Skip to Content

Walkie Talkie Lingo – Beginner's Guide to Walkie Talkie Code

Walkie Talkie Lingo – Beginner's Guide to Walkie Talkie Code

Long-distance communication with friends and family is possible using walkie-talkies; sadly, the sound quality is not as good as on your mobile phone. It is a good time to learn the lingo when you plan to utilize walkie-talkies on set. For radio communication, codes are useful, especially when transferring information fast.

Walkie-talkie lingo assists you in communicating swiftly with other parties. Since messages may often become jumbled, learning basic walkie-talkie call signs is essential for getting your word through. One of the most basic languages is saying affirmative instead of yes and negative rather than no. 

Walkie talkie code talk is a kind of communication that employs multisyllabic but short phrases or words that can be conveyed over the radio. Anyone hearing it would be able to comprehend what you are attempting to communicate since the code is recognized.

brothers walkie talkieWalkie Talkie Code Talk

Police officers frequently employ walkie-talkie 10 codes, which allow communication swiftly and concisely. If you and your family and friends depend on walkie-talkie interaction while camping, hunting, or hiking, mastering the codes and lingo will help you and all concerned parties communicate better. 

Learning to communicate in code or learning walkie-talkie-code talk may seem absurd to some, yet there are times when clear radio communication is essential. This code is simple to comprehend and brief, effectively conveying the idea. Since these technologies provide less-than-ideal audio quality while transmitting a person's voice over sound waves, it can be hard to decipher them.

In order to send clear communication, a cell phone will depend on cellular towers; a walkie-talkie, however, does not. As a result, the voice technique will be used by military people, pilots, and civilians. This enables users to comprehend the content with fewer inputs.

Ten codes are used in walkie-talkie communication; the Illinois State Police Department initially developed these codes in 1937. These codes were designed to reduce uncertainty on the radio. Most of these codes are unique to law enforcement; however, some differ from one law enforcement agency to the next; below is the walkie-talkie code talk. 

  • 10-1: This code merely indicates that transmission cannot be read.
  • 10-2: The broadcast signal is clear, according to this code talk.
  • 10-3: Forfeit mission. 
  • 10-4: Stands for a message received. 
  • 10-5: This code means you should please forward this message to others.
  • 10-6: Please wait; I am currently occupied.
  • 10-7: Out of service.
  • 10-8: In-service.
  • 10-9: Please state the message again.
  • 10-10: Transmission completed. 
  • 10-20: Please provide your address or location. 
  • Copy: I understood the message.
  • Affirmative- Yes
  • Negative- No
  • Disregard- Disregard the preceding message
  • Go Ahead- I am paying attention.
  • Mic check- Is my walkie-talkie in good operating order?
  • Go again- Please provide the previous transmission again.
  • Over- I am through speaking.
  • Out – Transmission has ended.
  • Wilco- The message has been received, and action will be taken. 

Another walkie-talkie code talk is the NATO phonetic alphabet; you might have to spell stuff out on the radio, especially if it is a location name. However, because it might be difficult to pronounce letters over a broadcast, the NATO phonetic alphabet will help you. Below is the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. 

  1. Alpha    
  2. Bravo
  3. Charlie
  4. Delta
  5. Echo
  6. Foxtrot
  7. Golf
  8. Hotel
  9. India
  10. Juliet
  11. Kilo
  12. Lima
  13. Mike
  14. November
  15. Oscar
  16. Papa
  17. Quebec
  18. Romeo
  19. Sierra
  20. Tango
  21. Uniform
  22. Victor
  23. Whiskey
  24. X-ray
  25. Yankee
  26. Zulu 

Beginner Walkie Talkie Lingo

The language of walkie-talkies might vary depending on the industry; film crews, police officers, and airplane pilots, for example, may use different codes. You ought to be able to converse with anyone if you are using the walkie-talkie lingo. It is critical to start transmission, especially when you are connected to other people; use these intros to converse with the correct person:

  • Come In, Peter- Are you there, Peter?
  • Proceed- Transmit your message
  • Go for James- Acknowledge that James wishes to contact me and that I am willing to listen.
  • Alex called Peter- I, Alex, need to talk with Peter.

A clear beginning leads to a clear discourse. Now that you understand how to establish a conversation, it is time to brush up on the basics:

  • Eyes on- I see what you are getting at.
  • On it- I am currently working on your request. 
  • Stand by – I am busy right now, but I will contact you as soon as possible. 
  • Roger or Roger that- Message understood.
  • What is your 20? – Where have you gone? 

Knowing the basics will eliminate uncertainty and increase the likelihood of understanding the message. 

yellow helmet walkie talkieHow To Talk On A Walkie Talkie

Having understood the walkie-talkie lingo, the next thing to learn is how to converse on a walkie-talkie properly. You must adhere to a specified code of conduct. First and foremost, proper pronunciation is essential because it is more difficult to comprehend people's voices through a transmission.

Since words tend to blend, speak clearly and slowly get your point clear. Make sure you enunciate well and pause after keywords to ensure they understand; however, this does not necessitate shouting. As soon as you start speaking, push the transmit button on your walkie-talkie to queue up the microphone.

It is also worth noting that a walkie-talkie may take a few seconds to start transmitting properly. Slowing down and pronouncing every word can sometimes be difficult and annoying for most people, especially in an emergency. The words on a walkie-talkie tend to blur together, making them difficult to understand.

Since only one person can speak at the moment on two-way radios, keep your communications brief, clear, and straightforward. This allows other users to confirm your communication or ask for further information before you continue on your next statement. Radio listeners frequently repeat a message to demonstrate that they have heard and understood it.

There may be a little pause before your device communicates when you initially press the push to talk button. This may cause your first few words to be cut off, so pause for a moment or two before starting to ensure that your listeners get the full message. When you click the talk button, nobody in your team can communicate or be acknowledged.

As a result, it is critical to plan out your message ahead of time. If you keep the talk button pushed when you prepare your ideas, no one else will be able to join in the conversation, but you may also be obstructing anyone on your channel that needs to send an emergency message. 

Since a group of users may be using the same radio frequency and channel, it is critical and courteous to identify yourself promptly when transmitting. Before conveying your message, it is also courteous to draw the individual's interest to whom your information is addressed. For example, you can say, 'Peter, this is Janet, Over.' 

The phrase "over" is commonly used on the radio to indicate that you have done speaking. At this point, it is pointless to do anything other than identify the recipient and yourself. You can send the remaining message once you confirm you possess the other person's attention. 

The other party might not have been able to react right away; be patient and wait for them to respond before re-dialing. Whenever you are speaking, keep your microphone away from your mouth. You do not want to speak too loudly; a distance of 3 to 5 inches should suffice.

More like this: How to Use a Walkie Talkies 

Final Thoughts

Military, police officers, civilians, emergency responders, and ambulance dispatch can all use walkie-talkie code talk. Those codes can include simple 10 codes, which allow the user to communicate clearly and rapidly to others listening. It is also a good idea to learn walkie-talkie lingo to communicate easily with your other users. Learning this terminology is vital for effective communication as it might be hard to hear well over a walkie-talkie. 

Also read: