CW abbreviation · Connectors
ABT in Morse code
Approximation: 'ABT 50 MILES', 'ABT 1985'. Saves typing 'approximately'.
Morse rendering
.- -... -
Sent letter-by-letter with standard inter-letter gaps.
What it saves you on the air
This is the whole reason CW abbreviations exist. Sending ABT instead of spelling out “About” cuts 51% of the airtime — 24 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.
| Speed | ABT | “About” | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 WPM | 2.1s | 4.3s | 2.2s |
| 20 WPM | 1.4s | 2.8s | 1.4s |
| 25 WPM | 1.1s | 2.3s | 1.2s |
Timed with standard spacing: dit 1 unit, dah 3, letter gap 3, word gap 7. Work out any other speed on the timing calculator.
Meaning
ABT — About
When this is used
Use ABT when the value is close-enough rather than exact. Common with ages, distances, dates, signal-strength estimates.
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| ABT 50 MILES NORTH | About 50 miles north. |
| LIC ABT 1985 | Licensed around 1985. |
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