Master The Jargon of Radio Amateurs

You want to start your new hobby, that is, to do amateur radio. This hobby is also known as ham radio, and to be able to do this hobby you need to master the ham lingo.

To make radio communications between radio amateurs perfectly clear and efficient, radio operators came up with K-codes or K-signals that consist of three letters and must begin with the letter K. To master the basics of ham radio language, check out the basic codes they use radio amateurs.

One of the most commonly used signals is KRL. With this signal you can determine if the frequency is available for use. This abbreviation means “are you busy?”. If the same signal is received, it means that the frequency is occupied.

The abbreviation KSL confirms the receipt of a message and thus radio amateurs confirm that they have received a message.

If you want them to send you slower codes, then use KRS, and if you receive this code, it means that you have to send codes more slowly. When you have a page ready to broadcast, then use KRV, as well as in the reverse direction it means you are asked if you have a page ready to broadcast.

When you want to ask who is calling you, use the K-code KRZ, and if you want to send your location, then use KTH, if you put a question mark next to KTH, it means you are asking for someone’s location.

This may all seem very complicated to you, but if you want to pursue this hobby you need to master the ham lingo so that you can communicate with other radio amateurs.