🔤 Phonetics, Q-codes & prosigns
Spell your callsign the ITU way, and decode the QSL/QRZ/73 you keep hearing.
Spell it phonetically
Whiskey Romeo Delta Tango Six Seven Niner
Use the ITU/NATO alphabet, not “W as in whiskey-tango-foxtrot” inventions - “Sugar” and “Nancy” get corrected on the air. Say each letter’s word once, at a steady pace, and give your callsign phonetically the first time and at least every ten minutes after.
ITU phonetic alphabet
0 Zero1 One2 Two3 Three4 Four5 Five6 Six7 Seven8 Eight9 NinerA AlfaB BravoC CharlieD DeltaE EchoF FoxtrotG GolfH HotelI IndiaJ JuliettK KiloL LimaM MikeN NovemberO OscarP Papa
Q QuebecR RomeoS SierraT TangoU UniformV VictorW WhiskeyX X-rayY YankeeZ Zulu
Q-codes you'll actually hear
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| QRL | Is the frequency in use? / The frequency is in use |
| QRM | Interference from other stations |
| QRN | Static / atmospheric noise |
| QRO | Increase power |
| QRP | Reduce power / low power (≤5 W CW, ≤10 W SSB) |
| QRT | Stop sending / going off the air |
| QRV | Are you ready? / I am ready |
| QRX | Stand by, I'll call you back |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? |
| QSB | Your signal is fading |
| QSL | I acknowledge receipt / confirmed |
| QSO | A contact / conversation |
| QSY | Change frequency |
| QTH | My location is… |
| QTR | The correct time is… |
Prosigns & shorthand
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 73 | Best regards |
| 88 | Love and kisses |
| CQ | Calling any station |
| DE | From (this is) |
| K | Go ahead, any station |
| KN | Go ahead, only the station I'm working |
| AR | End of message |
| SK | End of contact (also: silent key) |
| BK | Break - quick turnover |
| R | Received / roger |
| CL | Closing station |
| OM / YL / XYL | Old man (any ham) / young lady / wife |
On GMRS and FM voice, plain English wins: “go ahead”, “clear”, “monitoring”. Q-codes and 73 are ham habits that leaked onto voice; use them lightly.