ROGER! Your Essential Guide to Walkie-talkie Codes

by Jackson Chen

October 28, 2021

"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 walkie-talkie 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 service.

2. The basic lingoes:

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

5. Why do radio operators always say "73"——Know more about 92 codes

Nowadays amateur radio operators profusely use codes 73 and 88, in fact, they're derived from the 92 Code (adopted by Western Union in 1859). See the contemporary usage:

1	* Wait a minute.	25	Busy on another wire.
2	Very Important.	26	* Put on ground wire.
3	* What time is it?	27	* Priority, very important.
4	Where shall I go ahead?	28	* Do you get my writing?.
5	Anything? (Have you business for me?)	29	* Private, deliver in sealed envelope.
6	* I am ready.	30	* No more - the end.
7	* Are you ready?	31	Form 31 train order.
8	Close your key, stop breaking.	32	* I understand that I am to ....
9	* Priority business. Wire Chief's call.	33	Answer is paid.
10	* Keep this circuit closed.	34	* Message for all officers.
12	* Do you understand?	35	* You may use my signal to answer this.
13	Understand?	37	* Inform all interested.
14	* What is the weather?	39	* Important, with priority on through wire.
15	* For you and others to copy.	44	* Answer promptly by wire.
17	* Lightning here.	55	Important.
18	What's the trouble?	73	Best Regards.
19	Form 19 train order.	77	* I have a message for you.
21	* Stop for meal.	88	* Love and kisses.
22	Wire test.	91	* Superintendent's signal.
23	* All stations copy.	92	Deliver Promptly.
24	* Repeat this back.	134	* Who is at the key?

Above codes, which haven't been listed in the 1901 edition of Dodge, are marked with an asterisk (*).

So what's your 20 while learning these codes? Wish this "walkie-talkie dictionary" would be helpful in your next transmission. Over and out!

2 comments

O want Thais dictionary.
Thanks

Adelino Fonseca • May 22, 2025

Excelente Saludos de Chile.

Mario Masanes S • May 22, 2025