What in the heck does 5 by 5 mean?

I don't really remember which shows I was watching but this term came up 3 times in the last few weeks as I was watching some shows. It seems to be a reference as to how well a message came through on some kind of communication.

"I read you Five by Five". Oh, I just remembered I'm watching the first season of JAG with my family right now. That was one place. And then the third time I heard it somehwere, the person said, four by five. I was like, huh?


Can anyone splain this to me?

 

2 by 4 means Billy Jack is coming. You should walk tall [and fast] in that case.

 

Lou is correct, that is correct radio proceedure for letting a station know its signal strength and clarity. One of my pet peeves, and I was complaining about it today while watching an old war movie with my son, is the improper use of prowords in war movies.
The worst is the use of "Over" and "Out" together. Example; "This is Red Leg Six, over and out." It is either over or it is out not both.
Over means-This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead, transmit
Out means-This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected.
One of the other worst mistakes is the use of the word repeat. Example; "This is Red Leg Six, we need a resupply of potable water. I repeat we need a resupply of potable water." WRONG
You do not use the word repeat because it has the specific meaning of repeat the last fire mission. In the heat of combat when chaos and confusion rule an incorrect word can result in unclear meaning and additional confusion or friendly casualties.
The correct proword if you wish someone to say their last transmission again, or you wish to say your last transmission again is. "I say again" when you are restating a transmission or "Say again your last" or "say again all after..." or "say again all before" when requesting another station to resend its last transmission or a portion thereof.
If I were observing a mortar or artillery barrage and wanted to adjust fire or refire a mission, that is when "repeat" is properly used.
So if I were adjusting fire I might transmit-"Mike Baker Two, this is Red Leg Six, left 100, drop five zero, repeat". In this case they would adjust the fall of the rounds by the distance I stated and fire the same mission. It could be one round in adjust or six rounds in effect, whatever the previous mission called for.
This reduction of confusion is also the reason the phonetic alphabet and numbers are used.
The last common error is the use of "Roger" and "Wilco" together. "Roger" is an acknowledgement and indication that you understand the transmission. "Wilco" means I received the transmission, I understand and Will Comply". Roger is included in the meaning of Wilco so the two are not to be used together.
So next time you hear, "This is Red Leg Six, Roger, Wilco, Over and Out", you'll know how Hollywood the conversation is.

 

Roger Rodger could be confusing as well...I mastered the " Alarm, Alarm" call for acknowleding fire test to panel. [sniff] Everybody says it now...But I'll really have the belt when I have to explain Wilco...Nice. Thanks Mike Baker.

 

"Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?"

 

All belligerants had such codes: for example her eis the tag used on German Feldtelefonen



http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/field-equipment-accessories-3-reich/german-field-telephone-how-old-is-it-82558/

 

I think you mean Buford Pusser.

 

Still used today...I used it many times....Reading you fives....As Lou says...Reading you loud and clear...An operators judgement call on strength of received signal.

 

Mayday, mayday, mayday, this is...

The one message none of us wanted to hear...

Silence...silence..silence...the one we all wanted to hear...Time for tango echo alfa..

 

 

 

"that's a big 10-4 good buddy, what's your 20 come on back"

 

American airborne heathen...

 

Just to ensure there can be no misunderstanding.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVq4_HhBK8Y

 

Oh man, I got a good laugh from all of this.

Thanks for the explanation(s) on my question guys. LRusso216. And USMCPrice, I love it when someone knows their stuff. Thank you for taking the time to post that. And thank you for serving. I don't know how else you would know that so well.

And the rest of you, thank you for the laughs. I needed that.

 

 

 

Mercy sakes, catch you on the flip side good buddy, fer sure fer sure.

 

 

 

Wow, you lost me there.

 

http://www.cbgazette.com/slang.html