Make your first CW QSO.
The QSO (amateur radio contact) is the climax of Morse learning. Here is how it unfolds, what to listen for, and what to reply.
What is a QSO?
"QSO" is a Q code that means "contact established". In amateur radio, it's the canonical word for an exchange between two operators. A CW QSO typically lasts 2 to 10 minutes and follows a highly codified structure.
Why codified? Because CW is a slow channel (10-30 characters/second) where any ambiguity costs time. The standardised phraseology (Q codes, abbreviations, prosigns) ensures a French and a Japanese operator understand each other without sharing a language.
Sample QSO decoded
Here is a minimal exchange between two stations: F4ABC (France) calls, DL5XY (Germany) replies.
The RST report
Every QSO includes a three-digit RST report. It's the assessment of received signal quality — precious data to tune antenna and power.
| Letter | R | S | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | 1-5 | 1-9 | 1-9 |
| Measure | Readability | Strength | Tone |
| Perfect | 5 | 9 | 9 |
In SSB the T is omitted. A "599" report is the courtesy standard: it gets sent before properly evaluating the signal, like a polite "hello".