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

[Sandy]

The term "Break" was used for years on amateur radiotelephone before the CB 
bands were inv ented by the FCC!  It is NOT a term that originated on the 
Citizen's band.  The CB band occupied what used to be the Amateur 11 meter 
band , 26.96-27.23 Mhz.  It often opened before 10 meters did and was open 
even though 10 meters was dead or "slightly" opened.

The "Q" signals were NOT meant to be used on radiotelephone.  This was 
frowned upon at one time and looked at as incorrect procedure.

There is a Hydrographic Office puiblication (H.O. 103 I think?) called the 
"International Code of Signals"  which uses letter groups for all sorts of 
questions and associated answers being exchanged between ships whose crews 
did not speak the same language.  It was very comprehensive and more 
complicated than the "Q code".  Seems like I remember it having 4-5 letter 
groups.  The book has an "encode" and "Decode" section to make it easier to 
use.  It's been 20+ years since I saw one and I don't remember much more. 
This publication could still be sued by ships exchanging telex messages or 
even voice communication, but it is rather slow.

73,

Sandy W5TVW
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <dfischer at usol.com>
To: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net>
Cc: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Why The Letter "Q" And Who Invented The Code?


> 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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