Amateur Radio Common Abbreviations
In December, 1915, the American Radio Relay League began publication of a magazine titled QST, named after the Q code for "General call to all stations". In amateur radio, the Q codes were originally used in Morse code transmissions to shorten lengthy phrases and were followed by a Morse code question mark (..--..) if the phrase was a question.
Q codes are commonly used in voice communications as shorthand nouns, verbs, and adjectives making up phrases. For example, an amateur radio operator will complain about QRM (man-made interference), or tell another operator that there is "QSB on the signal"; "to QSY" is to change your operating frequency.
| Abbreviations |
Meaning |
| AA | All after |
| AB | All before |
| ABT | About |
| ADR | Address |
| AGN | Again |
| AM | Amplitude Modulation |
| ANT | Antenna |
| BCI | Broadcast Interference |
| BCL | Broadcast Listener |
| BK | Break; Break in |
| BN | All between; Been |
| BUG | Semi-Automatic key |
| B4 | Before |
| C | Yes |
| CFM | Confirm; I confirm |
| CK | Check |
| CL | I am closing my station; Call |
| CLD | Called |
| CLG | Calling |
| CQ | Calling any station |
| CW | Continuous wave (Morse code) |
| DLD | Delivered |
| DLVD | Delivered |
| DR | Dear |
| DX | Distance |
| ES | And |
| FB | fine Business (Excellent) |
| FM | Frequency Modulation |
| GA | Go Ahead |
| GN | Good Night |
| GND | Ground |
| GUD | Good |
| HI | The telegraph laugh; High |
| HR | Here; Hear |
| HV | Have |
| HW | How |
| LID | A poor operator |
| MA | Millamperes |
| MILS | Millamperes |
| MSG | Message; Prefix to radiogram |
| N | No |
| NCS | Net Control Station |
| ND | Nothing Doing |
| NIL | Nothing; I have nothing for you |
| NM | No More |
| NR | Number |
| NW | Now; I resume transmition |
| OB | Old Boy |
| OC | Old Chap |
| OM | Old Man |
| OP | Operator |
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| Abbreviations |
Meaning |
| OPR | Operator |
| OT | Old Timer; Old Top |
| PBL | Preabble |
| PSE | Please |
| PWR | Power |
| PX | Press |
| R | Received as transmitted; Are |
| RCD | Received |
| RCVR | Receiver |
| RX | Receiver |
| REF | Refer to; Referring to; Reference |
| RFI | Radio Frequency Interference |
| RIG | Station Equipment |
| RTTY | Radio TeleTYpe |
| SASE | Self-addressed, stamped envelope |
| SED | Said |
| SIG | Signature; Signal |
| SINE | Operator's personal initials or nickname |
| SKED | Schedule |
| SRI | Sorry |
| SSB | Single Side Band |
| SVC | Service; Prefix to service message |
| T | Zero |
| TFC | Traffic |
| TMW | Tomorrow |
| TKS | Thanks |
| TNX | Thanks |
| TT | That |
| TU | Thank You |
| TVI | Television interference |
| TX | Transmitter |
| TXT | Text |
| UR | Your; You're |
| URS | Yours |
| VFO | Variable Frequency Oscillator |
| VY | Very |
| WA | Word after |
| WB | Word before |
| WD | Word |
| WDS | Words |
| WKD | Worked |
| WKG | Working |
| WL | Well; Will |
| WUD | Would |
| WX | Weather |
| XCVR | Transceiver |
| XTAL | Crystal |
| XYL | Wife |
| YL | Young Lady |
| 73 | Best Regarde |
| 88 | Love and kisses |
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