| Code | As a question | As a statement |
|---|---|---|
| QRZ On the exam | Who is calling me? | You are being called by… On air, “QRZ?” asks who just called. Our callsign lookup answers it. |
| QTH On the exam | What is your location? | My location is… |
| QSL On the exam | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I acknowledge receipt. Also the card or e-confirmation that proves a contact. |
| QSO On the exam | Can you communicate with…? | I can communicate with… Commonly means a contact or conversation. |
| QRM On the exam | Are you being interfered with? | I am being interfered with. Interference from other stations or man-made sources. |
| QRN On the exam | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static. Natural noise: lightning crashes, atmospheric static. |
| QSB On the exam | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QRP On the exam | Shall I decrease power? | Decrease power. Also the low-power operating community (5 W CW / 10 W SSB or less). |
| QRO | Shall I increase power? | Increase power. |
| QRL On the exam | Is this frequency in use? | This frequency is in use. Always ask “QRL?” before calling CQ. |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster. |
| QRT | Shall I stop sending? | Stop sending. Commonly: “going QRT” = shutting down the station. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRX | When will you call me again? | Stand by; I will call you again. On air it usually means “wait a moment.” |
| QSY On the exam | Shall I change frequency? | Change to another frequency. |
| QSP | Will you relay a message? | I will relay a message. |
| QSK On the exam | Can you hear me between your signals? | I can hear you between my signals. Full break-in keying on CW. |
| QST | — | General call to all amateurs. Also the name of the ARRL’s monthly magazine. |
| QRU On the exam | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. On a traffic net, “QRU” means no messages to pass. |
| QSX | Will you listen on…? | I am listening on… How a DX station announces the frequency it is listening on when working split. |
| QTC | How many messages have you to send? | I have … messages for you. Heard on traffic nets. |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is… |
| QRK | How readable are my signals? | Your signals are readable, 1 to 5. The R in an RST report. |
| QSA | How strong are my signals? | Your signals are strength 1 to 5. |
| QRG | What is my exact frequency? | Your exact frequency is… |
| QRH | Does my frequency vary? | Your frequency varies. A polite way of saying your transmitter is drifting or chirping. |
| QRB | How far are you from my station? | The distance between us is… |
| QRA | What is the name of your station? | The name of my station is… |
| QRW | Shall I tell … you are calling? | Please tell … I am calling. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last message? | Repeat the last message. |
| QSN | Did you hear me on…? | I heard you on… |
Q-Codes
Three-letter shorthand that started with telegraphy and still works on every mode. Add a question mark and it becomes a question. The ones marked ON THE EXAM turn up in the US question pools; the rest are simply heard on the air.