ROGER! Your Essential Guide to Radio Codes
"Copy that!" "Roger!" These radio lingoes are already familiar to both radio and non-radio operators because they're so prevalent in modern songs and movies. But have you scratched your head when heard other shorts, such as "what's your 20", or just "10-20"? If YES, then this article would be helpful.
1. Why Do We Recommend Radio Codes?
Most of the time, the audio quality of two-way radio is lower than our smartphones. If you keep speaking the whole sentence like usual, some of your words may be lost in radio transmission. Using common radio codes, lingoes, or just call "walkie-talkie language", would make messages shorter but right. That's why radio talk codes are now popular in military, civilian pilots, and a lot of indoor and outdoor usage.
2. The Basic Lingo:
|
Lingo |
Meaning |
|
Affirmative |
Yes |
|
Negative |
No |
|
Go ahead |
Wait for a new message |
|
Say again |
Repeat the last messages |
|
On It |
Working on what you asked |
|
Disregard |
Ignore the previous transmission |
|
Come in |
Asking another if they can hear you |
|
Copy / Copy that / Roger / Roger that |
Receive and understand the message |
|
Say all before/after |
Repeat all before/after a certain phrase if you can't understand the whole message |
|
Over |
My words are finished, you can go ahead if needed |
|
Out |
Transmission is finished, no answer is needed |
|
Radio check |
Can you hear me, how is my signal strength |
|
Break, break |
Try to interrupt transmission to speak urgently |
|
Stand by |
Wait for a moment and I will call back ASAP |
|
Wait out |
Could you wait a little longer than I will call back ASAP |
|
What’s your 20 / 10-20 |
What's your location |
|
Read you loud and clear |
I can hear you, your signal is great |
|
Emergency, emergency |
Emergency call |
|
Mayday |
derived from a French word m'aidez, which means "come help me." |
|
I spell |
The next word will be spelled out using the phonetic alphabet |
|
Wilco |
Abbreviation of “I will comply” (comply with the task they're asked to complete) |
3. What’s “10-20”? - Learn About ”10 Codes”:
When the line is not clear over and you're hard to understand words, 10-code provides more concise communication. Simply say "ten" and add another number, then you can use this system of codes easily. Here's the most popular short in universal 10-codes：
|
Code |
Meaning |
|
10-1 |
Receiving poorly |
|
10-2 |
Receiving well |
|
10-3 |
Abort transmission |
|
10-4 |
Message received |
|
10-5 |
Relay message to someone |
|
10-6 |
Busy, stand by |
|
10-7 |
Out of service |
|
10-8 |
In service |
|
10-9 |
Repeat message |
|
10-10 |
Transmission completed |
|
10-20 |
What’s your location? |
4. How to Spell Clearly Over a Transmission? - Use the Phonetic Alphabet
|
Alphabet |
Code Name |
Alphabet |
Code Name |
|
A |
Alpha |
N |
November |
|
B |
Bravo |
O |
Oscar |
|
C |
Charlie |
P |
Papa |
|
D |
Delta |
Q |
Quebec |
|
E |
Echo |
R |
Romeo |
|
F |
Foxtrot |
S |
Sierra |
|
G |
Golf |
T |
Tango |
|
H |
Hotel |
U |
Uniform |
|
I |
India |
V |
Victor |
|
J |
Juliet |
W |
Whiskey |
|
K |
Kilo |
X |
X-ray |
|
L |
Lima |
Y |
Yankee |
|
M |
Mike |
Z |
Zulu |