Five by Five?

[Wh1ppet]

I realize the way terms are used can change over time and the game takes place in the future, but I keep hearing them spouting out, This 5x5, and that 5x5, the most common being the pilot on the way to a mission saying, "I'm in the pipe, five by five" and none of them strike me as a proper use of the term... It's not a military term about mission status, which is what it seems the script writer keeps using it as, but rather, it's a term used by radio operators, and since there is a LOT of radio operation, there is a little bleed over into use by military, usually with the line, "I'm reading you five by five." which means, "Your signal is coming through perfectly." Five by Five is a term used to describe the best possible signal between a transmitter and a reciever and in laymens terms is made by taking the score of 5 on two different 1 to 5 scaled readings in radio operation where one basically describes the signal strength and the second describes the signal clarity, with 5 by 5 meaning a signal is coming through full strength with no interference.

I took the time to do a little research on this to make sure there aren't other meanings for this but I'm not finding them... Any slang terms I've found relate to the idea of a message being received clearly, even when used outside of radio operation, and not getting how I'm supposed to be interpretting the way it keeps getting used in the game.

[boardtiger1080]

It's most likely a homage to the movie Aliens. They say that as their ship is entering the atmosphere.

[Wintermist]

Remember this? :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZk--oZdQk

[Bullett00th]

Maybe he means that he's found the perfect landing position without alerting the aliens?

[Sachiel]

Says did research.
Didn't watch Aliens.

0/5

[boardtiger1080]

Used by the Starcraft drop ship as well.

[Wh1ppet]

Originally posted by q.S Sachiel:

Says did research.
Didn't watch Aliens.

0/5

Oh, I've watched Aliens... Just not a line I have commited to memory and it's still being used wrong, even if the wrongness started with Aliens.

Originally posted by boardtiger1080:

Used by the Starcraft drop ship as well.

Never played it.. Prefer my RTS like Hearts of Iron or Supreme Ruler and not like Command and Conquer or Supreme Commander.

[Yian Yan]

Who uses it and when? I remember the Skyranger but apparenty I missed the many other places it is being used.

[SanderVB]

Saying "5 by 5" can mean "that went perfect, no snags" or anything like that.
I've heard some US forces say that when I had to work with them. Not saying it is widely used, but I've heard it a few times.

Originally posted by Wh1ppet:

It's not a military term about mission status, which is what it seems the script writer keeps using it as, but rather, it's a term used by radio operators, and since there is a LOT of radio operation, there is a little bleed over into use by military

[Rumpl4]

I work in comms and as the OP says 5 by 5 is the best possible result of 25 outcomes to do with quality of communications, specifically S/N

which makes me think, in the year 2035 or whatever it is, who the f**k would be using analogue? scrambling, encrypting and hiding digital is so much simpler and easier than analouge and in a world where everyone uses digital, an analogue signal bouncing around is like putting a massive red x on your location

All that asside "we're in the pipe, 5x5" is a homage to the female dropship pilot in Aliens

basically it means, squad ready, comms confirmed, time to bring the rain

[Aircool]

They're Q codes. Generally, the 5x5 is a shortened version of QRK 5 and QSA 5 and is commonly replaced with a simple 'loud and clear' over voice comms.

As for an aircraft landing, there's plenty of aviation Q codes, but they probably just use five by five as a general 'everythings fine and dandy.

[Gull]

Always thought it was a way to make a flight path in air. Like an imaginary tube or pipe they could see on their flight computers and had to stay within said grid (I.E. 5x5)? When they couldn't visually see where to go.

Dunno, makes sense to me.

[BlackAlpha]

Originally posted by Wolfcrux:

Always thought it was a way to make a flight path in air. Like an imaginary tube or pipe they could see on their flight computers and had to stay within said grid (I.E. 5x5)? When they couldn't visually see where to go.

Dunno, makes sense to me.

Which in turn could mean they are en route (in the pipe) and everything looks good (5 by 5). Well, that's what I always imaged they meant by it.

[76561198034396398]

this was quoted in one of my posts from someone,don't know if it's true
in the pipe 5 x 5 is a naval aviation term
"in the pipe" means clear of enemy anti aircraft fire
"5x5" is Q code for excellent singal or very good condiiton.

[Imperialus]

One of the lines for the french troops is cinq par cinq too.

[Arsenic_Touch]

Next time, do more than a little research.