Uploaded February 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Numbers for hamradio
In hamradio you often see or hear numbers but what do they mean?
One of the most common used is 73. At the end of a conversation you ofter hear 73 meaning 'best regards'. An other is 88, meaning 'love and kisses', mostly used among a man and an woman.
Why numbers instead saying best regards? In the time only morse or cw was used it is very short.
73 = --... ...--
best regards = -... . ... - .-. . --. .- .-. -.. ...
You see more in less time
A none official list :
1 Wait a moment
2 Important Business
3 What time is it?
4 Where shall I go ahead?
5 Have you business for me?
6 I am ready
7 Are you ready?
8 Close your key; circuit is busy
9 Close your key for priority business (Wire chief, dispatcher, etc)
10 Keep this circuit closed
12 Do you understand?
13 I understand
14 What is the weather?
15 For you and other to copy
17 Lightning here
18 What is the trouble?
19 Form 19 train order
21 Stop for a meal
22 Wire test
23 All copy
24 Repeat this back
25 Busy on another wire
26 Put on ground wire
27 Priority, very important
28 Do you get my writing?
29 Private, deliver in sealed envelope
30 No more (end)
31 Form 31 train order
32 I understand that I am to ...
33 Car report (Also, answer is paid for)
34 Message for all officers
35 You may use my signal to answer this
37 Diversion (Also, inform all interested)
39 Important, with priority on thru wire (Also, sleep-car report)
44 Answer promptly by wire
72 Best regards for low power stations so called QRP stations
73 Best regards
88 Love and kisses
91 Superintendent's signal
92 Deliver promptly
93 Vice President and General Manager's signals
95 President's signal
99 Get lost
134 Who is at the key?
Do the people in this short movie know about numbers and hamradio? Probably not :-)
Numbers for hamradio
In hamradio you often see or hear numbers but what do they mean?
One of the most common used is 73. At the end of a conversation you ofter hear 73 meaning 'best regards'. An other is 88, meaning 'love and kisses', mostly used among a man and an woman.
Why numbers instead saying best regards? In the time only morse or cw was used it is very short.
73 = --... ...--
best regards = -... . ... - .-. . --. .- .-. -.. ...
You see more in less time
A none official list :
1 Wait a moment
2 Important Business
3 What time is it?
4 Where shall I go ahead?
5 Have you business for me?
6 I am ready
7 Are you ready?
8 Close your key; circuit is busy
9 Close your key for priority business (Wire chief, dispatcher, etc)
10 Keep this circuit closed
12 Do you understand?
13 I understand
14 What is the weather?
15 For you and other to copy
17 Lightning here
18 What is the trouble?
19 Form 19 train order
21 Stop for a meal
22 Wire test
23 All copy
24 Repeat this back
25 Busy on another wire
26 Put on ground wire
27 Priority, very important
28 Do you get my writing?
29 Private, deliver in sealed envelope
30 No more (end)
31 Form 31 train order
32 I understand that I am to ...
33 Car report (Also, answer is paid for)
34 Message for all officers
35 You may use my signal to answer this
37 Diversion (Also, inform all interested)
39 Important, with priority on thru wire (Also, sleep-car report)
44 Answer promptly by wire
72 Best regards for low power stations so called QRP stations
73 Best regards
88 Love and kisses
91 Superintendent's signal
92 Deliver promptly
93 Vice President and General Manager's signals
95 President's signal
99 Get lost
134 Who is at the key?
Do the people in this short movie know about numbers and hamradio? Probably not :-)
