What's QRQ?
QRQ is a Q sign that merely means "send faster" - either as a request or as a question.
But QRQ has different meanings for different people. For beginners in Morse or CW, it might be anything above 10 WPM. For 20 WPM operators, it might be anything above 30-35 WPM, etc., etc.
We are going to be defining QRQ in terms of operator skill, rather than operator speed.
But, first, let's take a look at the heretofore usual way we learn Morse or CW. This is the time honored way of learning, but it also results in a long, tedious journey towards the goal.
The usual first step is to learn all the Morse or CW characters: letters, numbers, punctuation, some miscellaneous pro-signs, abbrreviations, etc. If you approach this by memorizing a chart of dot and dash equivalents to the characters, you've already guaranteed yourself a long, laborious effort to learn Morse or CW.
The usual second step then is to practice at a very low speed, usually 10 WPM or less. Write down everything you hear. Keep doing that until you can copy with 90% - 100% accuracy. Then repeat at a higher speed. Keep doing that until you can flawlessly copy at your desired level of attainment. Somewhere in this step you will begin to shorten your copy process. You will skip the lookup table you built in by memorizing dots and dashes. Instead of (1) hearing the sound, (2) looking up the meaning on that memorized chart in your head, (3) writing down the character, and (4) missing the next couple of characters while you're doing all that; you will find that you (1) hear the sound and (2) write down the character without thinking about it at all - automatically - and, finally (3) wait for the next character. Wow! You've just scaled the first wall!
The usual third step is to throw away that stupid pencil! Yes - practice copying in your head! You heard me! Just listen! Depending on how many bad habits you've ingrained on the way up, it will require a shorter or longer time to copy well. Wow again! You've just overcome the second wall. When you do head copy well you will start to really enjoy Morse or CW. You may even become a Morse or CW Rag Chewer, instead of just another number swapper!
If you've gotten through the third step, congratulate yourself. You're now a professional amateur!
Can a better way to learn Morse be found? You betcha! And we'll cover that on another page. But, meanwhile, listing these usual steps we have already touched on some of the meaning of QRQ in terms of operator skill. Now let's do that much more explicitly.