Prepare for the Ham Radio Technician Test with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and various practice modes. Get exam-ready!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What prosign is sent to indicate the end of a formal message when using CW?

  1. AR

  2. SK

  3. CQ

  4. QRZ

The correct answer is: AR

The prosign that is used to indicate the end of a formal message when using CW (Continuous Wave) is "AR." In Morse code, "AR" (.-. -.) signifies the conclusion of a message, effectively instructing the receiving operator that the transmission has ended and that they may respond. This is an important convention in CW operations as it helps ensure clarity in communication, signaling to the other station that no further information will follow in that transmission. Other prosigns, while commonly used in amateur radio, serve different purposes. "SK" (... -.-) typically indicates the end of a contact or that a station is going QRT (turning off), but it may not signify the end of a formal message in the same way that "AR" does. "CQ" is a call to all stations, inviting any operator to respond, and "QRZ" is used to ask who is calling, thus not applicable to the context of ending a formal message.