Using CW Abbreviations and Q Signals
Abbreviations are very commonly used in CW. They save time and are, I think, one reason why CW is so cool. Once you have learned many of the abbreviations as well as CW operating techniques, you are "in", you're a member of the CW using fraternity. Knowing and using CW correctly is kinda like belonging to an exclusive club. Anbody can pick up a microphone and talk on the ham bands; doing CW requires skill and finesse.
Lists of abbreviations and Q signals used on CW are available many places,
I will just mention a few of the most commonly used.
| ADR | address | GN | good night | RIG | station equipment | ||
| AGN | again | GND | ground | RPT | repeat | ||
| BK | break | GUD | good | SK | end of transmission | ||
| BN | been | HI | the telegraphic laugh | SRI | sorry | ||
| C | yes | HR | here | SSB | single side band | ||
| CL | closing | HV | have | TMW | tomorrow | ||
| CUL | see you later | HW | how | TNX-TKS | thanks | ||
| DE | from (French) | N | no | TU | thank you | ||
| DX | distance | NR | number | UR | your | ||
| ES | and (French) | NW | now | VY | very | ||
| FB | fine business | OM | old man | WX | weather | ||
| GA | go ahead | PSE | please | XYL | wife | ||
| GB | good bye | PWR | power | YL | young lady | ||
| GE | good evening | R | received as transmitted | 73 | best regards | ||
| GM | good morning | RCVR | receiver | 88 | love and kisses |
And the International "Q" signals, recognizable in any language:
| QRL | Is the frequency busy? | QRT | stop sending |
| QRM | interference | QRX | wait, standby |
| QRN | noise, static | QSB | fading |
| QRO | increase power | QSL | acknowledge receipt |
| QRP | decrease power | QSY | change frequency |
| QRS | send slower | QTH | location |
Don't get worried about using abbreviations when you are starting out with CW. It is perfectly OK to spell out every word during a QSO. It's just easier using abbreviations. There are many more CW abbreviations and Q signals, but those should keep you busy. There are also a whole series of QN_ signals for use on CW traffic nets. Also used commonly on CW are punctuation marks; the period, comma, question mark and BT being the most common. To separate thoughts or topics during a CW contact a period or a BT ( dah dit dit dit dah) are commonly used. You'll hear the slash symbol sometimes ( dah dit dit dah dit) to note portable or QRP operation for example. Like WB8FSV/9 or WB8FSV/QRP.
The "K" letter used at the end of each CW transmission indicates, "end of transmission - go ahead". When two hams engaged in a CW conversation do not wish to be disturbed by anyone else breaking in, they may send "KN" instead of "K" at the end of each transmission. Or if a ham wants to limit the extent of his CQ, he may also use KN. For example, "CQ VT CQ VT de N1XYZ KN" says this ham would like to be answered only by hams in the state of Vermont.
Here are a few other commonly heard CW expressions that are actually
combinations of letters sent as a single character. You will encounter
these CW symbols on the air.
| Wait, stand by (AS) | dit dah dit dit dit |
| Slash (DN) | dah dit dit dah dit |
| End of message (AR) | dit dah dit dah dit |
| End of contact (SK) | dit dit dit dah dit dah |
| and of course, Break (BT) | dah dit dit dit dah |
At the very end of a CW contact you may hear the two stations sending
dits at each other, this derives from the old expression, "shave and a
haircut, two bits". It sounds like dit dit-dit dit dit, dit-dit. The first
station will send the dit dit-dit dit dit and wait for the second station
to send dit-dit in return. This was more popular on CW years ago, but you
will still hear it today. Today it may be shortened to sending just the
final dit-dit, as in "73 N1XYZ de WB8FSV GN dit-dit". New hams more frequently
use the full dit dit-dit dit dit, dit dit expression than more experienced
hams. Not uncommonly when I end a QSO on the novice bands and trade dit
dits with the other ham, I may hear a third, or even a fourth station add
their own dit dit. They were listening along in silence to our QSO, and
decided to add their two bits as well. This is an unprofessional operating
habit. If the eavesdropping station wants to make their presence known
with a few dits, I believe they should go ahead and tailend one of us,
and start a legitimate QSO. Just goes to show that as you transmit on the
ham bands, there are likely more than just a few folks listening.
A Beginner's Guide to Making CW Contacts by Jack Wagoner WB8FSV