Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » General CB, Ham & Mur's Radio Related Questions/Topics » What does "73" stand for ?????????? « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Splbass17
Member
Username: Splbass17

Post Number: 76
Registered: 9-2005


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 2:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I swear on every CB/Ham radio website, including Copper, people always end there threads by typing 73. Whats the deal with 73, its driving me crazy.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 13561
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 2:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The traditional expression "73" goes right back to the beginning of the landline telegraph days. It is found in some of the earliest editions of the numerical codes, each with a different definition, but each with the same idea in mind--it indicated that the end, or signature.

Over the year's it has become traditional ham/cb jargon.

"73" = "Best Regards."


Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF
CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#33 ~ CVC#002
10-10 #61493 ~ 10-10 VP#2688
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 4428
Registered: 9-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lon's right it goes back to the early days to telegraph. When the person signed on or off he/she let the person at the next station know that there was someone there.

The sign off for the shift was replyed to with 73 if it was a man and 88 if it was a woman.
this worked both ways and up and down the telegraph line.
On 6 since 66
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Splbass17
Member
Username: Splbass17

Post Number: 77
Registered: 9-2005


Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Interesting, thanks guys.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mikefromms
Senior Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 1067
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2010 - 9:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I understand it in modern usage to simply mean, best wishes to you.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833

Post Number: 1860
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2010 - 1:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

73 literally means "Kindest Regards".

88 literally mens "Hugs and Kisses".

It was in use for commercial point to point and telegraph WAY before being adopted by hams. In fact, it is still in use today on commercial and maritime morse. KSM and KPH can be found sending 73 at the end of their transmissions.

By the way, its proper use is '73' and NOT '73s'.

A commercial signoff from an op contains salutations, their initials (not necessarily the initials of their first and last name) and SK or AR.

So, I'll sign off using commercial protocall:

VY 73 DE PS AR
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member
Username: Keithinatlanta

Post Number: 915
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Friday, May 27, 2011 - 6:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Tech 833, there is one exception on 73's.
Some of us ole southerner's always add a little extra. I have said 73's ever since I started CB back in 1973. I guess I did because that is the way I "heard" it, when I lived in Colorado.
However, I liked the info above on how it got started and used. I think we miss out on a lot in life by NOT knowing how some things got started. Thanks for the information.

Keith in Atlanta
CEF 150
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833

Post Number: 1981
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Friday, May 27, 2011 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Saying "73s" instead of "73" is like saying "geesses" instead of "geese". Or, "You have many hairses on your head".

Just because people say it does not make it proper.
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Sitm
Intermediate Member
Username: Sitm

Post Number: 434
Registered: 1-2004


Posted on Friday, May 27, 2011 - 11:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Generally as a licensed radio operator we look at people that say "73s" as lids.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member
Username: Keithinatlanta

Post Number: 918
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2011 - 2:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Since I do not know what you are reffering to when you say lids, I will just let it pass.

I was making conversation on the post above, that was all. I was not trying to cause a problem. Have you guys never heard of - you know what? Just never mind.

Keith in Atlanta
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833

Post Number: 1987
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2011 - 9:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got it!
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Sitm
Intermediate Member
Username: Sitm

Post Number: 436
Registered: 1-2004


Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - 10:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Saturday we were all in a round table QSO with a bunch of regulars and one "new ham". I mean new as in days old and 16 years old to boot. Of course the old school morse code licensed operators were educating him on the ins and outs of being a "operator". They eventually got around to telling him about the term 73 because several regulars went QRT or QSY. But he insisted on saying 73s time and time again. Eventually someone asked him why he continued to say 73s instead of 73 and he replied. Well there are more than one of you on the air, so it's plural. There was at least 15 seconds of dead air, it was priceless.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Press_man
Intermediate Member
Username: Press_man

Post Number: 199
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2011 - 6:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Sitm,
Was he saying plural best wishes or was he making a pun of the possibility most of them were 73.

Just a thought.
Wally/Pressman/KC4ZWM
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Sitm
Intermediate Member
Username: Sitm

Post Number: 438
Registered: 1-2004


Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2011 - 9:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This young man is a very enthusiastic new operator. The local repeater he is utilizing has a time out program on it of two minutes. I would say that he times out the repeater quite often. He is what I would call a very good new amateur operator in that he is very eager to learn and most likely will be an amateur extra within a year. I think it is very encouraging to hear new operators out there that are keying up the repeaters and getting them back into activity. I say good for him and I will give him all the help that I can.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Press_man
Intermediate Member
Username: Press_man

Post Number: 200
Registered: 5-2008
Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2011 - 2:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Way to go Sitm ! Don't let his zeal die !
When I got into Ham I had only one ham close that helped me through the learning process. After I got used to 2m and started working what I could hit with 100w and 12 elements, got into alot of simplex. Now I'm waiting to put the station back up either here or at a different house.
Wally/Pressman/KC4ZWM
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237

Post Number: 1442
Registered: 4-2004


Posted on Friday, June 03, 2011 - 1:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Saying "73s" instead of "73" is like saying "geesses" instead of "geese". Or, "You have many hairses on your head". "

In other words you'll sound like Gollum
Tech237
N7AUS

God only made some many perfect head, on the rest he put hair.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown

Post Number: 203
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, June 03, 2011 - 5:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey, I would like to know if the people from the south are being made fun of for the way some still talk to this day?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237

Post Number: 1444
Registered: 4-2004


Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2011 - 12:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

CB if that is the case I am in deep doo doo as I come from much further south than most other people here - lol
Tech237
N7AUS

God only made some many perfect head, on the rest he put hair.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown

Post Number: 204
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2011 - 5:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

L.O.L. . 237. I AM FROM THE SOUTH AND AS YOU WELL KNOW WE GET PICKED ON AND ARE THE BUTT END OF MOST PEOPLE JOKE'S. I FOR ONE TECH 237 DO NOT MAKE FUN OR TRY TO INSULT PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY ARE FROM OR COLOR OR COUNTRY OR HANDY CAP. I DO NOT TRY TO GET A LAUGH OR MAKE MYSELF LOOK BETTER THAN OTHER'S AT THEIR EXPENSE. THIS HAD HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE FROM A PERSON AND I DID NOT RESPOND BECAUSE I DO NOT LIKE TROUBLE. BUT, WHEN YOU RIDE A HORSE LONG ENOUGH IT SOON WILL GET SADDLE SORE'S AND IT WILL START TO BUCK. I WAS JUST WONDERING. HAVE A GREAT WEEK END TECH 237 . YOUR FRIEND (CB)

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action: