SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/hamg-g8c12

Which type of code is used for sending characters in a PSK31 signal?

Varicode.

Start playing free

  1. Varicode ✔
  2. Viterbi
  3. Volumetric

Why: PSK31 sends characters with Varicode. Upper case letters use longer Varicode bit sequences, so they slow the transmission down.

Huh, didn't know that: QPSK31 encoding provides error correction, and its bandwidth is about the same as BPSK31.

The dad joke
Varicode is the one code where capital letters have to pay extra.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Varicode. PSK31 sends characters with Varicode. Upper case letters use longer Varicode bit sequences, so they slow the transmission down.

  1. NCVEC 2023-2027 General Class Pool and Syllabus (6th Errata, Feb 4 2026) ncvec.org/downloads/General%20Class%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%202023-2027%20Public%20Release%20with%206th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    Which type of code is used for sending characters in a PSK31 signal? A. Varicode
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. NCVEC 2023-2027 General Class Pool and Syllabus (6th Errata, Feb 4 2026) ncvec.org/downloads/General%20Class%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%202023-2027%20Public%20Release%20with%206th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    Upper case letters use longer Varicode bit sequences and thus slow down transmission
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  3. ARRL PSK31 Spec www.arrl.org/psk31-spec
    It uses BPSK modulation without error correction or QPSK modulation with error correction
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  4. ARRL PSK31 Spec www.arrl.org/psk31-spec
    both the bandwidth and the data-rate remaining the same
    Checked 2026-10-11.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Ham RadioWhat type of modulation does the FT8 digital mode use?Ham RadioWhich digital mode is used as a low-power beacon to assess HF propagation?Ham RadioOn which HF bands do General licensees have some off-limits portions?

That's stuff everyone should know.