1. The series of groups QRA to QUZ, listed in this Appendix 13, are for use by all services.
2. The QAA to QNZ series are reserved for the aeronautical service. These series are not listed in these Regulations. The QOA to QQZ series are reserved for the maritime services.
3. Certain Q code abbreviations may be given an affirmative or negative sense by sending YES or NO respectively, immediately following the abbreviation.
4. The meanings assigned to Q code abbreviations may be amplified or completed by the addition of other appropriate groups, call signs, place names, figures, numbers, etc. It is optional to fill in the blanks shown in parentheses. Any data which are filled in where blanks appear shall be sent in the same order as shown in the text of the following tables.
5. Q code abbreviations are given the form of a question when followed by a question mark. When an abbreviation is used as a question and is followed by additional or complementary information, the question mark should follow this information.
6. Q code abbreviations with numbered alternative significations shall be followed by the appropriate figure to indicate the exact meaning intended. This figure shall be sent immediately following the abbreviation.
7. All times shall be given in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) unless otherwise indicated in the question or reply.
| Question ? | Answer or Advice | |
|---|---|---|
| QRA | What is the name of your vessel (or station)? | The name of my vessel (or station) is ... |
| QRB | How far approximately are you from my station? | The approximate distance between our stations is ... nautical miles (or km). |
| QRC | By what private enterprise (or state administration) are the accounts for charges for your station settled? | The accounts for charges of my station are settled by the private enterprise ... (or state administration). |
| QRD | Where are you bound for and where are you from? | I am bound for ... from ... |
| QRE | What is your estimated time of arrival at ... (or over ...) (place)? | My estimated time of arrival at ... (or over ...) (place) is ... hours. |
| QRF | Are you returning to ... (place)? | I am returning to ... (place). or Return to ... (place). |
| QRG | Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of ...)? | Your exact frequency (or that of ...) is ... kHz (or MHz). |
| 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 | How many radiotelephone calls have you to book? | I have ... radiotelephone calls to book. |
| QRK | What is the intelligibility of my signals (or those of ...)? | The intelligibility of your signals (or those of ...) is ... 1. bad 2. poor 3. fair 4. good 5. excellent. |
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy (or I am busy with ...). Please do not interfere. |
| QRM | Are you being interfered with? [AP13] or Is my transmission being interfered with? [AP14] | I am being interfered with [AP13] or Your transmission is being interfered with ... [AP14] (1. nil 2. slightly 3. moderately 4. severely 5. extremely). |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static (1. nil 2. slightly 3. moderately 4. severely 5. extremely). |
| QRO | Shall I increase transmitter power? | Increase transmitter power. |
| QRP | Shall I decrease transmitter power? | Decrease transmitter power. |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster (... words per minute). |
| QRR | Are you ready for automatic operation? | I am ready for automatic operation. Send at ... words per minute. |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly (... words per minute). |
| QRT | Shall I stop sending? | Stop sending. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRW | Shall I inform ... that you are calling him on ... kHz (or MHz)? | Please inform ... that I am calling him on ... kHz (or MHz). |
| QRX | When will you call me again? | I will call you again at ... hours (on ... kHz (or MHz)). |
| QRY | What is my turn? (Relates to communication). | Your turn is Number ... (or according to any other indication). (Relates to communication). |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by ... (on ... kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (or those of ...)? | The strength of your signals (or those of ...) is 1. scarcely perceptible 2. weak 3. fairly good 4. good 5. very good. |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading. |
| QSC | Are you a cargo vessel? [AP13] or Are you a low traffic ship? [AP14] | I am a cargo vessel. [AP13] or I am a low traffic ship. [AP14] |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? [AP13] or Are my signals mutilated? [AP14] | Your keying is defective. [AP13] or Your signals are mutilated. [AP14] |
| QSE* | What is the estimated drift of the survival craft? | The estimated drift of the survival craft is ... (figures and units). |
| QSF* | Have you effected rescue? | I have effected rescue and am proceeding to ... base (with ... persons injured requiring ambulance). |
| QSG | Shall I send ... telegrams at a time? | Send ... telegrams at a time. |
| QSH | Are you able to home on your direction-finding equipment? | I am able to home on my D/F equipment (on station ...). |
| QSI | I have been unable to break in on your transmission. or Will you inform ... (call sign) that I have been unable to break in on his transmission (on ... kHz (or MHz)). | |
| QSJ | What is the charge to be collected to ... including your internal charge? | The charge to be collected to ... including my internal charge is ... francs. |
| QSK | Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission? | I can hear you between my signals; break in on my transmission. |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I am acknowledging receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram which I sent you (or some previous telegram)? | Repeat the last telegram which you sent me (or telegram(s) number(s) ...). |
| QSN | Did you hear me (or ... (call sign)) on ... kHz (or MHz)? | I did hear you (or ... (call sign)) on ... kHz (or MHz). |
| QSO | Can you communicate with ... direct (or by relay)? | I can communicate with ... direct (or by relay through ...). |
| QSP | Will you relay to ... free of charge? | I will relay to ... free of charge. |
| QSQ | Have you a doctor on board (or is ... (name of person) on board)? | I have a doctor on board (or ... (name of person) is on board). |
| QSR | Shall I repeat the call on the calling frequency? | Repeat your call on the calling frequency; did not hear you (or have interference). |
| QSS | What working frequency will you use? | I will use the working frequency ... kHz (or MHz) (in the HF bands normally only the last three figures of the frequency need be given). |
| QSU | Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class ...)? | Send or reply on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class ...). |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of Vs on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz))? | Send a series of Vs on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSW | Will you send on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class ...)? | I am going to send on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz)) (with emissions of class ...). |
| QSX | Will you listen to ... (call sign(s)) on ... kHz (or MHz)? [AP13] or Will you listen to ... (call sign(s)) on ... kHz (or MHz), or in the bands ... / channels ... ? [AP14] | I am listening to ... (call sign(s)) on ... kHz (or MHz). [AP13] or I am listening to ... (call sign(s)) on ... kHz (or MHz), or in the bands ... / channels ... [AP14] |
| QSY | Shall I change to transmission on another frequency? | Change to transmission on another frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz)). |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group more than once? | Send each word or group twice (or ... times). |
| QTA | Shall I cancel telegram (or message) number ... ? | Cancel telegram (or message) number ... |
| QTB | Do you agree with my counting of words? | I do not agree with your counting of words; I will repeat the first letter or digit of each word or group. |
| QTC | How many telegrams have you to send? | I have ... telegrams for you (or for ...). |
| QTD* | What has the rescue vessel or rescue aircraft recovered? | ... (identification) has recovered ... 1. ... (number) survivors 2. wreckage 3. ... (number) bodies. |
| QTE | What is my TRUE bearing from you? or What is my TRUE bearing from ... (call sign)? or What is the TRUE bearing of ... (call sign) from ... (call sign)? | Your TRUE bearing from me is ... degrees at ... hours. or Your TRUE bearing from ... (call sign) was ... degrees at ... hours. or The TRUE bearing of ... (call sign) from ... (call sign) was ... degrees at ... hours. |
| QTF | Will you give me the position of my station according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which you control? | The position of your station according to the bearings taken by the D/F stations which I control was ... latitude, ... longitude (or other indication of position), class ... at ... hours. |
| QTG | Will you send two dashes of ten seconds each followed by your call sign (repeated ... times) (on ... kHz (or MHz))? or Will you request ... to send two dashes of ten seconds followed by his call sign (repeated ... times) on ... kHz (or MHz)? | I am going to send two dashes of ten seconds each followed by my call sign (repeated ... times) (on ... kHz (or MHz)). or I have requested ... to send two dashes of ten seconds followed by his call sign (repeated ... times) on ... kHz (or MHz). |
| QTH | What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)? | My position is ... latitude, ... longitude (or according to any other indication). |
| QTI | What is your TRUE track? [AP13] | My TRUE track is ... degrees. [AP13] |
| QTI* | What is your TRUE course? [AP14] | My TRUE course is ... degrees. [AP14] |
| QTJ* | What is your speed? (Requests the speed of a ship or aircraft through the water or air respectively). | My speed is ... knots (or ... kilometres per hour or ... statute miles per hour). (Indicates the speed of a ship or aircraft through the water or air respectively). |
| QTK* | What is the speed of your aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth? | The speed of my aircraft in relation to the surface of the Earth is ... knots (or ... kilometres per hour or ... statute miles per hour). |
| QTL* | What is your TRUE heading? | My TRUE heading is ... degrees. |
| QTM* | What is your MAGNETIC heading? | My MAGNETIC heading is ... degrees. |
| QTN | At what time did you depart from ... (place)? | I departed from ... (place) at ... hours. |
| QTO | Have you left dock (or port)? or Are you airborne? | I have left dock (or port). or I am airborne. |
| QTP | Are you going to enter dock (or port)? or Are you going to alight (or land)? | I am going to enter dock (or port). or I am going to alight (or land). |
| QTQ | Can you communicate with my station by means of the International Code of Signals (INTERCO)? | I am going to communicate with your station by means of the International Code of Signals (INTERCO). |
| QTR | What is the correct time? | The correct time is ... hours. |
| QTS | Will you send your call sign for tuning purposes or so that your frequency can be measured now (or at ... hours) on ... kHz (or MHz)? [AP13] or Will you send your call sign (and/or name) for ... seconds? [AP14] | I will send my call sign for tuning purposes or so that my frequency may be measured now (or at ... hours) on ... kHz (or MHz). [AP13] or I will send my call sign (and/or name) for ... seconds. [AP14] |
| QTT | The identification signal which follows is superimposed on another transmission. | |
| QTU | What are the hours during which your station is open? | My station is open from ... to ... hours. |
| QTV | Shall I stand guard for you on the frequency of ... kHz (or MHz) (from ... to ... hours)? | Stand guard for me on the frequency of ... kHz (or MHz) (from ... to ... hours). |
| QTW* | What is the condition of survivors? | Survivors are in ... condition and urgently need ... |
| QTX | Will you keep your station open for further communication with me until further notice (or until ... hours)? | I will keep my station open for further communication with you until further notice (or until ... hours). |
| QTY* | Are you proceeding to the position of incident and if so when do you expect to arrive? | I am proceeding to the position of incident and expect to arrive at ... hours (on ... (date)). |
| QTZ* | Are you continuing the search? | I am continuing the search for ... (aircraft, ship, survival craft, survivors or wreckage). |
| QUA | Have you news of ... (call sign)? | Here is news of ... (call sign). |
| QUB* | Can you give me in the following order information concerning: the direction in degrees TRUE and speed of the surface wind; visibility; present weather; and amount, type and height of base of cloud above surface elevation at ... (place of observation)? | Here is the information requested: ... (The units used for speed and distances should be indicated.) |
| QUC | What is the number (or other indication) of the last message you received from me (or from ... (call sign))? | The number (or other indication) of the last message I received from you (or from ... (call sign)) is ... |
| QUD | Have you received the urgency signal sent by ... (call sign of mobile station)? | I have received the urgency signal sent by ... (call sign of mobile station) at ... hours. |
| QUE | Can you use telephony in ... (language), with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies? [AP13] or Can you speak in ... (language), - with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies? [AP14] | I can use telephony in ... (language) on ... kHz (or MHz). [AP13] or I can speak in ... (language) on ... kHz (or MHz). [AP14] |
| QUF | Have you received the distress signal sent by ... (call sign of mobile station)? | I have received the distress signal sent by ... (call sign of mobile station) at ... hours. |
| QUG | Will you be forced to alight (or land)? [AP13] | I am forced to alight (or land) immediately. or I shall be forced to alight (or land) at ... (position or place) at ... hours. [AP13] |
| QUH* | Will you give me the present barometric pressure at sea level? | The present barometric pressure at sea level is ... (units). |
| QUI | Are your navigation lights working? [AP13] | My navigation lights are working. [AP13] |
| QUJ | Will you indicate the TRUE track to reach you (or ...)? [AP13] | The TRUE track to reach me (or ...) is ... degrees at ... hours. [AP13] |
| QUK | Can you tell me the condition of the sea observed at ... (place or coordinates)? [AP13] | The sea at ... (place or coordinates) is ... [AP13] |
| QUL | Can you tell me the swell observed at ... (place or coordinates)? [AP13] | The swell at ... (place or coordinates) is ... [AP13] |
| QUM | May I resume normal working? | Normal working may be resumed. |
| QUN | 1. When directed to all stations: [AP13,14] Will vessels in my immediate vicinity ... or (in the vicinity of ... latitude, ... longitude) or (in the vicinity of ...) please indicate their position, TRUE course and speed? or 2. When directed to a single station: [AP14] please indicate their position, TRUE course and speed? | My position, TRUE course and speed are ... |
| QUO* | Shall I search for ... 1. aircraft 2. ship 3. survival craft in the vicinity of ... latitude, ... longitude (or according to any other indication)? | Please search for ... 1. aircraft 2. ship 3. survival craft in the vicinity of ... latitude, ... longitude (or according to any other indication). |
| QUP | Will you indicate your position by 1. searchlight 2. black smoke trail 3. pyrotechnic lights? | My position is indicated by 1. searchlight 2. black smoke trail 3. pyrotechnic lights. |
| QUQ | Shall I train my searchlight nearly vertical on a cloud, occulting if possible and, if your aircraft is seen, deflect the beam up wind and on the water (or land) to facilitate your landing? | Please train your searchlight on a cloud, occulting if possible and, if my aircraft is seen or heard, deflect the beam up wind and on the water (or land) to facilitate my landing. [AP13] |
| QUR* | Have survivors ... 1. received survival equipment 2. been picked up by rescue vessel 3. been reached by ground rescue party? | Survivors ... 1. are in possession of survival equipment dropped by ... 2. have been picked up by rescue vessel 3. have been reached by ground rescue party. |
| QUS* | Have you sighted survivors or wreckage? If so, in what position? | Have sighted ... 1. survivors in water 2. survivors on rafts 3. wreckage in position ... latitude, ... longitude (or according to any other indication). |
| QUT* | Is position of incident marked? | Position of incident is marked by ... 1. flame or smoke float 2. sea marker 3. sea marker dye 4. ... (specify other marking). |
| QUU* | Shall I home ship or aircraft to my position? | Home ship or aircraft ... (call sign) ... 1. to your position by transmitting your call sign and long dashes on ... kHz (or MHz) 2. by transmitting on ... kHz (or MHz) TRUE track to reach you. |
| QUW* | Are you in the search area designated as ... (designator or latitude and longitude)? | I am in the ... (designation) search area. |
| QUX | Do you have any navigational warnings or gale warnings in force? [AP14] | I have the following navigational warning(s) or gale warning(s) in force: ... [AP14] |
| QUY* | Is position of survival craft marked? | Position of survival craft was marked at ... hours by ... 1. flame or smoke float 2. sea marker 3. sea marker dye 4. ... (specify other marking). |
| QUZ | May I resume restricted working? [AP14] | Distress phase still in force; restricted working may be resumed. [AP14] |