Q Codes / Q Signals

The following is a list of Q codes/signals used in radio operations.  You’ll probably never hear or use most of these, but several are in common usage….

Code Question Answer or Statement
QLE What is your expected signal? The expected signal is low…
QRA What is the name (or call sign) of your station? The name (or call sign) of my station is …
QRG Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of …)? Your exact frequency (or that of … ) is … kHz (or MHz).
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 voice contacts do you want to make? I want to make … voice contacts.
QRK What is the readability of my signals (or those of …)? The readability of your signals (or those of …) is … (1 to 5).
QRL Are you busy? I am busy. (or I am busy with … ) 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 (… wpm)
QRS Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (… wpm)
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 nothing for you.
QRV Are you ready? I am ready.
QRW Shall I inform … that you are calling him on … kHz (or MHz)? Please inform … that I am calling him on … kHz (or MHz).
QRX Shall I standby / When will you call me again? Please standby / I will call you again at … (hours) on … kHz (or MHz)
QRZ Who is calling me? You are being called by … on … kHz (or MHz)
QSA What is the strength of my signals (or those of … )? The strength of your signals (or those of …) is … (1 to 5).
QSB Are my signals fading? Your signals are fading.
QSD Is my keying defective? Your keying is defective.
QSG Shall I send … telegrams (messages) at a time? Send … telegrams (messages) at a time.
QSK Can you hear me between your signals? I can hear you between my signals.
QSL Can you acknowledge receipt? I am acknowledging receipt.
QSM Shall I repeat the last telegram (message) which I sent you, or some previous telegram (message)? Repeat the last telegram (message) which you sent me (or telegram(s) (message(s)) numbers(s) …).
QSN Did you hear me (or … (call sign)) on .. kHz (or MHz)? I did hear you (or … (call sign)) on … kHz (or MHz).
QSO Can you communicate with … direct or by relay? I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …).
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 (or MHz).
QST Here is a broadcast message to all amateurs.
QSU Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? Send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSW Will you send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))? I am going to send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSX Will you listen to … (call sign(s) on … kHz (or MHz))? I am listening to … (call sign(s) on … kHz (or MHz))
QSY Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? Change to transmission on another frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSZ Shall I send each word or group more than once? Send each word or group twice (or … times).
QTA Shall I cancel telegram (message) No. … as if it had not been sent? Cancel telegram (message) No. … as if it had not been sent.
QTC How many telegrams (messages) have you to send? I have … telegrams (messages) for you (or for …).
QTH What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? My position is … latitude…longitude
QTR What is the correct time? The correct time is … hours
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 (or until … hours)? I will keep my station open for further communication with you until further notice (or until … hours).
QUA Have you news of … (call sign)? Here is news of … (call sign).
QUC What is the number (or other indication) of the last message you received from me (or from … (call sign))? The number (or other indication) of the last message I received from you (or from … (call sign)) is …
QUD Have you received the urgency signal sent by … (call sign of mobile station)? I have received the urgency signal sent by … (call sign of mobile station) at … hours.
QUE Can you speak in … (language), – with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies? I can speak in … (language) on … kHz (or MHz).
QUF Have you received the distress signal sent by … (call sign of mobile station)? I have received the distress signal sent by … (call sign of mobile station) at … hours.
US Ammeter Radio Band Plan