Radio/CW Prosigns

CW Shorthand

There is a lot of shorthand. This keeps cw conversations short. It enables contacts across languages. It is surprisingly flexible.

Prosigns

AR - new page (+)

BT - new paragraph (=)

BK - break/back to you

CT - copy this

K - invitation for any station to transmit

KN - invitation for named station to transmit

SK - end of contact

Q Codes

QRL - busy?
QRM - receiving manmade interference
QRN - receiving atmospheric/weather/natural noise
QRO - increased transmit power
QRP - decreased transmit power
QRQ - i can receive quicker
QRS - i can only receive slower
QRT - receiving station is terminating
QRZ - who is calling/station calling
QSK - i can hear between signals, break in on my transmission
QSL - sending acknowledgement of receipt
QSX - listening to call signs on X MHz
QTH - position/location

Abbreviations

AGN - again
ABT - about
ANT - antenna
CUD - could
DE - from (this is)
DSW - goodbye (russian: do svidanya)
ES - and
FB - ok
GA - good afternoon or go ahead
GE - good evening
GM - good morning
GN - good night
GG - going 
GND - ground
HR - here/hear
HV - have
K - over
KN - over, named station respond
NW - now
NX - noisy
OP - operator
OT - old timer
OTC - old timers club
QCWA - quarter century wireless assoc
QTH - location
SIG - signal
SK - end of contact
TNX - thanks
VY - very
WL - will
WUD - would
WX - weather
YL - female operator

Example Conversation

CQ CQ CQ DE S1 K

S1 DE S2 KN

S2 DE S1 BT
GA DR OM UR RST 5NN HR BT
QTH TIMBUKTU BT
OP IS JOHN BT
HW?
S2 DE S1 KN

S1 DE S2 BT
TNX FB RPRT DR OM JOHN UR 559 BT
QTH HIMALAYA BT
NAME IS YETI 
S1 DE S2 KN

S2 DE S1BT 
OK TNX QSO DR YETI BR
73 ES HPE CUAGN 
S2 DE S1 KN

S1 DE S2 BT
R TU CUAGN 73 
S1 DE S2 SK