Q CODE

paul croxson · Q CODE

Remember I was I Corps and then this will explain the next stupid question.
Was the Q code they used exactly the same as the International one or are there variations?
Perhaps I should include a glossary in the LIving History. Any volunteers? My memory is limited to "QSA imi".

shorep

Against my better judgement I wiil start the thread,where it will end up who knows.
Q codes came about with vessels at sea,a limited number of coloured flags,hence QR. means you are standing into danger,three flags,one for Q,one for R and one for the other letter.so far?Hey presto along comes a clever dick and tells mariners we can use a lamp to signal now,but Nelson's lads were made of more stubborn stuff,and still used Qcodes on the lamp system.Then some block,forget his name,invented sumfink called the MORSE code,and guess wot,even when one could send in 'plain language' of 'chat' as the odd Iraqi conscript could do,we all still used the Q code.For you landlubbers,'standing into danger 'is a nautical turn that can solve digestive disorders when used in crowded waterways All other enquiries received with the usual happy shoreland response oft heard at the waking hour for early shift at 9pigs!!!

David Thomas

Hi Paul and Shorep, Tom, Ken and all you others reading but not chipping in. I bow to Peter’s knowledge of the origins of Q codes, I really have no idea how they started, I can say however that there is a web site devoted to Q codes and how sad is that! To answer Paul’s question, the Q codes, ( and later Z codes as well) were internationally agreed and recognised. What was different however was the way the British military used them. The international norm was as you say QSA imi, British radio procedure however was int QSA int QRK. Int being the abbreviated form of interrogative QSA (signal strength) QRK (readability). Also what tended to happen was that various nationalities and/or organisations tended to use certain Q codes that were applicable to them, these traits could sometimes be beneficial when trying to identify or eliminate stations being listened to. There were examples, where certain operators, were known to use specific Q/Z codes, one that comes to mind is a control station in the early hours of the morning sending ZBM2 to a sub station who had been sending particularly poor morse. (ZBM2 = put a competent operator on). I trust this adds a little bit to the sum of knowledge. All the best, Dave T

paul croxson

Thanks ... but what about the Russkies? Did they follow the same rules?

kerby · Q codes

Good morning Paul, What time do you call this. I'm afraid I cannot contribute anyting on this subject but thought I should show I'm awake as well. Have a good day everyone, Keith

ken vipond

just been having a quick look on the question of Q codes and some of the times of day the messages have been posted,i have come to the conclusion that P.C. and K.K.are either pimps or sorter,s in the postal service,there is no other reason why people of their age should be up and about at that time of day,please explain yourselves, Confused

best regards from Ken

paul croxson

Right Ken!
I am 71.6 yrs old and feel twice that at the moment.
I still work which means I journey from Southsea Portsmouth to Berkeley Sq which takes from the house at 06.30 reaching the Office at 8 50am if there are no train or u/ground hold-ups and non-reported bomb scares. Only have done this 7 days this month!
I can't get the timing right and so I have the odd 5 mins before setting off and cheer myself with a look at the Forum (when there is anything to read).
I think that I would be useless as a Pimp, never saw a career that way. More is the pity. The other Old Man is still working too, by the way. Never get the chance to spend the money - dream on.
Cheers

Tom Neal

As far as I can remember the Russians used the international Q Codes in the main but now and again they would send 'GUHOR' to a station to indicate that nothing had been heard from it.
Tom

kerby · Q codes

Hi Paul & Ken, The time being at the other end of the day, just to let you know this other old un being 72 +1 works a 5 day week 8.30 till 5 with an hour for lunch. The big advantage that I have over Paul is that it takes me 5 mins to get there, this means I am able to get home at lunch time. I as yet do not have any plans to pack it in. I wonder how much longer they will put up with me. Good night all, Keith

paul croxson

Morning!
A late one today for the saddest of reasons. My 39 yr old daughter's partner collapsed Monday AM in the kitchen- was rushed to hospital after 999 rushed to another hospital (Atkinson Morley) where they operated on a brain tumour yesterday afternoon which proved to be incurable and inoperable and so they switched his life support off last night. I am sitting here bwaiting to hear that he is dead. There is a 6 month old baby and the usual bloody great mortgage.
Life cetainly knows how to kisk one in the goolies. She and we will survive of course but this is not what you want when you dream of your children's future is it? If I ever meet God he'll get such an ear bashing he will wish he didn't exist

GerryK · Son in law

Paul, what can one say. My heart goe out to your daughter at this very sad time,GerryK

ken vipond

Hi Paul,my thoughts are with you and your family at this very sad time,as you say life is not fair some times,give your daughter a big hug from me,regards from ken.

paul croxson

Thanks Ken for everything.
He died 1/2 an hour ago so it was mercifully short. I am waiting for my daughter to return with her Parents in Law fgrom the Hospital and evrything has to start again.
It happens every miniute of the day particularly with the Military but that makes it no easier, does it?

jr

Paul, that's a terrible loss. The best I can say is that he didn't suffer, but that doesn't lessen the pain or answer the question "why?". Please accept my heartfelt condolences.

paul croxson

Thank you, Friends for your kind wishes. It helps.

marleneandgypo

Hi Paul

I am so sorry to hear your shocking news. Our computer went down and we only managed to get back today. we tried to get on the forum earlier but kept getting the message 'timed out' and a blank screen.

Please accept our deepest condolences.

Marlene and Clive

paul croxson

Thank you so much.
The important thing is that she is surviving, and surviving well the horror of it all and they have the most wonderful 6 month old baby who is a wonderful memorial

marleneandgypo

Hi Paul

That is the amazing thing isn't it. My brother Mike lost his son at age 8 and the courage he and his wife showed is second to none. When they were saying "he is safe in the hands of Jesus" I'll be honest if Jesus Himself had been right in front of me I would have felt like punching His lights out. I was so angry. Why this lovely little boy and not some mean old person or some murderer or rapist? But time is definately a great healer and while this lifetime never brings us answers to questions like this, we do learn a quiet acceptance and life, like the tide on a shore, goes on.

Whatever someones belief, religious or not, one sure fact is that no one ever dies as long as we who loved them, remember them. A week before my dad died, he gave me a poem he wanted me to read out at his funeral, which I did. I believe that it rings true for anyone and if I died tonight, I would like to be remembered this way:

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.

I’d like to leave the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun

Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

Marlene

Mike Hudson · Q Code

Paul, I cannot hope to do anything to lessen your loss, or even more that of your daughters. All I can say is that when I lost someone special this poem helped me, I hope that it may do the same to you and yours.
God Bless, OFG&G

Remember by Christina Rosetti

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rosetti

Mike Hudson

Paul, being close on your age but not quite and with a membership of Mensa and a memory loss daily, I think that the Q Codes were basically the same. The intention was the same e.g QRX, QRL, QSA, QST, QSV, as were the Guhor and similar

Amateur Radio Q-Codes

Most commonly used Q-codes are highlighted

Q-Code Question Information
QAP Shall I listen for you (or for . . .) on . . . kHZ (or . . . mHZ) ? [ see QSX]
QAR May I stop listening on the watch frequency for . . . minutes?
QBM Has . . . sent any message for me?
QCB Delay is being caused by . . . 1. Your transmitting out of turn, 2. Your slow ness in answering, 3. Lack of your reply to my . . .
QCS My reception on . . . frequency has broken down.
QCX What is your full call sign?
QDB Have you sent message . . . to . . .?
QIC May I establish communication with . . . radio station on . . . kHZ (or mHZ) now (or at . . .hours) ?
QIF What frequency is . . . using?
QJA Is my . . . 1. Tape, 2. Mark and Space reversed?
QJB Will you use . . . ? 1. Radio, 2. Cable, 3. Telegraph, 4. Teletype, 5. Telephone, 6. Receiver, 7. Transmitter, 8. Reperforator
QJC Will you check your . . .? 1. Transmitter distributor, 2. Auto-head, 3. Perforator, 4. Reperforator, 5. Printer, 6. Printer motor, 7. Keyboard, 8. orator, 4. Reperforator, 5. Printer, 6. Printer motor, 7. Keyboard, 8. Antenna System
QJD Am I transmitting . . .? 1. In letters, 2. In figures.
QJE Is my frequency shift . . . 1. Too wide, 2. Too narrow, 3. Correct ?
QJF My signal as checked by monitor . . . is satisfactory . . . 1. Locally, 2. As radiated
QJG Shall I revert to automatic relay?
QJH Shall I run . . . 1. My test tape, 2. A test sentance?
QJI Will you transmit a continuous . . . 1. Mark, 2. Space?
QJK Are you receiving . . . 1. A continuous mark, 2. A continuous space, 3. A mark bias, 4. A space bias?
QLH Will you use simultaneous keying on . . . frequency and . . . frequency?
QMH Shift to transmit and receive on . . . kHZ (or mHZ); if communication is not established within 5 minutes, revert to present freq.
QRA What is the name of your station ? The name of my station is...
QRB How far approximately are you from my station ? The approximate distance between our stations is........nautical miles (or.... kilometers)
QRD Where are you headed and from where?
QRE What is your estimated time of arrival?
QRF Are you returning to . . .?
QRG Will you tell me my exact frequency (or that of....) ? Your exact frequency (or that of...) is ...Khz (or Mhz)
QRH Does my frequency vary ? Your frequency varies.
QRI How is the tone of my transmission ? The tone of your transmission is ... 1 = good. 2 = variable. 3 = bad
QRJ Do you receive me badly?
QRK What is the readability of my signals ? The readability of your signals is..... 1 = bad. 2 = poor. 3 = fair. 4 = good. 5 = excellent.
QRL Are you busy ? I am busy
QRM Are you being interfered ? I am being interfered with: 1 = nil. 2 = slightly. 3 = moderately. 4 = severely. 5 = extremely.
QRN Are you troubled by static ? I am troubled by static 1 = nil. 2 = slightly. 3 = moderately. 4 = severely. 5 = extremely.
QRO Shall I increase transmitter power ? Increase transmitter power.
QRP Shall I decrease transmitter power ? Decrease transmitter power.
QRQ Shall I send faster ? Send faster (or ... words per minute).
QRRR Official ARRL land distress call.
QRS Shall I send more slowly ? Send more slowly (or ... words per minute).
QRT Shall I stop sending ? Stop sending.
QRU Have you anything for me ? I have nothing for you.
QRV Are you ready ? I am ready.
QRW Shall I inform...that you are calling him on...khz (or...Mhz)?. Please inform...that I am calling him on...khz(or...Mhz)
QRX When will you call me again ? I will call you again at...hours (on ...khz (or ...Mhz)).
QRY What is my turn ? Your turn is number....(or according to any other indication).
QRZ Who is calling me ? You are being called by...(on ...khz (or ...Mhz)).
QSA What is the strength of my signals ? The strength of your signals (or those of ...) is... 1 = scarcely perceptible. 2 = weak. 3 = fairly good. 4 = good. 5 = very good.
QSB Are my signals fading ? Your signals are fading.
QSD Is my keying defective ? Your keying is defective.
QSG Shall I send . . . messages at a time?
QSJ What is the charge to be collected . . . including your internal telegraph charge?
QSK Can you hear me between your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission ? I can hear you between my signals;break in on my transmission
QSL Can you acknowledge receipt ? I am acknowledging receipt.
QSM Shall I repeat the last message?
QSN Did you hear me or . . . on . . . kHZ (or mHZ)?
QSO Can you communicate with...? I can communicate with...direct (or by relay through...).
QSP Will you relay to...? I will relay to...
QSQ Have you a doctor aboard?
QSR Have the distress calls from . . . been cleared?
QSS What working frequency will you use?
QST Is there any message for radio-hams ? Here follows a message for radio-hams
QSU Shall I send or reply on this frequency ( or on ...khz (or ...Mhz))? Send or reply on this frequency ? (on ...khz (or ...Mhz)).
QSV Shall I send a series of V's on this frequency ( or on ...khz (or ...Mhz))? Send a series of V's on this frequency ( or on ...khz (or ...Mhz)).
QSW Will you send on this frequency ( or on ...khz (or ...Mhz))? I am going to send on this frequency ( or on ...khz (or ...Mhz)).
QSX Will you listen to...? I am listening to ...(call signs) on ...khz (or Mhz).
QSY Shall I transmit on an other frequency ? Transmit on an other frequency. ( or on ...khz (or ...Mhz)).
QSZ Shall I send each word or group more than once?
QTA Shall I cancel message number?
QTB Do you agree with my counting of words?
QTC How many messages have you for me ? I have...messages for you.
QTE What is my true bearing from you?
QTF Will you give me the position of my station according to the bearings of your direction finding station?
QTG Will you send two dashes of ten seconds each folowed by our call sign repeated . . . times on . . . kHZ (or mHZ)?
QTH What is your position ? My position is...
QTI What is your true track in degrees?
QTJ What is your true speed?
QTL What is your true heading in degrees?
QTM Send signals to enable me to fix my bearing and distance.
QTN At what time did you depart from . . . ?
QTO Have you left port/dock? Are you going to enter port/dock?
QTQ Can you communicate with my station by means of the International Code of Signals
QTR What is the correct time (in UTC) ? The correct time is...(in UTC).
QTS Will you send your call sign for . . . minutes now, or at . . . hours on . ..kHZ (or mHZ) so that your frequency may be measured?
QTU During what hours is your station open?
QTV Shall I stand guard for you on . . . kHZ (or mHZ)?
QTX Will you keep your station open for further communication with me for . . . Hours?
QTY Are you proceeding to the position of incident and if so when do you expect to arrive
QTZ Are you continuing the search?
QUA Do you have news of . . . ?
QUB Can you give me information concerning visibility, height of clouds, direction and velocity of ground wind at . . . ?
QUC What is the number of the last message you received from me?
QUD Have you received the urgent signal sent by . . . ?
QUF Have you received the distress signal sent by . . . ?
QUG Will you be forced to land?
QUH Will you give me the present barometric pressure at sea level?
QUJ Will you indicate the true course for me to follow?
QUM Is the distress traffic ended?
Ow'd Fat Grey Grumpy and QSQ, I need medication

shorep

Paul,what can I add,except all my very best,your thoughts about the 'almighty' mirror mine,I am more the swift kicker type.
On a lighter note,now the forum has been brought to life,does anybody believe that Hudson actually remembers all those Q codes,since most pertain to civil aviation(Qnb etc) and port/ship movements.I think he has them all on his ipod or nipod or herpod,I cannot recall a time when he cordinated putting on headphones tuning receivers and putting pencil to paper.UNLESS,I slept longer on shift than he reckoned I did,and I cud get by on five in those days.
Nice to see Langeleben turn back to nature,plant some trees for the ozone and put the plaque there.

paul croxson

Phew! That's a relief. I had thought he had dredged through his memory for that lot. I had recalled so few I am quite embarrassed.
I am sure young ERnie is reading this and will pick up the feeling which appears to be getting stronger, that Langeleben has a following as far as the memorial is concerned - and - thanks for the kind thoughts. Its great everyone is returning to the fold. I missed you all.

marleneandgypo

Now there is a brilliant idea!!! A living memory. A section of the forest that is Langeleben with a a plaque that this area is a tribute to the men who served there and the women who mopped up after them...ok, last part is a joke, but I mean it. Pete has a very good idea here. I know in Finland they do this as my friend owns a part of a forest.

Ernie Callaghan · Langeleben Memorial

Yes, not so young Ernie (in my 70th year) has got the message. We had a committee meeting in Loughborough four weeks ago and have definately agreed on the site oppisite the old Kinderheim, in agreement with Paul Ellis (Stonemason son of Peter) we have come up with ideas for a working model (text & graphics) and are looking at costings, these will be put to the floor at the next AGM in May next year.
Good to see a livelier forum that has veered away from petty squables.

Mike Hudson · Q CODE

Paul, I hope that your families grief is becomoming a little bit lighter, I know it will never disappear but time does heal the aching heart. Dear God, does that read as trite as it looks, anyway Paul you will know what I mean.
Forgive me if I now start on the Old Git from the Winnersh Triangle, (It was a square until Shorep got his hands on it!) Pietro, don't be a total plonker, QSA, QTC, QSV, QRX and if I sit and scratch my what not(S) possibly a few more. What the hell else is ASK for if not to provide answers, at the end of the day, the Q signals that applied to us / them are basically the same. Don't start on me, my patch has fallen off and my Whoremones (have I spelt that right?) are shot
Old Fat Grey Grumpy and on HRT Embarassed

shorep

Hudson,my most used Q code from an earlier life before pressed khaki and puttees,was the Q code to signify'we'll put about and make for Valparaiso for fresh vitals and rum, Jim lad',and don't forget the aargh aargh.!!!Not one the russkies or Iraqi lot used that often,or the gypo navy,QRR,aargh aargh.

Mike Hudson · Q Codes

Dear God he's off on a trip again, that's what happens when he tries snorting Pepsi instead of Coke. TREAT HIM GENITALLY, he's a Richard Head, like me.
QRR temporarily unavailable/away, please wait WILL BE QRR 30 MIN = THAT STN IS QRR NW
QRRR Distress Distress call recommended by ARRL
He was last seen at Portsmouth Docks pretending to be Horatio Hornblower. I don't know if this is a reference to the Moufflon. Do not approach this person, they may be dangerous and carrying a loaded IPod. Call the local Vet and have him tranquilised and then put in a padded cell.
Old Fat Grey Grumpy and QRM? Rolling Eyes

paul croxson

I almost (but not quite) sorry that I introduced this subject.
I had hoped to have a chapter in the history on the Q code following on the morse section. Could still do it but it would certainly confuse the Natives. Sincerely - nice to see you both - Nice

shorep

I take your point Ernie about the forum,petty sqoballs arise out of jelusy cos wen I post they see that I can rite an make sense more than wot they does.Dis suupeerior comand of the inglish makes dem all jelus,jus look at wot dat Hudson bloke is riting about me and my post about the Q code,whatever that code is.
There,I did have misgivings about where this subject would end up,downtown Valparaiso by the look of it,basically up **** creek without the paddle!

paul croxson

I too had fears (I mentioned it at the time) but the good thing is that it has helped wake people up from, as Stanley Holloway put it their "somnolent posture". Am I the only one who loves his monologues?
I bet 'Udson will now recite his whole repertoire to me!
If so I will have desrved it and anyway it will give me great delight to read them again - and again! The Lad did me proud with his poem that I passed on to my Daughter who is, by the way, doing absolutely brilliantly. Must take after her Father(?)

shorep

I give in,I will keep us on course,I bow to the masters.
Paul,further to the 'international'nature of Q codes and general use,this is a topic of conversation down the pub with us 'retired'BA workers,or BEAmenders,as we call our reunion club.
I joined BEA after purchasing my freedom from the army,as an avionic
technician.Flight deck talk to the tower was about barometric pressure,for the setting of the altimeter.Is the destination airfield at,below or above sealevel,using QN. and the response from the tower told the flight deck crew where to adjust the altimeter.The wrong setting and you flew into the inner marker mast,the runway or the control tower.
All aircraft fly from beacon to beacon,dial a detination in the computer system,all identified by morse code transmission,and using various Q codes.Even today,anybody taking a private pilots course needs Q code knowledge and morse code.
As I moved on in BA(as BEA/BOAC becamse)I could always know aircrew who had come from the services,their 'alternate airfield' instruction was always referred to by the Q code.

David Thomas

Hi All, I thought that it was about time I contributed again. Paul’s mention of monologues reminded me of the ones my Dad was wont recite as he was washing to go out. (We didn’t have showers in those days). He was very good on “Sam, Sam pick up thy musket”, the other he did was “Our Albert” who I believe came second to a lion when he got his head stuck in some bars at a zoo. Whether these were Stanley Holloway I cant rightly say, but I suspect they probably were. All the best, Dave T.

paul croxson

Good morning Dave.
Yes 'Sam, Sam' was also a Stanley Holloway but surprisingly he wrote neither. I read the Lion one again, getting on Google by googling 'somnolent posture' and it made me laugh just as much as ever. If anyone is feeling miserable I recommend it.
I also loved Gillie Potter and Cyril Fletcher with his 'Odd Ode number one' etc.. It is a lost art but should be re-discovered I reckon. On the other hand they might not be funny any more (think of Tommy Handley with his Funff the Spy, COl. Chinstrap and other totally unfunny characters)
We had a bath which ws used once a week whether we needed it or not. I used the water after my sister and so I was probably 18 and serving the Queen before I had a hot bath and no scum around the rim. We had plunge baths if you played sport at School but they were so disgusting in several senses of the word that no innocent young boy dare venture there twice

kerby

Paul, ITMA, can I do you now sir. You are really showing your age now. Was your bath in the front room downstairs? Keith

derek fowler

Downstairs??? Eeehh I used to dream of a 'downstairs'!!!!!!! We had a step down into the scullery - does that count??

paul croxson

We had an upstairs 'Lav' as we called it with a bloody great copper and brass GEYSER. Only Dad was allowed to light it as it was absolutely lethal. My Cousin came to stay from Manchester once. As he was from "Oop North" we didn't bother to explain how it worked since we Southerners knew he wouldn't ever use it. The first morning of his stay there was one hell of a bang and he staggered out of the bathroom dazed and with not a single eyebrow or lash to show. He was still going on about it 50 years later.
My Grandma in Suffolk where I spent several periods of the War (WW II before anyone says anything) had an outside loo and on a good day IZAL toilet paper in a packet which basically polished rather than wiped. Mostly it was the Daily Herald torn up by GranDad into perfectly sized bits. He was ex-Army you know so that was important to him. It usually meant that anything interesting to read was torn in half and unfinishable. The seat was a wide pine plank scrubbed white and being a midget I could not reach the hole easily. Just about every time I had a pee there woiuld be a tell tale dribble from the hole to the edge. My nightmare was that I would fall into the hole whilst attempting a number .. There was no light in it either so it was a candle in the hand job too. The only good thing about it was that it supplied me with a basic training that was to stand me in good stead for Langeleben. Who remembers lighting newspaper and floating it up (or was it down) stream under the newcomers leaving a strong smell of singed pubic hair in its wake. Sorry Marlene.
It wasn't the toilet problems or the V1's even the V2's that haunted my Wartime memories. Oh no! It was Granddad's manure bucket - I can see it now, the bottom rusting away. However. It taught me the art of being invisible. Their house was on a rise and the delivery horses used to celebrate cresting the Hill with a bucket full and it was my job to rush out and collect it still steaming. Being a soft Londoner being seen doing this was too much and so I would make myself invisible to all. I have hated rhubarb EVER SINCE.

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