Morse Code Q-Codes — Complete Reference
This Morse code Q-codes guide lists all 27 standard QRA–QTH codes with question and statement meanings, Morse signals, and ham radio use.
REFERENCE
The complete reference for every standard Q-code used in Morse code and ham radio — what each code means as a question and as a statement, its Morse code signal, and how operators use it on the air.
What Are Q-Codes?
Q-codes are three-letter codes that begin with the letter Q, developed in the early 1900s for commercial radiotelegraphy and later adopted by amateur (ham) radio operators around the world. They let operators exchange standard messages quickly and unambiguously — even across language barriers.
Every Q-code works two ways: sent with a question mark it asks a question (QRZ?), sent without one it is a statement or answer (QRZ W1AW). The table below shows both forms, along with each code’s Morse code signal so you can recognize it on the air.
Complete Q-Code Reference Table
| CODE | MORSE CODE | QUESTION (?) | STATEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRA | ——·— ·—· ·— | What is the name of your station? | The name of my station is ___. |
| QRB | ——·— ·—· —··· | How far approximately are you from my station? | The approximate distance between our stations is ___ nautical miles. |
| QRD | ——·— ·—· —·· | Where are you bound and where are you from? | I am bound for ___ from ___. |
| QRG | ——·— ·—· ——· | What is my exact frequency? | Your exact frequency is ___ kHz. |
| 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). |
| QRK | ——·— ·—· —·— | What is the intelligibility of my signals? | The intelligibility of your signals is ___ (1–5: bad to excellent). |
| QRL | ——·— ·—· ·—·· | Are you busy? Is this frequency in use? | I am busy (with ___). This frequency is in use. |
| QRM | ——·— ·—· —— | Is my transmission being interfered with? | Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1. Nil … 5. Extremely). |
| QRN | ——·— ·—· —· | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static ___ (1. Nil … 5. Extremely). |
| QRO | ——·— ·—· ——— | Shall I increase transmitter power? | Increase transmitter power. |
| QRP | ——·— ·—· ·——· | Shall I decrease transmitter power? | Decrease transmitter power. (Also used to mean low-power operation.) |
| QRQ | ——·— ·—· ——·— | Shall I send faster? | Send faster (___ words per minute). |
| QRS | ——·— ·—· ··· | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly (___ words per minute). |
| QRT | ——·— ·—· — | Shall I stop sending? | Stop sending. (Also: closing station.) |
| QRU | ——·— ·—· ··— | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | ——·— ·—· ···— | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRX | ——·— ·—· —··— | When will you call me again? | I will call you again at ___ hours (on ___ kHz). |
| QRZ | ——·— ·—· ——·· | Who is calling me? | You are being called by ___ (on ___ kHz). |
| QSB | ——·— ··· —··· | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSL | ——·— ··· ·—·· | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I am acknowledging receipt. (A QSL card confirms a contact.) |
| QSM | ——·— ··· —— | Shall I repeat the last message I sent you? | Repeat the last message you sent me (or message numbers ___). |
| QSN | ——·— ··· —· | Did you hear me (or ___) on ___ kHz? | I heard you (or ___) on ___ kHz. |
| QSO | ——·— ··· ——— | Can you communicate with ___ direct or by relay? | I can communicate with ___ direct (or by relay through ___). |
| QSX | ——·— ··· —··— | Will you listen to ___ on ___ kHz? | I am listening to ___ on ___ kHz. |
| QSY | ——·— ··· —·—— | Shall I change to another frequency? | Change to another frequency (on ___ kHz). |
| QTH | ——·— — ···· | What is your location? | My location is ___ (latitude/longitude or place name). |
How to Use Q-Codes on the Air
Before calling CQ on a frequency, send QRL? — “Is this frequency in use?” If another station answers, find a clear frequency before calling. If someone calls while you are listening, QRZ? asks who called you. Answer questions with the statement form: QRS (“Send more slowly”) or QRX 1830 (“I will call you again at 1830”). Q-codes work identically in Morse code (CW) and voice contacts, and standard practice is to leave a space between the letters of the code when sending.
FAQs
Do Q-codes work the same in Morse code and voice operation?
Yes. Q-codes originated in Morse-code radiotelegraphy, but they are used identically in CW and voice (phone) contacts. Many operators also use them in written communication such as logbooks and email.
What is the difference between QSO and QSL?
A QSO is a two-way radio contact between stations. QSL means “I acknowledge receipt” — it confirms the contact happened. Hams traditionally exchange QSL cards as physical or electronic confirmation of a QSO.
What does QRP mean in ham radio?
As a question, QRP asks “Shall I decrease transmitter power?” and as a statement it means “Decrease transmitter power.” By extension, QRP also describes low-power operation — typically 5 watts or less — which many hams practice as a challenge.
What should I send before calling on a frequency?
Send QRL? — “Is this frequency in use?” If another station replies, move to a clear frequency before calling. This simple courtesy keeps the bands friendly.
Explore More
- Morse Code Alphabet — complete A–Z chart
- Morse Code Practice — train with audio
- Morse Code Translator — translate text to Morse code on the homepage
- Ham Radio Q-Codes & CW Slang — essential codes plus CW abbreviations and ham slang
How to Memorize Q-Codes
There are dozens of Morse code Q-codes, but you do not need to memorize all of them at once. Start with the handful you will actually use on the air: QRL (is this frequency in use), QRZ (who is calling me), QRS (send more slowly), QTH (what is your location), QSL (acknowledge receipt), and QRT (stop sending). These six cover the most common moments in a contact: finding a clear frequency, starting a conversation, asking for slower sending, exchanging locations, confirming a message, and signing off. Learn those first, and add more codes only when you start hearing them.
Group the rest by meaning to make them easier to remember. Signal-report codes such as QRK, QRM, QRN, QSB, and QRI all describe how a signal sounds or how much interference it has. Power and speed codes such as QRO, QRP, QRQ, and QRS all ask for a change in how the other station sends. Movement codes such as QSY, QRX, and QRT all describe what happens next in the contact. A second trick is to learn the statement form first: QTH means my location is, QSL means I acknowledge receipt, and QRT means stop sending. Once the statement feels natural, the question form is the same code with a question mark.
Flashcards and short drills lock the codes in. Write the code on one side of a card and its meaning on the other, shuffle them, and test yourself for five minutes a day. Better still, practice in context: listen to a recorded contact and note each Q-code you hear, or run a mock contact with a friend where you answer QRZ with your call sign and QTH with your town. The ham radio Q-codes page adds the codes and abbreviations used in daily amateur operation, and the Morse code practice page gives you audio drills for hearing codes at speed. The Morse code reference page is a good companion chart while you study.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Morse code Q-codes are there?
There are dozens of Q-codes, from QRA through QZZ, covering questions about location, signal quality, power, speed, and procedure. The reference table on this page lists the most common ones. In daily operation, most operators use fewer than twenty of them regularly. This Morse code Q-codes reference covers the full standard set from QRA through QTH.
What is the easiest way to remember Q-codes?
Learn the six most common codes first, then group the rest by meaning: signal reports, power and speed, and contact procedure. Flashcards and mock contacts help more than reading the list. Five minutes of daily drill beats an hour of cramming once a week. Learn more about the code in the Morse code article on Wikipedia.
Do I need to memorize Q-codes for a ham radio license?
License exams may ask about a few common codes, but the main reason to learn them is practical: they make on-air contacts smoother. Check your country’s current exam syllabus for the exact codes it covers, and focus on those first. The ARRL has licensing resources and a glossary of ham radio terms.
Are Q-codes still used in modern radio?
Yes. Q-codes remain standard shorthand in amateur radio, aviation, and maritime communication. They save time, avoid language barriers, and work identically in Morse code and voice operation, which is why they have survived for more than a century. The Morse code Q-codes list above remains the standard reference for operators.
