Operators often use the ‘Q’ code as a form of abbreviation. ‘Q’ signals can be in the form of a question or response and often use suffixes to convey additional information. For example:
Question – QTH? (What is your location?)
Answer – QTH Adelaide (My location is Adelaide.)
Some commonly used `Q’ signals are:
| QRA? | What is the name of your station? |
| QRG? | Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of … ?) |
| QRH | Your frequency varies |
| QRK1-5 | The intelligibility of your signals is: 1 Bad, 2 Poor, 3 Fair, 4 Good, 5 Excellent |
| QRM1-5 | I am being interfered with: 1 Nil, 2 Slightly, 3 Moderately, 4 Severely, 5 Extremely |
| QRN1-5 | I am troubled by static: 1 Nil, 2 Slightly, 3 Moderately, 4 Severely, 5 Extremely |
| QRO | Increase power (high power) |
| QRP | Decrease power (low power, generally 5w or less on CW) |
| QRQ? | Shall I send faster? |
| QRS | Send more slowly (…words per minute) |
| QRT | Stop sending (or, I must stop sending… I will stop sending) |
| QRV? | Are you ready? |
| QRX? | When will you call me again? |
| QRX | I will call you again at … hours (on … kHz or MHz, or QRX 3 mins) |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? |
| QSA1-5 | The strength of your signals (or those of …) is: 1 Scarcely perceptible, 2 Weak, 3 Fairly good, 4 Good, 5 Very Good |
| QSB | Your signals are fading |
| QSL? | Can you acknowledge receipt? Or “QSL” meaning I confirm |
| QSL | I am acknowledging receipt |
| QSO | I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …) |
| QSP? | Will you relay to … ? |
| QSP | I will relay to … |
| QSX | I am listening to (callsign/s) on … kHz or MHz |
| QSY | Change to transmission on another frequency (or on … kHz or MHz) |
| QSZ | Send each word or group twice (or … times) |
| QTH? | What is your location? |
| QTH | My location is … |
| QUM? | May I resume normal working? |
| QUM | Normal working may be resumed |
With thanks to Ham College for this information. https://www.hamcollege.org.au/
For a complete list of Q-Codes download this PDF document.