Codes and Alphabets

Phonetic Alphabet

A number of phonetic alphabets exist. The NATO version is most common and can be considered to be the "international" phonetic alphabet.

Letter	Code word	Pronunciation
A	Alpha	AL FAH
B	Bravo	BRAH VOH
C	Charlie	CHAR LEE
D	Delta	DELL TAH
E	Echo	ECK OH
F	Foxtrot	FOKS TROT
G	Golf	GAHLF
H	Hotel	HO TELL
I	India	IN DEE AH
J	Juliet	JEW LEE ETT
K	Kilo	KEY LOH
L	Lima	LEE MAH
M	Mike	MIKE
N	November	NO VEM BER
O	Oscar	OSS CAH
P	Papa	PAH PAH
Q	Quebec	KEH BECK
R	Romeo	ROW ME OH
S	Sierra	SEE AIR RAH
T	Tango	TANG GO
U	Uniform	YOU NEE FORM
V	Victor	VIK TAH
W	Whiskey	WISS KEY
X	X-ray or Xray	ECKS RAY
Y	Yankee	YANG KEY
Z	Zulu	ZOO LOO
Number	Code word	Pronunciation
0	Zero	ZE RO
1	One	WUN
2	Two	TOO
3	Three	TREE
4	Four	FOW ER
5	Five	FIFE
6	Six	SIX
7	Seven	SEV EN
8	Eight	AIT
9	Nine	NIN ER

Morse Code

Main articles: morse code, Wikipedia:Morse code

Morse code is a way to encode text through the generation of a carrier wave (CW). It is used to communicate over long distances or with low power (QRP).

You do not need to learn morse code to obtain a radio license or operate an amateur radio station anymore.

The code is composed of 5 elements:

1. short mark, dot or 'dit' (·) — one unit long
2. longer mark, dash or 'dah' (–) — three units long
3. intra-character gap (between the dots and dashes within a character) — one unit long
4. short gap (between letters) — three units long
5. medium gap (between words) — seven units long

Character	Code	Character	Code	Character	Code	Character	Code	Character	Code	Character	Code
A	· —	J	· — — —	S	· · ·	1	· — — — —	.	· — · — · —	:	— — — · · ·
B	— · · ·	K	— · —	T	—	2	· · — — —	,	— — · · — —	;	— · — · — ·
C	— · — ·	L	· — · ·	U	· · —	3	· · · — —	?	· · — — · ·	=	— · · · —
D	— · ·	M	— —	V	· · · —	4	· · · · —	''	· — — — — ·	+	· — · — ·
E	·	N	— ·	W	· — —	5	· · · · ·	!	— · — · — —	-	— · · · · —
F	· · — ·	O	— — —	X	— · · —	6	— · · · ·	/	— · · — ·	_	· · — — · —
G	— — ·	P	· — — ·	Y	— · — —	7	— — · · ·	(	— · — — ·	"	· — · · — ·
H	· · · ·	Q	— — · —	Z	— — · ·	8	— — — · ·	)	— · — — · —	$	· · · — · · —
I	· ·	R	· — ·	0	— — — — —	9	— — — — ·	&	· — · · ·	@	· — — · — ·

Q-Code

These codes were originally developed to shorten transmission times when using CW, but are frequently used in voice transmissions. (eg. I am going to go QRT, thanks for the QSO.)

The QRA...QUZ code range includes phrases applicable to all services and is allocated to the International Telecommunications Union. NATO's ACP 131(E), COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS - OPERATING SIGNALS, March 1997, chapter 2 contains a full list of 'Q' codes. Other 'Q' code ranges are allocated specifically to aviation or maritime services; many of those codes have fallen into disuse as voice displaces CW in commercial operation.

The Q-code was originally instituted at the Radiotelegraph Convention held in London, 1912 and was intended for marine radiotelegraph use. The codes were based on an earlier list published by the British postmaster general's office in 1908.^[1] More information about the history and usage of Q-codes can be found here.

Q Codes Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs

Code	Meaning	Sample use
QRG	Exact frequency	HE TX ON QRG 14205 kHz
QRI	Tone (T in the RST code)	UR QRI IS 9
QRK	Intelligibility (R in the RST code)	UR QRK IS 5
QRL	This frequency is busy.	Used almost exclusively with morse code, usually as a question (QRL? - is this frequency busy?) before transmitting on a new frequency
QRM	Man-made interference	ANOTHER QSO UP 2 kHz CAUSING LOT OF QRM
QRN	Natural interference, e.g. static crashes	BAND NOISY TODAY LOT OF QRN
QRO	Increase power	NEED QRO WHEN PROP POOR
QRP	Decrease power	QRP TO 5 W (As a mode of operation, a QRP station is five watts or less, a QRPp station one watt or less)
QRQ	Send more quickly	TIME SHORT PSE QRQ
QRR	Temporarily unavailable/away, please wait	WILL BE QRR 30 MIN = THAT STN IS QRR NW
QRRR	Land distress	A non-standard call proposed by ARRL for land-based or railroad emergency traffic in situations where response from ships at sea (which listened for SOS) was neither needed nor desired.[2][3] Now deprecated.
QRS	Send more slowly	PSE QRS NEW TO CW (QRS operation - a slower dot rate - is useful during weak-signal conditions; a QRSS mode uses an extremely low code rate on a channel less than 1Hz wide to allow reception under extreme QRP conditions)
QRT	Stop sending	ENJOYED TALKING 2 U = MUST QRT FER DINNER NW
QRU	Have you anything for me?	QRU? ABOUT TO QRT
QRV	I am ready	WL U BE QRV IN UPCOMING CONTEST?
QRX	Will call you again	QRX @ 1500H
QRZ	You are being called by ________.	QRZ? UR VY WEAK (Only someone who has previously called should reply)
QSA	Signal strength	UR QSA IS 5
QSB	Fading of signal	THERE IS QSB ON UR SIG
QSD	Your keying is defective	QSD CK YR TX
QSK	Break-in	I CAN HR U DURING MY SIGS PSE QSK
QSL	I Acknowledge receipt	QSL UR LAST TX = PSE QSL VIA BURO (i.e. please send me a card confirming this contact).
QSM	Repeat last message	QRM DROWNED UR LAST MSG OUT = PSE QSM
QSN	I heard you	QSN YESTERDAY ON 7005 kHz
QSO	A conversation	TNX QSO 73
QSP	Relay	PSE QSP THIS MSG TO MY FRIEND
QST	General call to all stations	QST: QRG ALLOCS HV CHGD
QSX	I am listening on ... frequency	QSX 14200 TO 14210 kHz
QSY	Shift to transmit on ...	LETS QSY UP 5 kHz
QTA	Disregard last message	QTA, DID NOT MEAN THAT
QTC	Traffic	STN WID EMRG QTC PSE GA
QTH	Location	QTH IS SOUTH PARK CO
QTR	Exact time	QTR IS 2000 Z

RST code

The RST code, in its original form, is intended for CW operation. On SSB, the final digit (tone) is normally omitted.

RST Code Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs

Number	R - Readability	S - Strength	T - Tone
1	Unreadable	Faint signal, barely perceptible	Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad
2	Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable	Very Weak	Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad
3	Readable with considerable difficulty	Weak	Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered
4	Readable with practically no difficulty	Fair	Rough note, some trace of filteringfrequency
5	Perfectly readable	Fairly Good	Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated
6	not used	Good	Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation
7	not used	Moderately Strong	Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation
8	not used	Strong	Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation
9	not used	Very strong signals	Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind

In CW operation, individual digits may be abbreviated by substituting as follows: 1 = A, 2 = U, 3 = V, 4 = 4, 5 = E, 6 = 6, 7 = B, 8 = D, 9 = N, 0 = T (for instance, RST 599 could be sent as 5NN - a shorter message in CW). These are referred to as "cut numbers" and are obtained by replacing all of the dashes in a CW digit with a single dash. Cut numbers are not suitable for transmitting data which already contains mixed alphanumerics, such as callsigns.^[4]

RSQ code

Often used to describe reception and quality of digital modes such as PSK31

RSQ Code Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs

Number	R - Readability	S - Strength	V - Quality
1	0% copy - undecipherable	barely perceptible trace	splatter over much of the spectrum
2	20% copy -occasional words distinguishable	not used	not used
3	40% copy - readable with difficulty, many missed characters	Weak trace	multiple visible pairs
4	80% copy - Readable with no difficulty	not used	not used
5	95%+ copy - Perfectly readable	Moderate trace	One easily visible pair
6	not used	not used	not used
7	not used	Strong Trace	One barely visible pair
8	not used	not used	not used
9	not used	Very strong trace	Clean signal - no visible unwanted sidebars

RSV code for SSTV transmissions

RSV Code Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs

Number	R - Readability	S - Strength	V - Video
1	Unreadable	Faint signal, barely perceptible	Picture unreadable
2	Barely readable	Very Weak	picture barely visible
3	Readable with difficulty	Weak	Readable with flaws
4	Readable with no difficulty	Fair	Very good picture some flaws
5	Perfectly readable	Fairly Good	Perfect picture no flaws
6	not used	Good	not used
7	not used	Moderately Strong	not used
8	not used	Strong	not used
9	not used	Very strong signals	not used

In fast-scan amateur television (ATV), signal-to-noise ratio is reported as one of:

P0 - all image detail lost

P1 - 3-8dB, barely legible

P2 - 8-20dB, definitely noisy

P3 - 20-35dB, somewhat noisy

P4 - 35-45dB, slightly noisy

P5 - 45dB+, no discernible noise^[5]

CW Abbreviations

These abbreviations are commonly used in CW transmissions to shorten transmission times. Not all CW operators use all of them - most will use very few. As a general rule most operators do not abbreviate unnecessarily, especially when communication with an operator that they do not know or whose experience is unknown. In contest conditions, abbreviations are common as operators try to gain as many contacts as possible over the competition period.

CW Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning	Abbreviation	Meaning
AA	All After	OB	Old Boy
AB	All Before	OC	Old Chap
ABT	About	OM	Old Man
ADEE	Addressee	OP	Operator
ADR	Address	OPR	Operator
AGN	Again	OT	Old Timer
AM	Amplitude Modulation	PBL	Preamble
ANT	Antenna	PKG	Package
BCI	Broadcast Interference	PSE	Please
BCL	Broadcast listener	PT	Point
BCNU	Be seeing you	PWR	Power
BK	Break in	PX	Press
BN	Between, Been	R	Received, Are
BT	Separation	RC	Ragchew
BTR	Better	RCD	Received
Bug	Semi automatic key	RCVR	Receiver
C	Yes, Correct	REF	Refer to
CFM	Confirm, I confirm	RFI	Radio Frequency Interference
CK	Check	RIG	Station Equipment
CKT	Circuit	RPT	Repeat, Report
CL	Closing Station, Call	RTTY	Radioteletype
CLBK	Callbook	RST	Readability Strength Tone
CLD	Called	RX	Receive, receiver
CLG	Calling	SASE	Self addressed stamped envelope
CNT	Cant	SED	Said
CONDX	Conditions	SEZ	Says
CQ	Calling any station	SGD	Signed
CU	See you	SIG	Signature, Signal
CUL	See you later	SINE	Personal initials or nickname
CUM	Come	SKED	Schedule
CW	Continuous Wave	SRI	Sorry
DA	day	SS	Sweepstakes
DE	From, From this	SSB	Single Sideband
DIFF	Difference	STN	Station
DLD & DLVD	Delivered	SUM	Some
DN	Down	SVC	Service
DR	Delivered	T	Zero
DX	Distance	TFC	Traffic
EL	Element	TMW	Tomorrow
ES	And	TKS & TNX	Thanks
FB	Fine business	TR & TX	Transmit
FER	For	T/R	Transmit/Receive
FM	Frequency Modulation, From	TRIX	Tricks
GA	Go ahead, Good afternoon	TT	That
GB	Goodbye, God Bless	TTS	That is
GD	Good	TU	Thank you
GE	Good Evening	TVI	Television interference
GESS	Guess	TX	Transmitter, Transmit
GG	Going	TXT	text
GM	Good Morning	U	You
GN	Good Night	UR	You're Your
GND	Ground	URS	Yours
GUD	Good	VFB	Very Fine Business
GV	Give	VFO	Variable Frequency Oscillator
HH	Error sending	VY	Very
HI HI	Laughter	W	Watts
HR	Hear	WA	Word After
HV	Have	WD	Word
HW	How, Copy?	WDS	Words
IMI	Repeat, say again	WKD	Worked
LNG	long	WKG	Working
LTR	Later	WPM	Words per minute
LVG	Leaving	WRD	Word
MA & MILLS	Milliamperes	WX	Weather
MSG	Message	TXVR	Transceiver
N	No, Nine	XMTR	Transmitter
NCS	Net Control Station	XTL	Crystal
ND	Nothing Doing	XYL, YF	Wife
NM	No More	YL	Young Lady
NR	Number	YR	Year
NW	Now , Resume transmission	73	Best Regards

In 1859, Western Union standardized on the "92 code", a series of telegraphic abbreviations in which numbers (originally 1 to 92) were assigned meanings.^{[6] (dead link, archive)} These were later included as part of the "Philips Code", a series of abbreviations first published in 1879 by Walter Phillips of the Associated Press for use in the telegraphic transmission of press dispatches.^[7]

While most of the codes have fallen into disuse, the form 19 and 31 train orders remained in railroad use long beyond the end of landline telegraphy, the use of '30' at the end of a news wire story was continued through the teletypewriter era and the '73' and '88' greetings remain in use in amateur radiotelegraphy.

Western Union codes

Abbreviation	Meaning	Abbreviation	Meaning
1	Wait a minute.	25	Busy on another wire.
2	Very Important.	26	Put on ground wire.
3	What time is it?	27	Priority, very important.
4	Where shall I go ahead?	28	Do you get my writing?.
5	Have you business for me?	29	Private, deliver in sealed envelope.
6	I am ready.	30	No more - the end.
7	Are you ready?	31	Form 31 (permissive) train order.
8	Close your key, stop breaking.	32	I understand that I am to ....
9	Priority business. Wire Chief's call.	33	Answer is paid.
10	Keep this circuit closed.	34	Message for all officers.
12	Do you understand?	35	You may use my signal to answer this.
13	I understand.	37	Inform all interested.
14	What is the weather?	39	Important, with priority on through wire.
15	For you and others to copy.	44	Answer promptly by wire.
17	Lightning here.	55	Important.
18	What's the trouble?	73	Best Regards.
19	Form 19 (absolute) train order.	77	I have a message for you.
21	Stop for meal.	88	Love and kisses.
22	Wire test.	91	Superintendent's signal.
23	All stations copy.	92	Deliver Promptly.
24	Repeat this back.	134	Who is at the key?

Two non-standard codes, rarely-used, were coined within the amateur radiotelegraph service. The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) organized in 1939 and quickly coined '33' as "Love sealed with mutual respect and friendship between one YL and another YL".^[8] More recently, '72' has been used in QRP operation to signify a '73' sent with reduced transmitter power.

See also

• Calculators

Operating procedures
Operation	Callsigns and ITU prefixes * Codes and Alphabets * Modes * Morse code * Nets * UK licensing * Terminology
DX and Contesting	Awards and Certificates * DXCC * DX cluster * Field day * Gridsquares * Logging * QSL and QSL Bureaus * Records - Distance
Emergencies	Emergency Frequencies * ARES * IRESC * SATERN * Weather spotting
QRP	Trail-Friendly Radio
Utilities	Beacons (/B) and Time Beacons