CW abbreviation · Operating
CQ in Morse code
The general call. 'CQ' invites any listening station to reply.
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 CQ instead of spelling out “Calling any station” cuts 84% of the airtime — 138 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.
| Speed | CQ | “Calling any station” | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 WPM | 2.5s | 15.2s | 12.7s |
| 20 WPM | 1.6s | 9.9s | 8.3s |
| 25 WPM | 1.3s | 7.9s | 6.6s |
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
CQ — Calling any station
When this is used
ITU-R M.1172 defines CQ as a general call to all stations. Amateurs often read it as 'seek you'; its origin in early telegraphy is commonly traced to the French sécurité, though accounts differ. Standard call structure: CQ CQ CQ DE <call> <call> K. For a DX-only call, append DX: CQ DX CQ DX DE <call>.
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| CQ CQ CQ DE W1AW W1AW K | Standard CQ from W1AW, anyone reply. |
| CQ DX DE K1ABC | Looking for DX contacts, this is K1ABC. |
| CQ TEST DE W1AW | CQ Contest from W1AW. |
Sending CQ
| Letter | Morse | Units |
|---|---|---|
| C | -.-. | 11 |
| Q | --.- | 13 |
With the normal three-unit gaps between letters, CQ is 27 units long. It is sent as ordinary letters, not joined like a prosign.
| Speed | 5 WPM | 13 WPM | 20 WPM | 25 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to send | 6.48 s | 2.49 s | 1.62 s | 1.30 s |
What the references say
In ITU-R M.1172, the ITU list of abbreviations and signals for the maritime mobile service, CQ is a general call to all stations.
A call to two or more named stations has its own abbreviation in the same list, CP.
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