User:PetesGuide/Procedure sign
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Procedure signs or prosigns are shorthand signals used in radio telegraphy procedures, for the purpose of simplifying and standardizing communications related to radio operating issues among two or more radio operators. They are distinct from general Morse code abbreviations, which consist mainly of brevity codes that convey messages to other parties with greater speed and accuracy.
The development of prosigns began development in the 1860s for wired telegraphy. They can be distinguished from abbreviations because prosigns have exact equivalents for radio telephony (voice) procedure words.
Although as written, some of the prosigns appear to be simply two adjacent letters, most prosigns are instead digraphs that have zero spacing between the patterns that represent the "combined" letters, and are properly written with an overbar (if more than one single character) to indicate this.[1] The difference is subtle, but the meaning is not. For example, the prosign AA ( ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ) has the same meaning as the voice procedure word UNKNOWN STATION, but the prosign AA ( ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ) has the same meaning as the voice procedure word "ALL AFTER", and is used to indicate that part of the previously transmitted message needs to be re-transmitted; the only difference between the Morse code prosigns is an inter-letter space between the two "dot dash dot dash" sequences".
Official International Morse code procedure signs
The procedure signs below are compiled from the official specification for Morse Code, ITU-R M.1677, International Morse Code[2], while others are defined the International Radio Regulations, including ITU-R M.1170,[3] ITU-R M.1172[1], ITU-R M.1677-1[2], and the International Code of Signals, with a few details of their usage appearing in ACP-131, which otherwise defines operating signals, not procedure signals.
| Prosign | Matching Voice Procedure Word | Code Symbol | Defined in | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | THIS IS | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1]
ITU-R M.1677-1[2] |
Used to preceded the name or other identification of the calling station. |
| AA | UNKNOWN STATION | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | International Code of Signals[4] | |
| NIL | NOTHING HEARD | |||
| R | ROGER | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Means the last transmission has been received, but does not indicate the message was understood or will be complied with. | |
| K | OVER | ITU-R M.1677-1[2] | invitation to transmit, Terminating the call signal (e.g. call sign—DE— ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ) | |
| AR | OUT | ITU-R M.1172[1]
ITU-R M.1677-1[2] |
Used to terminate all telegrams (end of message). End of transmission. Same symbol as +
Replacement for K? See conflicting cw procedure | |
| CL | CLOSING | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | |
| CQ | CQ | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | General call to all stations |
| CP | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | General call to two or more specified stations | |
| CS | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | What is the name or identity signal of your station? | |
| AS | WAIT | ITU-R M. 1170[3]
ITU-R M.1172[1] ITU-R M.1677-1[2] |
I must pause for a few seconds. May optionally be followed by a number indicating in minutes the probably duration of the waiting time. | |
| AS AR | WAIT OUT | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ACP 124 | I must pause for a more than a few seconds. |
| SN | understood | ITU-R M.1677-1[2] | understood. Response to AS/WAIT? Research to see if ARRL-specific. | |
| QRS | SPEAK SLOWER | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ | ||
| WA | WORD AFTER | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | |
| WB | WORD BEFORE | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | |
| AA | ALL AFTER | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that follows…………… |
| AB | ALL BEFORE | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | |
| BN | ALL BETWEEN | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | All between ... and ... |
| IMI | SAY AGAIN | ITU-R M.1677-1[2]
ACP 124 |
Note of interrogation or request for repetition of a transmission not understood.
When placed after a signal, modifies the signal to be a question/request. | |
| INT | INTERROGATIVE | ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ACP 124 | Military equivalent of IMI. When placed before a signal, modifies the signal to be a question/request. |
| EEEEEEEEC C | CORRECTION
(KOR-REK-SHUN) |
ITU-R M.1677-1[2] | error | |
| C | CORRECT/AFFIRMATIVE | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | |
| N | NEGATIVE | ▄▄▄ ▄ | International Code of Signals[4]
ACP 131 |
Double check ITU docs. NO ( ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ) in aeronautical usage. |
| ZWF | WRONG | ▄▄▄ ▄ | Your last transmission was wrong. The correct version is ... | |
| EEEEEEEE AR | DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION—OUT | This transmission is in error, disregard it. (This proword shall not be used to cancel any message that has been completely transmitted and receipted. | ||
| QTR | REQUEST TIME CHECK | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | I am requesting an accurate time check. | |
| QTR | TIME | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | The time I am transmitting is exact as at the moment I transmit [the R in QTR?] | |
| BT | BREAK | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1]
ITU-R M.1677-1[2] |
Same symbol as = |
| BK | BREAK-IN | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Signal used to interrupt a transmission in progress. AX in ACP131 |
| KA | attention? | ITU-R M.1172[1]
ITU-R M.1677-1[2] |
Starting signal, to precede every transmission. Sometimes written as CT (start of work/new message). | |
| CFM | I ACKNOWLEDGE | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Confirm? |
| WX | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Weather report follows | |
| INTERCO | INTERCO
(IN-TER-CO) |
ITU-R M.1172[1] | International Code of Signals groups follow |
text
| Prosign | Matching Voice Procedure Word | Code Symbol | Defined in | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VE | general call | 1937 Royal navy Signal Card[5][6] | ||
| NNNNN | Answering sign | 1937 Royal navy Signal Card[5][6] | ||
| ii | Separative sign break | 1937 Royal navy Signal Card[5][6] | ||
| EEEEE | Erase sign (exactly five dots, as opposed to today's exactly eight) | 1937 Royal navy Signal Card[5][6] | ||
| RRRRR | Receipt sign | 1937 Royal navy Signal Card[5][6] | ||
| e | Further message sign | 1937 Royal navy Signal Card[5][6] |
text
| Safety Signals | ||||
| SOS SOS SOS | MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY | ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | International Code of Signals[4] | International distress signal |
| XXX XXX XXX | PAN-PAN PAN-PAN PAN-PAN | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ | International Code of Signals[4] | International urgency signal |
| TTT TTT TTT | SÉCURITÉ SÉCURITÉ SÉCURITÉ | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ | International Code of Signals[4] | International safety signal |
| NNN | NEUTRAL | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ | International Code of Signals[4] | Indicates that the station transmitting the urgency signal (XXX/PAN-PAN) is a station of a State not a party to the current armed conflict. RESOLUTION 18 (REV WRC-12) or the 2012 Radio Regulations, Vol. III, page 27. |
| HM HM HM | SILENCE SILENCE SILENCE | ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ | International Code of Signals[4] | Cease transmissions on this net immediately. Silence will be maintained until lifted. (Transmissions must be authenticated by use of a self authenticated system, codeword, etc.) |
| Relay of distress | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ | ARRL Operating Manual[7] | ||
| Prosign | Matching Voice Procedure Word | Code Symbol | Defined in | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADS | address | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | |
| COL | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Collate | |
| MSG | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Prefix indicating a message to or from the master of a ship concerning its operation or navigation | |
| NIL | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | I have nothing to send to you | |
| OK | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | OK, double check reference | |
| PBL | preamble | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Used after a question mark in radiotelegraphy or after RQ in radiotelephony |
| XQ | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Used to indicate the transmission of a service note. | |
| YZ | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | The words which follow are in plain language. | |
| BT | BREAK | ITU-R M.1677-1[2] | Separates:
Same symbol as = (double hyphen). | |
| VA | end of work | ITU-R M.1677-1[2] | Indicates that the last telegram has been transmitted. Also written SK. | |
| B | MORE TO FOLLOW | ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ACP 124 | |
| PT | CALL SIGN FOLLOWS | ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ | ACP 124 |
Holding table
| Holding | ||||
| NR | NUMBER | Message number/station serial number | ||
| T | RELAY (TO) | Transmit this message to all addressees (or addressees immediately following this proword). The address component is mandatory when this proword is used. | ||
| G | READ BACK | Repeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as received | ||
| F | DO NOT ANSWER | Stations called are not to answer this call, receipt for this message, or otherwise transmit in connection with this transmission. When this proword is employed, the transmission shall be ended with the proword OUT. | ||
| FM | FROM | |||
| TO | TO | |||
| GR | GROUPS | |||
| GRNC | GROUP NO COUNT | |||
| SVC | SERVICE | |||
| IRB | I READ BACK | |||
| ACK | ACKNOWLEDGE | |||
| J | VERIFY | |||
| J | I VERIFY | |||
| T | International Code of Signals | Used to indicate the receipt of each word or group. for signal lights | ||
| AU | separation signal | from CIA doc | separates number from fraction? | |
| CN | semicolon | from CIA doc and from http://www.n7cfo.com/tgph/Dwnlds/mm/MMs/MM57.pdf page 32 and https://hatchfive.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/e676af9a-0708-4c10-bbe1-fce8667ea652.jpg and http://www.forposterityssake.ca/RCN-DOCS/SIGNAL_CARD_1937.htm | ||
| JN | apostrophe | from CIA doc | ||
| MIM | comma | from CIA doc | ||
| OS | colon | from CIA doc | ||
| QK | paragraph | from CIA doc | ||
| UK | underline | from CIA doc | ||
| XE | fraction bar | from CIA doc | ||
| ASM | wait a minute | from CIA doc | ||
| MSI | ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ | ITU-R M.1172[1] | Maritime safety information | |