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A QSO is a contact between two (or more) amateur radio stations. The term comes from the Q-code system originally developed for Morse code — QSO literally means "I can communicate with..." Making QSOs is the core activity of amateur radio, and whether your contact lasts thirty seconds or three hours, the basic structure is the same.
The single most important habit in amateur radio is listen first. Before pressing the transmit button:
CQ is a general call inviting anyone to respond. The term is used worldwide and is understood in all languages.
A typical voice CQ sounds like this:
"CQ CQ CQ, this is [your callsign], [phonetics]. Calling CQ and standing by."
For example:
"CQ CQ CQ, this is N0CALL, November Zero Charlie Alpha Lima Lima. Calling CQ and standing by."
Repeat the sequence two or three times if no one responds. If after several attempts no one answers, try a different frequency or band.
Tips for a good CQ:
On Morse code, a CQ looks like:
CQ CQ CQ DE [your callsign] [your callsign] K
"DE" means "from" and "K" means "go ahead" (inviting a response). Many operators send CQ three times and their callsign twice, but practices vary.
When you hear someone calling CQ and want to make contact:
"[Their callsign], this is [your callsign], [phonetics]."
For example:
"N0CALL, this is G4XYZ, Golf Four X-ray Yankee Zulu."
Keep your response short — just their callsign and yours. The CQ-ing station will acknowledge you and begin the contact.
[Their callsign] DE [your callsign] [your callsign] K
Once contact is established, a typical QSO follows a predictable structure. The details vary by mode, activity, and personal style, but here is the general flow:
After the CQ and response, both stations confirm that they have copied each other's callsigns correctly. Then they exchange the essentials:
If both operators want to chat, the QSO may continue with discussion about equipment, antennas, weather, the hobby, or any other topic. These extended contacts are called ragchews and are one of the great pleasures of amateur radio.
To end the contact, both stations exchange final remarks, 73 (best regards), and sign off with both callsigns:
"Thanks for the QSO, [name]. 73 and best wishes. [Their callsign], this is [your callsign]. 73."
On CW, a common sign-off is:
TNX FER QSO 73 [their callsign] DE [your callsign] SK
"SK" means "end of contact."
Signal reports tell the other station how well you are hearing them. The system used depends on the mode:
The RST system is the standard for amateur radio signal reports:
| Component | Scale | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| R — Readability | 1–5 | How well the signal can be understood (1 = unreadable, 5 = perfectly readable) |
| S — Strength | 1–9 | How strong the signal is (1 = barely perceptible, 9 = extremely strong) |
| T — Tone | 1–9 | Quality of the CW tone (1 = rough/harsh, 9 = perfect tone). Used for CW only. |
On voice, you give an RS report (two digits). On CW, you give an RST report (three digits). Some examples:
In practice, many operators default to giving 59 or 599 reports, especially in contests. While this is common, giving honest signal reports helps other operators assess their station's performance and understand propagation conditions.
Amateur radio uses a set of abbreviations inherited from the early days of telegraphy. Here are the ones you will encounter most often:
| Code/Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CQ | General call — inviting anyone to respond |
| DE | "From" (used between callsigns) |
| 73 | Best regards (not "73s" — 73 is already plural in meaning) |
| 88 | Love and kisses (used affectionately between operators) |
| QSO | A contact between stations |
| QSL | Confirmation of contact (also refers to QSL cards) |
| QTH | Location/city |
| QRZ | "Who is calling me?" |
| QSY | "Change frequency" |
| QRM | Man-made interference |
| QRN | Natural interference (static, atmospheric noise) |
| QRP | Low-power operation (typically 5 watts or less) |
| QRO | High-power operation |
| OM | Old man (a friendly term for a male operator) |
| YL | Young lady (a friendly term for a female operator) |
| XYL | Wife (ex-young lady — a traditional term) |
| DX | Distant station, or long-distance communication |
| K | "Go ahead" (invitation to transmit) |
| SK | "End of contact" |
| CL | "Closing station" (going off the air) |
For a more comprehensive list, see Ham Radio Jargon.
Making a contact on a repeater is slightly different from HF procedures. Instead of calling CQ, it is common to simply identify yourself and indicate that you are listening:
"[Your callsign] listening" or "[Your callsign] monitoring"
If someone is available and interested, they will respond with their callsign. You can also call a specific station:
"[Their callsign], this is [your callsign]."
On busy repeaters, wait for a break between transmissions before jumping in. Many repeaters have a brief pause (courtesy tone) between transmissions specifically to allow others to break in.
If two or more stations are in a QSO and you want to join in, wait for a pause between transmissions and say:
"Break" or "[Your callsign]"
The other stations will acknowledge you and bring you into the conversation. On a repeater, simply keying up and saying your callsign during the courtesy tone gap is the standard way to break in.
On HF, during a casual ragchew, one station may invite others to join with the phrase "breakers welcome."
Making your first contact can feel intimidating, but every operator was new once. Here are some tips to build confidence: