Looking at amateur radio forums and email threads, oftentimes amateur radio operators will use "73" or "73s" where one might otherwise expect to find "Sincerely" or "Regards". Why?
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6 Answers
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The usage of "73" for such a purpose comes from the Phillips Code, originally devised in the era of telegraphs to speed up transmission of common messages by mapping them to numbers.
"73" mapped to "best regards" or "my compliments" and was intended as a general valediction for transmitted messages.
It is still used for that purpose today in morse code transmissions and often makes its way into everyday correspondence among hams as a form of jargon.
There is also "88" (which maps to "love and kisses") that sometimes takes the place of "73" for communications between affectionate parties.
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10$\begingroup$ There's also the less-used 99 (which might be unofficial) that means something along the lines of go for a hike someplace warm. $\endgroup$– userOct 25, 2013 at 20:43
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2$\begingroup$ Unfortunately, 88 is a neonazi symbolism (8th letter, HH, Heil H—-), so I’d stick with XO for hugs & kisses... $\endgroup$ Jul 9, 2020 at 4:44
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73 is, as Amber said, Phillips code for best regards or my compliments. I just wanted to add that it's redundant to say 73s, which amounts to Best Regardses or My Complimentses. This puts one in mind of Smeagol, talking to Hobbitses.
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4$\begingroup$ Welcome to the site! Just a side note - since this is mostly a side note to an existing answer, it might work better as a comment. :) $\endgroup$– AmberOct 29, 2013 at 23:04
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2$\begingroup$ I wanted to but wasn't sure how to go about it, there wasn't a spot for it. $\endgroup$– MarcusOct 30, 2013 at 2:02
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2$\begingroup$ Ah, yeah - I forgot that comments require a (very small) amount of rep to be able to add them. Consider it a note for future reference once you get the ability. :) $\endgroup$– AmberOct 30, 2013 at 4:00
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2$\begingroup$ @Amber Dunno how it was in '13 (Were you a mod then?) but you could convert it. This is kinda reminiscent of people who say "PIN Number" or "ATM Machine". $\endgroup$– IsziNov 5, 2015 at 0:03
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Most of these things come from morse code. They were used because they have a distinctive and musical signature, listen to the rhythm of '73' some time. Rhythm was (and should still be) the mark of a good operator. Alas, some non military operators in the early days were not, that is where 'ham' came from: because the operators sounded 'ham-fisted'. When I was a young boy my navy father taught me an exercise for learning rhythm it is: best bent wire / g Try it out some time on your morse key, you will be surprised how it improves your musicality.
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If I say best regards to you it would be 73. If I and in a group or a net there are many people hence 73's, plural. It originated from code, person to person, singular. IMO, best regard(s) , Jerry W5JRY
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1$\begingroup$ I might add that I have heard (often) 73s (plural) on SSB (or, even in written form) but I have never heard it on CW. That is, 73 followed by the letter s. On CW, it is not unusual to hear 73 repeated, as in 73 73, even when band signal quality does not require repetition. $\endgroup$– K7PEHSep 14, 2015 at 0:35
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On morse code you want your transmissions to be as short as possible and so they have developed codes for frequent words or phrases. 73 is the code for best wishes, sincerely, etc.
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See a list of jargon here: https://www.qrz.com/page/hamspeak.html
73 de TF8HA
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4$\begingroup$ Answers should be more than just a link and improve on existing answers. Please edit. $\endgroup$– Kevin Reid AG6YO ♦Apr 30, 2017 at 18:57
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1$\begingroup$ Saying 73s may indeed be redundant, but it is certainly not transmitted with malicious intent. I for one let it go. $\endgroup$– Dave GJul 17, 2019 at 10:55