Q and Z codes


SignalQuestionAnswer, Advice, or Order
QRGWill you indicate my exact frequency in kilocycles?Your frequency is … kc.
QRHDoes my frequency vary?Your frequency varies.
QRIHow is the tone of my transmission?The tone of your transmission is …
QRJAre you receiving me badly? Are my signals weak?I cannot receive you. Your signals are too weak.
QRKWhat is the legibility of my signals (1 to 5)?The legibility of your signals is … (1 to 5).
QRLAre you busy?I am busy (or busy with….). Please do not interfere.
QRMAre you being interfered with?I am being interfered with.
QRNAre you troubled by static?I am troubled by static.
QROMust I increase power?Increase power.
QRPMust I decrease power?Decrease power.
QRQMust I send faster?Send faster … (words per min.).
QRRROfficial A.R.R.L. “land SOS.” A distress call for emergency use only.
QRSMust I send more slowly?Transmit more slowly … (w.p.m.).
QRTMust I stop transmission?Stop transmission.
QRUHave you anything for me?I have nothing for you.
QRVAre you ready?I am ready.
QRWMust I advise … that you are calling him on … kc?Please advise … that I am calling him on … kc.
QRXWhen will you call again?I will call you again at … hours (on … kc.).
QRZBy whom am I being called?You are being called by …
QSAWhat is the strength of my signals (1 to 5)?The strength of your signals is … (1 to 5).
QSBDoes the strength of my signals vary?The strength of your signals varies.
QSDIs my keying correct? Are my signals distinct?Your keying is incorrect; your signals are bad.
QSGMust I transmit … telegrams (or one telegram) at a time?Transmit … telegrams (or one telegram) at a time.
QSGMust I transmit … telegrams (or one telegram) at a time?Transmit … telegrams (or one telegram) at a time.
QSKShall I continue the transmission of all my traffic?I can hear you between my signals. Continue: I shall interrupt you if necessary.
QSLCan you acknowledge receipt?I am acknowledging receipt.
QSMhall I repeat the last telegram I sent you?Repeat the last telegram you sent me.
QSOCan you communicate with … directly (or through…)?I can communicate with … direct (or through…).
QSPWill you relay to …?I will relay to … free of charge.
QSTGeneral call preceeding a message address to all amateurs and A.R.R.L. Members. This is in effect “CQ ARRL”.
QSVShall I send a series of VVV….?Send a series of VVV.
QSXWill you listen for … (call sign) on … kcs?I am listening for … on … kcs.
QSYShall I change to … kilocycles without changing the type of wave?Change to … kc. without changing type of wave.
QSZShall I send each word or group twice?Send each word or group twice.
QTAShall I cancel nr … as if it had not been sent?Cancel nr … as if it had not been sent.
QTBDo you agree with my word count?I do not agree with your word count; I shall repeat the first letter of each word and the first figure of each number.
QTCHow many telegrams have you to send?I have … telegrams for you or for ….
QTHWhat is your position (location)?My position (location) is ….
QTRWhat is the exact time?The exact time is ….
QLEWhat is your expected signal?The expected signal is low…
QNIMay I join the net?You may check in…
QRAWhat is the name (or call sign) of your station?The name (or call sign) of my station is …
QRGWill you tell me my exact frequency (or that of …)?Your exact frequency (or that of … ) is … kHz (or MHz).
QRHDoes my frequency vary?Your frequency varies.
QRIHow is the tone of my transmission?The tone of your transmission is (1. Good; 2. Variable; 3. Bad)
QRJHow many voice contacts do you want to make?I want to make … voice contacts.
QRKWhat is the readability of my signals (or those of …)?The readability of your signals (or those of …) is … (1 to 5).
QRLAre you busy?I am busy. (or I am busy with … ) Please do not interfere.
QRMDo you have interference? [from other stations] I have interference.
QRNAre you troubled by static?I am troubled by static.
QROShall I increase power?Increase power.
QRPShall I decrease power?Decrease power.
QRQShall I send faster?Send faster (… wpm)
QRSShall I send more slowly?Send more slowly (… wpm)
QRTShall I cease or suspend operation?/ shutoff the radio I am suspending operation. /shutting off the radio
QRUHave you anything for me?I have nothing for you.
QRVAre you ready?I am ready.
QRWShall I inform … that you are calling him on … kHz (or MHz)?Please inform … that I am calling him on … kHz (or MHz).
QRXShall I standby / When will you call me again?Please standby / I will call you again at … (hours) on … kHz (or MHz)
QRZWho is calling me?You are being called by … on … kHz (or MHz)
QSAWhat is the strength of my signals (or those of … )?The strength of your signals (or those of …) is … (1 to 5).
QSBAre my signals fading?Your signals are fading.
QSDIs my keying defective?Your keying is defective.
QSGShall I send … telegrams (messages) at a time?Send … telegrams (messages) at a time.
QSKCan you hear me between your signals?I can hear you between my signals.
QSLCan you acknowledge receipt?I am acknowledging receipt.
QSMShall I repeat the last telegram (message) which I sent you
QSNDid you hear me (or … (call sign)) on .. kHz (or MHz)?I did hear you (or … (call sign)) on … kHz (or MHz).
QSOCan you communicate with … direct or by relay?I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …).
QSPWill you relay a message to …?I will relay a message to … .
QSRDo you want me to repeat my call?Please repeat your call; I did not hear you.
QSSWhat working frequency will you use?I will use the working frequency … kHz (or MHz).
QSTHere is a broadcast message to all amateurs.
QSUShall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?Send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSWWill you send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?I am going to send on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSXWill you listen to … (call sign(s) on … kHz (or MHz))?I am listening to … (call sign(s) on … kHz (or MHz))
QSYShall I change to transmission on another frequency?Change to transmission on another frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSZShall I send each word or group more than once?Send each word or group twice (or … times).
QTAShall I cancel telegram (message) No. … as if it had not been sent?Cancel telegram (message) No. … as if it had not been sent.
QTCHow many telegrams (messages) have you to send?I have … telegrams (messages) for you (or for …).
QTHWhat is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)?My position is … latitude…longitude
QTRWhat is the correct time?The correct time is … hours
QTUAt what times are you operating?I am operating from … to … hours.
QTXWill 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).
QUAHave you news of … (call sign)?Here is news of … (call sign).
QUCWhat 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 …
QUDHave 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.
QUECan you speak in … (language) – with interpreter if necessary; if so on what frequencies?I can speak in … (language) on … kHz (or MHz).
QUFHave 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.
QAA-unassigned-
ZBMPlace…on watch on this frequency:
1) a qualified speed-key operator.
2) a competent operator.
QAC
-unassigned-
QAD-unassigned-
QAE-unassigned-
THE DOCUMENT TO WHICH this introduction refers was extracted from a fairly old copy of the Allied Communications Publication 131(B) amended to Change No 1, which, if I remember correctly merely changed all references to Kc/s and Mc/s (remember them?) to kHz and MHz.

Without quoting the introduction to the ACP131(B) it will be obvious that the meanings of these signals are much more formal than the abbreviated meanings of the same signals as adapted and used by amateurs.

My reason for “publishing” these meanings is partly nostalgic and partly for the unintentional humour some of them seem to engender, for me at least. Who can resist a smile at QAK, QAM, QAZ, QCS and QCY. QAU could also be employed quite effectively by amateurs without any modification in certain delicate situations. i.e. QRX5 QAU.

I doubt if any of the Aeronautical signals are used anywhere today, but I assume the meanings still stand. If anyone has available any meanings for those marked -unassigned- I would like to hear from them. Reports of errors or omissions will be not be resented.

I would also like to hear from anyone who has a full and authentic listing of the Cable & Wireless Z-code which had such gems as ZNN…End of Work; ZAN…Can hear absolutely nothing; ZMO…Wait a mo’ etc.

If I have time, I may compile a list of the Allied Z-code, although it would probably only be of passing interest. (Even though ZBM2 could perhaps be used to inflict some pain in certain circumstances).

The documents are all in plain ASCII text, each page being 65 lines in length and restricted to 75 columns maximum. Each page number is followed by a form-feed (ASCII decimal 12).

E&OE of course.


73 de Jim, G4RGA
Packet: GB7TJF.#45.GBR.EU
E-Mail: jayemd@cix.compulink.co.uk

10 September 1995
last modified at 2016-06-29 14:48