How long does it take to send CQ in Morse code?

At 20 words per minute, CQ takes about 1.6 seconds to send. That counts its 3 dots and 5 dashes plus the silences between them, timed by the PARIS standard, in which one unit, the length of a dot, is 60 milliseconds at that speed.

Words in Morse · Radio

CQ in Morse code

CQ in Morse code is −·−· −−·−. It is 2 characters made of 3 dots and 5 dashes, and takes about 1.6 seconds to send at 20 words per minute.

Radio

Message: CQ
In Morse code: -.-. --.-
Characters: 2
Dots: 3
Dashes: 5
At 20 WPM: 1.6s

CQ · Radio

dash dot dash dot break dash dash dot dash

~1.6s

Speed20 WPM

Why CQ is worth knowing

CQ is a general call to any station listening — the operator equivalent of "is anyone there?". It is usually said to come from the French "sécurité", and British telegraph practice used CQ as a prefix meaning "all stations". Often sent three times: CQ CQ CQ.

CQ letter by letter

Each key is one character, sent with a short silence between them. Open any key to hear it on its own.

You can send CQ yourself by day 6 of the seven-day plan: that is when the last of its letters is taught.

Send it on the key Translate your own text See the Morse code tree

Common questions

What is CQ in Morse code?: CQ in Morse code is "-.-. --.-". CQ is a general call to any station listening — the operator equivalent of "is anyone there?". It is usually said to come from the French "sécurité", and British telegraph practice used CQ as a prefix meaning "all stations". Often sent three times: CQ CQ CQ.
How long does it take to send CQ in Morse code?: At 20 words per minute, CQ takes about 1.6 seconds to send. That counts its 3 dots and 5 dashes plus the silences between them, timed by the PARIS standard, in which one unit, the length of a dot, is 60 milliseconds at that speed.