The QSA code and QRK code are interrelated and complementary signal reporting codes for use in wireless telegraphy (Morse code). An enhanced format, SINPO code, was published in the ITU Radio Regulations, Geneva, 1959,[1] but is longer and unwieldy for use in the fast pace of Morse code communications.
The current definition of the QSA and QRK codes are officially defined in ITU Radio Regulations 1990, Appendix 13: Miscellaneous Abbreviations and Signals to Be Used in Radiotelegraphy Communications Except in the Maritime Mobile Service, and are also described identically in ACP131(F),:[2]
Signal
Question
Answer, Advice, or Order
QSA
What is the strength of my signals (or those of...)?
The strength of your signals (or those of...) is...
scarcely perceptible
weak
fairly good
good
very good
QRK
What is the intelligibility of my signals (or those of...)?
The intelligibility of your signals (or those of...) is...
bad
poor
fair
good
excellent
Historical development
The QSK code is one of the earliest signal reporting formats and is a part of the Q code used for commercial radiotelegraph communication, appearing as one of the twelve Q Codes listed in the 1912 International Radiotelegraph Convention Regulations, and was later adopted by other radio services, especially amateur radio. The QSA code was mandated by the Madrid Convention (Appendix 10, General Regulations) sometime prior to 1936, and specified the following reporting format, as found in the 1936 edition of the ARRL's The Radio Amateur's Handbook[3] and Radiotelegraph & Radiotelephone Codes, Prowords, and Abbreviations.[1]
Request from first station
Response from receiving station
Meaning
QRK (replaced earlier QJS)
QSA1
Hardly perceptible, unreadable
QSA2
Weak, readable now and then
QSA3
Fairly good, readable but with difficulty
QSA4
Good, readable
QSA5
Very good, perfectly readable
The book goes on to note that "Some of the definitions, however, appear to confuse audibility or signal strength with readability, which may be impaired even when signals are strong, by atmospherics, interference, a noisy receiver, etc.", and that because of this Amateurs supplemented the QSA system reports with a readability scale, called the R-System, which used a scale of 1 to 9. The book describes the QSA- and R-systems immediately after describing the R-S-T system, and notes that the R-S-T report format, because it is three digits long, cannot be confused with either of the earlier systems. The book does not clarify the method for requesting an R-S-T report instead of a QSA report.[3]
The U.S. Navy's Communications Instructions of 1929 prescribed a different set of codes for the response:[4] However, for joint Army-Navy operations, the K signal was replaced with the S signal, with exactly the same definitions.[5]
1929 U.S. Navy readability responses
Response from receiving station
Meaning
R1
Unreadable
R2
Poor but readable—send each character twice.
R3
Fair—readable at slow speed, send code twice.
R4
Good—readable at moderate speed.
R5
Easily readable.
1929 U.S. Navy strength of signals responses
Response from receiving station
Meaning
K1
Very weak—hardly audible.
K2
Moderately weak.
K3
Medium strength.
K4
Moderately strong.
K5
Strong.
An expanded QRK code was first defined to go along with the earlier QSA code in the ITU Radio Regulations Cairo, 1938.[1]
Request from first station
Response from receiving station
Meaning
QSA (replaced earlier QJS)
QSA1
Hardly perceptible, unreadable
QSA2
Weak, readable now and then
QSA3
Fairly good, readable but with difficulty
QSA4
Good, readable
QSA5
Very good, perfectly readable
Request from first station
Response from receiving station
Meaning
QRK
R1
Unreadable
R2
Occasional words distinguishable
R3
Readable with difficulty
R4
Readable with almost no difficulty
R5
Perfectly readable
FM 24-6 Radiotelegraph signal report format
The 1945 U.S. Army Radio Operator's Manual, FM 24-6 defines the radiotelegraph signal report format as follows:[6]
Report
Readability
Signal Strength
1
Unreadable
Scarcely perceptible
2
Readable now and then
Weak
3
Readable but with difficulty
Fairly good
4
Readable
Good
5
Perfectly readable
Very good
FM 24-6 further states, "Readability and signal strength reports indicate the desired method of transmission and should be used in that sense. Readability and signal strength reports are not exchanged unless "3" or less, lack of any report being assumed to indicate satisfactory communications."
The report example given below uses military call signs and the obsolete Q Code of QJS for readability instead of the current QRK:
Station
Transmission
MB6
3MY V MB6 QJS 3 K
3MY
MB6 V 3MY INT QJS K
MB6
3MY V MB6 QJS 4 AR
MB6
S7P V MB6 INT QJS INT QSA K
S7P
MB6 V S7P QJS 3 QSA 3 AR
CCB signal strength and readability
The 1943–1945 Combined Communications Board Publications, including CCBP 3-2: Combined Radiotelephone (R/T) Procedure,[7] describe a slightly newer radiotelephony version of the radiotelegraph procedure described in the U.S. Army Radio Operator's Manual, FM 24-6:
(a) A station is understood to have good readability unless otherwise notified. Strength of signals and readability will not be exchanged unless one station cannot clearly hear another station.
(b) The response to "How do you hear me?" will be a short concise report of actual reception such as "Weak but readable," "Strong but distorted," "Loud and clear," "Strength Four," etc.
At least in CCBP 3–2, no additional detail is given about what the range of the numeric scale is, or the complete list of strength and readability code words are.
^ abcAlcorn, John W. (1997). (PDF). Lismore, NSW: Southern Cross University Press. ISBN9781863844246. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2019. Retrieved 2018-05-08. Alt URL
^Combined Communications-Electronics Board (April 2006). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2012.
^ abThe Radio Amateur's Handbook(PDF). Newington, CT: American Radio Relay League. 1936. p. 364.
^Communication Instructions(PDF). Vol. Part II: RADIO. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. 1929.
^Communication Instructions(PDF). Vol. Part IV: PROCEDURE AND EXAMPLES. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. 1929.
^United States War Department (1945). Radio Operator's Manual. Field Manual. Fort Monroe, VA: Army Field Printing Plant, CAS. FM24-6.
^Myers, G. B.; Charles, B. P. (1945-02-14). CCBP 3-2: Combined Radiotelephone (R/T) Procedure. Washington, D. C.: Combined Communications Board. pp. 1, 2.
March 23, 2023
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The QSA code and QRK code are interrelated and complementary signal reporting codes for use in wireless telegraphy Morse code An enhanced format SINPO code was published in the ITU Radio Regulations Geneva 1959 1 but is longer and unwieldy for use in the fast pace of Morse code communications Contents 1 Current format 2 Historical development 2 1 FM 24 6 Radiotelegraph signal report format 3 CCB signal strength and readability 4 See also 5 ReferencesCurrent format EditThe current definition of the QSA and QRK codes are officially defined in ITU Radio Regulations 1990 Appendix 13 Miscellaneous Abbreviations and Signals to Be Used in Radiotelegraphy Communications Except in the Maritime Mobile Service and are also described identically in ACP131 F 2 Signal Question Answer Advice or OrderQSA What is the strength of my signals or those of The strength of your signals or those of is scarcely perceptibleweakfairly goodgoodvery goodQRK What is the intelligibility of my signals or those of The intelligibility of your signals or those of is badpoorfairgoodexcellentHistorical development EditThe QSK code is one of the earliest signal reporting formats and is a part of the Q code used for commercial radiotelegraph communication appearing as one of the twelve Q Codes listed in the 1912 International Radiotelegraph Convention Regulations and was later adopted by other radio services especially amateur radio The QSA code was mandated by the Madrid Convention Appendix 10 General Regulations sometime prior to 1936 and specified the following reporting format as found in the 1936 edition of the ARRL s The Radio Amateur s Handbook 3 and Radiotelegraph amp Radiotelephone Codes Prowords and Abbreviations 1 Request from first station Response from receiving station MeaningQRK replaced earlier QJS QSA1 Hardly perceptible unreadableQSA2 Weak readable now and thenQSA3 Fairly good readable but with difficultyQSA4 Good readableQSA5 Very good perfectly readableThe book goes on to note that Some of the definitions however appear to confuse audibility or signal strength with readability which may be impaired even when signals are strong by atmospherics interference a noisy receiver etc and that because of this Amateurs supplemented the QSA system reports with a readability scale called the R System which used a scale of 1 to 9 The book describes the QSA and R systems immediately after describing the R S T system and notes that the R S T report format because it is three digits long cannot be confused with either of the earlier systems The book does not clarify the method for requesting an R S T report instead of a QSA report 3 The U S Navy s Communications Instructions of 1929 prescribed a different set of codes for the response 4 However for joint Army Navy operations the K signal was replaced with the S signal with exactly the same definitions 5 1929 U S Navy readability responses Response from receiving station MeaningR1 UnreadableR2 Poor but readable send each character twice R3 Fair readable at slow speed send code twice R4 Good readable at moderate speed R5 Easily readable 1929 U S Navy strength of signals responses Response from receiving station MeaningK1 Very weak hardly audible K2 Moderately weak K3 Medium strength K4 Moderately strong K5 Strong An expanded QRK code was first defined to go along with the earlier QSA code in the ITU Radio Regulations Cairo 1938 1 Request from first station Response from receiving station MeaningQSA replaced earlier QJS QSA1 Hardly perceptible unreadableQSA2 Weak readable now and thenQSA3 Fairly good readable but with difficultyQSA4 Good readableQSA5 Very good perfectly readableRequest from first station Response from receiving station MeaningQRK R1 UnreadableR2 Occasional words distinguishableR3 Readable with difficultyR4 Readable with almost no difficultyR5 Perfectly readableFM 24 6 Radiotelegraph signal report format Edit The 1945 U S Army Radio Operator s Manual FM 24 6 defines the radiotelegraph signal report format as follows 6 Report Readability Signal Strength1 Unreadable Scarcely perceptible2 Readable now and then Weak3 Readable but with difficulty Fairly good4 Readable Good5 Perfectly readable Very goodFM 24 6 further states Readability and signal strength reports indicate the desired method of transmission and should be used in that sense Readability and signal strength reports are not exchanged unless 3 or less lack of any report being assumed to indicate satisfactory communications The report example given below uses military call signs and the obsolete Q Code of QJS for readability instead of the current QRK Station TransmissionMB6 3MY V MB6 QJS 3 K3MY MB6 V 3MY INT QJS KMB6 3MY V MB6 QJS 4 ARMB6 S7P V MB6 INT QJS INT QSA KS7P MB6 V S7P QJS 3 QSA 3 ARCCB signal strength and readability EditThe 1943 1945 Combined Communications Board Publications including CCBP 3 2 Combined Radiotelephone R T Procedure 7 describe a slightly newer radiotelephony version of the radiotelegraph procedure described in the U S Army Radio Operator s Manual FM 24 6 a A station is understood to have good readability unless otherwise notified Strength of signals and readability will not be exchanged unless one station cannot clearly hear another station b The response to How do you hear me will be a short concise report of actual reception such as Weak but readable Strong but distorted Loud and clear Strength Four etc At least in CCBP 3 2 no additional detail is given about what the range of the numeric scale is or the complete list of strength and readability code words are See also EditOther signal reporting codes Plain language radio checks R S T system for Amateur radio only SINPO code Signal strength and readability report Circuit Merit for wired telephone circuits only References Edit a b c Alcorn John W 1997 Radiotelegraph amp Radiotelephone Codes Prowords and Abbreviations for the Summerland Radio Club DE VK2JWA PDF Lismore NSW Southern Cross University Press ISBN 9781863844246 Archived from the original PDF on March 3 2019 Retrieved 2018 05 08 Alt URL Combined Communications Electronics Board April 2006 ACP 131 F Communications Instructions Operating Signals PDF Archived from the original PDF on September 6 2012 a b The Radio Amateur s Handbook PDF Newington CT American Radio Relay League 1936 p 364 Communication Instructions PDF Vol Part II RADIO Washington United States Government Printing Office 1929 Communication Instructions PDF Vol Part IV PROCEDURE AND EXAMPLES Washington United States Government Printing Office 1929 United States War Department 1945 Radio Operator s Manual Field Manual Fort Monroe VA Army Field Printing Plant CAS FM24 6 Myers G B Charles B P 1945 02 14 CCBP 3 2 Combined Radiotelephone R T Procedure Washington D C Combined Communications Board pp 1 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title QSA and QRK radio signal reports amp oldid 1085258395, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
