Signal strength and readability report
Introduction
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A signal strength and readability report is a standardized format for reporting the strength radio signal and the readability (quality) of the radiotelephone (voice) or radiotelegraph (Morse code) signal transmitted by another station of their transmission as received at one's location and by their radio station equipment. Various formats have been used over the years, and by different communications organizations.
Radiotelegraph report formats
Q-Code signal report formats
The QSA code and QRK code are interrelated and complimentary signal reporting codes for use in wireless telegraphy (Morse code). They replaced the earlier QSJ code.
The current definition of the QSA and QRK codes are officially defined in ITU Radio Regulations 1990, Appendix 13: Miscellaneous Abbreviations and Signals to Be Used in Radiotelegraphy Communications Except in the Maritime Mobile Service, and are also described identically in ACP131(F),[1]:
| Signal | Question | Answer, Advice, or Order |
|---|---|---|
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (or those of...)? | The strength of your signals (or those of...) is...
|
| QRK | What is the intelligibility of my signals (or those of...)? | The intelligibility of your signals (or those of...) is...
|
R-S-T system
Amateur radio users in the U.S. and Canada have used the R-S-T system since 1934 by Amateur radio operator Arthur W. Braaten, W2BSR[2][3][4][5], which reports the readability on a scale of 1 to 5, signal strength on a scale of 1 to 9, and the tone of the Morse code continuous wave signal on a scale of 1 to 9.[6][7] During Amateur radio contests, where the rate of new contacts is paramount, contest participants often give a perfect signal report of 599 even when the signal is lower quality, because always providing the same signal format enables them to send Morse code with less thought and thus increased speed.
| No. | Meaning | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| R | S | T | |
| 9 | Extremely strong signals | Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind | |
| 8 | Strong signals | Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation | |
| 7 | Moderately strong signals | Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation | |
| 6 | Good signals | Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation | |
| 5 | Perfectly readable | Fairly good signals | Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated |
| 4 | Readable with practically no difficulty | Fair signals | Rough note, some trace of filtering |
| 3 | Readable with considerable difficulty | Weak signals | Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered |
| 2 | Barely readable, oaccasional word distinguishable | Very weak signals | Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad |
| 1 | Unreadable | Faint—signals barely perceptible | Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad |
SINPO code
SINPO is an acronym for Signal, Interference, Noise, Propagation, and Overall, which was developed by the CCIR in 1951 for use in radiotelegraphy, and the standard is contained in Recommendation ITU-R Sm.1135, SINPO and SINPFEMO codes.[8] This format is most notably used by the BBC for receiving signal reports on postcards mailed from listeners, even though that same standard specifies that the SINPFEMO code should be used for radiotelephony transmissions. SINPO is the official radiotelegraph signal reporting codes for international civil aviation [9] and ITU-R.[10]
| S | I | N | P | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signal | Interference | Noise | Propagation conditions | Overall merit |
| 5-Excellent | 5-None | 5-None | 5-Excellent | 5-Excellent |
| 4-Good | 4-Slight | 4-Slight | 4-Slight disturbance | 4-Good |
| 3-Fair | 3-Moderate | 3-Moderate | 3-Moderately disturbed | 3-Fair |
| 2-Poor | 2-Severe | 2-Severe | 2-Severe disturbance | 2-Poor |
| 1-Barely Audible | 1-Extremely strong | 1-Extremely strong | 1-Very poor propagation | 1-Useless |
Radiotelephony report formats
The signal report formats used in radiotelephone communications include:
- SINPFEMO code (rarely used)
- R-S-T system (used only by North American Amateur radio operators)
- Plain language radio checks, in use since World War II
R-S-T system
Amateur radio operators use the R-S-T system to describe voice transmissions, dropping the last digit (Tone report) because there is no continuous wave tone to report on.
| No. | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| R | S | |
| 9 | Extremely strong signals | |
| 8 | Strong signals | |
| 7 | Moderately strong signals | |
| 6 | Good signals | |
| 5 | Perfectly readable | Fairly good signals |
| 4 | Readable with practically no difficulty | Fair signals |
| 3 | Readable with considerable difficulty | Weak signals |
| 2 | Barely readable, oaccasional word distinguishable | Very weak signals |
| 1 | Unreadable | Faint—signals barely perceptible |
Plain-language radio checks
The move to plain-language radio communications means the number-based formats are now considered obsolete, to be replaced by plain language radio checks, which avoid the ambiguity of which number stands for which type of report and whether a 1 is considered good or bad. This format originated with the U.S. Military, and is currently defined by ACP 125 (G)[11], published by the Combined Communications Electronics Board.
The prowords listed below are for use when initiating and answering queries concerning signal strength and readability.
| Proword | Meaning |
|---|---|
| RADIO CHECK | What is my signal strength and readability; how do you hear me? |
| ROGER | I have received your last transmission satisfactorily. |
| NOTHING HEARD | To be used when no reply is received from a called station. |
| Proword | Meaning | Conjunction | Proword | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your signal is very strong. | AND or BUT, depending on which prowords are combined | CLEAR | The quality of your transmission is excellent. | |
| GOOD | Your signal strength is good. | READABLE | The quality of your transmission is satisfactory. | |
| WEAK | Your signal strength is weak. | UNREADABLE | The quality of your transmission is so bad that I cannot read you. | |
| VERY WEAK | Your signal strength is very weak. | DISTORTED | Having trouble reading you due to interference. | |
| FADING | At times your signal strength fades to such an extent that continuous reception cannot be relied upon. | WITH INTERFERENCE | Having trouble reading you due to interference. | |
| INTERMITTENT | Having trouble reading you because your signal is intermittent. | |||
Use in analog vs. digital radio transmission modes
In analog radio systems, as receiving stations move away from an analog radio transmitting site, the signal strength decreases gradually, causing the relative noise level to increase. The signal becomes increasingly difficult to understand until it can no longer be heard as anything other than static.[12]: 38
These reporting systems are usable with, but perhaps not completely appropriate for rating digital signal quality. This is because digital signals have fairly consistent quality as the receiver moves away from the transmitter until reaching a threshold distance. At this threshold point, sometimes called the "digital cliff," the signal quality takes a severe drop and is lost.[12]: 38 This difference in reception reduces attempts to ascertain subjective signal quality to simply asking, "Can you hear me now?" or similar. (The only possible response is "yes"; otherwise, there is just dead air.) This sudden signal drop was also one of the primary arguments of analog proponents against moving to digital systems. However, the "five bars" displayed on many cell phones does directly correlate to the signal strength rating.
Slang report formats
A report format commonly referred to as five by five is often used in media. The report format ostensibly consists of two digits, each ranging from 1 to 5, resulting in 25 possible combinations, with five by five being the best signal possible out of 25 combinations. However, as no reliable source has been found documenting this format, it may simply be Cold War-era slang, inappropriately mapping the radiotelegraph signal report numbers to radiotelephony signals.
Some radio users have inappropriately started using the Circuit Merit telephone line quality measurement. This format is unsuitable for radiotelegraph or radiotelephony use because it focuses on voice-to-noise ratios, for judging whether a particular telephone line is suitable for commercial (paying customer) use, and does not include separate reports for signal strength and voice quality.
See also
- Procedure word
- Mean opinion score
- Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality
- Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Assessment
References
- ^ "ACP 131(F) - Communications Instructions Operating Signals, April 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Radio Amateur's Handbook" (PDF). p. 363. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ "The RST Standard of Reporting". Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ Andrea, Steve. "Can You Read Me Now?" (PDF). ARRL. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ Arthur M. Braaten, W2BSR. "A New Standard System of Reporting Signals" (PDF). ARRL. p. 18. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Quick Reference Operating Aids (The RST System)".
- ^ "Ham Radio "RST" Signal Reporting System for CW/Phone Operation". University of Buffalo. Retrieved 24 September 2017.}
- ^ "ITU-R Sm.1135, SINPO and SINPFEMO codes" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Procedures for Air Navigation Services: ICAO Abbreviations and Codes" (PDF). Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ "ITU-R Sm.1135, SINPO and SINPFEMO codes" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "ACP 125 (G): Communications Instructions: Radiotelephone Procedures" (PDF). 28 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b Imel, Kathy J.; Hart, James W. (January 2003). "Understanding Wireless Communications in Public Safety" (PDF). FCC.gov. The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center–Rocky Mountain. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
External links
- Ham Radio RST Signal Reporting System for CW Operation, by Charlie Bautsch, W5AM
- itu.int: SM.1135 - Sinpo and sinpfemo codes - ITU