How to Call CQ on HF: Phone, CW and Digital Modes
Searching and pouncing is easy: someone else calls, and you answer. The first time that you press the key or the microphone button and send CQ into the silence is a different matter, and many new operators feel it in the stomach. What frequency should I use? How long should the call be? What if nobody answers, or two stations answer at once? This guide explains how to call CQ on HF in a way that gets replies and does not annoy the neighbours on the band. It covers the choice of frequency, the wording on SSB and CW, the digital modes, the length of a call and the habits that separate a station that works people from a station that calls for twenty minutes and goes away unheard.
What CQ Means and When to Use It
CQ is a general call to any station that can hear it. The origin of the letters is a matter of discussion, and the Wikipedia article on CQ describes the history from the early days of wireless telegraphy; for an operator the meaning is simple: “I am on the air, and I would like to talk to anybody.” A CQ call is the right choice when you want a conversation, when you are testing an antenna, when you want to collect contacts for an award or when the band is open and you have a strong signal. It is a poor choice in a pileup of stations that call a rare DX, where the correct method is to listen and answer, and in a contest where the exchange is expected to be quick and the proper call is “CQ Test”.
The alternative to calling CQ is to tune across the band and answer the stations that you hear, which is called searching and pouncing. The two approaches are compared in our article on running or search and pounce. In a normal ragchew most operators use both: they listen first, call when the band is quiet and answer whoever they hear when they have nothing to call.
Step One: Find a Clear Frequency
The most common mistake of a beginner is to call on a frequency that is already in use. A weak station on the same frequency may be inaudible to you, because the signal path to your site is different from the one to the other operator. For that reason the procedure has a rule: listen for at least a minute or two before you transmit, then ask whether the frequency is in use. On SSB you say “Is this frequency in use?” and give your call sign, and on CW you send “QRL?” and listen for a reply. If someone answers “yes” or sends a letter C or a series of dots, move away. If there is silence, the frequency is yours.
The choice of the part of the band also matters. Every band has segments for CW, for digital modes and for phone, and these are defined in the band plan of your region, as explained in our guide to the IARU band plans. Avoid the frequencies that are used as a calling channel for a special purpose, the segments reserved for beacons and the DX windows where the rare stations are worked, and keep away from the edge of the band by a safe margin so that your sidebands stay in. If the band is full, look for a clear spot a little above or below, and do not squeeze between two QSOs.
The Wording on SSB
A call on phone should be clear, slow and not too long. The usual form is “CQ CQ CQ, this is W1ABC, Whiskey One Alpha Bravo Charlie, calling CQ and listening”, followed by a pause. The call sign is given in phonetics once, as in the international alphabet that is used by most operators, because a phonetic call is much easier to copy in noise. Three CQs and one call sign repeated are enough; longer calls tire the listeners and make it difficult for a station that tunes in during the middle to know who is calling.
The length of the pause is important. Stations answering a call need a few seconds to reach the transmit button, and a call that follows another without a break leaves no room for them. A good rhythm is a call of ten to fifteen seconds, then listening for ten seconds or more, and then another call. If you have a voice keyer, you can record the call and play it in this rhythm, but you must listen at the end of every repetition, as described in our article on the voice keyer for SSB.
The Wording on CW
On CW the standard form is “CQ CQ CQ DE W1ABC W1ABC K”. The letters DE mean “from”, and K means “go ahead”. Three CQs and the call sign two or three times is the usual practice, and you can repeat the whole sequence two or three times before you listen. The speed matters more than the wording: send at the speed that you can copy comfortably at the receiving end. If you send at 25 words per minute and a station replies at 25, you can comfortably answer, but if you call at 30 and your reply is 15, the other operator is more likely to feel that you cannot keep up with him.
A common variation is “CQ DX”, which tells the listeners that you want contacts with stations outside your continent, and “CQ POTA” or “CQ SOTA” for an activator in a program. The short form “QRZ?” means “who is calling me?” and it is used after a weak or incomplete answer. The abbreviations are part of the Morse tradition, and the Q code gives the short forms such as QRL and QRZ.
Calling CQ on the Digital Modes
On FT8 and similar modes the software builds the message, and the operator decides only on the time slot and the frequency. A normal CQ has the form “CQ W1ABC FN42”, which contains the call sign and the four-character grid. Directed forms such as “CQ DX” or “CQ POTA” work in the same way, as the options in our WSJT-X setup guide show. The best frequency is not the busiest. Look at the waterfall, choose a gap between signals and transmit there, and avoid the exact frequency of a station that you have heard calling. Do not hold the transmit frequency of another station for the whole period.
A call on a digital mode does not need the “is it in use” ritual, because the waterfall shows the activity. The courtesy that remains is to leave space between signals and to keep your power low enough to avoid distortion, which is the advice in our guide to FT8 operating etiquette. Call CQ at the beginning of a period and watch for the replies; with a good signal on a busy band you can answer within a few cycles.
A Quick Comparison by Mode
| Mode | Typical CQ call | Repeat before listening | Ask first |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSB | CQ CQ CQ, this is call sign, calling CQ and listening | Once or twice | “Is this frequency in use?” |
| CW | CQ CQ CQ DE call sign call sign K | Two or three times | “QRL?” |
| FT8 and FT4 | CQ call sign grid | Each period until answered | Check the waterfall |
| RTTY and PSK | CQ CQ CQ DE call sign call sign PSE K | Two or three times | Check the waterfall and QRL |
| Contest | CQ Test call sign | Every few seconds | Listen for a rate, then claim |
Where Your Signal Is Heard: Check Before and After
A CQ call is only useful if it can be heard. Before calling, listen to find out whether the band is open to the area that you want to reach. You can look at the spots of a skimmer network, at the reports of a decoding network or at the propagation beacons. After a call or two, the same networks tell you where you were heard, which is much faster than waiting for answers. Our article on PSK Reporter shows how to see where a digital signal arrived, and the Reverse Beacon Network does the same for CW. If neither shows a spot, the band is closed or the signal is too weak, and a longer call will not change the result.
The same tools help you choose the time. Calling at a time when your own region is in daylight and the target area is in darkness can produce a better result than a longer call at the wrong moment. A beginner who calls CQ at noon on 80 meters and complains about the silence has not met a station problem, only the effect of absorption in the D layer.
What to Do When Someone Answers
When a station replies, acknowledge him immediately with his call sign, give your report and your name and ask for his. The usual order is his call sign, your call sign, the signal report and the location. If a partial call sign comes back, repeat what you copied and ask for the rest, using the phonetics. If two stations answer at the same time, pick the one that you have copied best, send his call sign and tell the others to stand by; do not try to work them together. If you copied only a letter or two, say “the station with the call sign ending in Papa, please repeat”. Our article on signal reports explains how to give a report that means something. After the contact, go back to your calling frequency and give a short call again, because a clear spot that has produced a contact is likely to produce another.
Habits That Get Replies
- Listen more than you talk. A minute of listening before the first call and a pause after each call are what make the difference.
- Use a short, regular call. A call that is easy to copy in a few seconds beats a long speech.
- Give your call sign clearly and often enough. In a call on SSB, the phonetic form once is enough; on CW send it twice.
- Do not call on top of a QSO. A signal that you cannot hear may still be present to the receiver at the other end.
- Move if nobody answers. After several calls without a reply, change the frequency or the band; a better spot can bring a station within minutes.
- Stay on the right part of the band. Respect the band plan and the mode segments so that others can find you.
The Bottom Line
To call CQ well, listen first, ask whether the frequency is in use, keep the call short and clear and leave a pause for answers. On SSB use three CQs with your call sign in phonetics, on CW send three CQs and your call sign two or three times, and on digital modes pick a gap in the waterfall and keep your level clean. Check on the spotting networks where you are heard, change the frequency or the time when nothing happens and answer carefully when a station comes back. A modest and regular call from a clean spot works better than a loud and long one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CQ mean in ham radio?
CQ is a general call that invites any station to answer. It means that the operator wants a contact with anybody who can hear the call.
How many times should I say CQ?
Three times is the usual practice, followed by your call sign. Repeat the whole sequence a few times, with pauses to listen for replies.
Why does nobody answer my CQ?
The band may be closed to the area you want, the frequency may be noisy or crowded, or your call may be too long or too hasty. Check the spotting networks, change the time or the frequency and shorten the call.
Do I need to ask if the frequency is in use?
Yes, on SSB and CW. Listen for a minute or two, then ask “Is this frequency in use?” or send “QRL?”. On digital modes the waterfall shows the activity instead.
What is the difference between CQ and CQ DX?
CQ invites any station, while CQ DX asks for stations outside your own country or continent. Use CQ DX when you want a long-distance contact and your signal is strong enough to be heard there.
Can I call CQ in a contest?
Yes, but use the contest form, CQ Test followed by your call sign, and give the exchange the rules require. Outside contests the plain CQ is the correct call.