Phonetic Alphabet

ITU Phonetic Alphabet

Character

Phonetic

Character

Phonetic

A

Alfa

N

November

B

Bravo

O

Oscar

C

Charlie

P

Papa

D

Delta

Q

Quebec

E

Echo

R

Romeo

F

Foxtrot

S

Sierra

G

Golf

T

Tango

H

Hotel

U

Uniform

I

India

V

Victor

J

Juliett

W

Whiskey

K

Kilo

X

X-Ray

L

Lima

Y

Yankee

M

Mike

Z

Zulu

 

 

Q Code Quick Reference

Signal

Question

Answer, Advice or Order

QRG

Will you indicate my exact frequency in kiloHz?

Your frequency is ... kc.

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? Are my signals weak?

I cannot receive you. Your signals are too weak.

QRK

What is the legibility of my signals (1 to 5)?

The legibility of your signals is ... (1 to 5).

QRL

Are you busy?

I am busy (or busy with....). Please do not interfere.

QRM

Are you being interfered with?

I am being interfered with.

QRN

Are you troubled by static?

I am troubled by static.

QRO

Must I increase power?

Increase power.

QRP

Must I decrease power?

Decrease power.

QRQ

Must I send faster?

Send faster ... (words per min.).

QRS

Must I send more slowly?

Transmit more slowly ... (w.p.m.).

QRT

Must I stop transmission?

Stop transmission.

QRU

Have you anything for me?

I have nothing for you.

QRV

Are you ready?

I am ready.

QRW

Must I advise ... that you are calling him on ... kc?

Please advise ... that I am calling him on ... kc.

QRX

When will you call again?

I will call you again at ... hours (on ... kc.).

QRZ

By whom am I being called?

You are being called by ...

QSA

What is the strength of my signals (1 to 5)?

The strength of your signals is ... (1 to 5).

QSB

Does the strength of my signals vary?

The strength of your signals varies.

QSD

Is my keying correct? Are my signals distinct?

Your keying is incorrect; your signals are bad.

QSG

Must I transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time?

Transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time.

QSK

Shall I continue the transmission of all my traffic?

I can hear you between my signals. Continue: I shall interrupt you if necessary.

QSL

Can you acknowledge receipt?

I am acknowledging receipt.

QSM

Shall I repeat the last telegram I sent you?

Repeat the last telegram you sent me.

QSO

Can you communicate with ... directly (or through...)?

I can communicate with ... direct (or through...).

QSP

Will you relay to ...?

I will relay to ... free of charge.

QSV

Shall I send a series of VVV....?

Send a series of VVV.

QSX

Will you listen for ... (call sign) on ... kcs?

I am listening for ... on ... kcs.

QSY

Shall I change to ... kiloHz without changing the type of wave?

Change to ... kc. without changing type of wave.

QSZ

Shall I send each word or group twice?

Send each word or group twice.

QTA

Shall I cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent?

Cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent.

QTB

Do 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.

QTC

How many telegrams have you to send?

I have ... telegrams for you or for ....

QTH

What is your position (location)?

My position (location) is ....

QTR

What is the exact time?

The exact time is ....

 

RST Signal Reporting

R-S-T

Characteristics

Readability

R

Strength

S

Tone

T (cw only)

1

Unreadable

Faint signals, barely perceptible

Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad

2

Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable

Very weak signals

Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad

3

Readable with considerable difficulty

Weak signals

Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered

4

Readable with practically no difficulty

Fair signals

Rough note, some trace of filtering

5

Perfectly readable

Fairly good signals

Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated

6

N/A

Good signals

Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation

7

N/A

Moderately strong signals

Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation

8

N/A

Strong signals

Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation

9

N/A

Extremely strong signals

Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind

Reporting RST for Phone (AM, FM, SSB)

Select the signal's most prominent characteristic from each of the R and S columns in the chart (the T column is not used for phone). Select the number from the R-S Numeral (left) column which corresponds to each characteristic chosen. This R-S sequence of numbers becomes the RS signal report.

For example, a signal of "5 9" means that the phone signal is Readability 5, and Strength 9; a perfectly readable and extremely strong signal. The term "S-9" is also used to report a Strength 9 for an extremely strong signal. If an S-Meter is being used as a basis of the signal report, an S-9 is the numeric level of 9 (S-Units) on the meter. This reporting system may also be used for phone operation by leaving out the Tone (T) portion of the report.

Reporting RST for CW

Select the signal's most prominent characteristic from each of the R, S, and T columns in the chart. Select the number from the R-S-T Numeral (left) column which corresponds to each characteristic chosen. This R-S-T sequence of numbers becomes the RST signal report.

"RST is 599" - means that the morse code cw signal being assessed is Readability 5 (perfectly readable), Strength 9 (extremely strong signal), Tone 9 (perfect tone). This is the ultimate cw signal.

If the signal has the characteristic stability of crystal control, the letter X may be added to the end of the RST report. Use the the letter C to indicate a chirp on the signal and the letter K for key clicks.

 

 

The International Morse Code

A      . -

X       - . . -

B      - . . .

Y       - . - -

C      - . - .

Z       - - . .

D       - . .

0       - - - - -

E       .

1       . - - - -

F       . . - .

2       . . - - -

G       - - .

3       . . . - -

H       . . . .

4       . . . . -

I        . .

5       . . . . .

J       . - - -

6       - . . . .

K       - . -

7       - - . . .

L       . - . .

8       - - - . .

M      - -

9       - - - - .

N       - .

(period)    . - . - . -

O      - - -

,             - - . . - -

P       . - - .

?            . . - - . .

Q      - - . -

/             - . . - .

R       . - .

(dash)     - . . . . -

S       . . .

AR ( + end msg)        . - . - .

T       -

BT ( = or break)          - . . . -

U      . . -

SK (end of work)   . . . - . -

V      . . . -

HH (error)      . . . . . . . .

W     . - -

 

International Morse Code Recognition

.                    E

- .                 N

. .                  I

- . -               K

. . -               U

- . - .             C

. . - .             F

- . - -             Y

. . - - . .         ?

- . .               D

. . - - -           2

- . . -             X

. . .                S

- . . - .           /

. . . -             V

- . . .             B

. . . - . -        SK   (end work)

- . . . -          BT  (break)

. . . - -           3

- . . . .           6

. . . .              H

- . . . . -         -    (dash)

. . . . -           4

 

. . . . .            5

 

. . . . . . . .     HH (error)

 

 

 

. -                 A

-                   T

. - .                R

- -                 M

. - . .             L

- - .               G

. - -               W

- - . .             Z

. - - .             P

- - . -             Q

. - - -             J

- - . . .           7

. - - - -           1

- - -               O  (oh)

. - . - .          AR  (end msg)

- - - . .           8

. - . - . -         .     (period)

- - - - .           9

 

- - - - -           0  (zero)

 

- - . . - -          ,  (comma)