Why do hams use 73?
73 is an old telegraph code that means "best regards". 73, as well as 88 (which means "hugs and kisses") are part of the language of ham radio.
For ham radio operators, you'll use the frequency range from 420 – 450MHz. Unlike the reliability of VHF radio waves, UHF has a much shorter wavelength and is prone to interference from basically any solid object, whether that's a building blocking your signal or even your body.
72 is the QRP version of 73
The late and great George Dobbs (G3RJV) notes in his book “QRP Basics” that 72 has been in use since the late 1980s as a way some operators identify that they're running QRP or low power (generally 5 watts or less).
Visa chargeback reason code 73 falls under the “Authorization” category. The shorthand description is “Expired Card.” When you encounter this reason code, it means that a transaction was processed without proper authorization approval, and the card had expired prior to the transaction date.
Cook-before-eating hams or fresh hams must reach 145 °F (with a 3-minute rest time) to be safely cooked before serving. Cook in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Hams can also be safely cooked in a microwave oven, other countertop appliances, and on the stove.
Radio Service | Maximum Power | Maximum Range |
---|---|---|
Ham Radio aka Amateur Radio | 1500 Watts (see band plans for full details) | Worldwide and even space |
GMRS | 50 watts | ~30 miles |
CB | 4 watts | 3-4 miles |
FRS | 0.5 watts | 1-2 miles (across the park) |
GMRS – Our Choice For SHTF Walkie Talkies For Emergency Use. When it comes to choosing a radio to keep on hand in case disaster strikes we chose GMRS for a number of reasons, including its long range and versatility. GMRS walkie talkies are as affordable as FRS or MURS units, but can do so much more.
US Amateur Transmitter Power Limits
Unless otherwise noted, the maximum power output is 1500 watts PEP. Novice/Technicians are limited to 200 watts PEP on HF bands. Geographical power restrictions apply to the 630 meter, 70 centimeter, 33 centimeter and 23 centimeter bands.
The 70-centimeter or 440 MHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use. The ITU amateur radio allocation is from 430 to 440 MHz; however, some countries, such as the United States, allocate hams 420 to 450 MHz.
What does 59 mean in ham radio?
An example RST report for a voice transmission is "59", usually pronounced "five nine" or "five by nine", a report that indicates a perfectly readable and very strong signal. Exceptionally strong signals are designated by the quantitative number of decibels, in excess of "S9", displayed on the receiver's S meter.
Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F, as they are already fully cooked.

Cooking Temperature and Time: A half ham weighing between five and eight pounds requires 35 to 40 minutes of roasting at 325°F per pound. For whole bone-in hams weighing 12 and 16 pounds, cook the ham at 325°F for 22 to 26 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should be 145°F.
References
- http://www.arrl.org/frequency-allocations
- https://chinainternshipplacements.com/blog/giving-gift-chinese-culture/
- https://www.hamradioschool.com/post/practical-signal-reports
- https://qrper.com/2022/07/why-i-send-72-instead-of-73/
- https://10-twenty.ca/blog/whats-your-10-20/
- https://woofthebeatenpath.com/whats-a-good-walkie-talkie-radio-for-shtf-emergency-use/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMPRNet
- https://www.chargebackgurus.com/chargeback-reason-codes/visa/dispute-reason-code-73-authorization
- https://www.wearecb.com/cb-radio-lingo.html
- https://hamradioprep.com/ham-radio-range/
- https://www.cuemath.com/learn/prime-number-73/
- https://www.chargebackgurus.com/chargeback-reason-codes/visa/dispute-reason-code-72-authorization
- http://www.two-wayradio.com/10-codes
- https://www.police1.com/resources/articles/police-codes-VqFqvwMyjl6GES0f/
- http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html
- https://www.quora.com/Which-amateur-radio-band-has-the-best-local-coverage-6m-4m-2m-or-70cm
- https://groups.google.com/g/rec.radio.cb/c/6UPs1SGUc70
- https://www.tucsonaz.gov/police/radio-codes
- https://ccrane.com/scanning-the-airwaves/
- http://www2.hawaii.edu/~rtoyama/73flash.html
- https://www.honeybaked.com/whole-ham
- https://web.mit.edu/jywang/www/cef/Bible/NIV/NIV_Bible/PS+73.html
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632225/characters/nm1433588
- https://transitpolice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/OO040-Communications-Codes-TP050509.pdf
- https://theprepared.com/survival-skills/guides/beginners-guide-amateur-ham-radio-preppers/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_strength_and_readability_report
- https://web.stanford.edu/~reneeb/bill/n.radio.code.html
- https://woofthebeatenpath.com/whats-the-range-of-gmrs-radio/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a44703/big-bang-theory-easter-egg-number-73/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/70-centimeter_band
- https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/keep-your-easter-ham-and-eggs-pathogen-free-year
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-S-T_system
- https://painintheenglish.com/case/253
- https://www.facebook.com/thebigbangtheory/posts/the-best-number-is-73-why-73-is-the-21st-prime-number-its-mirror-37-is-the-12th-/10153276103514678/
- https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/beginners-guide-ham-radio-make/
- https://quality2wayradios.com/store/radio-range-distance
- https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/ham_radio/abbreviations_codes/abbreviations.php
- https://www.southernliving.com/food/meat/pork/how-long-to-cook-ham-time-and-temperature
- https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/10-4/
- https://sites.google.com/view/ylhams/faqs
- https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/hams-and-food-safety
- https://www.thegpsstore.com/handheld-marine-radios-how-many-watts.aspx
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/73_(number)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UIC_country_codes
- https://www.topmarkfunding.com/cb-codes/
- https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/check-if-a-number-is-a-mystery-number/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-meter_band
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- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20number