The Quick Guide to Walkie Talkie Codes

A walkie talkie is a valuable tool to have in a variety of situations and professions. Whether you are hunting, hiking, camping or working construction, or law enforcement, a walkie talkie can help you communicate effectively and even save lives in an emergency.

However, many people don’t know there is a specific lingo for walkie talkies. Walkie talkies don’t have the same audio quality as smartphones. To overcome this issue, walkie talkie lingo uses short expressions and number codes to represent common phrases, so the message is concise and clear.

Follow this easy guide to learn how to communicate using walkie talkie communication codes.

How People Started Using Codes On Walkie Talkies

The system of ten codes dates back to 1937. Police officers in Illinois devised a brevity and standardized system of walkie talkie codes for speedy and efficient communication due to the limited number of police radio channels. The credit for inventing the codes is usually given to Charles Hopper, communications director for the Illinois State Police.

Understanding Walkie Talkie 10 Codes

Start by saying 10, followed by a specific number representing a common phrase. Some 10-codes vary between different fields, but standard brevity codes include:

10-1 (Transmission unreadable or receiving poorly)
10-2 (Signal good)
10-3 (Abort transmission)
10-4 (Message received, understood)
10-5 (Relay message to someone else)
10-6 (Busy, stand by)
10-7 (Out of service)
10-8 (In-service)
10-9 (Repeat message)
10-10 (Transmission complete)
10-20 (What’s your location?)
10-32 (I will give you a radio check)
10-33 (Emergency traffic)
10-39 (Your message delivered)
10-41 (Please turn to channel…)
10-44 (I have a message for you)
10-50 (Break channel)
10-60 (What is the next message number?)
10-62 (Unable to copy, use phone)

The 4 Basic Rules of Radio Communication

If you want to communicate correctly when using walkie talkies, you must understand the basic rules for radio communication. Essentially, walkie talkie transmissions should be short and to the point. The four basic rules are:

Clarity: Speak in a clear way and slightly louder than normal. Use a normal tone of voice and try to make every word clear.
Simplicity: Don’t use complicated or language that’s difficult to understand. This is where codes and terminology are beneficial.
Brevity: Even if you use codes, don’t make the message longer than necessary.
Security: You shouldn’t transmit important information unless you know exactly who you are speaking with, as radio frequencies are shared between all two-way radio users.

How to Start and End a Transmission

After pushing the push-to-talk (PTT) button on the radio, wait 2-3 seconds to avoid cutting off the message’s first syllable. Then, use the following terminology at the beginning of a transmission:

Come in Joe/John, come in (Are you there Joe?)
Go ahead (Transmit your message)
Go for Joe (This acknowledges that Joe wants to contact you, and you are ready to listen).
Kate calling Joe (Kate wants to talk to Joe)

After relaying your message, ending a walkie talkie transmission is easy and simple. You can either use the word “out” or “over.” Both expressions make it clear that the conversation is over.

Basic Lingo Expressions

You also need some basic vocabulary to shorten sentences while you are in communication. You can use these basic expressions:

Affirmative (Yes)
Negative (No)
Copy (Understood)
Do you copy? (Can you hear me?)
Loud and clear (Your radio is working)
Disregard (Ignore the previous transmission)
Eyes on… (I can see what we’re talking about)
On it (I’m in the process of doing what you asked)
Roger / Roger that (Message understood)
Stand by (I’m busy at the moment, I’ll call you ASAP).

Try Out Walkie Talkie Lingo On a Midland Radio

Try using this lingo on the X-Talker T61VP3. These walkie talkies are visually appealing and a lightweight and compact design. The battery allows for about 10 hours of talk time, and they have a 32-mile range which is excellent for skiing or hiking trips.

The X-Talker T71VP3 is another excellent walkie talkie to try these different codes. It comes with a 3-year warranty and has 36 channels and 121 privacy codes. Its long 38-mile range makes it perfect for hunting, hiking, or camping.

Avoid Miscommunication With Walkie Talkie Codes

Communicating effectively is crucial when using walkie talkies. Whether you are a camper hiking the backcountry or a police officer redirecting traffic, miscommunication can have dire consequences. Understanding basic walkie talkie codes and lingo and using high-quality products from Midland Radio ensures your message is relayed crystal-clear.