Common Ham Radio Terms (A–Z)
Antenna – Device that transmits or receives radio signals.
Balun – A transformer that connects balanced and unbalanced systems (e.g., dipole to coax).
Band – A range of frequencies (e.g., 20m band = around 14 MHz).
Callsign – Unique identifier assigned to an amateur radio operator (e.g., 2E0XFD).
CQ – A general call to any station (“CQ CQ this is 2E0XFD”).
DX – Long-distance communication.
Elmer – A ham who mentors new operators.
Feedline – Cable that connects the radio to the antenna (usually coaxial).
Groundwave – Radio signal that travels along the Earth’s surface.
HT – Handheld transceiver.
Ionosphere – Layer of the atmosphere that reflects HF radio waves.
Logbook – Record of QSOs (contacts).
Net – A scheduled group discussion or emergency coordination on air.
OM – “Old Man”, a friendly term for a male ham.
QRP – Operating with low power (typically <5W).
QSL – Confirmation of contact, via card or electronically.
QSO – Two-way radio contact.
Ragchew – A casual, often lengthy conversation.
Repeater – A station that retransmits signals to extend coverage.
RF – Radio Frequency.
RFI – Radio Frequency Interference.
Rig – Slang for your transceiver/radio station.
Shack – Your operating space (can be mobile, home, etc.).
Silent Key (SK) – A deceased ham operator.
Skip – When signals reflect off the ionosphere and travel long distances.
SWR – Standing Wave Ratio; shows how efficiently your antenna is matched.
YL / XYL – Young Lady (female ham) / Ex-Young Lady (wife of a ham).
Complete Q Code List (CW and Voice)
| Q Code | Question / Statement |
|---|---|
| QRA | What is the name of your station? / My station is… |
| QRB | How far are you from my station? / The distance is… |
| QRG | What is my exact frequency? / Your frequency is… |
| QRH | Does my frequency vary? / It varies. |
| QRI | How is the tone of my transmission? / Your tone is… |
| QRJ | Are my signals weak? / Your signals are… |
| QRK | What is the intelligibility of my signal? / Your signal is… |
| QRL | Are you busy? / I am busy (Do not interfere) |
| QRM | Are you experiencing interference? / I’m getting interference |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? / I’m getting natural interference |
| QRO | Shall I increase power? / Increase power |
| QRP | Shall I decrease power? / Decrease power |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? / Send faster |
| QRS | Shall I send slower? / Send slower |
| QRT | Shall I stop sending? / Stop sending |
| QRU | Do you have anything for me? / I have nothing for you |
| QRV | Are you ready? / I am ready |
| QRX | When will you call again? / I will call again at… |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? |
| QSA | What is the signal strength? / Your signal strength is… |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? / Your signals are fading |
| QSD | Is my keying defective? / Your keying is faulty |
| QSK | Can you hear me between signals? / I can hear you between signals |
| QSL | Can you confirm receipt? / I confirm receipt |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last message? / Repeat last message |
| QSO | Can you communicate directly? / I can communicate directly |
| QSP | Can you relay to…? / I will relay your message |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of V’s? / Send a test signal |
| QSY | Shall I change frequency? / Change frequency to… |
| QTA | Cancel message |
| QTC | I have … messages to send |
| QTH | What is your location? / My location is… |
| QTR | What is the time? / The time is… |
Combined Phonetic Alphabets
Extra Acronyms & Technical Abbreviations (Extended)
| Acronym | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 73 | Best regards |
| 88 | Love and kisses |
| ALC | Automatic Level Control |
| AM | Amplitude Modulation |
| AMTOR | Amateur Teleprinting Over Radio |
| AO | AMSAT Oscar (Amateur satellites) |
| APRS | Automatic Packet Reporting System |
| ARRL | American Radio Relay League |
| ATU | Antenna Tuning Unit |
| BFO | Beat Frequency Oscillator |
| BNC | Bayonet Neill–Concelman (antenna connector) |
| CB | Citizens Band (27 MHz) |
| CTCSS | Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System |
| CW | Continuous Wave (Morse code) |
| DMR | Digital Mobile Radio |
| DPL | Digital Private Line (Motorola digital tone squelch) |
| DSP | Digital Signal Processing |
| dB | Decibel (unit of signal gain/loss) |
| dBi | Decibel relative to isotropic radiator (antenna gain) |
| dBm | Decibel relative to 1 milliwatt |
| DX | Distant contact |
| DXCC | DX Century Club (worked 100 countries) |
| EIRP | Effective Isotropic Radiated Power |
| EMC | Electromagnetic Compatibility |
| EMI | Electromagnetic Interference |
| ERP | Effective Radiated Power |
| FCC | Federal Communications Commission (US) |
| FM | Frequency Modulation |
| FT8 | Weak-signal digital mode (part of WSJT-X) |
| FSK | Frequency Shift Keying |
| G5RV | Common type of multi-band wire antenna |
| GND | Ground |
| HF | High Frequency (3–30 MHz) |
| HT | Handheld Transceiver |
| IC | Integrated Circuit |
| ICOM | Popular radio manufacturer |
| IOTA | Islands on the Air (operating award program) |
| I/Q | In-phase / Quadrature (used in SDR) |
| IF | Intermediate Frequency |
| IMD | Intermodulation Distortion |
| LSB | Lower Side Band |
| MCW | Modulated Continuous Wave |
| MF | Medium Frequency (300 kHz – 3 MHz) |
| MHz | Megahertz |
| MOX | Manual Transmit (push-to-talk override) |
| NVIS | Near Vertical Incidence Skywave |
| OFDM | Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing |
| OM | Old Man (male ham) |
| OSCAR | Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio |
| PACTOR | Packet Teleprinting Over Radio |
| PEP | Peak Envelope Power |
| PL | Private Line (Motorola term for CTCSS) |
| PSK31 | Phase Shift Keying at 31.25 baud |
| PTT | Push To Talk |
| QRO | High power operation |
| QRP | Low power operation |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? (also a popular ham database website) |
| QSL | Confirm contact |
| QSO | Two-way contact |
| RIT | Receiver Incremental Tuning |
| RFI | Radio Frequency Interference |
| RF | Radio Frequency |
| RMS | Root Mean Square (power or voltage measure) |
| RST | Readability, Signal, Tone report |
| RTTY | Radio Teletype |
| RX | Receive |
| SDR | Software Defined Radio |
| SHF | Super High Frequency (3–30 GHz) |
| SHTF | When Things Go Bad (emergency slang) |
| SIGINT | Signals Intelligence |
| SOTA | Summits on the Air |
| SSB | Single Side Band (USB or LSB) |
| SWR | Standing Wave Ratio |
| TNC | Terminal Node Controller (used in packet radio) |
| TOC | Table of Contents |
| TX | Transmit |
| UHF | Ultra High Frequency (300 MHz – 3 GHz) |
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time |
| USB | Upper Side Band |
| VFO | Variable Frequency Oscillator |
| VHF | Very High Frequency (30–300 MHz) |
| VOX | Voice Operated Transmission |
| WARC | World Administrative Radio Conference (bands like 17m, 12m) |
| WPM | Words Per Minute (Morse code speed) |
| WSJT | Weak Signal Joe Taylor (software suite) |
| XYL | Ex-Young Lady (spouse of a ham) |
| Yagi | Directional antenna with elements |
| YL | Young Lady (female ham operator) |
| ZL | Callsign prefix for New Zealand |