Why do we use weird codes and phrases?

XYL, OM, 73, Q-codes and other weird stuff

In amateur‑radio parlance:

• YL stands for “Young Lady.” It simply refers to a female amateur‑radio operator.

• XYL originally meant “ex‑Young Lady” and was used to refer to an operator’s wife (i.e. an “ex‑YL” from the operator’s perspective), but over time it’s become a general term for any female—especially a non‑licensed spouse—associated with a ham operator.

The male counterpart to YL/XYL is OM (“Old Man”), used for a male operator. These are purely friendly, traditional shorthand on the air and in Q‑signaling.

In ham‑radio shorthand, “73” is the numeral code for “best regards” (or “best wishes”) when signing off a QSO. It traces back to telegraphic “Phillips Code,” where 73 conveyed “best regards” in just two characters.

But, you might ask, what about “Ham”?

I know the term started out as a pejorative, referring to amateur telegraphers as “ham-fisted” (meaning clumsy). But amateur operators took it on and wore it proudly. It's an older term that even predates radio, with "ham actor" in theater referring to over-the-top performers. The first known use in amateur radio goes back to a 1909 article.

The term “ham” in “ham radio” actually began as a pejorative among professional telegraphers and early radiotelegraph operators, and only later was embraced by amateur enthusiasts:

• Late 19th‑century land‑line telegraphy
  Telegraph unions and trade groups used “ham” (and “plug”) to disparage inexperienced or clumsy operators—so‑called “ham‑fisted” telegraphers—whose mistakes could derail traffic and even cause train wrecks. By the 1880s and ’90s, unscrupulous telegraph schools were derisively labeled “ham factories.” Ham Radio

• Early wireless (pre‑World War I)
  As wireless telegraphy emerged, seasoned commercial radiotelegraphers carried over “ham” to mock hobbyists. In August 1915, Hanby Carver noted that the commercial service called amateurs “hams.” 

• First printed instance in amateur circles (1909)
  In April 1909, Robert A. Morton reported overhearing an on‑air remark—“I think he is a ham”—referring to a new spark‑transmitter station. Yet at this point it was still slang, not yet badge of pride.

• Amateurs reclaiming the name (circa 1920)
  By 1920, young operators began using “ham” affectionately—much like “Yankee Doodle” was once a slur—appearing in poems and QST articles as a mark of identity rather than incompetence. 

Over time, the original insult lost its sting, and “ham” simply became the friendly shorthand for any radio amateur.

What about the term "Lid" in ham radio?

In ham‑radio slang, a “lid” is an operator who’s consistently incompetent, discourteous, or otherwise poor on the air. Some common “lid” behaviors might include:

• Keying up too long or too hard, causing splatter and distortion

• Talking over other stations or hogging a frequency

• Ignoring standard procedures, like not listening before transmitting

• Using poor operating technique (garbled Morse, bad mic technique, random CQ calls)

It’s a mildly pejorative term—think of it as calling someone a “rookie” or “clumsy” operator, even if they’ve held a license for years. The exact origin is unclear, but it’s been part of telegraph/radio jargon since early 20th‑century practice for labeling “bad” operators.

Where did Q codes Originate?

The “Q” codes began life in early maritime radiotelegraphy, as a way to compress common questions and answers into three‑letter groups:

• Origins with British Marconi and Post Office (circa 1901–1909):
  To speed up ship‑to‑shore wireless messages, the Marconi Company and the British Post Office introduced a handful of “Q” abbreviations—three‑letter groups all starting with Q—for routine queries (e.g. “QTH?” for “What is your location?”).

• International standardization at the 1912 London Radiotelegraph Convention:
  Delegates from the world’s major maritime powers met in London in July–August 1912 and formally adopted an expanded set of Q codes for use in the international marine service.

• Further refinement under the ITU (from 1919 onward):
  After World War I, the newly formed International Telecommunication Union (ITU) took over maintenance of the Q codes, adding and pruning entries for maritime, aeronautical, and eventually amateur‑radio use.

Amateur radio operators later adopted the ITU’s Q codes wholesale—many of which (like CQ, QRZ, QSL, 73, etc.) remain in daily use on the ham bands.

Explaining 10-codes and Amateur Radio

But, wait a darned minute, N0NJY, what about the 10 codes, like 10-4 and 10-20 etc and why aren’t we supposed to use them?

The main reason is that 10-codes aren’t standard across regions, leading to inconsistency. Amateur radio uses Q-codes instead. 10-codes can use up bandwidth, restrict communication, and prevent compatibility. They're considered poor practice by the FCC and other guidelines.

10-codes simply aren’t standardized either in the States, nor overseas. They have been discouraged by the feds and states, especially since 2006. They’re seen as more suited to CB radio, not ham.

Breaking down the 10-code issue

There’s not a lot of direct info from ARRL, but the key points are that 10-codes are inconsistent, discouraged by the feds for public safety, and not standardized. They're meant for CB and police radios, not ham. The codes often have varied meanings, which makes them unreliable. As per FEMA and APCO*, plain language or Q-codes are preferred. In ham radio, we use plain language and Q-codes, especially on V/UHF frequencies. 10-codes are simply not part of the protocol.

Amateur operators generally avoid “10‑codes” (e.g. “10‑4,” “10‑9,” etc.) for several reasons:

1. Lack of standardization
   Ten‑codes were developed in North American public‑safety contexts and have never been assigned a single, globally agreed‑upon meaning. Different agencies—even different counties or states—use the same code numbers for different phrases. Using them on the ham bands can lead to confusion, especially when hams routinely work with operators from other regions or countries.
   

2. Incompatibility with international practice
   Amateur radio is an international service governed by ITU‑standard Q‑codes (three‑letter “Q” signals) and, for voice, plain‑language procedure words. Ten‑codes aren’t part of these standards, so they aren’t understood by many non‑U.S. hams.
   

3. Emergency‑communications requirements
   In many mutual‑aid and emergency‑response frameworks (e.g. FEMA’s NIMS, DHS’s SAFECOM), ten‑codes are explicitly forbidden because they impede interoperability between different agencies and volunteers. Hams who volunteer for emergency nets therefore use Q‑codes or clear English to ensure everyone—regardless of background—knows exactly what’s being said. 
   

4. Perception of unprofessionalism
   On the ham bands, Ten‑codes are more closely associated with CB or public‑safety chatter than with amateur‑radio etiquette. Using them can mark an operator as inexperienced or unaware of standard amateur operating practice.
   

Bottom line:
Stick with ITU Q‑codes (e.g. “QTH,” “QRZ,” “QSL”) or plain speech on the ham bands. They’re internationally recognized, unambiguous, and align with both regulatory guidance and good operating etiquette.

*Explaining APCO

APCO stands for the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, which is a professional group for public safety communications (e.g., police, fire, EMS). The association created the APCO P25 digital radio standard and the APCO-16 standards. In terms of ten-codes and emergency communication, APCO refers to the use of a specific ten-code system, but it's discouraged in many contexts, like with FEMA’s NIMS and SAFECOM.

Clarifying APCO

Earlier I mentioned the APCO while explaining the use of ten-codes, as we only referenced FEMA and DHS. APCO stands for the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, which created the APCO 10-codes used by emergency services.

Explaining APCO

APCO stands for the Association of Public‑Safety Communications Officials‑International (“APCO International”), founded in 1935. It’s the world’s oldest and largest professional association for public‑safety communications practitioners—law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, etc.—and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In its early years, APCO developed the original “ten‑signals” (ten‑codes) between 1937 and 1940 under what became known as APCO Project 14 (“Aural Brevity Code”), to standardize and abbreviate police radio traffic at a time when bandwidth was severely limited.

Conclusion

In the end, everything we attempt to do as a SERVICE in Amateur Radio is to pass message traffic, and do so efficiently. Obviously, “Ragchewing” is a whole different subject (and perhaps a future article) but Amateur Radio is a sanctioned “Service”, operated by Citizen Amateur Radio Operators, and as such we should (and usually do) pride ourselves on our ability to get communications up and running where none exists (Or natural disaster has removed such communication) and we strive to provide clear, clean and uninterrupted communications in those instances. The rest of the time we’re making contacts, trying to reach a far station or experimenting with digital or new technology are all part and parcel of being a “Ham" Radio Operator, and bringing about new ways to communicate.

Those of us who spent our careers in Communication (military for example, like myself) who were “Professionals” (getting paid to do it) still delight in being “Amateurs”.

To all you XYLs, OMs and YLs out there - Have a safe and Happy Easter

73,

de N0NJY