What Do CQ, Q Signals and Common Ham Radio Abbreviations Mean?

Question

Accepted Answer

Plain language is always welcome on voice. Q signals originated as concise radio shorthand; adding a question mark changes many signals into questions. These are common amateur uses, not a complete formal codebook. CQ Calling Any Station An invitation for a contact. Listen first; on a repeater, normally announce your callsign instead of repeatedly calling CQ. QRZ? Who Is Calling Me? Use when you heard a caller but did not copy the callsign. QRL? Is This Frequency in Use? Ask and listen before starting a contact on an apparently clear frequency. QRM Interference Interference from other signals. QRN Static / Natural Noise Atmospheric noise affecting reception. QSB Fading The received signal strength is varying. QRS Send More Slowly Useful when the Morse sending speed is too fast. QSY Change Frequency Agree on the new frequency before moving. QTH Location Your station’s location; a city or general area is often enough. QSO Radio Contact A conversation or exchange between stations. QSL Acknowledgment I received your message; also used for a contact-confirmation card. QRT Stop Transmitting Often used informally when ending operation. 73 Best Regards A friendly closing, not a Q signal. DE From / This Is Common Morse shorthand before the sending station’s callsign. PTT Push to Talk Press to transmit, release to listen. RST Readability · Strength · Tone Readability 1–5; strength 1–9; tone 1–9 for CW. Voice reports usually use only R and S.