CW abbreviation · Greetings & sign-off
73 in Morse code
The universal CW sign-off. 'Best regards' — sent at the close of nearly every ham QSO.
Morse rendering
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Sent letter-by-letter with standard inter-letter gaps.
What it saves you on the air
This is the whole reason CW abbreviations exist. Sending 73 instead of spelling out “Best regards” cuts 69% of the airtime — 64 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.
| Speed | 73 | “Best regards” | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 WPM | 2.7s | 8.6s | 5.9s |
| 20 WPM | 1.7s | 5.6s | 3.8s |
| 25 WPM | 1.4s | 4.5s | 3.1s |
Timed with standard spacing: dit 1 unit, dah 3, letter gap 3, word gap 7. Work out any other speed on the timing calculator.
Meaning
73 — Best regards
When this is used
Originated in the Western Union 92 Code (1859) for use on landline telegraphy. The original definition was 'best regards' and it has held that meaning unchanged in amateur use for over 160 years. Always singular: '73' is correct, '73s' is informal and slightly frowned on.
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| TU FER QSO 73 | Thanks for the QSO, best regards. |
| 73 DE W1AW SK | Best regards from W1AW, end of contact. |
| GL 73 | Good luck, best regards. |
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