INTERACTIVE CHEAT SHEET

Morse Alphabet

Click any letter to hear its sound

Prosigns & Abbreviations

Procedural signals used in Morse code communication, sent as single unbroken sequences

SOS ...---...
International distress signal. Sent as a single unbroken sequence, not three separate letters.
CQ -.-. --.-
General call to all stations. Used to initiate contact with any available operator.
DE -.. .
"From": identifies the sending station. Used as: CQ CQ DE [callsign].
AR .-.-.
End of transmission. Signals that the message is complete.
SK ...-.-
End of contact (Silent Key). Signals the end of a communication session.
BT -...-
Break/pause separator between sections of a message. Equivalent to a new paragraph.
KN -.--.
Invitation to a specific station only. "Go ahead, named station only."
BK -...-.-
Break. Used to interrupt or signal a pause in transmission.
AS .-...
Wait / stand by. Asks the other station to hold briefly.
AA .-.-
All after. Request to repeat everything after a certain word.
AB .-...
All before. Request to repeat everything before a certain word.
K -.-
Invitation to transmit. "Go ahead, any station."
R .-.
Received / Roger. Confirms that the message has been received correctly.
VE ...-.
Verified / Understood. Confirms understanding of the message.
73 --... ...--
Best regards. A traditional way to say goodbye in amateur radio.
88 ---.. ---..
Love and kisses. An affectionate sign-off in amateur radio.
RST .-. ... -
Signal report: Readability (1-5), Strength (1-9), Tone (1-9).
HH ........
Error / correction. Indicates a mistake, the previous word should be disregarded.

Common Q-Codes

Essential ham radio abbreviations used worldwide

QRA What is the name of your station? / The name of my station is...
QRB How far are you from my station? / The distance is...
QRG What is my exact frequency? / Your exact frequency is...
QRH Does my frequency vary? / Your frequency varies.
QRI How is the tone of my transmission? / The tone of your transmission is...
QRK What is the readability of my signals? / Readability is... (1-5 scale).
QRL Is this frequency in use? / This frequency is in use.
QRM Is my transmission being interfered with? / Your transmission is being interfered with.
QRN Are you troubled by static noise? / I am troubled by static noise.
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).
QRS Shall I send more slowly? / Send more slowly (... words per minute).
QRT Shall I stop sending? / Stop sending. I am shutting down.
QRU Have you anything for me? / I have nothing for you.
QRV Are you ready? / I am ready.
QRX When will you call me again? / I will call you again at... hours.
QRZ Who is calling me? / You are being called by...
QSA What is the strength of my signals? / Strength is... (1-5 scale).
QSB Are my signals fading? / Your signals are fading.
QSD Is my keying defective? / Your keying is defective.
QSK Can you hear me between your signals? / I can hear you between my signals (break-in operation).
QSL Can you acknowledge receipt? / I confirm receipt.
QSN Did you hear me on... kHz? / I heard you on... kHz.
QSO Can you communicate with... direct? / I can communicate with... direct.
QSP Will you relay to...? / I will relay to...
QST General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs.
QSX Will you listen on... kHz? / I am listening on... kHz.
QSY Shall I change to another frequency? / Change to transmission on... kHz.
QTC How many messages have you to send? / I have... messages for you.
QTH What is your location? / My location is...
QTR What is the correct time? / The correct time is... hours.
QAA Aviation: What is your ETA? / My ETA is...
QAM Aviation: What is the latest weather at...?
QBA Aviation: What is the visibility at...?
QBF Aviation: Are you flying in clouds?
QDM Aviation: What magnetic heading should I steer to reach you?
QFE Aviation: What is the atmospheric pressure at field elevation?
QNH Aviation: What is the altimeter setting for sea level?
QAP Maritime/General: Shall I listen for you? / Listen for me on... kHz.
QRR Maritime: Are you ready for automatic operation? / I am ready.
QUM Maritime: May I resume normal working? / Normal working may be resumed.
MORSE VARIANTS
Morse Code Variants Around the World
Real Morse alphabets developed for Japanese, Russian, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, Thai, Chinese, and the original American railroad system.
USE CASES
Morse Code for Every Audience
Focused guides for ham radio operators, scouts, pilots, preppers, kids, and more.

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