Q code
The Q-code is a standardized collection of three-letter codes all of which start with the letter "Q". It is an operating signal initially developed for commercial radiotelegraph communication and later adopted by other radio services, especially amateur radio. To distinguish the use of a Q-code transmitted as a question from the same Q-code transmitted as a statement, operators either prefixed it with the military network question marker "" or suffixed it with the standard Morse question mark .
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".
Codes in the range QAA–QNZ are reserved for aeronautical use; QOA–QQZ for maritime use and QRA–QUZ for all services.
"Q" has no official meaning, but it is sometimes assigned with a word with mnemonic value, such as "Queen's", "Query", "Question", or "reQuest".
Early developments
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 LondonThe following table reviews a sample of the all-services Q-codes adopted by the 1912 Convention:
| Code | Question | Answer or Notice |
| QRA | What ship or coast station is that? | This is ____. |
| QRB | What is your distance? | My distance is ____. |
| QRC | What is your true bearing? | My true bearing is ____ degrees. |
| QRD | Where are you bound for? | I am bound for ____. |
| QRF | Where are you bound from? | I am bound from ____. |
| QRG | What line do you belong to? | I belong to the ____ Line. |
| QRH | What is your wavelength in meters? | My wavelength is ____ meters. |
| QRJ | How many words have you to send? | I have ____ words to send. |
| QRK | How do you receive me? | I am receiving. 1 is unreadable and 5 is perfect. |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy. |
| QRM | Are you being interfered with? | I am being interfered with. |
| QRN | Are the atmospherics strong? | Atmospherics are very strong. |
Later use
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 gradually being banned from land stations, making 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.Some Q-codes are also used in aviation, in particular QNE, QNH and QFE, referring to certain altimeter settings. These codes are used in radiotelephone conversations with air traffic control as unambiguous shorthand, where safety and efficiency are of vital importance. A subset of Q-codes is used by the Miami-Dade County, Florida local government for law enforcement and fire rescue communications, one of the few instances where Q-codes are used in ground voice communication.
The QAA–QNZ code range includes phrases applicable primarily to the aeronautical service, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The QOA–QQZ code range is reserved for the maritime service. The QRA–QUZ code range includes phrases applicable to all services and is allocated to the International Telecommunications Union. QVA–QZZ are not allocated. Many codes have no immediate applicability outside one individual service, such as maritime operation or radioteletype operation.
Many military and other organizations that use Morse code have adopted additional codes, including the Z code used by most European and NATO countries. The Z code adds commands and questions adapted for military radio transmissions, for example, "ZBW 2", which means "change to backup frequency number 2", and "ZNB abc", which means "my checksum is abc, what is yours?"
Used in their formal question / answer sense, the meaning of a Q-code varies depending on whether the individual Q-code is sent as a question or an answer. For example, the message "QRP?" means "Shall I decrease transmitter power?", and a reply of "QRP" means "Yes, decrease your transmitter power", whereas an unprompted statement "QRP" means "Please decrease your transmitter power". This structured use of Q-codes is fairly rare and now mainly limited to amateur radio and military Morse code traffic networks.
Breakdown by service
- QAA to QNZ – Assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- QNA to QNZ – The American Radio Relay League has also developed its own QN Signals 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.
- QOA to QQZ – For the Maritime Mobile Service.
- QRA to QUZ – Assigned by the International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication Sector.
Aeronautical Code signals (QAA–QNZ; ICAO)
| Question ? | Answer or Advice | ||
| QAB | May I have clearance from... to... at flight level/altitude... ? | You are cleared by... from... to... at flight level/altitude... | |
| QAF | Will you advise me when you are at ... ? | I am at ... at flight level/altitude... | |
| QAG | Arrange your flight in order to arrive over... at... hours. or I am arranging my flight in order to arrive over... at... hours. | ||
| QAH | What is your height above... ? | I am at.... flight level/altitude... or Arrange your flight so as to reach flight level/altitude... at.... | |
| QAI | What is the essential traffic respecting my aircraft? | The essential traffic respecting your aircraft is... | |
| QAK | Is there any risk of collision? | There is risk of collision. | |
| QAL | Are you going to land at... ? or Has aircraft... landed at... ? | I am going to land at.... or land at.... or Aircraft... landed at.... | |
| QAM | What is the latest available meteorological observation for... ? | Meteorological observation made at... at... hours was as follows... Note.- The information may be given in Q-code form or the METAR form. | |
| QAN | What is the surface wind direction and speed at... ? | The surface wind direction and speed at... at... hours is... .... | |
| QAO | What is the wind direction in degrees TRUE and speed at... at each of the... ... levels above... ? | The wind direction and speed at at flight level/altitude... is: ... ... degrees TRUE.... | |
| QAP | Shall I listen for you on... kHz ? | Listen for me on... kHz. | |
| QAQ | Am I near a prohibited, restricted or danger area? or Am I near area... near 2) flying within area.... | ||
| QAR | May I stop listening on the watch frequency for... minutes? | You may stop listening on the watch frequency for... minutes. | |
| QAU | Where may I jettison fuel? | I am about to jettison fuel. or Jettison fuel in.... | |
| QAW | I am about to carry out overshoot procedure. | ||
| QAY | Will you advise me when you pass ... bearing 090 degrees relative to your heading? | I passed... bearing... degrees relative to my heading at... hours. | |
| QAZ | Are you experiencing communication difficulties through flying in a storm? | I am experiencing communication difficulties through flying in a storm. | |
| QBA | What is the horizontal visibility at... ? | The horizontal visibility at... at... hours is.... | |
| QBB | What is the amount, type and height above official aerodrome elevation of the base of the cloud ? | The amount, type and height above official aerodrome elevation of the base of the cloud at... at... hours is: ... eights at... height above official aerodrome elevation. | |
| QBC | Report meteorological conditions as observed from your aircraft . | The meteorological conditions as observed from my aircraft at... at... hours at... height above... are... Note.-The answer is required in the format of an AIREP message. | |
| QBD | How much fuel have you remaining ? | My fuel will endure for.... | |
| QBE | I am about to wind in my aerial. | ||
| QBF | Are you flying in cloud? | I am flying in cloud at... flight level/altitude... . | |
| QBG | Are you flying above cloud? | I am flying above cloud and at flight level/altitude... or Maintain a vertical distance of... above clouds, smoke, haze or fog levels. | |
| QBH | Are you flying below cloud? | I am flying below cloud and at flight level/altitude... or Maintain a vertical distance of... below cloud. | |
| QBI | Is flight under IFR compulsory at... ? | Flight under IFR is compulsory at... . | |
| QBJ | What is the amount, type and height above... of the top of the cloud ? | At... hours at... the top of the cloud is: amount... eights at... height above.... | |
| QBK | Are you flying with no cloud in your vicinity? | I am flying with no cloud in my vicinity and at flight level/altitude... | |
| QBM | Has... sent any messages for me? | Here is the message sent by... at... hours. | |
| QBN | Are you flying between two layers of cloud? | I am flying between two layers of cloud and at flight level/altitude... | |
| QBO | What is the nearest aerodrome at which flight under VFR is permissible and which would be suitable for my landing? | Flying under VFR is permissible at... which would be suitable for your landing. | |
| QBP | Are you flying in and out of cloud? | I am flying in and out of cloud and at flight level/altitude... | |
| QBS | Ascend to... height above... before encountering instrument meteorological conditions or if visibility falls below... and advise. | ||
| QBT | What is the runway visual range at... ? | The runway visual range at... at... hours is.... | |
| QBV | Have you reached flight level/altitude... ? | I have reached... flight level/altitude... . or Report reaching flight level/altitude... . | |
| QBX | Have you left... flight level/altitude... ? | I have left... flight level/altitude... . or Report leaving flight level/altitude... . | |
| QBZ | Report your flying conditions in relation to clouds. | The reply to QBZ ? is given by the appropriate answer form of signals QBF, QBG, QBH, QBK, QBN and QBP. | |
| QCA | May I change my flight level/altitude from... to... ? | You may change your flight level/altitude from... to... or I am changing my flight level/altitude from... to... | |
| QCB | Delay is being caused by... 1) you're transmitting out of turn. 2) your slowness in answering. 3) lack of your reply to my... | ||
| QCE | When may I expect approach clearance? | Expect approach clearance at... hours. or No delay expected. | |
| QCF | Delay indefinite. Expect approach clearance not later than... hours. | ||
| QCH | May I taxi to... ? | Cleared to taxi to.... | |
| QCI | Make a 360-degree turn immediately. or I am making a 360-degree turn immediately. | ||
| QCS | My reception on... frequency has broken down. | ||
| QCX | What is your full call sign? | My full call sign is... or Use your full call sign until further notice. | |
| QCY | I am working on a trailing aerial. or Work on a trailing aerial. | ||
| QDB | Have you sent message... to... ? | I have sent message... to... | |
| QDF | What is your D-Value at... ? or What is the D-Value at... for the... millibar level? | My D-Value at... at... height above the 1013.2 millibars datum is... .... or The D-Value at... at... hours for the... millibar level is .... Note.- When the true altitude is greater than the pressure altitude PS is used and when it is less MS is used. | |
| QDL | Do you intend to ask me for a series of bearings? | I intend to ask you for a series of bearings. | |
| QDM | Will you indicate the MAGNETIC heading for me to steer towards you with no wind? | The MAGNETIC heading for you to steer to reach me with no wind was... degrees. | |
| QDP | Will you accept control of ... now ? | I will accept control of ... now. | |
| QDR | What is my MAGNETIC bearing from you ? | Your MAGNETIC bearing from me was... degrees. | |
| QDT | Are you flying in visual meteorological condition? | I am flying in visual meteorological condition. or You are cleared subject to maintaining own separation and visual meteorological conditions. | |
| QDU | Cancelling my IFR flight. or IFR flight cancelled at.... | ||
| QDV | Are you flying in a flight visibility of less than... ? | I am flying in a flight visibility of less than... at flight level/altitude... | |
| QEA | May I cross the runway ahead of me? | You may cross the runway ahead of you. | |
| QEB | May I turn at the intersection? | Taxi as follows at the intersection... . | |
| QEC | May I make a 180-degree turn and return down the runway? | You may make a 180-degree turn and return down the runway. | |
| QED | Shall I follow the pilot vehicle? | Follow the pilot vehicle. | |
| QEF | Have I reached my parking area? or Have you reached your parking area? | You have reached your parking area. or I have reached my parking area. | |
| QEG | May I leave the parking area? or Have you left the parking area? | You may leave the parking area. or I have left the parking area. | |
| QEH | May I move to the holding position for runway number... ? or Have you moved to the holding position for runway number... ? | Cleared to the holding position for runway number... or I have moved to the holding position for runway number... | |
| QEJ | May I assume position for take-off? or Have you assumed position for take-off? | Cleared to hold at take-off position for runway number... or I am assuming take-off position for runway number... and am holding. | |
| QEK | Are you ready for immediate take-off? | I am ready for immediate take-off. | |
| QEL | May I take-off ? | You are cleared to take-off. | |
| QEM | What is the condition of the landing surface at... ? | The condition of the landing surface at... is... Note.- The information is given by sending appropriate NOTAM Code groups. | |
| QEN | Shall I hold my position? | Hold your position | |
| QEO | Shall I clear the runway ? or Have you cleared the runway ? | Clear the runway. or I have cleared the runway. | |
| QES | Is a right-hand circuit in force at... ? | A right-hand circuit is in force at.... | |
| QFA | What is the meteorological forecast for... for the period... hours until... hours? | The meteorological forecast for... approach 2) runway 3) approach and runway lights are out of order. | |
| QFC | What is the amount, the type and the height above... of the base of the cloud at... ? | At... the base of the cloud is... eighths... type at... height above... Is the... visual beacon until your landing is completed. | |
| QFE | What should I set on the subscale of my altimeter so that the instrument would indicate its height above the reference elevation being used? | If you set the subscale of your altimeter to read... millibars, the instrument would indicate its height above aerodrome elevation. | |
| QFF | what is the present atmospheric pressure converted to mean sea level in accordance with meteorological practice? | At... the atmospheric pressure converted to mean sea level in accordance with meteorological practice is ... millibars. | |
| QFG | Am I overhead? | You are overhead. | |
| QFH | May I descend below the clouds? | You may descend below the clouds. | |
| QFI | Are the aerodrome lights lit? | The aerodrome lights are lit. or Please light the aerodrome lights. | |
| QFL | Will you send up pyrotechnical lights? | I will send up pyrotechnical lights. | |
| QFM | What flight level/altitude... 1) should I maintain? 2) are you maintaining? 3) do you intend cruising at? | ... 1) Maintain I am maintaining flight level/altitude... 3) I intend cruising at flight level/altitude... | |
| QFO | May I land immediately? | You may land immediately. | |
| QFP | Will you give me the latest information concerning... facility ? | The latest information concerning... facility is as follows... Note.- The information is given by sending appropriate NOTAM Code groups. | |
| QFQ | Are the approach and runway lights lit? | The approach and runway lights are lit. or Please light the approach and runway lights. | |
| QFR | Does my landing gear appear damaged? | Your landing gear appears damaged. | |
| QFS | Is the radio facility at... in operation? | The radio facility at... is in operation. or Please have the... radio facility at... put in operation. | |
| QFT | Between what heights above... has ice formation been observed ? | Ice formation has been observed at... in the type of... and with an accretion rate of... between... and... heights above.... | |
| QFU | What is the magnetic direction of the runway to be used? | The magnetic direction of the runway to be used is... Note.- The runway number is indicated by a two-figure group and the magnetic direction by a three-figure group. | |
| QFV | Are the floodlights switched on? | The floodlights are switched on. or Please switch on the floodlights. | |
| QFW | What is the length of the runway in use in... ? | The length of runway... now in use is.... | |
| QFX | I am working on a fixed aerial. or Work on a fixed aerial. | ||
| QFY | Please report the present meteorological landing conditions . | The present meteorological landing conditions at... are... Note.- When given in Q-code the information is sent in the following sequence: QAN, QBA, QNY, QBB, QNH and/or QFE and, if necessary, QMU, QNT, QBJ. | |
| QFZ | What is the aerodrome meteorological forecast for... for the period... hours until... hours? | The aerodrome meteorological forecast for... for the period... hours until... hours is... Note.- When given in Q-code the following sequence of Q signal answer forms is to be used: QAN, QBA, QNY, QBB and, if necessary, QMU, QNT and QBJ. | |
| QGC | There are obstructions to the... of... runway... | ||
| QGD | Are there on my track any obstructions whose elevation equals or exceeds my altitude? | There are obstructions on your track... height above.... | |
| QGE | What is my distance to your station ? | Your distance to my station is.... | |
| QGH | May I land using... ? | You may land using.... | |
| QGK | What track should I make good? or What track are you making good? | Make good a track from... on... degrees.... or I am making good a track from... on... degrees.... | |
| QGL | May I enter the... at... ? | You may enter the... at.... | |
| QGM | Leave the.... | ||
| QGN | May I be cleared to land ? | You are cleared to land . | |
| QGO | Landing is prohibited at.... | ||
| QGP | What is my number for landing? | You are number... to land. | |
| QGQ | May I hold at... ? | Hold at... at flight level/altitude... and await further clearance. | |
| QGT | Fly for... minutes on a heading what will enable you to maintain a track reciprocal to your present one. | ||
| QGU | Fly for... minutes on a magnetic heading of... degrees. | ||
| QGV | Do you see me? or Can you see the aerodrome? or Can you see... ? | I see you at.... or I can see the aerodrome. or I can see... cross-wind leg 2) down-wind leg 3) base leg 4) final leg ... of approach. | |
| QHG | May I enter traffic circuit at flight level/altitude...? | Cleared to enter traffic circuit at flight level/altitude... | |
| QHH | Are you making an emergency landing? | I am making an emergency landing. or Emergency landing being made at.... All aircraft below flight level/altitude... and within a distance of... leave.... | |
| QHI | Are you waterborne? 2) on land? | I am waterborne 2) on land at... hours. | |
| QHQ | May I make a... approach ? or Are you making a... approach? | You may make a... approach . or I am making a... approach. | |
| QHZ | Shall I circle the aerodrome ? | Circle the aerodrome. | |
| QIC | May I establish communication with... radio station on... kHz now ? | Establish communication with... radio station on... kHz. now. or I will establish communication with... radio station on... kHz now. | |
| QIF | What frequency is... using? | ... is using... kHz tape 2) mark and space reversed? | Your... 1) tape 2) mark and space is reversed. |
| QJB | Will you use... 1) radio? 2) cable? 3) telegraph? 4) teletypewriter? 5) telephone? 6) receiver? 7) transmitter? 8) reperforator? | I will use... 1) radio. 2) cable. 3) telegraph. 4) teletypewriter. 5) telephone. 6) receiver. 7) transmitter. 8) reperforator. | |
| QJC | Will you check your... 1) transmitter distributor? 2) auto-head? 3) perforator? 4) reperforator? 5) printer? 6) printer motor? 7) keyboard? 8) antenna system? | I will check my... 1) transmitter distributor. 2) auto-head. 3) perforator. 4) reperforator. 5) printer. 6) printer motor. 7) keyboard. 8) antenna system. | |
| QJD | Am I transmitting... 1) in letters? 2) in figures? | You are transmitting... 1) in letters 2) in figures. | |
| QJE | Is my frequency shift... 1) too wide? 2) too narrow? 3) correct? | Your frequency shift is... 1) too wide. 2) too narrow correct. | |
| QJF | My signal as checked by monitor... is satisfactory... 1) locally. 2) as radiated. | ||
| QJG | Shall I revert to automatic relay? | Revert to automatic relay. | |
| QJH | Shall I run... 1) my test tape? 2) a test sentence? | Run... 1) your test tape. 2) a test sentence. | |
| QJI | Will you transmit a continuous... 1) mark? 2) space? | I am transmitting a continuous... 1) mark. 2) space. | |
| QJK | Are you receiving... 1) a continuous mark? 2) a continuous space? 3) a mark bias? 4) a space bias? | I am receiving... 1) a continuous mark. 2) a continuous space. 3) a mark bias. 4) a space bias. | |
| QKC | The sea conditions permit alighting but not take-off. 2) render alighting extremely hazardous. | ||
| QKF | May I be relieved aircraft... vessel whose call sign is... ]. | ||
| QKG | Will relief take place when... visual, 2) communications, contact with survivors? | Relief will take place when... visual, 2) communications, contact with survivors. | |
| QKH | Report details of the parallel sweep search being conducted? or In the parallel sweep search being conducted, what is ... 1) the direction of sweeps, 2) the separation between sweeps, 3) the flight level/altitude... employed in the search pattern? | The parallel sweep search is being conducted... 1) with direction of sweeps... degrees.... 2) with... separation between sweeps. 3) at flight level/altitude... | |
| QKN | Aircraft plotted in position... on track... degrees at... hours. | ||
| QKO | What other units are taking part in the operation ? | In the operation , the following units are taking part.... or ... square search. 3) creeping line ahead. 4) track crawl. 5) contour search. 6) combined search by aircraft and ship. 7).... | |
| QLB | Will you monitor... station and report regarding range, quality, etc.? | I have monitored... station and report as follows... | |
| QLH | Will you use simultaneous keying on... frequency and... frequency? | I will now key simultaneously on... frequency and... frequency. | |
| QLV | Is the... radio facility still required? | The... radio facility is still required. | |
| QMH | Shift to transmit and receive on... kHz ; if communication is not established within 5 minutes, revert to present frequency. | ||
| QMI | Report the vertical distribution of cloud as observed from your aircraft. | The vertical distribution of cloud as observed from my aircraft at... hours at... is : lowest layer observed*... eights with base of... and tops of... height above.... | |
| QMU | What is the surface temperature at... and what is the dew point temperature at that place? | The surface temperature at... at... hours is... degrees and the dew point temperature at that time and place is... degrees. | |
| QMW | At... what is the flight level/altitude... of the zero Celsius isotherm? | At... the zero Celsius isotherm is at flight level/altitude... | |
| QMX | What is the air temperature at flight level/altitude...? | At... at... hours the air temperature is... at flight level/altitude... Note.- Aircraft reporting QMX information will transmit the temperature figures as corrected for airspeed. | |
| QMZ | Have you any amendments to the flight forecast in respect of section of route yet to be traversed? | The following amendment should be made to the flight forecast... | |
| QNE | What indication will my altimeter give on landing at... at... hours, my sub-scale being set to 1013.2 millibars ? | On landing at... at... hours, with your sub-scale being set to 1013.2 millibars, your altimeter will indicate.... | |
| QNH | What should I set on the subscale of my altimeter so that the instrument would indicate its elevation if my aircraft were on the ground at your station? | If you set the subscale of your altimeter to read... millibars, the instrument would indicate its elevation if your aircraft were on the ground at my station at... hours. Note: When the setting is given in hundredths of an inch, the abbreviation "INS" is used to identify the units. | |
| QNI | Between what heights above... has turbulence been observed at... ? | Turbulence has been observed at... with an intensity of... between... and... heights above.... | |
| QNO | I am not equipped to give the information requested. | ||
| QNR | I am approaching my point of no return. | ||
| QNT | What is the maximum speed of the surface wind at... ? | The maximum speed of the surface wind at... at... hours is.... | |
| QNY | What is the present weather and the intensity thereof at... ? | The present weather and intensity thereof at... at... hours is... Notes: a) When present weather information is transmitted by a ground station, the abbreviations shall be selected from those specified in Annex 3, paragraph 4.8.2. b) When present weather information is transmitted by an aircraft, the information shall be selected from items 10 to 12 of the AIREP form. |
Maritime Mobile Service (QOA–QQZ)
This assignment is specified in RECOMMENDATION ITU-R M.1172.Q signals are not substantially used in the maritime service. Morse code is now very rarely used for maritime communications, but in isolated maritime regions like Antarctica and the South Pacific the use of Q-codes continues. Q-codes still work when HF voice circuits are not possible due to atmospherics and the nearest vessel is one ionospheric hop away.
| Question ? | Answer or Advice | |
| QOA | Can you communicate by radiotelegraphy ? | I can communicate by radiotelegraphy. |
| QOB | Can you communicate by radiotelephony ? | I can communicate by radiotelephony. |
| QOC | Can you communicate by radiotelephony ? | I can communicate by radiotelephony. |
| QOD | Can you communicate with me in... 0. Dutch 5. Italian 1. English 6. Japanese 2. French 7. Norwegian 3. German 8. Russian 4. Greek 9. Spanish? | I can communicate with you in... 0. Dutch 5. Italian 1. English 6. Japanese 2. French 7. Norwegian 3. German 8. Russian 4. Greek 9. Spanish. |
| QOE | Have you received the safety signal sent by... ? | I have received the safety signal sent by.... |
| QOF | What is the commercial quality of my signals? | The quality of your signals is... 1. not commercial 2. marginally commercial 3. commercial. |
| QOG | How many tapes have you to send? | I have... tapes to send. |
| QOH | Shall I send a phasing signal for... seconds? | Send a phasing signal for... seconds. |
| QOI | Shall I send my tape? | Send your tape. |
| QOJ | Will you listen on... kHz for signals of emergency position-indicating radiobeacons? | I am listening on... kHz for signals of emergency position-indicating radiobeacons. |
| QOK | Have you received the signals of an emergency position-indicating radiobeacon on... kHz ? | I have received the signals of an emergency position-indicating radiobeacon on... kHz. |
| QOL | Is your vessel fitted for reception of selective calls? If so, what is your selective call number or signal? | My vessel is fitted for the reception of selective calls. My selective call number or signal is... |
| QOM | On what frequencies can your vessel be reached by a selective call? | My vessel can be reached by a selective call on the following frequency/ies.... |
| QOO | Can you send on any working frequency? | I can send on any working frequency. |
| QOT | Do you hear my call; what is the approximate delay in minutes before we may exchange traffic? | I hear your call; the approximate delay is... minutes. |
All Services (QRA–QUZ)
First defined by the Washington 1927 ITU Radio Regulations. Later defined by ITU-R in Appendix 9 to the Radio Regulations Annex to the International Telecommunications Convention 1947. The current callsign table is found in ITU-R Appendix 42. Current interpretation of the Q-code can be found in ITU-R Appendices 14 and 15.ITU Radio Regulations 1990, Appendix 13: Miscellaneous Abbreviations and Signals to Be Used in Radiotelegraphy Communications Except in the Maritime Mobile Service:
| Question ? | Answer or Advice | |
| QRA | What is the name of your vessel ? | The name of my vessel is... |
| QRB | How far approximately are you from my station? | The approximate distance between our stations is... nautical miles. |
| QRC | By what private enterprise are the accounts for charges for your station settled? | The accounts for charges of my station are settled by the private enterprise.... |
| QRD | Where are you bound for and where are you from? | I am bound for... from... |
| QRE | What is your estimated time of arrival at... ? | My estimated time of arrival at... is... hours. |
| QRF | Are you returning to... ? | I am returning to.... or Return to.... |
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency ? | Your exact frequency is... kHz. |
| QRH | Does my frequency vary? | Your frequency varies. |
| QRI | How is the tone of my transmission? | The tone of your transmission is... 1. good 2. variable 3. bad. |
| QRJ | How many radiotelephone calls have you to book? | I have... radiotelephone calls to book. |
| QRK | What is the intelligibility of my signals ? | The intelligibility of your signals is... 1. bad 2. poor 3. fair 4. good 5. excellent. |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy. Please do not interfere. |
| QRM | Are you being interfered with? #AP13| or Is my transmission being interfered with? | I am being interfered with #AP13| or Your transmission is being interfered with... . |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static . |
| QRO | Shall I increase transmitter power? | Increase transmitter power. |
| QRP | Shall I decrease transmitter power? | Decrease transmitter power. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster. |
| QRR | Are you ready for automatic operation? | I am ready for automatic operation. Send at... words per minute. |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly. |
| QRT | Shall I stop sending? | Stop sending. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRW | Shall I inform... that you are calling him on... kHz ? | Please inform... that I am calling him on... kHz. |
| QRX | When will you call me again? | I will call you again at... hours. |
| QRY | What is my turn? . | Your turn is Number.... . |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by.... |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals ? | The strength of your signals is 1. scarcely perceptible 2. weak 3. fairly good 4. good 5. very good. |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSC | Are you a cargo vessel? #AP13| or Are you a low traffic ship? | I am a cargo vessel. #AP13| or I am a low traffic ship. |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? #AP13| or Are my signals mutilated? | Your keying is defective. #AP13| or Your signals are mutilated. |
| QSE* | What is the estimated drift of the survival craft? | The estimated drift of the survival craft is.... |
| QSF* | Have you effected rescue? | I have effected rescue and am proceeding to... base. |
| QSG | Shall I send... telegrams at a time? | Send... telegrams at a time. |
| QSH | Are you able to home on your direction-finding equipment? | I am able to home on my D/F equipment. |
| QSI | I have been unable to break in on your transmission. or Will you inform... that I have been unable to break in on his transmission. | |
| QSJ | What is the charge to be collected to... including your internal charge? | The charge to be collected to... including my internal charge is... francs. |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission? | I can hear you between my signals; break in on my transmission. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I am acknowledging receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram which I sent you ? | Repeat the last telegram which you sent me number. |
| QSN | Did you hear me on... kHz ? | I did hear you on... kHz. |
| QSO | Can you communicate with... direct ? | I can communicate with... direct. |
| QSP | Will you relay to... free of charge? | I will relay to... free of charge. |
| QSQ | Have you a doctor on board ? | I have a doctor on board. |
| QSR | Shall I repeat the call on the calling frequency? | Repeat your call on the calling frequency; did not hear you. |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use the working frequency... kHz . |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency ? | Send or reply on this frequency . |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of Vs on this frequency ? | Send a series of Vs on this frequency. |
| QSW | Will you send on this frequency ? | I am going to send on this frequency . |
| QSX | Will you listen to... on... kHz ? #AP13| or Will you listen to... on... kHz, or in the bands... / channels... ? | I am listening to... on... kHz. #AP13| or I am listening to... on... kHz, or in the bands... / channels... |
| QSY | Should I change to transmission on another frequency? If so what one? | Change to transmission on another frequency. |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice. |
| QTA | Shall I cancel telegram number... ? | Cancel telegram number... |
| QTB | Do you agree with my counting of words? | I do not agree with your counting of words; I will repeat the first letter or digit of each word or group. |
| QTC | How many telegrams have you to send? | I have... telegrams for you. |
| QTD* | What has the rescue vessel or rescue aircraft recovered? | ... has recovered... 1.... survivors 2. wreckage 3.... bodies. |
| QTE | What is my TRUE bearing from you? or What is my TRUE bearing from... ? or What is the TRUE bearing of... from... ? | Your TRUE bearing from me is... degrees at... hours. or Your TRUE bearing from... was... degrees at... hours. or The TRUE bearing of... from... was... degrees at... hours. |
| QTF | Will you give me the position of my station according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which you control? | The position of your station according to the bearings taken by the D/F stations which I control was... latitude,... longitude, class... at... hours. |
| QTG | Will you send two dashes of ten seconds each followed by your call sign ? or Will you request... to send two dashes of ten seconds followed by his call sign on... kHz ? | I am going to send two dashes of ten seconds each followed by my call sign . or I have requested... to send two dashes of ten seconds followed by his call sign on... kHz. |
| QTH | What is your position in latitude and longitude ? | My position is... latitude,... longitude. |
| QTI | What is your TRUE track? #AP13| | My TRUE track is... degrees. #AP13| |
| QTI* | What is your TRUE course? | My TRUE course is... degrees. |
| QTJ* | What is your speed? . | My speed is... knots. . |
| QTK* | What is the speed of your aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth? | The speed of my aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth is... knots. |
| QTL* | What is your TRUE heading? | My TRUE heading is... degrees. |
| QTM* | What is your MAGNETIC heading? | My MAGNETIC heading is... degrees. |
| QTN | At what time did you depart from... ? | I departed from... at... hours. |
| QTO | Have you left dock ? or Are you airborne? | I have left dock. or I am airborne. |
| QTP | Are you going to enter dock ? or Are you going to alight ? | I am going to enter dock. or I am going to alight. |
| QTQ | Can you communicate with my station by means of the International Code of Signals ? | I am going to communicate with your station by means of the International Code of Signals. |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is... hours. |
| QTS | Will you send your call sign for tuning purposes or so that your frequency can be measured now on... kHz ? #AP13| or Will you send your call sign for... seconds? | I will send my call sign for tuning purposes or so that my frequency may be measured now on... kHz. #AP13| or I will send my call sign for... seconds. |
| QTT | The identification signal which follows is superimposed on another transmission. | |
| QTU | What are the hours during which your station is open? | My station is open from... to... hours. |
| QTV | Shall I stand guard for you on the frequency of... kHz ? | Stand guard for me on the frequency of... kHz . |
| QTW* | What is the condition of survivors? | Survivors are in... condition and urgently need... |
| QTX | Will you keep your station open for further communication with me until further notice ? | I will keep my station open for further communication with you until further notice. |
| QTY* | Are you proceeding to the position of incident and if so when do you expect to arrive? | I am proceeding to the position of incident and expect to arrive at... hours. |
| QTZ* | Are you continuing the search? | I am continuing the search for.... |
| QUA | Have you news of... ? | Here is news of.... |
| QUB* | Can you give me in the following order information concerning: the direction in degrees TRUE and speed of the surface wind; visibility; present weather; and amount, type and height of base of cloud above surface elevation at... ? | Here is the information requested:... |
| QUC | What is the number of the last message you received from me ? | The number of the last message I received from you is... |
| QUD | Have you received the urgency signal sent by... ? | I have received the urgency signal sent by... at... hours. |
| QUE | Can you use telephony in..., with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies? #AP13| or Can you speak in..., – with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies? | I can use telephony in... on... kHz. #AP13| or I can speak in... on... kHz. |
| QUF | Have you received the distress signal sent by... ? | I have received the distress signal sent by... at... hours. |
| QUG | Will you be forced to alight ? #AP13| | I am forced to alight immediately. or I shall be forced to alight at... at... hours. #AP13| |
| QUH* | Will you give me the present barometric pressure at sea level? | The present barometric pressure at sea level is.... |
| QUI | Are your navigation lights working? #AP13| | My navigation lights are working. #AP13| |
| QUJ | Will you indicate the TRUE track to reach you ? #AP13| | The TRUE track to reach me is... degrees at... hours. #AP13| |
| QUK | Can you tell me the condition of the sea observed at... ? #AP13| | The sea at... is... #AP13| |
| QUL | Can you tell me the swell observed at... ? #AP13| | The swell at... is... #AP13| |
| QUM | May I resume normal working? | Normal working may be resumed. |
| QUN | 1. When directed to all stations: Will vessels in my immediate vicinity... or or please indicate their position, TRUE course and speed? or 2. When directed to a single station: please indicate their position, TRUE course and speed? | My position, TRUE course and speed are... |
| QUO* | Shall I search for... 1. aircraft 2. ship 3. survival craft in the vicinity of... latitude,... longitude ? | Please search for... 1. aircraft 2. ship 3. survival craft in the vicinity of... latitude,... longitude. |
| QUP | Will you indicate your position by 1. searchlight 2. black smoke trail 3. pyrotechnic lights? | My position is indicated by 1. searchlight 2. black smoke trail 3. pyrotechnic lights. |
| QUQ | Shall I train my searchlight nearly vertical on a cloud, occulting if possible and, if your aircraft is seen, deflect the beam up wind and on the water to facilitate your landing? | Please train your searchlight on a cloud, occulting if possible and, if my aircraft is seen or heard, deflect the beam up wind and on the water to facilitate my landing. #AP13| |
| QUR* | Have survivors... 1. received survival equipment 2. been picked up by rescue vessel 3. been reached by ground rescue party? | Survivors... 1. are in possession of survival equipment dropped by... 2. have been picked up by rescue vessel 3. have been reached by ground rescue party. |
| QUS* | Have you sighted survivors or wreckage? If so, in what position? | Have sighted... 1. survivors in water 2. survivors on rafts 3. wreckage in position... latitude,... longitude. |
| QUT* | Is position of incident marked? | Position of incident is marked by... 1. flame or smoke float 2. sea marker 3. sea marker dye 4..... |
| QUU* | Shall I home ship or aircraft to my position? | Home ship or aircraft... ... 1. to your position by transmitting your call sign and long dashes on... kHz 2. by transmitting on... kHz TRUE track to reach you. |
| QUW* | Are you in the search area designated as... ? | I am in the... search area. |
| QUX | Do you have any navigational warnings or gale warnings in force? | I have the following navigational warning or gale warning in force:... |
| QUY* | Is position of survival craft marked? | Position of survival craft was marked at... hours by... 1. flame or smoke float 2. sea marker 3. sea marker dye 4..... |
| QUZ | May I resume restricted working? | Distress phase still in force; restricted working may be resumed. |
Amateur radio
Amateur radio has adapted two different sets of Q-codes for use in amateur communications. The first set comes 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.
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, or tell another operator that there is "QSB on the signal" ; "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.
Q-codes as adapted for use in amateur radio
| Code | Question | Answer or Statement |
| QNA | not applicable | Answer Net Control in pre-arranged order, or only specified station check in |
| QNF | Is the net is Free? | The net is free |
| QNI | May I join the net? | You may check in... |
| QNU | Does the net have traffic for me? | The net has traffic for you; please stand by |
| QNX | May I be excused from net? | You are excused |
| QRA | What is the name of your station? | The name of my station is... |
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency ? | Your exact frequency is... kHz. |
| QRH | Does my frequency vary? | Your frequency varies. |
| QRI | How is the tone of my transmission? | The tone of your transmission is |
| QRJ | How many voice contacts do you want to make? | I want to make... voice contacts. |
| QRK | What is the readability of my signals ? | The readability of your signals is.... |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy. Please do not interfere. |
| QRM | Do you have interference? | I have interference. |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static. |
| QRO | Shall I increase power? | Increase power. |
| QRP | Shall I decrease power? | Decrease power. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster. |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly. |
| QRT | Shall I cease or suspend operation? / shutoff the radio? | I am suspending operation / shutting off the radio. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have... messages for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRW | Shall I inform... that you are calling on... kHz ? | Please inform... that I am calling on... kHz. |
| QRX | Shall I standby? / When will you call me again? | Please standby / I will call you again at... on... kHz |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by... on... kHz |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals ? | The strength of your signals is.... |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? | Your keying is defective. |
| QSG | Shall I send... telegrams at a time? | Send... telegrams at a time. |
| QSH | Stay Happy & Healthy | Stay Happy & Healthy |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals? | I can hear you between my signals. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I will acknowledge receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram which I sent you, or some previous telegram ? | Repeat the last telegram which you sent me / message numbers. |
| QSN | Did you hear me on... kHz ? | I did hear you on... kHz. |
| QSO | Can you communicate with... direct or by relay? | I can communicate with... direct. |
| QSP | Will you relay a message to... ? | I will relay a message to.... |
| QSR | Do you want me to repeat my call? | Please repeat your call; I did not hear you. |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use the working frequency... kHz. |
| QST | Should I repeat the prior message to all amateurs I contact? | Here follows a broadcast message to all amateurs. |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency ? | Send or reply on this frequency. |
| QSW | Will you send on this frequency ? | I am going to send on this frequency. |
| QSX | Will you listen to... on... kHz )? | I am listening to... on... kHz ) |
| QSY | Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? | Change to transmission on another frequency. |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice. |
| QTA | Shall I cancel telegram number... as if it had not been sent? | Cancel telegram number... as if it had not been sent. |
| QTC | How many telegrams have you to send? | I have... telegrams for you. |
| QTH | What is your position in latitude and longitude? | My position is... latitude... longitude. |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is... hours UTC. |
| QTU | At what times are you operating? | I am operating from... to... hours. |
| QTX | Will you keep your station open for further communication with me until further notice ? | I will keep my station open for further communication with you until further notice. |
| QUA | Have you news of... ? | Here is news of.... |
| QUC | What is the number of the last message you received from me ? | The number of the last message I received from you is... |
| QUD | Have you received the urgency signal sent by... ? | I have received the urgency signal sent by... at... hours. |
| QUE | Can you speak in... – with interpreter if necessary – if so, on what frequencies? | I can speak in... on... kHz. |
| QUF | Have you received the distress signal sent by... ? | I have received the distress signal sent by... at... hours. |
Informal use
QLF – "Are you sending with your left foot? Try sending with your left foot!" A humorously derogatory comment about the quality of a person's sending.QNB – QNB? “How many buttons on your radio?” “QNB 100/5” Means there are 100 and I know what 5 of them do.
QSK – "I can hear you during my transmission" – refers to a particular mode of Morse code operating often called QSK operation in which the receiver is quickly enabled during the spaces between the dits and dahs, which allows another operator to interrupt transmissions. Many modern transceivers incorporate this function, sometimes referred to as full break-in as against semi-break-in in which there is a short delay before the transceiver goes to receive.
QSY – "Change to transmission on another frequency"; colloquially, "move ". E.g., "When did QSY from Northolt to Portishead?"
QTH – "My location is ..."; colloquially in voice or writing, "location". E.g., "The OCF ' is an interesting build but at my QTH a disappointing performer."
QTHR''' – "At the registered location ..."; chiefly British use. Historically, the location in the printed Callbook; modernly, "as given in online government records for my callsign". E.g., "You can contact me QTHR".
German use during World War II
During World War II, according to Bletchley Park’s General Report on Tunny, German radio teleprinter networks used Q-codes to establish and maintain circuit connections.In particular: QKP was to indicate the Lorenz cipher machine setting for each message and, QZZ to indicate that the daily key change was about to take place at the sender's station.