General
five by five
What does five by five mean?
A report that a radio signal has excellent strength and clarity; colloquially, that everything is fine.
"How do you read me? Five by five."
Origin
NATO signal-strength-and-readability report, each scaled one to five.
Frequently asked questions
What does five by five mean?
On the radio it means a signal is coming in at maximum strength and clarity; colloquially it means everything is fine or all is well.
Where does five by five come from?
It comes from a signal report system rating strength and readability each on a one-to-five scale, so five by five is the best possible.
Is five by five still used?
Yes, it remains common in radio and military communication, and has spread into casual speech meaning 'good to go.'
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