Hamspeak

What are they saying?

Ham radio operators seem to have their own language.  Actually what has happened is that in the early years Ham Radio Operators could only communicate in Morse Code.  To save on writing and to speed up their communications they began their own kind of shorthand.  Over the years it just kind of stayed around and has been expanded upon.

Here are some terms you may hear: Rig...................a radio, including receivers, transmitters, and tranceivers. Skyhook..........an antennna Elmer..............any Ham male or female that acts as a teacher or mentor OM..................short for "Old Man" meaning any male Ham YL....................short for "Young Lady" or any un-married female regardless of her age. XYL..................short for "Ex Young Lady" means a married female, again it doesn't matter what her age is. Key..................a device which is used to send Morse Code signals. Bug..................a type of Morse Code Key CW...................short for "Continous Wave" which is the type of signal which is emited when a Ham is                           sending Morse Code. Ticket..............a license from the FCC to operate a transmitter Net...................short for network, a scheduled gatherings of Hams on a specified frequency.  There are many                           different kinds of nets-social, technical, emeregency, ect. Machine.......,,.refers to a repeater, a radio device that picks up a signal and re-broadcasts it, this allows a                          Ham to send his signal over a longer distance...repeaters are often used by mobile operators. Riley................the FCC, more accurately it means FCC Enforcement Counselor Riley Hollinsworth...."that                           guy is a lid, Riley is going to be  knocking on his door." Lid....................an Amateur with poor operating skills or who doesn't comply with regulations Wallpaper.......generally means a "QSL CARD" ...similar to a post card which is sent to confirm that the Ham                           receiving it has made contact with the other station...also can refer to any awards or certificates                          that the station owner has earned.

"Q" Signals

The Amateurs Shorthand

....Hams use these signals when sending Morse Code

QSG ..Shall I send.......messages at a time? QSD .. Is my keying defective? QSK .. Can you work breakin? QSL .. Can you acknoledge receipt? QSM .. Shall I repeat the last message sent? QSO .. Can you communicate with...........direct? QSP .. Will you relay to..........? QSV .. Shall I send a series of V';s? QSW .. Will you transmit on...........? QSX -- Will you listen for ..... on ..... ? QSY -- Shall I change frequency? QSZ -- Shall I send each word/group more than once?) QTA -- Shall I cancel number ..... ? QTB -- Do you agree with my word count? (Answer negative) QTC -- How many messages have you to send? QTH -- What is your location? QTR -- What is your time? QTV -- Shall I stand guard for you ..... ? QTX -- Will you keep your station open for further                             communications with me? QUA -- Have you news of ..... ? -

QRA -- What is the name of your station? QRG -- What is my exact frequency? QRH -- Does my frequency vary? QRI -- How is my tone? (1-3) QRK -- What is my signal intellegibility? (1-5) QRL -- Are you busy? QRM -- Is my transmission being interfered with? QRN -- Are you troubled by static? QRO -- Shall I increase transmitter power? QRP -- Shall I decrease transmitter power? QRQ -- Shall I send faster? QRS -- Shall I send slower? QRT -- Shall I stop sending? QRU -- Have you anything for me? (Answer in negative) QRV -- Are you ready? QRW -- Shall I tell ..... you are calling him? QRX -- When will you call again? QRZ -- Who is calling me? QSA -- What is my signal strength? (1-5) QSB -- Are my signals fading?

The Morse Code

A . -                K - . -               U . . -               5 . . . . . B - . . .             L . - . .             V . . . -             6 - . . . . C - . - .            M - -                W . - -              7 - - . . . D - . .              N - .                 X - . . -             8 - - - . . E .                   O - - -              Y - . - -             9 - - - - . F . . - .             P . - - .             Z - - . .             0 - - - - - G - - .             Q - - . -             1 . - - - - H . . . .            R . - .               2 . . - - - I . .                 S . . .                3 . . . - - J . - - -            T  -                   4 . . . . -

The Phonetic Alphabet

since many letters sound the same over the radio...hams use these words to clarify which letter they are referring to

A - Alfa B - Bravo C - Charlie D - Delta E - Echo F - Foxtrot G - Golf H - Hotel I - India J - Juliet K - Kilo L - Lima M - Mike

N - November O - Oscar P - Papa Q - Quebec R - Romeo S - Sierra T - Tango U - Uniform V - Victor W - Whiskey X - X-Ray Y - Yankee Z - Zulu

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