations, including the introduction of Morse symbols known as procedure signs or prosigns. Prosigns were not defined by the inventors of Morse code, but were gradually introduced over time, and greatly improved the speed and performance of daily high-volume message handling operations.

Improvements to the legibility of formal written telegraph messages (telegrams) by means of white space formatting were thus supported by the creation of the additional new procedure symbols. Mastery of these special Morse code prosigns is an important part of becoming a fluent and efficient telegrapher/telegraphist.

Prosign symbol representations Prosigns may be represented in printed material either by a sequence of dots and dashes, or by a sequence of letters, which, if sent without the normal inter-character spacing (concatenated), correspond to the prosign symbol.

For example, when embedded in text the Morse code dot/dash sequence (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄) represents the character "=" or "—"[4]; when it appears alone it indicates the action of spacing down two lines on a page in order to create the white space indicating the start of a new paragraph[2] or new section in a message heading.[4] There is no actual written or printed character representation or symbol for a new paragraph (no symbol corresponding to "¶"), other than the two line white spaces themselves. Many Morse code prosigns do not have written or printed textual character representations in the original source information.

Of methods used to represent Morse prosign symbols there are at least three:

1. Unique dot/dash sequences, e.g. (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄). 2. Unique audible sounds, e.g. "Dahdidididah" 3. Non-unique printed or written concatenated character groups, e.g. BT (alternatively writen in mediums

where an overline is not available)

Some prosigns are in unofficial use for special characters in languages other than English, for example "Ä" and AA, neither of which is part of the international standard.[4] Other prosigns are officially designated for both letters and prosigns, such as "+" and AR.[4]. Some genuinely have only one use, such as CT or KA (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄), the International Morse prosign that marks the start of a new transmission[4] or new message.[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_telegraphyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevity_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_charactershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_charactershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_sethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudot_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCIIhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_telephonyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedure_wordhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digraph_(orthography)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-:1-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedure_wordhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedure_wordhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegrapherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraphisthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Send_CW-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%B6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concatenationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Send_CW-2

Official International Morse code procedure signs The procedure signs below are compiled from the official specification for Morse Code, ITU-R M.1677, International Morse Code[5], while others are defined the International Radio Regulations, including ITU-R M.1170,[6] ITU-R M.1172[7], ITU-R M.1677-1[5], and the International Code of Signals, with a few details of their usage appearing in ACP-131, which otherwise defines operating signals, not procedure signals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-:0-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_Radio_Regulationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-:2-6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-:12-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-:0-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Signalshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACP-131https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_signals

Table of selected Morse code abbreviations

AA All after (used after question mark to request a repetition)

AB All before (similarly)

ARRL American Radio Relay League

ABT About

ADR Address

AGN Again

ANT Antenna

ARND Around

AS Wait

BCI Broadcast interference

BCNU Be seeing you

BK Break (to pause transmission of a message, say)

BN All between

BTR Better

BTU Back to you

BUG Semiautomatic mechanical key

BURO Bureau (usually used in the phrase PLS QSL VIA BURO, "Please send QSL card via my local/national QSL bureau")

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Radio_Relay_Leaguehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_(geography)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_(electronics)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast

B4 Before

C Yes; correct

CBA Callbook address

CFM Confirm

CK Check

CL Clear (I am closing my station)

CLG . . . Calling

CONDX Conditions

CQ Calling ... (any station, when nothing is specified)

CS Callsign

CTL Control

CUD Could

CUL See you later

CUZ Because

CW Continuous wave (i.e., radiotelegraph)

CX Conditions

DE From (or "this is")

DN Down

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_and_nohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callbookhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CQ_(call)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_wave

DR Dear

DSW Goodbye (Russian: до свидания [Do svidanya])

DX Distance (sometimes refers to long distance contact), foreign countries

EMRG Emergency

ENUF Enough

ERE Here (more commonly: HR)

ES And

FB Fine business (Analogous to "OK")

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FER For

FM From

FREQ Frequency

FWD Forward

GA Good afternoon or Go ahead (depending on context)

GE Good evening

GG Going

GL Good luck

GM Good morning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency

GN Good night

GND Ground (ground potential)

GUD Good

GX Ground

HEE Humour intended or laughter (often repeated, e.g. HEE HEE)

HI Humour intended or laughter (originates from American Morse "HO")

HR Here, hear

HV Have

HW How

II I say again

IMP Impedance

K Over

KN Over; only the station named should respond (e.g. W7PTH DE W1AW KN)

LID Poor operator (Licenced I*Diot)

MILS Milliamperes

MNI Many

MSG Message

N No; nine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_(electrical)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_and_nohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_(number)

NIL Nothing

NM Name

NR Number

NW Now

NX Noise; noisy

OB Old boy

OC Old chap

OK Okay

OM Old man (any male amateur radio operator is an OM regardless of age)

OO Official observer

OP Operator

OT Old timer

OTC Old timers club (ARRL-sponsored organization for radio amateurs first licensed 20 or more years ago)

OOTC Old old timers club (organization for those whose first two-way radio contact occurred 40 or more years ago; separate from OTC and ARRL)

PLS Please

PSE Please

PWR Power

PX Prefix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(physics)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefix

QCWA Quarter Century Wireless Association (organization for radio amateurs who have been licensed for 25 or more years)

R Are; received as transmitted (origin of "Roger"), or decimal point (depending on context)

RCVR Receiver

RFI Radio-frequency interference

RIG Radio apparatus

RPT Repeat or report (depending on context)

RPRT Report

RST Signal report format (Readability-Signal Strength-Tone)

RTTY Radioteletype

RX Receiver, radio

SAE Self-addressed envelope

SASE Self-addressed, stamped envelope

SED Said

SEZ Says

SFR So far (proword)

SIG Signal or signature

SIGS Signals

SK Out (prosign), end of contact

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_Century_Wireless_Associationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receiver_(radio)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_interferencehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioteletypehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelopehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signature

SK Silent Key (a deceased radio amateur)

SKED Schedule

SMS Short message service

SN Soon

SNR Signal-to-noise ratio

SRI Sorry

SSB Single sideband

STN Station

T Zero (usually an elongated dah)

TEMP Temperature

TFC Traffic

TKS Thanks

TMW Tomorrow

TNX Thanks

TT That

TU Thank you

TVI Television interference

TX Transmit, transmitter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_programminghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_message_servicehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regret_(emotion)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0_(number)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperaturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thankhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Televisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_(telecommunications)

TXRX Transceiver, transmitter + receiver

TXT Text

U You

UR Your or You're (depending on context)

URS Yours

VX Voice; phone

VY Very

W Watts

WA Word after

WB Word before

WC Wilco

WDS Words

WID With

WKD Worked

WKG Working

WL Will

WUD Would

WTC Whats the craic? (Irish Language: [Conas atá tú?])

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transceiverhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voicehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilco_(voice_procedure)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Language

WX Weather

XCVR Transceiver

XMTR Transmitter

XYL Wife (ex-YL) (Extra Young Lady, i.e. wife)

YF Wife

YL Young lady (originally an unmarried female operator, now used for any female)

ZX Zero beat

44 Hand shake, half of 88. Often used in Flora and Fauna connections, HH in CW

73 Best regards

77 Long Live CW (Morse Code), wishing you many happy CW contacts

88 Love and kisses

99 Get lost!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transceiverhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmitterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wifehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valediction#Regards,_kind_regards,_best_regardshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss

Table of Morse Code Prosigns and Useful Morse Code Abbreviations[1][4]

Prosign Code Symbol Meaning Comments Memory Aid[original

research?] Verbalization As text

AA ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Start new line Space down one line; typewritten as Carriage Return, Line Feed (CR-LF).[2] Also written RT.

"Add A line" "didahdidah" Ä, Á[13]

AR ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Message separator, start new message / telegram.[4][1]

New Page, space down several lines.[1] Decoder software may show "+".[4] Alternative for "Break" in conversational Morse.[2]Also written RN.

"All Rendered" or "Ready Next" "didahdidahdit" +

[4]

AS ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Wait [4][1] Respond with: SN, or characters "R" (Received) or "C" (Confirmed).[1][4] "Wait A Sec" "didahdididit" &[14]

BT ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Start of new section[4] / new

paragraph.[1] Space down two lines; typewritten CR-LF-LF. Decoder software may show "="[4]. "Begin Two" "dahdidididah" =, —

[4]

CT ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Start of transmission[4] Start

of new message.[1] Attention[1] commencing transmission. Also written KA. "Copy This" "dahdidahdidah"

HH ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Error / correction[4][1] Always followed by correct text.[1] Sometimes transcribed as "????". Sometimes written EEEEEEEE.

"Error" "didididididididit"

K ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Invitation for any station to transmit[4][1] Lone alphabetic character "K" at the end of a transmission.[1] "oKay, go ahead" "dahdidah" K

[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_Code_Abbreviationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_researchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_researchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carriage_Returnhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_Feedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Send_CW-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-nonEngl-13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Send_CW-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-nonStdUS-14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4

? ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Please say again[4][1] Lone question mark "?" from the receiving station in response to a transmission.[1]

"huh?" "dididahdahdidit" ?[4][1]

KN ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Invitation for named station to transmit[1]

Go ahead, specific named station.[1] Decoder software may show "(".[4]

"oKay, Named" "dahdidahdahdit" ([4]

NJ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Shift to Wabun code Shift from Morse code to Wabun code Kana characters. Also written XM. "Next Japanese" "dahdididahdahdah"

SK ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ End of contact[1] / End of

work[4] Also written VA. "Silent Key" "didididahdidah"

SN ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Understood.[1] Verified.[4]

Message received and checks okay. Alternatively shift from Wabun to Morse code. "SN?" verification requested. Also written VE.

"Sho' 'Nuff" or "VErified" "didididahdit" Š, Ś

[13]

SOS ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Start of distress signal[4][1] Only used by original message sender, and only for imminent danger to life or property.[4] ( listen (help·info))

"Save Our Souls" "didididahdahdahdididit"

BK ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Break in conversation[1] Morse abbreviation for "back-to you".[1] In conversational Morse some use AR, KN, or "K" instead.

"BreaK" "dahdididitdadidah" BK

CL ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ Closing down[1] Abbreviation for "closing station" (Morse abbreviation). "CLosing" "dahdidahditdidadidit" CL

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabun_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabun_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabun_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabun_codehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-nonEngl-13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOShttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ITU_MC_Rec-4https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/SOS_morse_code.ogghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Media_helphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SOS_morse_code.ogghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code#cite_note-ARRL_Oper_Man-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SOS_morse_code.ogg

ORIGIN OF 33

The History and Proper Use of 33 "33", the signature used between YL's is often mis-used and its origin tends to get lost. YLRL was organized in 1939 and it was at this time that, through YLRL women amateur Radio Operators seemed to find their niche. "YL" was adopted as a general term denoting any licensed Amateur feminine operator, regardless of age or marital status.

"33" was originated this same year by Clara, W2RUF - ex W8KYR- and adopted by YLRL for exclusive YL use. It means "Love sealed with friendship between one YL and another YL". With this background and meaning, it is very understandable that "33" is not only exclusive with YL's but is NEVER used in the plural. We sign "33", never 33"s.

Reprinted from YL Harmonics, Issue #2, 1980. Thanks to Lea AB5TY for the reference. (Note also that 73 and 88 should NEVER be used in the plural form. You would not say Best Regards's nor Hugs and Kisses's would you?)

ORIGIN OF 73

Via Louise Ramsey Moreau, W3WRE and Charles A. Wimer KC8EHA

The following is from Louise Ramsey Moreau, W3WRE: "The traditional expression "73" goes right back to the beginning of the landline telegraph days. It is found in some of the earliest editions of the numerical codes, each with a different definition, but each with the same idea in mind - it indicated that the end, or signature, was coming up. But there are no data to prove that any of these were used.

"The first authentic use of 73 is in the publication The National Telegraphic Review and Operators' Guide, first published in April 1857. At that time, 73 meant "My love to you"! Succeeding issues of this publication continued to use this definition of the term. Curiously enough, some of the other numerals used then had the same definition as they have now, but within a short time, the use of 73 began to change. "In the National Telegraph Convention, the numeral was changed from the Valentine-type sentiment to a vague sign of fraternalism. Here, 73 was a greeting, a friendly "word" between operators and it was so used on all wires.

"In 1859, the Western Union Company set up the standard "92 Code." A list of numerals from one to 92 was compiled to indicate a series of prepared phrases for use by the operators on the wires. Here, in the 92 Code, 73 changes from a fraternal sign to a very flowery "accept my compliments,"which was in keeping with the florid language of that era. "Over the years from 1859 to 1900, the many manuals of telegraphy show variations of this meaning. Dodge's The Telegraph Instructor shows it merely as "compliments." The Twentieth Century Manual of Railways and Commercial Telegraphy defines it two ways, one listing as "my compliments to you"; but in the glossary of abbreviations it is merely "compliments."

Theodore A. Edison's Telegraphy Self-Taught shows a return of "accept my compliments." By 1908, however, a later edition of the Dodge Manual gives us today's definition of "best regards"

with a backward look at the older meaning in another part of the work where it also lists it as "compliments."

Editor Note -- Dodge's "The Telegraph Instructor" can be found at URL: http://artifaxbooks.com/afxrare/dodge.htm

"Best regards" has remained ever since as the "put-it-down-in-black-and-white" meaning of 73 but it has acquired overtones of much warmer meaning. Today, amateurs use it more in the manner that James Reid had intended that it be used - a "friendly word between operators." I hope that this helps you in some way....

73, Charles A. Wimer Amateur Radio Call: KC8EHA Assistant Emergency Coordinator, Trumbull County (OH) ARRL Official Emergency Station (OH) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Somebody wrote: Actually "73" was a term the old telegraph operators would use back in the old west days. It meant that they owned a Winchester 1873 rifle (their most prized possession) and that when they died they would give it to the other operator. Hense '73' meant I will will you my 73 rifle. '73s' meant you had more than one rifles that you would give to them (they were a really good friend.).

Hello, It's a nice story, but it has no basis in fact. The actual source of "73" and "88" was the list of numerical abbreviations used by wire telegraphers. These abbreviations were used in a manner similar to Q signals today. Here's a partial list of number abbreviations: 1 – Wait 2 - Important business 3 - What is the time? 6 - I am ready 7 - Are you ready? 12 - Do you understand? 13 - I understand 14 - What is the weather? 17 - Lightning here 19 - Form 19 train order (used by RR) 21 - Stop to eat 23 - All copy 24 - Repeat this back 30 - No more, end 31 - Form 31 train order (used by RR) 44 - Answer promptly by wire 73 - Best regards 88 - Love and kisses 92 - Deliver promptly 134 - Who is at the key?

Note that American Morse was used by landline telegraphers. The signal "30" in American Morse is "..._. ____" (zero is an extra long dash). This was corrupted into a single character, "..._._" which is usually thought of today as SK or VA, with the space between letters removed. 73 (never plural!) de Jim, N2EY

------------------------------------

QRPers sometimes sign off with 72 indicating they may be a mite short on power for a full 73!

But Kevin Cozens writes "In one of the magazines I was getting for a while from one of the QRP clubs (can't remember if it was from the Michigan QRP club or the G-QRP club) I learned of the use of 72 for the first time. Their use of 72 was based on the idea that "QRP operators do more with less". If you add that to the page you will have both a QRP as well as the QRO operators view of 72."

http://www.ac6v.com/73.htm#73

Breakdown by serviceAmateur radioAmateur radio actually has adapted two different sets of Q codes for use in amateur communications. The first set come from the ITU civil series QRA through QUZ. Most of the meanings are identical to the ITU definitions, however, they must be looked a...

Amateur radio informal Q-codeProsigns for Morse code.pdfProsigns for Morse codeHistoryProsign symbol representationsOfficial International Morse code procedure signs

ADP7A12.tmpTable of selected Morse code abbreviations