RigReference.com Ham Radio Cheat Sheet

RigReference.com Ham Radio Cheat Sheet This cheat sheet is intended for both new amateur radio operators and those of us who just don’t remember everything, like me. The latest version can always be downloaded from http://rigreference.com

Alphabet A Alfa N November B Bravo O Oscar C Charlie P Papa D Delta Q Quebec E Echo R Romeo F Foxtrot S Sierra G Golf T Tango H Hotel U Uniform I India V Victor J Juliet W Whisky K Kilo X X-ray L Lima Y Yankee M Mike Z Zulu Example: alpha bravo one charlie (if your call is ab1c)

Signal 1 Extremely low signals 2 Very low signals 3 Low signals 4 Poor signals 5 Medium signals 6 Good signals 7 Strong signals 8 Very strong signals 9 Extremely strong signals Example: Your signal is 59, 59 (if the signal is very, very good) 1 2 3 4 5

Radio Not intelligible Just intelligible: some words only Bad intelligibility Good intelligibility Very good intelligibility

QRA QRB QRG QRK QRL QRM QRN QRO QRP QRQ QRS QRT QRV QRX QRZ QSB QSD QSK QSL QSO QSY QTC QTH QTR

Band 160m 80m 40m 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m 6m 2m 70cm

Q-codes Name Distance Frequency Intelligibility Busy Interference Noise High power Low power High speed CW Low speed CW Close down station Ready Stand by Who is calling me? Fading Defective keying Break in Confirmation or card to confirm contact Radio contact Change frequency Message Location Time

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

ARRL 1.8 – 2.0 3.5 – 4.0 7.0 – 7.3 10.1 – 10.15 14.0 – 14.35 18.068 – 18.168 21.0 – 21.45 24.89 – 24.99 28.0 – 29.7 50 – 54 144 – 148 430 – 440

Copyright © 2009, RigReference.com Version 1.0

Tone (CW only) Only noise Very noisy AC tone Low AC tone AC tone Modulated tone, background whistle Modulated tone, some noise DC tone, little noise Good DC tone, very little noise Pure DC tone

VERON 1.8 – 2.0 3.5 – 3.8 7.0 – 7.2 10.1 – 10.15 14.0 – 14.35 18.068 – 18.168 21.0 – 21.45 24.89 – 24.99 28.0 – 29.7 50 – 52 144 – 146 430 – 440

RigReference.com Ham Radio Cheat Sheet ABT AGN ANS ANT B4 BC BD BK BN BTW BURO C CBA CFM CL CLG CLR CONDX CPI CPY CQ CW DE DR DWN DX ES FB FER GA GB GD GE GM GN GND GP GUD HAM HI HR HV HW? K KN LID LP LSB LW MGR MNI MSG NIL

Abbreviations About NR Again NW Answer OM Antenna OP Before OPR Broadcast PSE Bad PO Back or break PWR Been, being R By the way RCV QSL bureau RCVD Correct, yes RCVR Call book address RIG Confirm RPRT Closing station down RPT Calling RX Clear SIG Conditions SK Copy SKED Copy SN General call for a QSO (contact) SNW Continuous waves (Morse code) SP From SRI Dear STN Down SWL Long distance contact, rare station TEMP And TEST Fine business, very good TFC For TIL Good afternoon or go ahead TKS Good bye TCVR Good or Good day TU Good evening TX Good morning TNX Good night U Ground UFB Ground-plane antenna UR Good USB Amateur radio operator VERT Laughter on CW VY Here or ham radio W Have WKD How do you copy me? What about you? WPM Please transmit WRK Only the station I am working should transmit WX Poor operator XCVR Log-periodic antenna or long path XMTR Lower sideband XTAL Long-wire antenna XYL QSL manager YL Many 73 Message 88 Nothing heard or no copy

Near Now or North-West Old man (amateur radio operator) Operator name Operator, operate Please Power output Power Message received or correct Receive Received Receiver Equipment Report Repeat Receiver Signal This is my last transmission (stop keying) Schedule Soon Snow Short path Sorry Station Short waves listener Temperature Contest Traffic Until Thanks Transceiver Thank you Transmitter Thanks You Ultra fine business (excellent) Your Upper sideband Vertical antenna Very Watts Worked (connected) Words Per Minute Work Weather Transceiver Transmitter Crystal Wife Young Lady Best regards Love and kisses

Copyright © 2009, RigReference.com Version 1.0