What are the Ten Codes?

If someone was to ask a question and get the response 'Ten Four', most people would probably know that the question was being answered in the affirmative. Since the days of the US cop shows of the Seventies most of us have grown up with the occasional 'radio term' occurring on TV or in the movies.

For anyone who ventures in to CB Radio or is acquainted to the other radio bands available there is a multitude 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 creating the codes goes to Charles "Charlie" Hopper, communications director for the Illinois State Police, District 10 in Pesotum, Illinois.

A number of Ten codes are more commonly used than others and in total there are 101 different ten code each with a different definition. Some of the codes are particular to Police operations whilst others are unique to radio operations so in CB Radio operation only some are widely used.



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