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Dictionary of Military Terms Discussion Board
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Subject: I read you 5 x 5....
brewdud1    8/14/2003 10:51:32 AM
I am looking for the meaning and origin of this phrase, possibly used in the Air Force?
 
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AlbanyRifles    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   8/14/2003 1:05:51 PM
Used in miltary for quite some time and refers to how well a transmission can be heard and understood. 1 by 5 is lousy and incomprehensible with 5 by 5 clear and understood.
 
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PaulinSaudi    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   8/21/2003 2:50:21 AM
I thought it was used in one of the Alien movies.
 
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charlie2001    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   6/9/2004 1:28:03 PM
I've also been wondering what this means - no, it's not just from Aliens; I've also heard it in Starcraft and Halo. Anyone out there know what this means?
 
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displacedjim    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   7/9/2004 12:21:30 AM
I believe it's a measure (on scales of 1 to 5, 5 being best) of signal strength and signal clarity. 5 x 5 = "loud and clear" Displacedjim
 
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joe6pack    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   7/27/2004 4:08:22 PM
"read" and "copy" where considered bad form in my RTO days.. It's not currently used (that I'm aware of). Although Albany's explination sounds good.
 
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Sam    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   9/25/2004 1:49:34 PM
I don't think its been used since Korea. I had 1 whole day humping a radio in 82. When I did a comm check with "Up and down the hill we go, how do you hear my radio?" they replaced me. We all know the answer is "Fe Fi Fo Fum, loud and clear with a little hum."
 
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YoRick    RE:I read you 5 x 5....   6/19/2005 9:23:53 PM
I'm probably the last "old salt" to use this term. I "graduate" (retire) from the USMC in about 2 weeks (6/6/2005). I've used it for 20 years in electronics repair, signal strenght and clarity. I've always wondered what the scale was based on, but I guess someone figured they had 5 fingers on each hand. This actually makes sense, since it started with aeronautical radios, and the pilot might have to hold up one finger on each hand to the tower. I think after I retire, that phrase will no longer be used by anyone, as I cannot seem to train my underlings to use it!
 
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