CQ in Morse code

Letter by letter

Read aloud: dash dot dash dot, dash dash dot dash.

CQ means calling any station. It is the first thing a radio amateur sends when looking for a contact.

Tap it back

A short tap is a dot, a longer hold is a dash. Pause between letters.

How to send it

• By sound. A short beep for a dot, a beep three times as long for a dash.
• With a flashlight. Short flash, long flash. Keep the light off for the length of three dots between letters.
• By tapping. Taps cannot be long or short, so leave a short pause after a dot and a longer one after a dash, or tap once for a dot and twice quickly for a dash.
• On a bracelet. A round bead for each dot, a long bead for each dash, and a spacer between letters. CQ needs 3 round and 5 long beads.

How long it takes

CQ is 27 timing units long. That is about 6.5 seconds at 5 words per minute, a beginner's pace, and 2.2 seconds at 15.

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