CW abbreviation · Operating

PSE in Morse code

Standard CW politeness particle. Frequent in QRS PSE (please slow down) and similar.

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 PSE instead of spelling out “Please” cuts 51% of the airtime — 24 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.

SpeedPSE“Please”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

PSE — Please

When this is used

Always appended, not standalone. Common combinations: PSE QRS (please send slower), PSE AGN (please repeat), PSE QRX (please standby).

Examples

On the airPlain English
PSE QRS Please send slower.
PSE AGN Please send again.
PSE K Please go ahead.

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