Call-sign: Call-sign is the identity given to a Ham or a Ham Radio station. Call-sign is a unique code of letters and numbers, which is not duplicated anywhere else in the world. First two or three letters indicate the country and rest of the letters/numbers identify an individual operator/station. For example, VU2ACX…VU2 indicates a call-sign from India, and ACX identifies an individual operator. VU2ACX is a unique call-sign, which is not duplicated anywhere else in the world. Hams address each other on the air with their call-signs, and not with individual first name.

Phonetics: In order to avoid confusion during communication on the air, International Telecommunication Union has laid down phonetic expansions of alphabets. For example, A stands for Alpha, B stands for Bravo, C stands for Charlie, V for Victor and Z stands for Zulu etc.

Phonetics are very useful when spelling out difficult words from another culture/country we are not familiar with.

Q codes: Q codes are a group of three letters starting with an alphabet Q. So they are called Q codes. Q codes are used to keep clarity in communication. Long sentences can be avoided using Q codes. For example, if one ham wants ask the other ham on air, “What is the correct time?” He will only ask QTR? Q codes are very useful; especially in CW mode of communication.

QSL cards: Like how we have Business cards/Personal identity cards, HAMs have the QSL cards. QSL means I acknowledge! When a contact is made on the air, Hams exchange their QSl cards with each other as a proof that contact has been successful.

A typical QSL card contains space for message and an address of a ham contacted on one side, and the callsign, equipments, geographical information on the other side of the card.

QSL cards are exchanged via QSL bureaus. QSL bureaus are like a post-office; who send/receive QSL cards on behalf of HAMs.

Some more interesting Amateur Radio terminologies:

(mentioning just a few for your knowledge…)

Handle: Name

Rag-chewing: On the air conversation

Ticket: Amateur Radio License

OM or Old man: Gentleman Radio Amateur

Lima Lima: Land line telephone

Eyeball QSO: meet someone in person

73: best regards

YL: Young lady

Going QRT: going off the air