Prosigns, Q Signals
and CW Abbreviations
Used in Amateur (Ham) Radio

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 -
"(" 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)
Q Signals
(or Q Abbreviations)
Q Signals take the form of a
question only when each is followed by a question mark.
QRG - Will you tell me my exact
frequency (or that of ___)?
Your
exact frequency (or that of ___) 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 - Are you receiving me
badly?
I can not receive you.
Your signals are too weak.
QRK - What is the intelligibility
of my signals (or those of ___)?
The intelligibility of your signals (or those of ___)
is:
(1. Bad 2. Poor 3. Fair 4. Good 5.
Excellent)
QRL - Are you
busy?
I am busy (or I am busy
with ___). Please do not interfere.
QRM - Is my transmission being
interferred with?
Your
transmission is being interferred with ___.
(1. Nil 2. Slightly 3.
Moderately 4. Severely 5. Extremely)
QRN - Are you troubled by
static?
I am troubled by static
---. (1-5 as under QRM)
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 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 on ___ kHz?
Please
inform ___ that I am calling on ___ kHz.
QRX - When will you call me
again?
I will call you again at
___ hours (on ___ kHz).
QRY - What is my
turn?
Your turn is numbered ___.
QRZ - Who is calling
me?
You are being called by ___
(on ___ kHz).
QSA - What is the strength of my
signals (or those of ___)?
The
strength of you signals (or those of ___) is ___.
(1. Scarcely perceptable 2. Weak 3. Fairly good 4. Good 5. Very
good)
QSB - Are my signals
fading?
Your signals are fading.
QSD - Is my keying
defective?
Your keying is
defective?
QSG - Shall I send ___ messages at
a time?
Send ___ messages at a
time.
QSK - Can you hear me in 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
message I sent you, or some previous message?
Repeat the last message you sent me [or message(s)
number(s) ___].
QSN - Did you hear me (or ___) on
___ kHz?
I did hear you (or ___)
on ___ kHz.
QSO - Can you communicate with ___
direct or by relay?
I can
communicate with ___ direct (or by relay through ___).
QSP - Will you relay to
___?
I will relay to ___.
QST - General call proceding a
message addressed to all amateurs and ARRL members. This is in effect, "CQ
ARRL".
QSU - Shall I send or reply on
this frequency (or on ___ kHz)?
Send a series of Vs on this frequency (or on ___ kHz).
QSW - Will you send on this
frequency (or on ___ kHz)?
I am
going to send on this frequency (or on ___ kHz).
QSX - Will you listen to ___ on
___ kHz?
I am listening to ___ on
___ kHz.
QSY - Shall I change to to
transmission on another frequency?
Change transmission to another frequency (or ___ kHz).
QSZ - Shall I send each word or
group more than once?
Send each
word or group twice (or ___ times).
QTA - Shall I cancel message
number ___?
Cancel message 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 messages have you
to send?
I have ___ messages for
you (or for ___).
QTH - What is your
location?
My location is ___.
QTR - What is the correct
time?
The correct time is
___.
Common abbreviations for CW
work
|
AA |
- All after
|
PBL |
-
Preamble
|
AB |
- All before
|
PSE |
- Please
|
ABT |
- About
|
PWR |
- Power
|
ADR |
- Address
|
PX |
- Press
|
AGN |
- Again
|
R |
- Received as
transmitted; Are
|
AM |
- Amplitude
Modulation
|
RCD |
-
Received
|
ANT |
- Antenna
|
RCVR |
-
Receiver
|
BCI |
- Broadcast
Interference
|
RX |
-
Receiver
|
BCL |
- Broadcast
Listener
|
REF |
- Refer to;
Referring to; Reference
|
BK |
- Break, Break
in
|
RFI |
- Radio frequency
interference
|
BN |
- All between;
Been
|
RIG |
- Station
equipment
|
BUG |
- Semi-Automatic
key
|
RTTY |
- Radio
teletype
|
B4 |
- Before
|
SASE |
- Self-addressed,
stamped envelope
|
C |
- Yes
|
SED |
- Said
|
CFM |
- Confirm; I
confirm
|
SIG |
- Signature;
Signal
|
CK |
-Ckeck
|
SINE |
- Operator's
personal initials or nickname
|
CL |
- I am closing my
station; Call
|
SKED |
-
Schedule
|
CLD |
- Called
|
SRI |
- Sorry
|
CLG |
- Calling
|
SSB |
- Single Side
Band
|
CQ |
- Calling any
station
|
SVC |
- Service; Prefix
to service message
|
CW |
- Continuous
wave
|
T |
- Zero
|
DLD |
- Delivered
|
TFC |
- Traffic
|
DLVD |
- Delivered
|
TMW |
-
Tomorrow
|
DR |
- Dear
|
TKS |
- Thanks
|
DX |
- Distance
|
TNX |
- Thanks
|
ES |
- And
|
TT |
- That
|
FB |
- Fine Business,
excellent
|
TU |
- Thank
you
|
FM |
- Frequency
Modulation
|
TVI |
- Television
interference
|
GA |
- Go ahead
|
TX |
-
Transmitter
|
GM |
- Good
morning
|
TXT |
- Text
|
GN |
- Good night
|
UR |
- Your;
You're
|
GND |
- Ground
|
URS |
- Yours
|
GUD |
- Good
|
VFO |
- Variable
Frequency Oscillator
|
HI |
- The telegraph
laugh; High
|
VY |
- Very
|
HR |
- Here; Hear
|
WA |
- Word
after
|
HV |
- Have
|
WB |
- Word
before
|
HW |
- How
|
WD |
- Word
|
LID |
- A poor
operator
|
WDS |
- Words
|
MA |
-
Millamperes
|
WKD |
- Worked
|
MILS |
-
Millamperes
|
WKG |
- Working
|
MSG |
- Message; Prefix
to radiogram
|
WL |
- Well;
Will
|
N |
- No
|
WUD |
- Would
|
NCS |
- Net Control
Station
|
WX |
- Weather
|
ND |
- Nothing
Doing
|
XCVR |
-
Transceiver
|
NIL |
- Nothing; I have
nothing for you
|
XMTR |
-
Transmitter
|
NM |
- No more
|
XTAL |
- Crystal
|
NR |
- Number
|
XYL |
- Wife
|
NW |
- Now; I resume
transmission
|
YL |
- Young
lady
|
OB |
- Old boy
|
73 |
- Best
Regards
|
OC |
- Old chap
|
88 |
- Love and
kisses
|
OM |
- Old man
|
OP |
-
Operator
|
OPR |
-
Operator
|
OT |
- Old timer; Old
top |