Prosigns for Morse Code

Prosigns or procedural signals are dot/dash sequences that have a special meaning in Morse Code transmissions. They can often be viewed as if they were composed of one, two or three Morse code alphabetic characters. When composed in this way of more than one character, they are sent "run together"; that is, omitting the normal pauses that would occur if they were being sent as letters of text. These ligatures are normally represented in print by the letters with a ligating bar above them.

**Prosigns**
Sign	Code	Meaning	Comment
$\overline{\mbox{AR}}$	`·-·-·`	Stop (end of message)	Often written +
$\overline{\mbox{AS}}$	`·-···`	Wait (for 10 seconds)	Respond with C (yes). AS2 means wait 2 min, AS5 5 min, etc. For pauses of 10 min or longer, use QRX (see Q code)
$\overline{\mbox{BT}}$	`-···-`	Separator within message	Often written =. In practice, indistinguishable from $\overline{\mbox{TV}}$ , and sometimes written thus
$\overline{\mbox{CL}}$	`-·-··-··`	Going off the air	"Clear"
$\overline{\mbox{DO}}$	`-··---`	Shift to wabun code
$\overline{\mbox{K}}$	`-·-`	General invitation to transmit	Often sent after CQ
$\overline{\mbox{KN}}$	`-·--·`	Specific invitation to transmit	Often indicates "back-to-you"
$\overline{\mbox{R}}$	`·-·`	Received and understood	"Roger"
$\overline{\mbox{SK}}$	`···-·-`	End (end of contact)	In practice, indistinguishable from $\overline{\mbox{VA}}$ , and sometimes written thus
$\overline{\mbox{SOS}}$	`···---···`	Serious distress message and request for urgent assistance ()	Not to be used unless there is imminent danger to life or to a vessel at sea. See SOS

Although these are not really prosigns, an error may be indicated by some series of $\overline{\mbox{E}}$ s:

`·······`	Error, correct word follows (six or more dots in a row)
`· · ·`	Error (easily identifiable by "broken" rhythm)

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See also