Q-codes and abbreviations: a cheat sheet for the bands
QTH, QSB, 73, FB, OM… the shorthand you will hear every day on the bands, in one handy table.
M6OER · blog
Category: Learning & Licence
Exams, theory and getting started in the hobby.
CQ CQ de M6OER – welcome to the shack
Welcome to my little corner of the web! I’m M6OER, a radio amateur based in Salisbury, Wiltshire. This blog is where I’ll share my contacts, antenna…
Confirming a QSO in 2026: paper QSL, eQSL, LoTW and QRZ
Four ways to confirm a contact, what each one is good for, and which ones count for awards.
What does IO91 mean? A quick guide to Maidenhead locators
Four characters that tell another radio amateur roughly where you are – here is how the Maidenhead locator system works.
The phonetic alphabet and your first SSB contact
Mike Six Oscar Echo Romeo… how to spell your callsign clearly, call CQ and make a relaxed first contact on SSB.
SWR explained: what the meter is really telling you
1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1 – what SWR actually measures, how much it matters, and why a perfect reading can sometimes be bad news.
Band conditions explained: SFI, A-index and K-index
What the numbers on the band-conditions panel actually mean, and how to use them to decide which band to try tonight.