The RST System is used by ham radio operators to describe the strength and quality of a signal. It is used to give the transmitting station a signal report from the receiving station. Courage Center Handi-Ham members are encouraged to learn and use the RST system, in which numbers are given as ratings for each quality: readability, signal strength, and tone quality in the case of Morse code operation. In this system, the lowest number is worst and the highest number is best.
Readability:
1--Unreadable
2--Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable.
3--Readable with considerable difficulty.
4--Readable with practically no difficulty.
5--Perfectly readable.
Signal Strength:
1--Faint signals, barely perceptible.
2--Very weak signals.
3--Weak signals.
4--Fair signals.
5--Fairly good signals.
6--Good signals.
7--Moderately strong signals.
8--Strong signals.
9--Extremely strong signals.
Tone:
1--Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad.
2--Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad.
3--Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered.
4--Rough note, some trace of filtering.
5--Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated.
6--Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation.
7--Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation.
8--Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation.
9--Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind.
If the signal has the characteristic steadiness of crystal control, add the letter X to the RST report. If there is a chirp, the letter C may be added to so indicate. Similarly for a click, add K. The above reporting system is used on both cw and voice, leaving out the "tone" report on voice.
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