[Boatanchors] Why The Letter "Q" And Who Invented The Code?

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Hi Jim,

Which raises another somewhat related question.

Suppose a QSO between two or more Hams is in progress. Suppose a new arrival 
on the frequency wants to get a station signal/audio report. How is he/she 
supposed to make contact? Does he/she say "Contact", or "Break", just give 
his/her call sign or?

Some say that "Contact" is only used when the new party desires to make 
contact with a specific station among those having the ongoing QSO. Others 
say that "Break" is a Citizens Band term, which is true, and is not to be 
used on Ham Radio. Not that it is illegal, just not proper Ham termonology. 
Then others say it is proper to simply give your call sign over the air and 
wait to be called by one of the stations having the QSO.

So Jim, or whomever, what is the proper way to ask for a station signal 
quality check when one encounters a QSO in progress among two or more Hams?

Additionally, does the means differ if said QSO in progress is a structured 
Net?

Thanks guys!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net>
Cc: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Why The Letter "Q" And Who Invented The Code?


>I do wish people (hams) would study this example and use Q codes as 
>intended,  for example, "QRZ the net".  Many of the codes have been 
>misapplied in the past 20 years.
>
> At one time there were questions on the test as to the meaning of various 
> Q codes.  I haven't looked lately so can't speak about today's tests.
>
> Jim/W5JO
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Peters" <rwpeters at swbell.net>
> Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] Why The Letter "Q" And Who Invented The Code?
>
>
>> Very interesting John..Thankyou for sharing that tidbit...
>>
>> Bob W1PE
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> Cc: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Why The Letter "Q" And Who Invented The Code?
>>
>> Did anybody look at Wiki?
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code
>>
>> Best
>> -John
>
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