Yup, it is almost Tax Day. Mine were done ages ago but I guess a lot of people wait until the last minute to file. No matter. I file early because I don’t like things hanging over my head.

Is this entry going to be about taxes? No. Tax Day falls in the middle of April. The weather is getting better and thoughts are turning to outdoor activities. Soon it will be time to plant the garden and, more importantly it will be time to expand outdoor operating. In fact, a club I belong to, Perry County Radio Amateurs, will be activating a state park. There is a programs called Parks On The Air where hams can go to a park and operate. Parks are assigned a number and people can get certificates for working them. I know this may not sound fun but for the hams out there, it is. It is an opportunity to test your equipment under less than ideal situations and to test out new portable antennae. It will also provide other hams with a chance to work Perry County PA. Some hams (called County Hunters) like to make contacts in counties all over the US. Though our county is not extremely rare, it is sought after.

Another outdoor activity coming up is Field Day. A lot of hams see Field Day as a contest but it originally was an exercise to test out portable and emergency operating. In an emergency, knowing what works and what doesn’t ahead of time lets you concentrate on the task at hand.

Finally, there are a lot of prosigns, abbreviations and jargon in use on the radio. If you listen in on a QSO (conversation on the radio), you will hear these cryptic phrases and 3 letter codes sprinkled into the exchange. Back in the days of telegraphy, operators came up with shortcuts and abbreviations. Some of these became official. In the early 1900’s, the British Postal Service (they were in charge of wired and wireless communications at the time) came up with a series of “Q” codes. These are 3 letter codes which all start with the letter Q. Some of them have changed over the years but some are still the same as when they were first originated. Below is a list of Q codes for your enjoyment.

Code	Question	Answer
QRA	What is the name (or call sign) of your station?	The name (or call sign) of my station is …
QRB	How far are you from my station?	The distance between our stations is … nautical miles (or km).
QRG	Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of …)?	Your exact frequency (or that of … ) is … kHz (or MHz).
QRH	Does my frequency vary?	Your frequency varies.
QRI	How is the tone of my transmission?	The tone of your transmission is (1: good, 2: variable 3: bad)
QRJ	Are you receiving me badly?	I cannot receive you, your signal is too weak.
QRK	What is the readability of my signals (or those of …)?	The readability of your signals (or those of …) is … (1: bad .. 5: excellent).
QRL	Are you busy?	I am busy. (or I am busy with … ) Please do not interfere.
QRM	Do you have interference?	I have interference.
QRN	Are you troubled by static noise?	I am troubled by static noise.
QRO	Shall I increase transmit power?	Please increase transmit power.
QRP	Shall I decrease transmit power?	Please decrease transmit power.
QRQ	Shall I send faster?	Please send faster (… words per minute).
QRS	Shall I send more slowly?	Please send more slowly (… words per minute).
QRT	Shall I cease or suspend operation?	I am suspending operation.
QRU	Have you anything for me?	I have nothing for you.
QRV	Are you ready?	I am ready.
QRW	Shall I inform ___ that you are calling?	Please inform ___ that I am calling.
QRX	Shall I standby? / When will you call me again?	Please standby. / I will call you again at … (hours) on … kHz (or MHz).
QRZ	Who is calling me?	You are being called by … (on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSA	What is the strength of my signals (or those of … )?	The strength of your signals (or those of …) is … (1: very weak .. 5: very strong).
QSB	Are my signals fading?	Your signals are fading.
QSD	Is my keying defective?	Your keying is defective.
QSG	Shall I send ___ messages at a time?	Send ___ messages at a time.
QSK	Can you hear me between your signals (while transmitting), and if so can I break in on your transmission?	I can hear you between my signals (while transmitting); break in on my transmission.
QSL	Can you acknowledge receipt?	I am acknowledging receipt.
QSM	Shall I repeat the last telegram (message) which I sent you, or some previous telegram (message)?	Repeat the last telegram (message) which you sent me (or telegram(s) (message(s)) numbers(s) …).
QSN	Did you hear me (or …) on … kHz (or MHz)?	I did hear you (or …) on … kHz (or MHz).
QSO	Can you communicate with … direct or by relay?	I can communicate with … direct (or by relay through …).
QSP	Will you relay a message to …?	I will relay a message to … .
QSR	Do you want me to repeat my call?	Please repeat your call.
QSS	What working frequency will you use?	I will use … kHz (or MHz).
QST	–	Here is a broadcast message to all amateurs.
QSU	Shall I send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?	Please send or reply on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSV	Shall I send a series of “V” on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz))?	Please send a series of “V” on this frequency (or on … kHz (or MHz)).
QSW	Will you send on this frequency?	I am going to send on this frequency.
QSX	Will you listen to … on … kHz (or MHz)?	I am listening to … on … kHz (or MHz).
QSY	Shall I change transmission frequency (to … kHz (or MHz))?	Please change transmission frequency (to … kHz (or MHz)).
QSZ	Shall I send each word or group more than once?	Send each word or group twice (or … times).
QTA	Shall I cancel message number ___?	Cancel message number ___.
QTC	How many telegrams (messages) have you to send?	I have … telegrams (messages) for you (or for …).
QTH	What is your position in latitude and longitude (or according to any other indication)?	My position is … latitude, … longitude.
QTR	What is the correct time?	The correct time is … hours.
QST	–	General call preceeding a message address to all amateurs and A.R.R.L. Members. This is in effect “CQ ARRL”.
QRRR	–	Official A.R.R.L. “land SOS.” A distress call for emergency use only.