Author Topic: Where Term "5x5" came from (Read 2001 times)

Zanth · « **on:** February 28, 2007, 09:55:32 AM »

I was curious, so looked it up. I guess we haven't been using the term really right.

"The term five by five refers to the two measures of signal strength and readability; it is derived from older HAM radio instruments that were scaled from zero to 10 with 10 being the strongest. A five by five would be interpreted as 50 percent signal strength and easily readable, perhaps with some static or band clutter. A 10 by two would have a strong signal, but be broken and hard to understand, while a two by 10 would contain a weak signal, but be perfectly clear. A 10 by 10 would be very strong and crystal clear."

Bucky73 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2007, 09:58:03 AM »

68Ripper · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2007, 10:03:03 AM »

5 X 5 is the happy medium

Golfer · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2007, 10:10:01 AM »

Zanth the use of 5x5 (Five by Five) we use here actually means "Excellent" strength and "Perfect" clarity IIRC.

In aviation and most other radio applications the scales run from 1-5 for both Strength and Clarity but the word definition for each number escapes me a the moment. HAM radio uses/used a scale to 10 but most other applications as far as I know only go to 5

So when someone in game says 5x5...they don't really mean "I hear you good and eh...okay" they mean, for lack of a better phrase, loud and clear.

Rino · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2007, 12:02:38 PM »

7-11

Guppy35 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2007, 12:05:31 PM »

2 x 4:aok

Masherbrum · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2007, 12:11:36 PM »

"5 to 1"

BadJasper · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2007, 12:13:25 PM »

10-8 and soundin great good buddy! yer wall to wall and tree top tall!

73's!

JB88 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2007, 12:17:50 PM »

Wilbus · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2007, 12:34:11 PM »

Use the 5 scale system when flying gliders in Sweden. Also used it while in the Swedish Navy so I guess it all depends on what system you use and where you are from.

Mace2004 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2007, 01:02:43 PM »

How about 25 or 6 to 4?

Actually, "5 by 5" is never used in military tactical aviation (at least in the modern US military) and I've only heard it occasionally in civilian aviation. It's possible that it was used in WWII but now "5 by 5" is thought of as slang from the "CB era" and anything related to that is considered gauche. It's sort of like saying "10-4 good buddy" and almost as embarassing as saying "loud and clear, over and out", something that came from schmaltzy 1950's war movies.

The correct terminology is simply "loud and clear."

john9001 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2007, 01:24:04 PM »

"repeat please"

BadJasper · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2007, 01:28:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by john9001
"repeat please"

That would be 10-9

Shuffler · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2007, 01:33:51 PM »

umm 2

*edit for clarity

UMM 2

Bear76 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2007, 01:47:29 PM »

11in by 2in:D