Pokes head in, looks around.....

[bryan gibson]

after a prolonged absence, thought I might poke my head in and see whats what.

Hi all!

 

[Rover]

after a prolonged absence, thought I might poke my head in and see whats what.

Hi all!

Welcome Back

 

[far-trader]

Ditto the welcome back Bryan. Good to see you drop in

 

[jappel]

"Reading you five by five. Do you require a refueling slot? If so, stand by for vector instructions."

 

[Carlobrand]

"Reading you five by five. ..."

Just out of curiosity, what was "five by five" supposed to mean originally?

 

[sabredog]

It's an old radio (HAM, etc.) response for checking signal power and clarity. "5 by 5" was the best in both categories. I haven't heard it used since I was a kid, though, even on light aircraft when doing a radio check with the tower. Makes me feel old just to know what it is.

 

[jappel]

Also, from my long-ago days as a radio tech, when you look at voice traffic on an oscilloscope, the word "five" exercises the full modulation range. Hence, you'd see radio techs testing the radio's tuning saying "One, two, three, four, FIIIIIVVVE".

 

[aramis]

It's an old radio (HAM, etc.) response for checking signal power and clarity. "5 by 5" was the best in both categories. I haven't heard it used since I was a kid, though, even on light aircraft when doing a radio check with the tower. Makes me feel old just to know what it is.

It's been repopularized in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Faith's tagline.

Still, it's ironic - most newer radios I've seen have the incoming signal strength dial labeled 0-10... Some old (1970's) VHF and UHF radios I've used only went to 5... and the scale's the same...

 

[Ben W Bell]

It's still in use in aviation, though usually just ends up as a single number rather than by five. I.e. reading you 3, reading you 5.

 

[sabredog]

It's been repopularized in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Faith's tagline.

Still, it's ironic - most newer radios I've seen have the incoming signal strength dial labeled 0-10... Some old (1970's) VHF and UHF radios I've used only went to 5... and the scale's the same...

I dunno...mine went to 11. :devil:

 

[SanDragon]

Wall to wall and treetop tall!

 

[Blue Ghost]

after a prolonged absence, thought I might poke my head in and see whats what.

Hi all!

Welcome back.

*edited to remove hyperbole and passion, thanks all*

 

[saundby]

Just out of curiosity, what was "five by five" supposed to mean originally?

It still is a signal report of readability and strength of signal, the standard report for a phone (voice) contact. Also called an RS report.

"5 by 9" is the best report. The "by" isn't necessary, it just makes the report easier to follow and friendlier.

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.

Mark, call sign W8BIT

 

[dean]

It's been repopularized in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Faith's tagline.

Still, it's ironic - most newer radios I've seen have the incoming signal strength dial labeled 0-10... Some old (1970's) VHF and UHF radios I've used only went to 5... and the scale's the same...

Does your guitar Amp go to 11 too?

 

[aramis]

Does your guitar Amp go to 11 too?

i had one amp marked in dB... It went to +120.

Comms generally are marked with a scale showing signal power in received watts on a log scale. All my radio time was in CAP.... And the old stuff went to 5, newer to 10. Only rarely did I see anything aboe 5 indicated... Most of those were parked birds on the tarmac. One guy's engine pegged a 9 on 243mHz. We shut him down until repaired. (shorted magneto)