We sign with SK at the end of a CW QSO. Not VA.

SK: ... _._

VA: ..._ ._

They sound very similar.

73 is used because of the way it sounds....

dah dah di di dit di di dit dah dah

dit dit

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 08 Mar 2004 15:29:35 -0600, Dennis Howdy
wrote:


Yes, but why "73", why not "74", or even "69".

When keyed in Morse code it has a certain characterstic 'ring' to it
that few other two-number combinations do. Another one is "VA"
(message ends). Keen CWers will no doubt be able to think of a few
more that fall into that category...
--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

In article k.net, "Brian"
writes:

We sign with SK at the end of a CW QSO. Not VA.



SK: ... _._

VA: ..._ ._

They sound very similar.

Actually, the letters in prosigns are run together:

....-.-

didididahdidah

That's why you see the SK or VA written with a bar overline in books on the
subject.

It's actually a contracted version of the American Morse "30" meaning "end of
work, no more to follow".

73 is used because of the way it sounds....

dah dah di di dit di di dit dah dah


Except it doesn't sound that way in American Morse, where its use originated.
That rhythm is one reason it stayed popular among radio operators but the true
origin is the old land wire number code lists.

73 de Jim, N2EY

In article k.net, "Brian"
writes:

We sign with SK at the end of a CW QSO. Not VA.



SK: ... _._

VA: ..._ ._

They sound very similar.

Actually, the letters in prosigns are run together:

....-.-

didididahdidah

That's why you see the SK or VA written with a bar overline in books on the
subject.

It's actually a contracted version of the American Morse "30" meaning "end of
work, no more to follow".

73 is used because of the way it sounds....

dah dah di di dit di di dit dah dah


Except it doesn't sound that way in American Morse, where its use originated.
That rhythm is one reason it stayed popular among radio operators but the true
origin is the old land wire number code lists.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Paul Burridge wrote:

On Mon, 08 Mar 2004 15:29:35 -0600, Dennis Howdy
wrote:

Yes, but why "73", why not "74", or even "69".

When keyed in Morse code it has a certain characterstic 'ring' to it
that few other two-number combinations do. Another one is "VA"
(message ends). Keen CWers will no doubt be able to think of a few
more that fall into that category...

Another neat thing: message ends ("SK" or "VA" run
together) can be, and sometimes is, spoken as
"diddleedadeda" - pronounced diddle e dah de dah
and that has a certain "ring" to ir.

--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

Paul Burridge wrote:

On Mon, 08 Mar 2004 15:29:35 -0600, Dennis Howdy
wrote:

Yes, but why "73", why not "74", or even "69".

When keyed in Morse code it has a certain characterstic 'ring' to it
that few other two-number combinations do. Another one is "VA"
(message ends). Keen CWers will no doubt be able to think of a few
more that fall into that category...

Another neat thing: message ends ("SK" or "VA" run
together) can be, and sometimes is, spoken as
"diddleedadeda" - pronounced diddle e dah de dah
and that has a certain "ring" to ir.

--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

7 = G ood
3 = C heer

7 = G ood
3 = C heer

My copy of Tom French's Railway Telegrapher's Handbook has '73' as
railway telegraphese for 'Accept my compliments'. Funnily enough there
is no corresponding entry for '88' but I suppose as a predominantly male
profession in another era non-inclusion was only to be expected.
--
Dick
GM0MNL Fra' Auld Reekie

My copy of Tom French's Railway Telegrapher's Handbook has '73' as
railway telegraphese for 'Accept my compliments'. Funnily enough there
is no corresponding entry for '88' but I suppose as a predominantly male
profession in another era non-inclusion was only to be expected.
--
Dick
GM0MNL Fra' Auld Reekie