What are the Ten Codes?
If someone was to ask a question and receive the response 'Ten Four', most people would know that the question was being answered in the affirmative. Since the days of the US cop shows of the Seventies many of us have grown up with the occasional 'radio term' cropping up on TV or in the films.
For those who venture in to CB Radio or are introduced to the other radio bands available there is an array of 'ten codes' used in transmissions. The development of the APCO Ten Signals began in 1937 to reduce use of speech on the radio at a time when police radio channels were limited. Credit for inventing the codes goes to Charles "Charlie" Hopper, communications director for the Illinois State Police, District 10 in Pesotum, Illinois.
Some Ten codes are more widely used than others and in total there are 101 different ten code each with a different definition. Some of the codes are specific to Police operations whilst others are specific to radio operations so in CB Radio operation only some are widely used.
Before venturing out on to the airwaves it is worth having a basic understanding of some of the key terms are and I have compiled a complete list of all of the ten codes in a chart in this post as well as making it available to you as a download so you can keep it by your radio for easy reference.
To give a basic guide I have selected below the main Ten codes that are most regularly used on CB Radio :-
10-1 - Signal Weak
Example : - 'You're running a bit 10-1'
Also used to generally say 'not good'
'He had a proper 10-1 rig!'
10-3 - Stop transmitting
Example : - 'I'm going 10-3' - "I'm shutting down now"
10-4 Affirmative, Yes
Example "That's a 10-4 for sure!'
10-5 - Relay Message
Example :- 'He's not reading you so I'll 10-5 your message to him'
10-6 - Busy
Example : I was 10-6 when he was calling
10-9 - Repeat
Example :- 'Can you 10-9 your last over'
10-10 - Negative / Used as a sign-off
Example :- '10-10 til we do it again!'
10-20 - location
Example :- 'What's your twenty?'
10 - 50 - Traffic accident
There's a 10-50 up on the next junction'
10-100 - Toilet Break
Example :- 'I'll be back in a minute 10-100'
Not every ten code is used on CB Radio but some are very often heard so it is useful to know their meanings. The chart below will give you definitions for all APCO ten codes
It may useful to keep a copy of the ten codes on hand for reference near your radio so I have created a downloadable copy of these codes here:- DOWNLOAD FILE
YouTube Video
The Ten Codes
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