Q-Codes
Introduction
1 The series of groups listed in this Annex range from QOA to QUZ.
2 The QOA to QQZ series are reserved for the maritime mobile service.
3 Certain Q code abbreviations may be given an affirmative or negative sense by sending, immediately following the abbreviation, the letter C or the letters NO (in radiotelephony spoken as: CHARLIE or NO).
4 The meanings assigned to Q code abbreviations may be amplified or completed by the appropriate addition of other 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 in radiotelegraphy and RQ (ROMEO QUEBEC) in radiotelephony. When an abbreviation is used as a question and is followed by additional or complementary information, the question mark (or RQ) 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.
8 An asterisk * following a Q code abbreviation means that this signal has a meaning similar to a signal appearing in the International Code of Signals.
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 kilometres).
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 ... (name and/or call sign))? The intelligibility of your signals (or those of ... (name and/or call sign )) is ... 1. bad 2. poor 3. fair 4. good 5. excellent.
QRL Are you busy? I am busy (or I am busy with ... (name and/or call sign)). Please do not interfere.
QRM Is my transmission being interfered with? Your transmission is being interfered with ... 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 ... (name and/or call sign))? The strength of your signals (or those of ... (name and/or call sign)) 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 low traffic ship station? I am a low traffic ship station.
QSD Are my signals mutilated? Your signals are mutilated.
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 with your direction-finding equipment? I am able to home with my direction-finding equipment (on ... (name and/or call sign)).
QSI I have been unable to break in on your transmission. or Will you inform ... (name and/or 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 may 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 ... (name and/or call sign)) on ... kHz (or MHz)? I did hear you (or ... (name and/or call sign)) on ... kHz (or MHz).
QSO Can you communicate with ... (name and/or call sign) direct (or by relay)? I can communicate with ... (name and/or call sign) direct (or by relay through ...).
QSP Will you relay to ... (name and/or call sign) free of charge? I will relay to ... (name and/or call sign) 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 high frequency 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 (or signs) for adjustment on this frequency (or on ... kHz (or MHz))? Send a series of Vs (or signs) for adjustment 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 ... (name and/or call sign(s)) on ... kHz (or MHz), or in the bands .../channels ...? I am listening to ... (name and/or call sign(s)) on ... kHz (or MHz), or in the bands .../channels ...
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 ... (name and/or call sign)).
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 ... (name and/or call sign)? or Your TRUE bearing from me is ... degrees at ... hours. or Your TRUE bearing from ... (name and/or call sign) was ... degrees at ... hours. or What is the TRUE bearing of ... (name and/or call sign) from ... (name and/or call sign)? The TRUE bearing of ... (name and/or call sign) from ... (name and/or call sign) was ... degrees at ... hours.
QTF Will you give me my position according to the bearings taken by the direction-finding stations which you control? Your position according to the bearings taken by the directionfinding 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 (or carrier) followed by your call sign (or name) (repeated ... times) on ... kHz (or MHz)? or Will you request ... (name and/or call sign) to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by his call sign (and/or name) (repeated ... times) on ... kHz (or MHz)? I am going to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by my call sign (or name) (repeated ... times) on ... kHz (or MHz). or I have requested ... (name and/or call sign) to send two dashes of ten seconds each (or carrier) followed by his call sign (and/or name) (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 course? My TRUE course is ... degrees.
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 (and/or name) for ... seconds? I will send my call sign (and/or name) for ... seconds.
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 ... (name and/or call sign)? Here is news of ... (name and/or 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 ... (name and/or call sign))? The number (or other indication) of the last message I received from you (or from ... (name and/or call sign)) is ...
QUD Have you received the urgency signal sent by ... (name and/or call sign)? I have received the urgency signal sent by ... (name and/or call sign) at ... hours.
QUE Can you speak in ... (language), with interpreter if necessary; if so, on what frequencies? I can speak in ... (language) on ... kHz (or MHz).
QUF Have you received the distress signal sent by ... (name and/or call sign)? I have received the distress signal sent by ... (name and/or call sign) at ... hours.
QUH* Will you give me the present barometric pressure at sea level? The present barometric pressure at sea level is ... (units).
QUM May I resume normal working? Normal working may be resumed.
QUN 1. When directed to all stations: 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? 2. When directed to a single station: Please indicate your 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.
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 ... (name and/or call sign) ... 1. to your position by sending your call sign and long dashes on ... kHz (or MHz) 2. by sending 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? I have the following navigational warning(s) or gale warning(s) in force: ...
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? Distress phase still in force; restricted working may be resumed.