Sorcha Faal needs financial support and wrote this clever letter on ZBM2 drawing an analogy with our current situation. I thought the Q and Z codes were worth sharing.
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/
First twelve Q-codes listed in the 1912 International Radiotelegraph Convention Regulations Code Question Answer or notice QRA What ship or coast station is that? This is ____. QRB What is your distance? My distance is ____. QRC What is your true bearing? My true bearing is ____ degrees. QRD Where are you bound for? I am bound for ____. QRF Where are you bound from? I am bound from ____. QRG What line do you belong to? I belong to the ____ Line. QRH What is your wavelength in meters? My wavelength is ____ meters. QRJ How many words have you to send? I have ____ words to send. QRK How do you receive me? I am receiving (1–5). (1) is unreadable and (5) is perfect. QRL Are you busy? I am busy. QRM Are you being interfered with? I am being interfered with. QRN Are the atmospherics strong? Atmospherics (noise) are very strong.
Some example Z codes ZAL I am closing down (until...) due to.... Work...
- Simplex;
- Duplex;
- Diplex; ZAP I am closing down (until...) due to....
- Multiplex;
- Single Sideband;
- With automatic error correction system;
- Without automatic error correction system.
- With time and frequency diversity modem C&W ZBK Are you receiving my traffic clear? NATO ZBK1 I am receiving your traffic clear NATO ZBK2 I am receiving your traffic garbled NATO ZBM2 Place a competent operator on this circuit C&W ZLD2 I cannot transmit pictures. C&W ZSF Switch off...(1. IFF; 2. IFF sets for 10 minutes in area denoted except for ships whose call signs follow). C&W ZBW no. Change to backup frequency no. C&W ZBZ(1-5). Measure of Printability (Where 1=Garbled/unreadable & 5=Perfect) C&W ZUJ Stand by. NATO
Can this explain Z on Russian SMO vehicles and operators?
Maybe. It seems to have been plopped onto the SMO to declare patriotism, to identify the area you were from, to identify with past Russian military victories so could just be PR. But in an infowar such as this, maybe.