CW

Prosigns, Q codes, and abbreviations for amateur Morse. Wording follows ITU procedural signals and the ARRL on-air set.

Letters Figures Punctuation Prosigns Q codes Abbreviations

Pressing a letter, figure, punctuation mark, prosign, Q code, or abbreviation plays it at 15 WPM with a 700 Hz tone. The code is not shown, because Morse is to be listened to, not read. This page does not show the code.

Letters

Figures

Punctuation

Prosigns

A prosign is one Morse character. Where the name is two or three letters, those letters are run together with no letter space between them. K and SK are sent as single prosigns: SK is run together, and K is the single letter K, not separate letters and not a word spelled out. A bar over the letters means the same thing.

Signal	Meaning
	End of the message. Often written with a bar, or as +.
	Wait. Stand by.
	Break. A quick handover, or an interruption, without a full callsign exchange.
	Separator between thoughts, or a new sentence. Often written as =.
	Closing the station. Going off the air.
	Go ahead. Any station may transmit. The single letter K, not spelled out.
	Go ahead, only the station I am working. Others should not answer.
	End of the contact. Sent as one character, not as S then K. Same signal as VA.
	Distress. The three letters are run together. Not a calling or practice signal.
	Eight dits, sent as one character. Disregard the last word. Operators often send a shorter string of dits, and it is still read as an error.

Q codes

These are the Q codes heard in ordinary CW contacts, not the full ITU list. A question mark makes the question. Without it, the same code is the statement. Each line is the question, then the statement.

Code	Meaning
	What is my exact frequency? / Your exact frequency is …
	Are you busy? Is this frequency in use? / I am busy. The frequency is in use.
	Are you being interfered with? / I have man-made interference.
	Are you troubled by static? / I have atmospheric noise.
	Shall I increase transmitter power? / Increase power. High power.
	Shall I decrease transmitter power? / Decrease power. Low power.
	Shall I send faster? / Send faster.
	Shall I send more slowly? / Send more slowly.
	Shall I stop sending? / Stop sending. Going off the air.
	Have you anything for me? / I have nothing for you.
	Are you ready? / I am ready.
	When will you call me again? / I will call you again at …. Stand by.
	Who is calling me? / You are being called by …
	Are my signals fading? / Your signals are fading.
	Can you hear me between your signals? May I break in? / I can hear you between my signals. Break in.
	Can you acknowledge receipt? / I acknowledge receipt.
	Can you contact … direct? / I can contact … direct. Also, a contact.
	Will you relay to …? / I will relay to …
	Shall I change frequency? / Change frequency.
	What is your location? / My location is …

Abbreviations

Everyday abbreviations, sent as separate letters. 73 and 88 are the digits.

Code	Meaning
	Best regards.
	Love and kisses.
	About.
	Again.
	Antenna.
	Yes.
	Confirm.
	Calling any station.
	See you.
	See you later.
	From. Placed before the sending station’s callsign.
	Dear.
	Long distance, or a distant station.
	And.
	Fine business. Excellent.
	For.
	Good afternoon. Also, go ahead.
	Goodbye.
	Good evening.
	Good luck.
	Good morning.
	Good night.
	Good.
	Laughter.
	Here, or hear.
	How.
	No.
	Nothing.
	A male operator, any age.
	Operator.
	Please.
	Received. All copied.
	Station equipment.
	Repeat. Also, a report.
	Readability, strength, tone. The CW signal report.
	Receiver.
	Signal.
	Sorry.
	Thanks.
	Thank you.
	Transmitter.
	You.
	Your, or you are.
	Very.
	Weather.
	Wife.
	A female operator.

ITU procedural signals and the ARRL Q-code and abbreviation lists, in the form used on amateur CW.