End Signals
<AR> ends a message. <SK> ends the contact or work.
Learn AR, SK, BT, K, KN and other procedural Morse signals with meanings, audio, spacing rules, and examples.
Send continuously: angle brackets such as <AR> mean the component letters are joined with no normal three-unit letter gap.
Operational signals used to control a Morse contact or message.
| Signal | Continuous pattern | Meaning | When it is used | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <AR> | .-.-. | End of message | No more text follows in this message. | |
| <AS> | .-... | Wait | Pause while keeping the frequency in use. | |
| <BT> | -...- | Separator / new paragraph | Separates sections or thoughts. | |
| <HH> | ........ | Error | Eight dits indicate that the preceding copy should be disregarded. | |
| <K> | -.- | Invitation to transmit | Any station may reply. | |
| <KN> | -.--. | Named station only | Only the station called should reply. | |
| <SK> | ...-.- | End of contact | The radio contact or work is finished. | |
| <SOS> | ...---... | Distress signal | A continuous emergency signal; conventionally listed with prosigns. |
Morse code prosigns are procedural shortcuts. They tell the receiving operator what happens next—wait, reply, separate text, end the message, or end the contact. A prosign may look like two letters on paper, but it is transmitted as one uninterrupted pattern.
Normal A R is .- .-., with a three-unit character gap. The AR prosign is .-.-., with only the one-unit element gaps inside the continuous signal. That timing difference changes the meaning.
A short exchange might end its message text with <AR>, invite a reply with K, and finish the completed contact with <SK>. Procedures vary by service and operating convention, so use the rules applicable to your activity.
<AR> ends a message. <SK> ends the contact or work.
K invites any station. <KN> restricts the reply to the named station.
<AS> means wait, <BT> separates text, and <HH> marks an error.
SOS is the internationally recognised distress signal ...---..., sent as one continuous sequence. It is often displayed alongside prosigns, although its function is specifically distress rather than routine message procedure. See the dedicated SOS Morse code guide for history, timing and emergency context.
.-.-.) means end of message. Send the combined pattern continuously....-.-) means end of contact or end of work.-...-) is a separator, often used like a new paragraph or pause between sections....---.... It is often grouped with prosigns because it uses the same no-gap transmission principle.