Related wiki pages:
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.
| Abbreviation
|
Meaning
|
Abbreviation
|
Meaning
|
CW Abbreviations
| AA
|
All After
|
OB
|
Old Boy
|
| AB
|
All Before
|
OC
|
Old Chap
|
| ABT
|
About
|
OM
|
Old Man
|
| ADEE
|
Adressee
|
OP
|
Operator
|
| ADR
|
Adress
|
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
|
Reveiver
|
| 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
|
| EL
|
Element
|
TFC
|
Traffic
|
| ES & DX
|
Distance
|
TMW
|
Tomorrow
|
| ES & FB
|
Fine Business
|
TKS & TNX
|
Thanks
|
| FER
|
For
|
TR & TX
|
Transmit
|
| FM
|
Frequency Modulation, From
|
T/R
|
Transmit/Receive
|
| GA
|
Go ahead, Good afternoon
|
TRIX
|
Tricks
|
| GB
|
Goodbye, God Bless
|
TT
|
That
|
| GD
|
Good
|
TTS
|
That is
|
| GE
|
Good evening
|
TU
|
Thankyou
|
| GESS
|
Guess
|
TVI
|
Television interference
|
| GG
|
Going
|
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
|
laugh, High
|
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
|
XMTR
|
Transmitter
|
| NCS
|
Net Control Station
|
XTL
|
Crystal
|
| ND
|
Nothing Doing
|
XYL
|
Wife
|
| NM
|
No More
|
YL
|
Young Lady
|
| NR
|
Number
|
YR
|
Year
|
| NW
|
Now , Resume transmission
|
73
|
Best Regards
|
|
Morse Code
| Symbol
|
International
|
American
|
International and American Morse Codes
| A
|
.-
|
.-
|
| B
|
-...
|
-...
|
| C
|
-.-.
|
..-.
|
| D
|
-..
|
-..
|
| E
|
.
|
.
|
| F
|
..-.
|
.-.
|
| G
|
--.
|
--.
|
| H
|
....
|
....
|
| I
|
..
|
..
|
| J
|
.---
|
-.-.
|
| K
|
-.-
|
-.-
|
| L
|
.-..
|
----
|
| M
|
--
|
--
|
| N
|
-.
|
-.
|
| O
|
---
|
.-.
|
| P
|
.--.
|
.....
|
| Q
|
--.-
|
..-.
|
| R
|
.-.
|
.-..
|
| S
|
...
|
...
|
| T
|
-
|
-
|
| U
|
..-
|
..-
|
| V
|
...-
|
...-
|
| W
|
.--
|
.--
|
| X
|
-..-
|
.-..
|
| Y
|
.-.-
|
..-..
|
| Z
|
--..
|
....
|
| 1
|
.----
|
.--.
|
| 2
|
..---
|
..-..
|
| 3
|
...--
|
...-.
|
| 4
|
....-
|
....-
|
| 5
|
.....
|
---
|
| 6
|
-....
|
.....
|
| 7
|
--...
|
--..
|
| 8
|
---..
|
-....
|
| 9
|
----.
|
-..-
|
| 0
|
-----
|
-----
|
Phonetic Alphabet - Nato
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 |
Alfa |
AL FAH
|
| B |
Bravo |
BRAH VOH
|
| C |
Charlie |
CHAR LEE
|
| D |
Delta |
DELL TAH
|
| E |
Echo |
ECK OH
|
| F |
Foxtrot |
FOKS TROT
|
| G |
Golf |
GOLF
|
| H |
Hotel |
HO TELL
|
| I |
India |
IN DEE AH
|
| J |
Juliett |
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
|
Q-Code
These codes were oringinally developed to shorten transmission times when using CW, but are frequently used in voice transmissions eg. I and going to go QRT, thanks for the QSO.
More information abut the history and usage of Q-codes can be found here.
| Code
|
Meaning
|
Sample use
|
Q Codes Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs
| 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 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
|
| QRQ
|
Send faster
|
TIME SHORT PSE QRQ
|
| QRR
|
temporarily unavailable/away, please wait
|
WILL BE QRR 30 MIN = THAT STN IS QRR NW
|
| QRRR |
Distress
|
Distress call recommended by ARRL
|
| QRS |
Send slower
|
PSE QRS NEW TO CW
|
| 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
|
RSQ code
Often used to describe reception and quality of digital modes such as PSK31
| Number
|
R - Readability
|
S - Strength
|
V - Quality
|
RSQ Code Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs
| 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
|
noy 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
|
|
RST code
| Number
|
R - Readability
|
S - Strength
|
T - Tone
|
RST Code Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs
| 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
|
|
RSV code for SSTV transmissions
| Number
|
R - Readability
|
S - Strength
|
V - Video
|
RSV Code Commonly Used by Radio Amateurs
| 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
|
|