🆘
Emergency & Distress
16 entriesDistress, safety and emergency-calling frequencies every operator should know. In a life-threatening emergency, use any means available to call for help — FCC rules permit any station to use any frequency in a genuine emergency (47 CFR §97.405).
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine VHF Ch 16 | 156.800 | FM | International maritime distress, safety and calling channel. Monitored by the US Coast Guard and most vessels. Voice MAYDAY calls go here. |
| Aviation Guard | 121.500 | AM | International aeronautical emergency frequency ('Guard'). Monitored by ATC, airliners and SAR. Older ELTs transmit here. |
| Military Guard | 243.000 | AM | UHF military aeronautical emergency frequency — the military twin of 121.5. |
| 406 MHz Beacons | 406.0–406.1 | Digital | COSPAS-SARSAT satellite distress beacons (EPIRB/PLB/ELT). GPS-encoded and monitored globally 24/7 — the single most reliable wilderness/offshore distress tool. Registration is free at beaconregistration.noaa.gov. |
| CB Channel 9 | 27.065 | AM | FCC-designated CB emergency and motorist-assistance channel. Coverage by volunteer monitors (REACT) varies by area. |
| GMRS Ch 20 'Travel Tone' | 462.675 | FM · CTCSS 141.3 | Long-standing GMRS emergency/traveler-assistance channel. Convention is CTCSS tone 141.3 Hz — the 'travel tone'. |
| 2m Simplex Calling | 146.520 | FM | National 2-meter FM simplex calling frequency. The best-monitored ham simplex frequency in the US and the core of the Wilderness Protocol. |
| Marine MF Distress | 2.182 (2182 kHz) | SSB (USB) | International MF maritime distress and calling frequency for offshore/SSB-equipped vessels. |
| SAR Common (VTAC/NIFOG) | 155.160 | FM | Widely used VHF search-and-rescue working frequency in the US (varies by state/agency; see NIFOG for interop channels). |
| Maritime Mobile Service Net | 14.300 | USB · 20m | Daily HF net (roughly 12:00–21:00 ET) handling traffic for vessels at sea; assists in maritime emergencies. |
| Hurricane Watch Net | 14.325 / 7.268 | USB/LSB | Activates when a hurricane threatens land in the Americas; relays ground-truth weather into the National Hurricane Center (WX4NHC). |
| SATERN Net | 14.265 | USB · 20m | Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network — HF health & welfare traffic during disasters. |
| Wilderness Protocol | 146.52 · 52.525 · 223.5 · 446.0 · 1294.5 | FM simplex | Backcountry convention: monitor the national simplex calling frequencies for 5 minutes at the top of every hour (minimum 7 AM–7 PM local), priority on 146.52. |
| 3-3-3 Radio Plan | Channel 3 | CB / FRS / GMRS / MURS(3) | Grassroots emergency comms schedule: every 3 hours, channel 3, listen/talk for 3 minutes. Keeps batteries alive while giving separated groups a rendezvous on the air. |
| FRS/GMRS Ch 3 (prepper calling) | 462.6125 | FM | Channel 3, no tone, is the common FRS 'prepper calling channel' under the 3-3-3 plan; CB 3 (26.985 AM) is its HF sibling. |
| Coast Guard Working | 157.100 | FM · Marine 22A | USCG liaison and Marine Safety Information broadcasts. You'll be directed here from Ch 16 ('two-two-alpha'). |
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CB Radio
40 entriesCitizens Band — 40 shared channels around 27 MHz. No license required. 4 W AM/FM, 12 W PEP SSB. Channels 36–40 are SSB territory by convention.
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch 1 | 26.965 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 2 | 26.975 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 3 | 26.985 | AM/SSB/FM | Unofficial prepper/survivalist calling channel (3-3-3 plan). |
| Ch 4 | 27.005 | AM/SSB/FM | Popular with 4×4 / off-road clubs in many areas. |
| Ch 5 | 27.015 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 6 | 27.025 | AM/SSB/FM | 'The Superbowl' — famous for high-power DX/skip operators. |
| Ch 7 | 27.035 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 8 | 27.055 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 9 | 27.065 | AM | FCC-designated emergency & motorist assistance channel. |
| Ch 10 | 27.075 | AM/SSB/FM | Regional trucker channel in some areas. |
| Ch 11 | 27.085 | AM/SSB/FM | Former official calling channel. |
| Ch 12 | 27.105 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 13 | 27.115 | AM/SSB/FM | Informal marine / RV / campground channel in many areas. |
| Ch 14 | 27.125 | AM/SSB/FM | Default channel of many cheap walkie-talkies. |
| Ch 15 | 27.135 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 16 | 27.155 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 17 | 27.165 | AM/SSB/FM | Truckers on north–south routes (esp. West Coast, I-5). |
| Ch 18 | 27.175 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 19 | 27.185 | AM/FM | THE highway/trucker channel nationwide — traffic, hazards, 'breaker one-nine'. |
| Ch 20 | 27.205 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 21 | 27.215 | AM/SSB/FM | Truckers on east–west routes in some regions. |
| Ch 22 | 27.225 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 23 | 27.255 | AM/SSB/FM | Out-of-sequence frequency (shared history with older services). |
| Ch 24 | 27.235 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 25 | 27.245 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 26 | 27.265 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 27 | 27.275 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 28 | 27.285 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 29 | 27.295 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 30 | 27.305 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 31 | 27.315 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 32 | 27.325 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 33 | 27.335 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 34 | 27.345 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 35 | 27.355 | AM/SSB/FM | |
| Ch 36 | 27.365 | SSB | Start of the by-convention SSB channels (36–40). |
| Ch 37 | 27.375 | SSB | |
| Ch 38 | 27.385 | LSB | National SSB calling channel — LSB by convention. |
| Ch 39 | 27.395 | SSB | |
| Ch 40 | 27.405 | SSB | Top of the legal CB band. |
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FRS / GMRS
24 entries22 shared UHF channels. FRS is license-free (max 2 W). GMRS allows up to 50 W and repeaters with a $35/10-year FCC license that covers your whole family — no exam.
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch 1 | 462.5625 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | Shared FRS/GMRS. Common general calling channel. |
| Ch 2 | 462.5875 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | |
| Ch 3 | 462.6125 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | Prepper calling channel under the 3-3-3 plan (no tone). |
| Ch 4 | 462.6375 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | |
| Ch 5 | 462.6625 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | |
| Ch 6 | 462.6875 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | |
| Ch 7 | 462.7125 | FRS 2W · GMRS 5W | |
| Ch 8 | 467.5625 | 0.5W only | Channels 8–14: 0.5 W handheld-only for both FRS and GMRS. |
| Ch 9 | 467.5875 | 0.5W only | |
| Ch 10 | 467.6125 | 0.5W only | |
| Ch 11 | 467.6375 | 0.5W only | |
| Ch 12 | 467.6625 | 0.5W only | |
| Ch 13 | 467.6875 | 0.5W only | |
| Ch 14 | 467.7125 | 0.5W only | |
| Ch 15 | 462.550 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | Channels 15–22: GMRS stations may run up to 50 W and use repeaters. |
| Ch 16 | 462.575 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | |
| Ch 17 | 462.600 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | |
| Ch 18 | 462.625 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | |
| Ch 19 | 462.650 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | |
| Ch 20 | 462.675 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | GMRS emergency/traveler channel — 'travel tone' 141.3 Hz CTCSS. |
| Ch 21 | 462.700 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | |
| Ch 22 | 462.725 | FRS 2W · GMRS 50W | Common GMRS calling/meet-up channel. |
| Repeater inputs 15R–22R | 467.550–467.725 | GMRS only | GMRS repeaters listen 5 MHz above channels 15–22 (467.550, .575, .600, .625, .650, .675, .700, .725). Licensed GMRS only — never FRS. |
| CTCSS 'privacy tones' | 67.0–254.1 Hz | Sub-audible | Standard tones: 67.0 69.3 71.9 74.4 77.0 79.7 82.5 85.4 88.5 91.5 94.8 97.4 100.0 103.5 107.2 110.9 114.8 118.8 123.0 127.3 131.8 136.5 141.3 146.2 151.4 156.7 162.2 167.9 173.8 179.9 186.2 192.8 203.5 210.7 218.1 225.7 233.6 241.8 250.3 Hz. Tones filter what YOU hear — they do not make a channel private. |
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MURS
5 entriesMulti-Use Radio Service — five license-free VHF channels, 2 W max. Better foliage/terrain penetration than UHF FRS. Popular for farms, trails and driveway alarms.
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| MURS 1 | 151.820 | FM · 11.25 kHz | Narrowband required (11.25 kHz). |
| MURS 2 | 151.880 | FM · 11.25 kHz | Narrowband required. Common MURS calling channel. |
| MURS 3 | 151.940 | FM · 11.25 kHz | Narrowband required. MURS channel for the 3-3-3 plan. |
| MURS 4 'Blue Dot' | 154.570 | FM · 20 kHz ok | Legacy 'Blue Dot' business channel — walmart and retail ops, driveway sensors. |
| MURS 5 'Green Dot' | 154.600 | FM · 20 kHz ok | Legacy 'Green Dot' business channel. 2 W max, external antennas allowed (60 ft). |
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Marine VHF
16 entriesUS marine VHF channels. Channel 16 is the international distress, safety and calling channel — all vessels should monitor it while underway.
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch 16 | 156.800 | FM | International distress, safety & calling. Monitor while underway. Distress traffic has absolute priority. |
| Ch 9 | 156.450 | FM | Recreational-vessel hailing channel (keeps chatter off 16). |
| Ch 13 | 156.650 | FM · 1W | Bridge-to-bridge navigation safety; drawbridges and locks. Low power (1 W). |
| Ch 6 | 156.300 | FM | Intership safety and SAR coordination with aircraft. |
| Ch 22A | 157.100 | FM | USCG liaison + Marine Safety Information broadcasts announced on 16. |
| Ch 70 | 156.525 | DSC | DSC digital distress & calling ONLY — no voice. Your radio's red DISTRESS button transmits here. |
| Ch 68 | 156.425 | FM | Non-commercial working channel (recreational). |
| Ch 69 | 156.475 | FM | Non-commercial working channel. |
| Ch 71 | 156.575 | FM | Non-commercial working channel. |
| Ch 72 | 156.625 | FM | Non-commercial ship-to-ship. |
| Ch 78A | 156.925 | FM | Non-commercial working channel. |
| Ch 12 | 156.600 | FM | Port operations / Vessel Traffic Service in many harbors. |
| Ch 14 | 156.700 | FM | Port operations / VTS. |
| Ch 17 | 156.850 | FM · 1W | State-controlled vessels; low power. |
| AIS 1 / AIS 2 | 161.975 / 162.025 | GMSK | Automatic Identification System — vessel position broadcasts (Ch 87B/88B). |
| MF Distress | 2182 kHz | USB | MF distress/calling for offshore vessels beyond VHF range. |
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Ham Bands & Calling
29 entriesUS amateur radio band edges, national calling frequencies, repeater offsets and common activity centers. License required to transmit (Technician / General / Extra).
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160m band | 1.800–2.000 | CW/SSB(LSB) | 'Top band.' Regional NVIS by day, long-range at night. General/Extra. |
| 80m band | 3.500–4.000 | CW/Digital/SSB(LSB) | Reliable regional night coverage; backbone of statewide traffic nets. Tech: CW 3.525–3.600. |
| 60m channels | 5330.5 · 5346.5 · 5357.0 · 5371.5 · 5403.5 kHz | USB · 100W ERP | Five channelized USB frequencies (dial shown) shared with federal users. General/Extra. |
| 40m band | 7.000–7.300 | CW/Digital/SSB(LSB) | The do-everything band — regional by day, continental at night. Tech: CW 7.025–7.125. |
| 30m band | 10.100–10.150 | CW/Digital only | No voice; CW & digital only, 200 W max. General/Extra. |
| 20m band | 14.000–14.350 | CW/Digital/SSB(USB) | Premier worldwide DX band, open by day. General/Extra. |
| 17m band | 18.068–18.168 | CW/Digital/SSB(USB) | Quieter 20m-like WARC band. No contests. General/Extra. |
| 15m band | 21.000–21.450 | CW/Digital/SSB(USB) | Great DX when the sun cooperates. Tech: CW 21.025–21.200. |
| 12m band | 24.890–24.990 | CW/Digital/SSB(USB) | WARC band, similar to 10m propagation. |
| 10m band | 28.000–29.700 | CW/Digital/SSB/FM | Technicians get SSB voice 28.300–28.500 (200 W) — the Tech HF phone window. FM & repeaters above 29.5. |
| 6m band | 50–54 | All modes | 'The Magic Band' — sporadic-E openings make it jump from local to 1,500 mi. All classes. |
| 2m band | 144–148 | All modes | The most-used ham band: repeaters, simplex, satellites, APRS. All classes. |
| 1.25m band | 222–225 | All modes | US-regional band; quiet and effective. Novice+ up. |
| 70cm band | 420–450 | All modes | UHF workhorse: repeaters, satellites, ISS uplinks. All classes. |
| 33cm band | 902–928 | All modes | Shared with ISM/Part 15 devices; experimenter territory. |
| 23cm band | 1240–1300 | All modes | Microwave gateway band: FM, ATV, EME. Calling 1294.5 FM. |
| 2m FM calling | 146.520 | FM simplex | National FM simplex calling frequency ('five-two'). |
| 70cm FM calling | 446.000 | FM simplex | National UHF FM simplex calling frequency. |
| 6m FM calling | 52.525 | FM simplex | National 6m FM simplex calling frequency. |
| 1.25m FM calling | 223.500 | FM simplex | National 1.25m FM simplex calling frequency. |
| 2m SSB calling | 144.200 | USB | 2m weak-signal SSB/CW calling frequency (horizontal antennas). |
| 6m SSB calling | 50.125 | USB | 6m SSB DX calling frequency. |
| 70cm SSB calling | 432.100 | USB | 70cm weak-signal calling frequency. |
| 10m FM calling | 29.600 | FM simplex | 10m FM simplex calling; repeater outputs 29.62–29.68. |
| Repeater offsets | 2m ±600 kHz · 70cm ±5 MHz | Standard | Standard US repeater shifts: 10m −100 kHz · 2m ±600 kHz (minus below 147, plus above) · 1.25m −1.6 MHz · 70cm ±5 MHz (regional). GMRS +5 MHz. |
| QRP calling (CW) | 3.560 · 7.030 · 14.060 · 21.060 · 28.060 | CW | QRP (≤5 W) CW calling frequencies by band. |
| QRP calling (SSB) | 3.985 · 7.285 · 14.285 · 21.385 · 28.885 | SSB | QRP SSB calling frequencies by band. |
| AM calling | 3.885 · 7.290 · 14.286 · 29.000 | AM | Common AM ('boat anchor') activity frequencies. |
| SSTV | 14.230 · 7.171 · 3.845 · 28.680 | USB/LSB | Slow-scan television activity centers; 14.230 is the busiest. |
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Digital & Satellite
12 entriesCommon digital-mode watering holes (FT8, APRS, Winlink), the ISS, weather satellites and time-standard stations.
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| APRS (North America) | 144.390 | AFSK 1200 | National APRS channel — position beacons, weather stations, messaging. View live at aprs.fi. |
| FT8 | 1.840 · 3.573 · 7.074 · 10.136 · 14.074 · 18.100 · 21.074 · 24.915 · 28.074 · 50.313 | USB | FT8 watering holes by band (dial, USB). The most active mode on HF today — decodable at –20 dB SNR. |
| PSK31 | 14.070 · 7.070 · 3.580 · 21.070 | USB | Classic keyboard-to-keyboard digital mode centers. |
| JS8Call | 7.078 · 14.078 · 3.578 | USB | Conversational/messaging offshoot of FT8; store-and-forward relaying popular with off-grid comms folks. |
| Winlink (VARA/Ardop) | Various per region | USB | Email over radio via RMS gateways. Channel lists ship with Winlink Express; works when the internet doesn't. |
| ISS voice (Region 2) | ↓145.800 ↑144.490 | FM | Talk to (or just hear) the International Space Station. Downlink 145.800 is easy with a handheld when it's overhead. |
| ISS APRS digipeater | 145.825 | AFSK 1200 | Packet digipeater on the ISS — bounce APRS messages off the space station. |
| ISS SSTV events | 145.800 | FM · PD120 | Periodic slow-scan TV image events from the ISS on the voice downlink. |
| SO-50 satellite | ↓436.795 ↑145.850 (67.0 Hz) | FM | Popular FM 'easy sat' workable with a dual-band HT and whip. |
| NOAA APT satellites | 137.100 / 137.9125 (NOAA-19: 137.100) | APT | Free live weather-satellite imagery with an RTL-SDR and a V-dipole. NOAA-15 137.620, NOAA-19 137.100. |
| WWV / WWVH time | 2.5 · 5 · 10 · 15 · 20 · 25 MHz | AM | NIST time stations — atomic-clock time ticks. Also the classic HF propagation check: if you hear WWV, the band's open. |
| CHU Canada time | 3.330 · 7.850 · 14.670 | USB+carrier | Canada's NRC time station. |
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NOAA Weather
8 entriesNOAA Weather Radio All Hazards — seven VHF frequencies broadcasting continuous weather and emergency information to ~95% of the US.
| Name / Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| WX2 | 162.400 | FM | |
| WX4 | 162.425 | FM | |
| WX5 | 162.450 | FM | |
| WX3 | 162.475 | FM | |
| WX6 | 162.500 | FM | |
| WX7 | 162.525 | FM | |
| WX1 | 162.550 | FM | The original and most common NWR frequency. |
| Coverage note | — | Your local transmitter depends on location — check weather.gov/nwr for the station map. Program a SAME county code to get alerts only for your county. |
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EAS / SAME Codes
40 entriesEmergency Alert System event codes used in SAME headers on NOAA Weather Radio and broadcast stations.
| Name / Channel | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| EAN | National | Emergency Action Notification — national activation. Highest priority alert that exists. |
| NPT | National | National Periodic Test. |
| RWT | Test | Required Weekly Test. |
| RMT | Test | Required Monthly Test. |
| TOR | Warning | Tornado Warning — take shelter now. |
| TOA | Watch | Tornado Watch. |
| SVR | Warning | Severe Thunderstorm Warning. |
| SVA | Watch | Severe Thunderstorm Watch. |
| FFW | Warning | Flash Flood Warning. |
| FFA | Watch | Flash Flood Watch. |
| FLW | Warning | Flood Warning. |
| FLA | Watch | Flood Watch. |
| HUW | Warning | Hurricane Warning. |
| HUA | Watch | Hurricane Watch. |
| TRW | Warning | Tropical Storm Warning. |
| TRA | Watch | Tropical Storm Watch. |
| TSW | Warning | Tsunami Warning — move to high ground. |
| TSA | Watch | Tsunami Watch. |
| EWW | Warning | Extreme Wind Warning (≥115 mph, usually hurricane eyewall). |
| WSW | Warning | Winter Storm Warning. |
| BZW | Warning | Blizzard Warning. |
| HWW | Warning | High Wind Warning. |
| DSW | Warning | Dust Storm Warning. |
| CFW | Warning | Coastal Flood Warning. |
| SMW | Warning | Special Marine Warning. |
| SPS | Statement | Special Weather Statement. |
| AVW | Warning | Avalanche Warning. |
| EQW | Warning | Earthquake Warning. |
| VOW | Warning | Volcano Warning. |
| FRW | Warning | Fire Warning. |
| HMW | Warning | Hazardous Materials Warning. |
| LEW | Warning | Law Enforcement Warning. |
| CDW | Warning | Civil Danger Warning. |
| CEM | Emergency | Civil Emergency Message. |
| EVI | Warning | Evacuation Immediate. |
| SPW | Warning | Shelter In Place Warning. |
| NUW | Warning | Nuclear Power Plant Warning. |
| RHW | Warning | Radiological Hazard Warning. |
| CAE | Emergency | Child Abduction Emergency (AMBER alert). |
| ADR | Statement | Administrative Message. |
🔟
10-Codes
54 entriesThe CB/REACT ten-code set. Heads-up: police and public-safety agencies use their own variations — many have moved to plain language. On CB, these are still everyday shorthand.
| Name / Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| 10-1 | Receiving poorly. |
| 10-2 | Receiving well. |
| 10-3 | Stop transmitting. |
| 10-4 | OK / message received. |
| 10-5 | Relay message. |
| 10-6 | Busy — stand by. |
| 10-7 | Out of service / leaving the air. |
| 10-8 | In service / subject to call. |
| 10-9 | Repeat message. |
| 10-10 | Transmission completed, standing by. |
| 10-11 | Talking too rapidly. |
| 10-13 | Advise weather / road conditions. |
| 10-16 | Make pickup at… |
| 10-17 | Urgent business. |
| 10-18 | Anything for us? |
| 10-19 | Nothing for you — return to base. |
| 10-20 | Location ('What's your twenty?'). |
| 10-21 | Call by telephone. |
| 10-22 | Report in person to… |
| 10-23 | Stand by. |
| 10-24 | Completed last assignment. |
| 10-25 | Can you contact… |
| 10-26 | Disregard last information. |
| 10-27 | Moving to channel… |
| 10-28 | Identify your station. |
| 10-29 | Time is up for contact. |
| 10-30 | Does not conform to FCC rules. |
| 10-32 | I will give you a radio check. |
| 10-33 | EMERGENCY TRAFFIC at this station. |
| 10-34 | Trouble at this station — help needed. |
| 10-35 | Confidential information. |
| 10-36 | Correct time is… |
| 10-38 | Ambulance needed at… |
| 10-39 | Your message delivered. |
| 10-41 | Please tune to channel… |
| 10-42 | Traffic accident at… |
| 10-43 | Traffic tie-up at… |
| 10-44 | I have a message for you. |
| 10-45 | All units within range please report. |
| 10-50 | Break channel. |
| 10-62 | Unable to copy — use phone. |
| 10-65 | Awaiting your next message/assignment. |
| 10-70 | Fire at… |
| 10-73 | Speed trap at… |
| 10-75 | You are causing interference. |
| 10-77 | Negative contact. |
| 10-85 | My address is… |
| 10-91 | Talk closer to the mic. |
| 10-92 | Your transmitter is out of adjustment. |
| 10-93 | Check my frequency on this channel. |
| 10-94 | Please give me a long count (1–10). |
| 10-99 | Mission completed, all units secure. |
| 10-100 | Restroom break (CB slang). |
| 10-200 | Police needed at… (CB slang). |
🔤
Q-Codes
27 entriesInternational Q signals used in amateur radio (CW and voice). Sent as a question or an answer — QTH? asks 'where are you?', QTH answers it.
| Name / Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| QRA | What is the name of your station? / My station is… |
| QRG | What's my exact frequency? / Your frequency is… |
| QRK | What is my readability? (1–5) |
| QRL | Is this frequency in use? Always send 'QRL?' before calling CQ on CW. |
| QRM | Man-made interference (other stations, noise from electronics). |
| QRN | Natural noise — static, lightning crashes. |
| QRO | Increase power / running high power. |
| QRP | Reduce power / running low power (≤5 W CW, ≤10 W SSB). A whole hobby in itself. |
| QRQ | Send faster. |
| QRS | Send more slowly. Don't be shy about asking. |
| QRT | Stop sending / shutting down the station. |
| QRU | Have you anything for me? / I have nothing for you. |
| QRV | Are you ready? / I am ready. |
| QRX | Stand by — I'll call you again at… |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? (Also the name of the famous callsign-lookup site.) |
| QSA | What is my signal strength? (1–5) |
| QSB | Your signal is fading. |
| QSK | Full break-in CW — I can hear between my own dits. |
| QSL | I acknowledge receipt / do you confirm? Also the postcard hams exchange to confirm contacts. |
| QSO | A radio contact/conversation. |
| QSP | Will you relay to…? / I will relay. |
| QST | General call to all amateurs (also ARRL's magazine). |
| QSX | I am listening on … (split-frequency operation). |
| QSY | Change frequency to… |
| QTC | I have a message to send. |
| QTH | What is your location? / My location is… |
| QTR | What is the correct time? |
🅰️
Phonetic Alphabet
36 entriesNATO/ICAO spelling alphabet with official pronunciations. Use it any time a letter or callsign must get through the first time.
| Name / Channel | Pronunciation | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A — Alfa | AL-FAH | |
| B — Bravo | BRAH-VOH | |
| C — Charlie | CHAR-LEE | |
| D — Delta | DELL-TAH | |
| E — Echo | ECK-OH | |
| F — Foxtrot | FOKS-TROT | |
| G — Golf | GOLF | |
| H — Hotel | HOH-TELL | |
| I — India | IN-DEE-AH | |
| J — Juliett | JEW-LEE-ETT | |
| K — Kilo | KEY-LOH | |
| L — Lima | LEE-MAH | |
| M — Mike | MIKE | |
| N — November | NO-VEM-BER | |
| O — Oscar | OSS-CAH | |
| P — Papa | PAH-PAH | |
| Q — Quebec | KEH-BECK | |
| R — Romeo | ROW-ME-OH | |
| S — Sierra | SEE-AIR-RAH | |
| T — Tango | TANG-GO | |
| U — Uniform | YOU-NEE-FORM | |
| V — Victor | VIK-TAH | |
| W — Whiskey | WISS-KEY | |
| X — X-ray | ECKS-RAY | |
| Y — Yankee | YANG-KEY | |
| Z — Zulu | ZOO-LOO | |
| 0 — Zero | ZEE-RO | |
| 1 — One | WUN | |
| 2 — Two | TOO | |
| 3 — Three | TREE | |
| 4 — Four | FOW-ER | |
| 5 — Five | FIFE | |
| 6 — Six | SIX | |
| 7 — Seven | SEV-EN | |
| 8 — Eight | AIT | |
| 9 — Nine | NIN-ER | 'Niner' avoids confusion with the German 'nein' and the digit 5. |
✳️
Morse Code
50 entriesInternational Morse code — letters, numbers, punctuation and prosigns. · = dit, − = dah.
| Name / Channel | Code | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A | ·− | |
| B | −··· | |
| C | −·−· | |
| D | −·· | |
| E | · | |
| F | ··−· | |
| G | −−· | |
| H | ···· | |
| I | ·· | |
| J | ·−−− | |
| K | −·− | Also an invitation: 'go ahead'. |
| L | ·−·· | |
| M | −− | |
| N | −· | |
| O | −−− | |
| P | ·−−· | |
| Q | −−·− | |
| R | ·−· | Also 'received/roger'. |
| S | ··· | |
| T | − | |
| U | ··− | |
| V | ···− | |
| W | ·−− | |
| X | −··− | |
| Y | −·−− | |
| Z | −−·· | |
| 0 | −−−−− | |
| 1 | ·−−−− | |
| 2 | ··−−− | |
| 3 | ···−− | |
| 4 | ····− | |
| 5 | ····· | |
| 6 | −···· | |
| 7 | −−··· | |
| 8 | −−−·· | |
| 9 | −−−−· | |
| Period . | ·−·−·− | |
| Comma , | −−··−− | |
| Question ? | ··−−·· | |
| Slash / | −··−· | |
| Equals = | −···− | Same as prosign BT (new paragraph). |
| Plus + | ·−·−· | Same as prosign AR (end of message). |
| At @ | ·−−·−· | Newest official Morse character (2004). |
| SOS | ···−−−··· | International distress signal — sent as one continuous character, no letter spacing. |
| AR (end of msg) | ·−·−· | End of message. |
| SK (end of contact) | ···−·− | End of contact / clear. Also 'Silent Key' — a ham who has died. |
| BT (break) | −···− | Pause / new paragraph. |
| KN (go ahead, only) | −·−−· | Go ahead — named station only. |
| AS (wait) | ·−··· | Wait / stand by. |
| Error | ········ | Eight dits — 'scratch that, resending the word.' |
🗣️
Prowords & Voice Procedure
23 entriesStandard procedure words that keep voice traffic short and unambiguous, including the international distress hierarchy: MAYDAY, PAN-PAN, SÉCURITÉ.
| Name / Channel | Mode / Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| MAYDAY | Distress | Spoken ×3. Grave and imminent danger to life or vessel — requires immediate assistance. Everyone else must stay silent and assist. From the French m'aidez, 'help me'. |
| PAN-PAN | Urgency | Spoken ×3 ('PAHN-PAHN'). Urgent situation NOT immediately life-threatening — medical issue aboard, engine failure near shore. |
| SÉCURITÉ | Safety | Spoken ×3 ('say-cure-ee-TAY'). Safety message follows — navigation hazards, weather warnings. |
| ROGER | Message received and understood. NOT a promise to comply — that's WILCO. | |
| WILCO | 'Will comply.' Never say 'Roger Wilco' — Wilco already includes Roger. | |
| OVER | My transmission is done; I expect a reply. | |
| OUT | Conversation finished, no reply expected. 'Over and out' is a movie-ism — pick one. | |
| COPY | I received/understood your transmission ('good copy'). | |
| SAY AGAIN | Repeat your last transmission. Never the word 'repeat' — in military use, that calls for artillery fire again. | |
| I SPELL | The next word comes phonetically: 'I spell: Sierra-Mike-India-Tango-Hotel.' | |
| FIGURES | Numerals follow, digit by digit. | |
| BREAK | Separates message sections; 'BREAK BREAK' interrupts ongoing traffic with something important. | |
| RADIO CHECK | How do you hear me? Reply with readability/strength: 'Loud and clear.' | |
| READ BACK | Repeat my message back to me word-for-word. | |
| CORRECTION | I made an error; the correct version follows. | |
| DISREGARD | Ignore my previous transmission. | |
| STAND BY / WAIT | Pause — I'll get back to you. 'WAIT, OVER' = a few seconds; 'WAIT OUT' = longer. | |
| AFFIRMATIVE / NEGATIVE | Yes / No. Clearer than 'yes'/'no' on a noisy channel. | |
| ACTUAL | The unit leader personally, not their radio operator ('Send me Bravo Actual'). | |
| HOW COPY | Did you receive and understand? Typical answer: 'Good copy.' | |
| CQ | Ham | Calling any station — 'CQ CQ CQ, this is…' The universal ham invitation to talk. |
| 73 | Ham | Best regards — the standard ham sign-off. (88 = hugs & kisses.) |
| ELMER | Ham slang | An experienced ham who mentors newcomers. |
📶
Signal Reports (RST)
4 entriesThe RST system — Readability (1–5), Strength (1–9), Tone (1–9, CW only). '59' spoken on SSB, '599' sent on CW.
| Name / Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| R1–R5 Readability | 1 Unreadable · 2 Barely readable · 3 Readable with difficulty · 4 Readable with little difficulty · 5 Perfectly readable. |
| S1–S9 Strength | 1 Faint · 3 Weak · 5 Fairly good · 7 Moderately strong · 9 Extremely strong. S-meter '+20 dB' = 20 dB over S9. |
| T1–T9 Tone (CW) | 1 Very rough AC hum … 7 Near-pure with ripple · 9 Perfect tone. Almost everything modern is a 9. |
| '59' / '599' | 'You're five-nine' = perfectly readable, extremely strong. The default (often reflexive) contest exchange — sent '5NN' in CW shorthand. |
📚
Learn
9 guidesShort field guides — licensing, distress procedure, protocols, and how to actually use all of the above.
🪪Which radio service needs a license?
| Service | License | Cost | Exam | Max power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | None | — | — | 4 W AM / 12 W SSB |
| FRS | None | — | — | 2 W |
| MURS | None | — | — | 2 W |
| GMRS | FCC license | $35 / 10 yr | No exam | 50 W + repeaters |
| Ham (Technician) | FCC license | $35 + exam fee | 35-question exam | 1500 W |
One GMRS license covers your entire immediate family. The ham Technician exam is a 35-question multiple-choice test from a public question pool — most people pass after a weekend with a free study app (HamStudy.org). Anyone may listen to anything without a license — licenses are for transmitting.
🚨How to make a distress call (script)
On marine VHF 16, aviation 121.5, or any channel where someone might hear you:
- MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
- This is [boat name / callsign / who you are] — say it three times
- MAYDAY [name] — POSITION [lat/long, GPS, or landmark bearing/distance]
- Nature of distress (sinking, fire, medical…)
- Assistance required · Number of people · vessel description
- OVER — then release the mic and listen
No answer? Repeat. Keep intervals to listen. If not life-threatening, use PAN-PAN instead. In a genuine emergency FCC rules let any station use any frequency and any power necessary (47 CFR §97.405).
⏱️The 3-3-3 emergency plan
A simple rendezvous convention when the grid or phones are down: every 3 hours (from midnight local), turn on your radio on channel 3, and monitor for 3 minutes. CB ch 3 (26.985), FRS/GMRS ch 3 (462.6125), or MURS ch 3 (151.940). It conserves battery while guaranteeing separated groups a scheduled meeting time on the air. Agree on your family's variation ahead of time — the plan you rehearsed is the one that works.
🏔️The Wilderness Protocol
Hams in the backcountry (and everyone in a disaster) monitor the national simplex calling frequencies for 5 minutes at the top of every hour, minimum 7 AM–7 PM local: 146.52 (primary) · 52.525 · 223.5 · 446.0 · 1294.5 MHz. If you need help, call at the top of the hour. Priority transmissions start with the DTMF tone or the words 'Priority, priority.'
🗼Repeaters, offsets & tones in 60 seconds
A repeater listens on one frequency and re-transmits on another from a high site, stretching your handheld's 2 miles into 50. To use one you program: the output (what you listen to), the offset (2m: ±600 kHz, 70cm: ±5 MHz), and usually a CTCSS tone — a sub-audible tone that opens the repeater's squelch. Find local repeaters at RepeaterBook. Tones are not privacy — everyone can still hear you.
🗺️Grid squares (Maidenhead locators)
Hams describe location with 4–6 characters like FN31pr: the world is divided into 18×18 'fields' (two letters), each into 10×10 'squares' (two digits), each into 24×24 'subsquares' (two letters). A 6-character grid pins you to about 3×4 miles — precise enough for VHF contacts and vague enough for privacy. Find yours by GPS at levinecentral.com/ham or many logging apps.
🎒Radio go-bag checklist
- Dual-band ham HT or GMRS handheld (+ programmed local repeaters & channels from this site)
- Spare batteries / USB battery pack + charging cable · AA battery shell if your HT takes one
- NOAA weather radio with SAME alerts (or WX channels programmed)
- Roll-up J-pole or whip upgrade antenna + adapter (SMA-F/SMA-M/BNC — know yours!)
- Laminated frequency card (print one from this site — it works offline too)
- Earpiece, notepad + pencil, headlamp
- Licenses: GMRS covers the family with no exam; the ham Technician exam is one weekend of study
🎧You can listen to everything — legally
In the US, receiving is nearly unrestricted: ham bands, marine, aviation, railroads (AAR channels, 160–161 MHz), NOAA satellites, the ISS, shortwave broadcasters, time stations. A $30 RTL-SDR dongle plus free software turns a laptop into an all-band receiver. Exceptions: you may not decrypt encrypted traffic or listen to cellular, and some states restrict scanner use in vehicles or in the commission of a crime. Sharing intercepted non-broadcast content can violate ECPA — listen, don't leak.
🌅Which HF band is open right now? (rules of thumb)
Day: 20m/17m/15m worldwide; 40m regional. Night: 40m/80m come alive for medium/long range; 20m may stay open west. High solar activity: 15m/12m/10m open worldwide with tiny power. Quick check: tune WWV at 5/10/15/20/25 MHz — whichever you hear tells you what's propagating. NVIS trick: 40m/80m with a low antenna gives reliable 0–300 mile coverage — the emergency-comms sweet spot.