Glossary Of Terms & Abbreviations

I have put a list together of various terms and abbreviations used by scanners, cb'rs & radio users alike.

 

ACARS
Air Comms Addressing/Reporting System
AM
Amplitude Modulation (power output varies with modulation, can cause interference)
AMR Automatic Meter Reading
CB
Citizens Band Radio
CBS

Common Base Station - PBR via a dealer who supplies equipment and airtime A.K.A. Community Repeaters.
Each set of users have their own CTCSS tone so they don't hear any other groups

CDMA

Code-Division Multiple Access ("random" hopping/spread spectrum)
two users in the same band won't be on the same channel at the same time
COFDM Coded Orthogonal Freq. Division Multiplex (cough dee-em; NOT Cod FM!)
CSR
Coastal Station Radio (international channels or private)
CTCSS
 Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System
CW
 Continuous Wave (for Morse) - as opposed to spark transmissions
DAB Digital Audio Broadcasting
DGPS Differential GPS (sends details of the current GPS error)
DME Distance Measuring Equipment
DSI Detailed Spectrum Investigation (survey)
DTI A Buch of Wankers
EPIRB Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon
ERP Effective Radiated Power (takes antenna system gain/loss into account)
GLONASS GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLObal'naya Navigatsionnay Sputnikovaya Sistema)
GPS Global Positioning System
H.O. Home Office (govt dept)
Hz Hertz - one cycle per second. MHz is millions per second.
EESS Earth Exploration Sat. Service
ERMES European Radio MESsaging - paging standard
ETACS Extended TACS
FDMA Freq. Div. Multiple Access (sharing a system using different freq.s - i.e. trunking)
FM Frequency Modulation (freq varies with modulation, fixed power causes less problems)
FSK Freq. Shift Keying
FWA Fixed Wireless Access
ILR Independent Local Radio
INR Independent National Radio
ISM Industrial/Scientific/Medical
JFMG Joint Frequency Management Group (SAB)
JRC Joint Radio Co.
LEO Low Earth Orbit
LPD Low Power Devices
MBR Maritime Business Radio
MSS Mobile Satellite Service
PAMR Public Access Mobile Radio (like CBS, but trunked, over wider areas. Some telephone access too)
PBR Private Business Radio (the RA's new preferred term)
PMR Private Mobile Radio (what everyone else calls it)
PMSE Program Making & Special Events
POCSAG A paging standard
RDS Radio Data System (57kHz sub-carrier on the audio modulation)
RMR Remote... see AMR
RQAS Radio Quality Assurance Scheme (ISO 9000)
RSL Restricted Service Licence (short term broadcast)
SAB Services Ancillary to Broadcasting
SAP ..to Program making
SAR Search and Rescue
SETI Search for Extra-Terrestial Ignorance
SOLAS Safety Of Life At Sea (meetings)
SSB Single Side-Band ("half" of AM, with the carrier suppressed) USB Upper or LSB Lower
SRBR Short Range Business Radio
SRD Short Range Devices
STH Short Term Hire
TACS Total Access Comms System
TDMA Time Division Multiple Access (in-turn sharing of a freq.)
TETRA Terestial Trunked RAdio (or "how the police will avoid your monitoring") 
 C.B Codes (mainly used by DX'rs on SSB)
CQ = General Call QSA = What is the signal strength
QRG = Tell me exact frequency QSB = Are my signals fading?
QRH = Does frequency vary? QSD = Is my keying defective?
QRI = How is tone of transmission? QSG = Send... message at one time
QRK = Readability of signal is QSL = Acknowledge receipt
QRL = Are you busy? I am busy QSM = Repeat last message
QRM = Manmade interference QSO = Communicate direct or via relay
QRN = Static QSP = Will you relay to...?
QRO = Increase power QSV = Send series of V's
QRP = Decrease power QSW = Will you send on this frequency?
QRQ = Send faster QSX = Shall I switch to another frequency?
QRS = Send slower QSY = Switching frequencies
QRT = Stop sending QSZ = Send each group twice
QRU = Do you have anything for me? QTA = Cancel message
QRV = Are you ready? I am ready QTB = Do you agree with number of words?
QRW = I am calling on... frequency QTC = How many messages to you have to send?
QRX = What is the next schedule? QTH = Location
QRZ = Who is calling? QTR = Exact time 

  and for the really old-school C.B'rs good buddy chat ;-


10-1  = Receiving poorly                      10-36  = Correct time is
10-2  = Receiving well                        10-37  = Wrecker needed at
10-3  = Stop transmitting                     10-38  = Ambulance needed at
10-4  = OK, message received                  10-39  = Your message delivered
10-5  = Relay message                         10-41  = Please turn to channel
10-6  = Busy, stand by                        10-42  = Traffic accident at
10-7  = Out of service, leaving air           10-43  = Traffic tie up at
10-8  = In service, subject to call           10-44  = I have a message for you
10-9  = Repeat message                        10-45  = All units within range please report
10-10 = Transmission completed, standing by   10-50  = Break channel
10-11 = Talking too rapidly                   10-60  = What is next message number?
10-12 = Visitors present                      10-62  = Unable to copy, use phone
10-13 = Advise Weather/Road conditions        10-63  = Net directed to
10-16 = Make pick up at                       10-64  = Net clear
10-17 = Urgent business                       10-65  = Awaiting your next message/assignment
10-18 = Anything for us?                      10-67  = All units comply
10-19 = Nothing for you, return to base       10-70  = Fire at
10-20 = My location is                        10-71  = Proceed with transmission in sequence
10-21 = Call by telephone                     10-77  = Negative contact
10-22 = Report in person to                   10-81  = Reserve hotel room fo
10-23 = Stand by                              10-82  = Reserve room for
10-24 = Completed last assignment             10-84  = My telephone number is
10-25 = Can you contact                       10-85  = My address is
10-26 = Disregard last information            10-91  = Talk closer to the mike
10-27 = I am moving to channel                10-93  = Check my frequency on this channel
10-28 = Identify your station                 10-94  = Please give me a long count
10-29 = Time is up for contact                10-99  = Mission completed, all units secure
10-30 = Does not conform to FCC rules         10-200 = Police needed at 
10-32 = I will give you a radio check
10-33 = EMERGENCY TRAFFIC
10-34 = Trouble at this station
10-35 = Confidential information

 Phonetic Alphabet :-

A = Alfa             G = Golf            M = Mike            S = Sierra
B = Bravo            H = Hotel           N = November        T = Tango
C = Charlie          I = India           O = Oscar           U = Uniform
D = Delta            J = Juliett         P = Papa            V = Victor
E = Echo             K = Kilo            Q = Quebec          W = Whiskey
F = Foxtrot          L = Lima            R = Romeo           X = X-RAY
                                                             Y = Yankee
                                                             Z = Zulu