User:PetesGuide/Procedure sign

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[edit]

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.

General-use procedure signs
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

Historical Morse code prosigns
Prosign	Matching Voice Procedure Word	Defined in
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]

Morse code prosigns and abbreviations for message handling
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: The preamble from the service indications; the service indications from each other; the service indications from the address; the station of destination from the text the text from the signature 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

External links[edit]

USCG Signalling Instructions

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae "M.1172 : Miscellaneous abbreviations and signals to be used for radiocommunications in the maritime mobile service".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "ITU-R Recommendation M.1677-1: International Morse Code".
^ ^a ^b "Morse telegraphy procedures in the maritime mobile service" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "International Code of Signals, 1969 Edition (reaffirmed 2003)" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "1937 Royal Navy Signal Card".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Signal Card".
^ Wilson, Mark J.; League, American Radio Relay (2007). ARRL Operating Manual for Amateurs. ISBN 9780872591097.

External links[edit]

[:1-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae "M.1172 : Miscellaneous abbreviations and signals to be used for radiocommunications in the maritime mobile service".

[:0-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "ITU-R Recommendation M.1677-1: International Morse Code".

[:2-3] "Morse telegraphy procedures in the maritime mobile service" (PDF).

[:5-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "International Code of Signals, 1969 Edition (reaffirmed 2003)" (PDF).

[:3-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "1937 Royal Navy Signal Card".

[:4-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Signal Card".

[7] Wilson, Mark J.; League, American Radio Relay (2007). ARRL Operating Manual for Amateurs. ISBN 9780872591097.

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v t e International Morse code
Transmission methods	Electrical telegraph On–off keying Continuous wave Modulated continuous wave Heliograph Signal lamp
Notable signals	SOS CQD Morse code mnemonics Prosigns for Morse code Morse code abbreviations Q code Z code
Other writing systems in Morse code	American Morse code Greek alphabet Cyrillic script Russian Hebrew script Arabic script Wabun code Chinese telegraph code Korean code

Official International Morse code procedure signs[edit]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]