Why do hams say 73?

73 is an old telegraph code that means "best regards". 73, as well as 88 (which means "hugs and kisses") are part of the language of ham radio.

Where did the term 73 originate from?

In 1857, 73 meant literally, “My love to you.” Even though it stood for a flowery sentiment, telegraph operators adopted this code as a way to greet each other on the wire and to wish each other well.

What are 73s?

And, of course, 73 is still used by amateur radio operators to mean "best regards". Making any of these numbers plural (73s, 88s, etc.) is incorrect since they are already plural. 73s would mean best regardses and 88s would mean love and kisseses.

What does QRZ mean in ham radio?

QRZ, the name of the web site, is the "Q" amateur radio code for "Who is calling me?" and corresponds to the site's purpose of assisting amateur radio operators with the lookup of ham radio call signs from every country in the world.

What does XYL mean in ham radio?

A single female amateur radio operator can be referred to as a YL, from the abbreviation used for "young lady", regardless of the operator's age. A licensed married female is sometimes referred to as an XYL.

Kw4qj. Why do hams say 73?

What is 88 in ham radio?

73 is an old telegraph code that means "best regards". 73, as well as 88 (which means "hugs and kisses") are part of the language of ham radio.

What does QSL mean in radio talk?

A Q code message can stand for a statement or a question (when the code is followed by a question mark). In this case, 'QSL?' (note the question mark) means "Do you confirm receipt of my transmission?" while 'QSL' (without a question mark) means "I confirm receipt of your transmission."

How do you say thank you in ham radio?

TNX: Thanks - this ham radio abbreviation is widely used for Morse / CW transmissions.

What does CW stand for Morse code?

Sometimes the abbreviation CW is used to denote a Morse transmissions. Essentially CW refers to a Morse transmission using a radio signal - the abbreviation coming from the fact that it uses a Carrier Wave, or Continuous Wave that is interrupted.

Why is it called 10-4?

Ten-codes, especially "10-4" (meaning "understood") first reached public recognition in the mid- to late-1950s through the popular television series Highway Patrol, with Broderick Crawford. Crawford would reach into his patrol car to use the microphone to answer a call and precede his response with "10-4".

Can ham radios listen to police?

The simple answer is, yes. You can use your Ham radio as a police scanner. However, there are lots of ifs that determine the veracity of this “yes”. Ham radios and Police radios both operate on the VHF and UHF spectrum.

Can I call police on ham radio?

There are some portable radios that can listen to commercial FM stations and NOAA stations. Having your local fire department, police department, paramedics, and medical providers included helps your stay safe.

What does QRM mean in ham radio?

Today, QRM stands for human-made noise, as opposed to QRN, which indicates noise from natural sources. If you hear an operator say, “I'm getting some QRM,” it means there's man-made interference affecting your transmission.

Do ham radio operators still send QSL cards?

Today ham radio operators send QSL cards for a variety of reasons. It is interesting to collect them. Having made contact with a particular ham radio station it is often nice to have a card from them to remember the contact.

What in ham lingo is a lid?

“Lid” is ham-speak to denote a poor operator; one who is inept at the practice of the radio amateur art. It is someone with very poor operating technique, a newbie or an experienced ham that acts like a neophyte. This old term likely originated from the days of wired telegraphy.

How many radio amateurs are in China?

Of the world's three million amateur radio operators, up to 90,000 are in China, according to the Chinese Radio Sports Association which oversees licensing for hobbyists in the world's most populous country.

Why are police called 5 0?

The term “Five-O” is a slang term used to refer to the police. It comes from the title of a popular TV series, Hawaii Five-O, which began in 1968 and was about a police force in Hawaii. Hawaii is the 50th state of the U.S., thus, the “Five-O” title.

What does a 10 70 mean?

Police code 10-70 means Fire alarm / Prowler.

What does Adam mean in police code?

(Each episode of Adam-12 began with a dispatcher calling "1-Adam-12, 1-Adam. 12....") The first number tells which of the 18 LAPD districts the unit is assigned to, "Adam" is the code for a two-person patrol unit, and the second number identifies the "beat" within the district that unit is assigned to.

What is a Code 5 stop?

Code 5 Stakeout. Code 6 Responding from a long distance. Code 7 Mealtime. Code 8 Request cover/backup. Code 9 Set up a roadblock.

Where did what's your 20 come from?

What's your 20? is part of a system of radio codes called 10-codes. They developed in the late 1930s when police squads began using two-way radio to communicate. One was 10-20, meaning “location.” Asking What's your 20? emerged as a way to seek another's whereabouts.

What does a 10 100 mean?

Police code 10-100 means Misdemeanor warrant / Out using restroom.