ACP 131
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use dmy dates ACP-131[1] is the controlling publication for the listing of Q codes and Z codes. It is published and revised from time to time by the Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB) countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States. When the meanings of the codes contained in ACP-131 are translated into various languages, the codes provide a means of communicating between ships of various nations, such as during a NATO exercise, where there is no common language.
History
The original edition of ACP-131 was published by the U.S. military during the early yearsScript error: No such module "Unsubst". of radio telegraphy for use by radio operators using Morse Code on continuous wave (CW) telegraphy. It became especially useful, and even essential, to wireless radio operators on both military and civilian ships at sea before the development of advanced single-sideband telephony in the 1960s.
Reason for the codes
Radio communications, prior to the advent of landlines and satellites as communication paths and relays, was always subject to unpredictable fade outs caused by weather conditions, practical limits on available emission power at the transmitter, radio frequency of the transmission, type of emission, type of transmitting antenna, signal waveform characteristics, modulation scheme in use, sensitivity of the receiver and presence, or lack of presence, of atmospheric reflective layers above the earth, such as the E-layer and F-layers, the type of receiving antenna, the time of day, and numerous other factors.
Because of these factors which often resulted in limiting periods of transmission time on certain frequencies to only several hours a day, or only several minutes, it was found necessary to keep each wireless transmission as short as possible and to still get the message through. This was particularly true of CW radio circuits shared by a number of operators, with some waiting their turn to transmit.
As a result, an operator communicating by radio telegraphy to another operator, wanting to know how the other operator was receiving the signal, could send out a message on his key in Morse Code stating, "How are you receiving me?"
- Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse Template:Morse
Using ACP-131 codes, the question could be phrased simply "Template:Sc"
resulting in much more efficient use of circuit time.
If the receiver hears the sender in a "loud and clear" condition, the response would be "Template:Sc":
All of which requires less circuit time and less "pounding" on the key by the sending operators.
Should the receiving operator not understand the sending operator, the receiving operator would send "Template:Sc"
or the marginally shorter Template:Sc
The other operator would respond again with:
which is much easier than retransmitting "How are you receiving me?"
If the receiving operator understood the sending operator, the receiving operator would say the word "ROGER" or "MESSAGE RECEIVED", or the send the short form "Template:Sc"
"Template:Sc" and "Template:Sc" are similarly structured, but very easy to distinguish.
Applicability of the codes
According to ACP-125(F), paragraphs 103 and 104, in radio communication among Allied military units:
- Q codes are authorized for both civilian and military use, and for communications between the two.
- Z codes are authorized for use only among military stations.
Applicability of codes by medium Mil./Civ. Medium type Q codes? Z codes? Civilian continuous wave radio (CW) Q codes Military continuous wave radio (CW) Q codes Z codes Civilian shipboard signal lamp Q codes Military shipboard signal lamp Q codes Z codes Military flag semaphore Q codes Z codes Military teletypeTemplate:Efn Z codes
Voice transmission
Some assert that the use of Q codes and Z codes was not intended for use on voice circuits, where plain language was speedy and easily recognizable, especially when employing the character recognition system in use at the time, such as ALPHA, BRAVO, CHARLIE, etc. However, in military communication the latter are still in use.[2]
A typical simplex military voice exchange:
Sender → ReceiverScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Question / responseScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Message C2 → L5 Template:Mvar Template:Mono L5 → C2 Template:Mvar Template:Mono C2 → L5 Template:Mvar Template:Mono
However, some voice operators, such as amateur radio operators, find it convenient or traditional to carry over some of the Q codes to voice ("phone") exchanges, such as "QSL", "QRK", "QTH", etc.
Footnotes
See also
References
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External links
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