# Q-Codes and Operating Shorthand

This reference summarizes Q-groups and similar short operating messages
that appear in the BNetzA 2024 exam question catalog in
`data/2024-03-20-3-auflage/fragenkatalog3b.json`.

Reference counts are the number of exam question records where the code
appears in the question text or answer choices. For very short ambiguous
codes such as `DE` and `K`, the count includes only procedural radio usage,
not unrelated uses such as country/prefix examples, units, or ordinary
words. Mode names and technical abbreviations such as `CW`, `SSB`, `FM`,
`QAM`, and `RTTY` are intentionally not included.

## Q-Groups

| Code | What it means when question | What it means when not in question | Explanation, when actually used | Usage example | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `QRM` | Is my transmission being interfered with? | Your transmission is being interfered with. | Formal Q-code perspective; amateurs also commonly say "I have QRM" for interference at their receiver. | DL1ABC: `QRM?` / DO2XYZ: `QRM, pse repeat report.` | 2 | `BB201`, `BB204` |
| `QRN` | Are you troubled by atmospheric noise? | I have atmospheric noise. | Used when static crashes or atmospheric noise make reception difficult. | DL1ABC: `QRN here, ur report?` / DO2XYZ: `RST 55 despite QRN.` | 1 | `BB201` |
| `QRO` | Shall I increase transmitter power? | Increase transmitter power; I am increasing power. | Used when more power may be needed, usually after trying normal operating improvements first. | DL1ABC: `QRO?` / DO2XYZ: `PSE QRO, ur weak.` | 1 | `BB202` |
| `QRP` | Shall I decrease transmitter power? | Decrease transmitter power. | Formal request to reduce power; in everyday amateur use it also describes low-power operation. | DL1ABC: `PSE QRP.` / DO2XYZ: `QRP 5 W now.` | 1 | `BB205` |
| `QRT` | Shall I stop transmitting? | Stop transmitting; I am stopping transmission. | Used to close down transmission or ask another station to stop transmitting. | DL1ABC: `I must QRT.` / DO2XYZ: `QSL, 73.` | 1 | `BB203` |
| `QRV` | Are you ready? | I am ready. | Used to ask if a station is ready, or to say that a station is available for traffic. | DL1ABC: `QRV?` / DO2XYZ: `QRV, go ahead.` | 2 | `BB204`, `BE107` |
| `QRX` | When will you call me again? | I will call you again at a stated time and frequency. | In normal amateur use, `QRX 5` also means to stand by for five minutes. | DL1ABC: `QRX 5 min.` / DO2XYZ: `QSL, standing by.` | 1 | `BB202` |
| `QRZ` | Who is calling me? | You are being called by ... | Used when a caller was not copied; DX and contest stations also use the question form to invite the next caller. | DL1ABC: `QRZ?` / DO2XYZ: `DO2XYZ calling.` | 6 | `BB203`, `BE101`, `BE104`, `BE107`, `BE112`, `BE115` |
| `QSB` | Is the strength of my signal fading? | Your signal strength is fading or fluctuating. | Used when signal strength rises and falls because of propagation. | DL1ABC: `QSB?` / DO2XYZ: `Yes, strong QSB, now 55.` | 2 | `BB201`, `BE107` |
| `QSL` | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I acknowledge receipt. | Confirms copied information; QSL cards and electronic QSLs are the later amateur contact-confirmation usage. | DL1ABC: `My QTH Berlin, QSL?` / DO2XYZ: `QSL, Berlin copied.` | 12 | `BB203`, `BE103`, `BE210`, `BE307`, `BG104`, `BG105`, `BG106`, `BG107`, `BG108`, `BG109`, `BG110`, `BG111` |
| `QSO` | Can you communicate with ... directly or by relay? | I can communicate with ... directly or by relay through ... | In everyday amateur speech and logging, a QSO means a radio contact. | DL1ABC: `Tnx for QSO.` / DO2XYZ: `Tnx also, 73.` | 9 | `BB202`, `BE108`, `BE110`, `BE303`, `BE308`, `BG107`, `BG109`, `NF112`, `NG110` |
| `QSY` | Shall I change to another frequency? | Change frequency; I am changing frequency. | Used to move a contact away from a calling frequency or crowded channel. | DL1ABC: `PSE QSY 145.525.` / DO2XYZ: `QSL, QSY now.` | 3 | `BB206`, `BE103`, `BE107` |
| `QTH` | What is your position or location? | My position or location is ... | Used to ask for or give the station location, often city, locator, or portable position. | DL1ABC: `QTH?` / DO2XYZ: `QTH Munich, JN58.` | 3 | `BB204`, `BE101`, `BE111` |

## Operating Abbreviations

| Code | What it means when question | What it means when not in question | Explanation, when actually used | Usage example | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `BK` | Not a Q-question form. | Break; signal to interrupt a running transmission, also used for informal handover. | Used in telegraphy to interrupt or quickly pass transmission without a formal over. | DL1ABC: `... running 10 W BK` / DO2XYZ: `BK, my PWR 5 W.` | 1 | `BB108` |
| `CQ` | Not a Q-question form. | General call to any station. With an added target, it limits the desired replies, for example `CQ DX` or `CQ DL`. | Used to start a contact when no specific station is being called. | DL1ABC: `CQ CQ CQ de DL1ABC k` / DO2XYZ: `DL1ABC de DO2XYZ k` | 18 | `BB102`, `BB104`, `BB105`, `BE101`, `BE102`, `BE104`, `BE105`, `BE108`, `BE109`, `BE110`, `BE112`, `BE113`, `BE114`, `BE116`, `BE304`, `BE309`, `BE310`, `BE311` |
| `DE` | Not a Q-question form. | From; this is. Used before the sending station's call sign in telegraphy. | Used between the called station and own call sign, especially in CW. | DL1ABC: `CQ de DL1ABC k` / DO2XYZ: `DL1ABC de DO2XYZ k` | 4 | `BE104`, `BE112`, `BE113`, `BE114` |
| `DX` | Not a Q-question form. | Long distance. In `CQ DX`, the requested distance depends on band and context: intercontinental on HF in the exam examples, several hundred km on VHF/UHF. | Used to seek or describe long-distance contacts. | DL1ABC: `CQ DX de DL1ABC k` / PY2XYZ: `DL1ABC de PY2XYZ k` | 14 | `AH105`, `AH106`, `AH107`, `BB103`, `BB104`, `BB105`, `BE109`, `BE114`, `BE312`, `BE410`, `EH102`, `EH104`, `EH201`, `VE301` |
| `FD` | Not a Q-question form. | Field Day; in `CQ FD ... TEST`, a Fieldday contest call. | Used during Fieldday contest operation to attract participating stations. | DL1ABC/P: `CQ FD de DL1ABC/P TEST` / DO2XYZ/P: `DL1ABC/P de DO2XYZ/P 59 001` | 1 | `BE116` |
| `K` | Not a Q-question form. | Invitation to transmit; over or go ahead in telegraphy. | Used at the end of a CW transmission to invite the other station to reply. | DL1ABC: `DO2XYZ de DL1ABC k` / DO2XYZ: `DL1ABC de DO2XYZ k` | 4 | `BB109`, `BE112`, `BE113`, `BE114` |
| `PSE` | Not a Q-question form. | Please. Used with another instruction, for example `PSE QRP` or `PSE QSY`. | Used as a polite request marker in short CW or mixed shorthand. | DL1ABC: `PSE QSY 145.525` / DO2XYZ: `QSL, QSY.` | 4 | `BB205`, `BB206`, `BE112`, `BE113` |
| `R` | Not a Q-question form. | Received; everything before it was copied correctly. Sent at the start of a transmission to acknowledge the previous one. | Used in telegraphy to confirm full receipt before continuing with own traffic. | DL1ABC: `R tnx report, ur RST 579` / DO2XYZ: `QSL, 73.` | 1 | `BB110` |
| `RST` | Not a Q-question form. | Reception report: readability, signal strength, and tone quality. In SSB only `R` and `S` are normally given. | Used to exchange signal reports during a QSO or contest. | DL1ABC: `ur RST 599` / DO2XYZ: `tnx, ur 579.` | 9 | `BE201`, `BE202`, `BE203`, `BE204`, `BE205`, `BE206`, `BE207`, `BE208`, `BE209` |
| `TEST` | Not a Q-question form. | Contest call indicator in the catalog example `CQ FD ... TEST`. | Used in contest calls to show the call is for contest contacts. | DL1ABC: `CQ TEST de DL1ABC` / DO2XYZ: `DL1ABC de DO2XYZ 59 012` | 1 | `BE116` |
| `UTC` | Not a Q-question form. | Coordinated Universal Time; koordinierte Weltzeit. | Used for logs, schedules and QSL confirmations so stations in different time zones record the same date and time. | Log: `2026-06-22 14:30 UTC` | 5 | `BF108`, `BG105`, `BG106`, `BG107`, `BG108` |

## Emergency and Safety Signals

These are not Q-groups. The catalog explicitly treats international
distress, urgency, and safety signals as outside normal amateur radio use.

| Code | What it means when question | What it means when not in question | Explanation, when actually used | Usage example | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `MAYDAY` | Not a Q-question form. | International distress signal outside amateur radio; the catalog says it must not be used within amateur radio traffic. | Used in maritime or aeronautical distress traffic, not in normal amateur radio traffic. | Vessel: `MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY, this is DABC.` / Coast station: `DABC, this is Bremen Rescue, received MAYDAY.` | 5 | `BF101`, `BF102`, `BF103`, `BF104`, `VD105` |
| `SOS` | Not a Q-question form. | International distress signal outside amateur radio; the catalog says it must not be used within amateur radio traffic. | Used as an international distress signal, especially in Morse contexts outside amateur traffic. | Station: `SOS SOS SOS de DABC` / Coast station: `DABC de Rescue, SOS received.` | 2 | `BF101`, `BF102` |
| `PAN PAN` | Not a Q-question form. | International urgency signal; the catalog lists it among prohibited international emergency/urgency/safety signals in amateur radio traffic. | Used outside amateur radio for urgent situations that are serious but not yet distress. | Vessel: `PAN PAN, this is DABC, engine failure.` / Coast station: `DABC, report position.` | 1 | `VD105` |
| `SÉCURITÉ` | Not a Q-question form. | International safety signal; the catalog lists it among prohibited international emergency/urgency/safety signals in amateur radio traffic. | Used outside amateur radio for safety information such as navigation or weather warnings. | Coast station: `SECURITE, weather warning.` / Vessel: `Weather warning received.` | 1 | `VD105` |