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
CQ derives from the French 'sécu' (security/attention) of early commercial telegraphy, repurposed by amateurs as 'seek you'. 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. |
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