The meaning of various terms, acronyms and expressions commonly used in radio, especially amateur radio.
The meaning of various terms, acronyms and expressions commonly used in radio, especially amateur radio.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 73 | Best regards & goodbye |
| CQ | Is anyone there? |
| QRB | How far away are you? |
| QRG | What is my exact frequency? |
| QRK | Understandability (1=bad, 5=great) |
| QRL | Is the frequency busy? |
| QRM | Interference from other signals |
| QRN | Interference from static |
| QRO | Increase Transmit Power |
| QRP | Decrease Transmit Power |
| QRQ | Speed up |
| QRS | Slow down |
| QRU | Anything for me? |
| QRT | Suspending operation |
| QRV | Ready? |
| QRX | Stand by. |
| QRZ | Who are you? |
| QSA | Signal Strength (1=low, 5=very strong) |
| QSL | Acknowledge receipt |
| QSO | Communicate directly or through a relay? |
| QSP | Relay a message |
| QST | Message address to all that receive it. |
| QSU | Reply on a different frequency |
| QSY | Change frequency |
| QTH | Position (latitude & longitude or grid) |
| QTR | What is your correct time? |
| Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unreadable |
| 2 | Barely readable – occasional words |
| 3 | With considerable difficulty |
| 4 | Readable with almost no issues |
| 5 | Perfectly understandable |
| Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Faint, barely perceptible |
| 3 | Weak signal |
| 5 | Fairly good signal |
| 7 | Moderately strong |
| 9 | Extremely strong signal |
| 9+ | Some amount over S9 |
Signal reports are typically given as a two-number report. The first number is the readability (how well you understand them) and this is a 1-5 scale. The second number is for their signal strength, and this is denoted in “S-units”. A good signal report is 5-9 for instance.
