Walkie-talkies are the most basic and useful personal radios. Whether you are out rambling in the woods with your buddies or roaming around the warehouse or factory getting the job done, nothing facilitates easy communication like these handy, pocketable radios do.
But despite being easily accessible, good radio communication etiquette and protocols make a big difference, especially if you have multiple users on the same channel. Do it right and you’ll reduce frustration, improve efficiency, and generally have a much nicer time while you are on the air.
Even if you’re a rank novice, this stuff is easy to learn, and you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for the only guide to walkie-talkie lingo you’ll need.
Basics
If you learn nothing else, learn the following and you’ll be ready to talk on your walkie-talkie like an old pro. The stuff in the following sections is definitely useful, but this is the bread and butter.
This is X for Y
Where X is your name and Y is the name of the person you are trying to reach. An example: This is Robert for John. This is essential etiquette for reducing confusion when you’re on any channel where there are multiple users sharing it, or when you are transmitting on crowded airwaves where anyone can hear you.
Go for Y
This is the follow-up response to the previous hail. Following our example, go for John. This lets Robert know that he has been heard and that he currently has John on the line.
Roger
This is the universal acknowledgment that a message has been received and is understood by the recipient. Often used interchangeably with affirmative or yes, but this is technically distinct.
Copy
Functionally similar to Roger above, as it confirms that the recipient has both received and understood the previous message.
Affirmative
Means yes, or correct, in response to a statement or question.
Negative
Means no, or incorrect, in response to a statement or question.
On It
An acknowledgment and response to a request or instructions. If someone requests that you gather information, send specific information, or complete a task, you’ll say on it to let them know that you’re doing it presently.
Wilco
Short hand for will comply, and used similarly to “on it”. Lets whoever gave the instructions know that they were received, understood, and that you will obey.
Over
You should end your transmissions with over to let other parties know you are finished transmitting and are waiting for other responses or input. Note that this is still put on the end of any transmission that is in the form of a question. For instance, “Have any of you seen John? Over.”
Out
Lets the person or people you’re communicating with know that you are finished communicating and that you don’t expect, or will not be listening for, a response or reply. Despite its popularity in movies and other media, “over and out” is redundant and improper; it should be one or the other.
Come In
Basically means are you there or is anyone listening. You can call a station or a person with this. For instance, Carl, come in, or come in, Carl. Or even something like, Basecamp, this is scouting party, come in.
Break
Tells other people currently talking on the channel to stop talking because the person saying this needs to jump in with something important. Often repeated multiple times: break, break, break! You only want to do this if something is urgent or genuinely important; “stepping on” or “talking over” people otherwise is rude and very poor form.
Radio Check
Said so that the other parties will respond and indicate that your radio is working, meaning that you are transmitting, can be heard, and that you can hear what they are transmitting back. It can be said on its own as a basic test, or directed to a specific receiver or station so they will confirm that their set is working.
Loud and Clear
Said as a confirmation that another person’s radio is functional and working normally, or that a person’s signal is nominal and easily heard. Can be said as a response to a radio check above or a general inquiry as to functionality and signal strength.
Standby
An instruction to wait for a little while, usually for a following transmission. For instance, “Scouting party, home base. Standby for new instructions.” You might also say this to let someone know that you are waiting. “Home base, scouting party, standing by for more.”
Flying In
Notifies that you are sending traffic that was previously requested. For instance, information on a specific person, location, or the status of a task. “Info on that POI flying in now.” Rarely used by civilians, but nonetheless good etiquette.
Switching To
Said when you are going to a different channel. “Home base, scouting party. We’re getting stepped on, switching to channel 8.” Make sure this is heard and acknowledged before you make the switch, otherwise you might not be able to continue your conversation smoothly.
Twenty/20
An abbreviated version of a 10 code, see the next section, asking for a person’s location or giving your own location. Example: “Carl, Mike. What’s your 20?” “My 20 is the intersection of 1st Avenue and Broadway.”
Wait Out
Used to let someone know that there will be a lengthy wait between transmissions, or that requested information or tasking is taking longer than anticipated.
Ten Codes
These shorthand codes are nearly universal and used to relay more complex information very quickly and efficiently. They are a favorite of police forces around North America and other parts of the world, and are also used by radio-savvy civilians.
10-1
Indicates received signal is poor, be that lots of static or generally low strength. Informs senders that their message might not be making it through to you.
10-2
Indicates that signal is being received clearly; see loud and clear above.
10-3
Order to stop transmitting immediately. Used similarly to break above in case of emergency, but it’s also used if a signal suddenly degrades.
10-4
Message is understood. Used similarly to copy and roger above.
10-6
Station is busy, please stand by. Useful for quickly informing someone that you have your hands full or have to deal with something else before you can talk.
10-7
Off the air or out of service. If you’re going to be away from your radio, if the radio will be turned off, or if you’ll have absolutely no signal for further communications, this is the ten code to use.
10-8
Lets your partner or other people on the channel know you are back on the air or back in service and able to receive calls or send traffic.
10-9
Repeat last transmission. If you didn’t catch what was said or if there was interference, use this code.
10-10
Transmission complete, similar to “over” above.
10-12
Other people or visitors present. Informs any senders of other traffic that you have other people near you who could possibly overhear your conversation. More generally, it tells people that you have company.
10-13
Request for advisory on conditions. Typically appended with traffic, road conditions, weather, atmospherics, etc. Example: “Can I get a 10-13 on weather?”
10-16
Pick up at given location. “10-16 at the hunting lodge on Carl’s property.”
10-18
Do you have anything for me? Could refer to messages, information, work orders, or anything else. Commonly used when communicating with dispatch or after a while when given a wait out.
10-20
Current location is, or what is your current location? Often shortened to just 20 as detailed above.
10-26
Disregard, belay, or cancel last. Hearers should disregard instructions or information from the previous transmission. If the last was a relay request, do not forward it on after getting a 10-26.
10-41
Go to the channel indicated following the code.
10-99
Task complete, and all units secure or all hands accounted for.
10-100
Bathroom needed! Popularly used when traveling in a convoy or conducting other vehicle operations.
NATO Phonetic Alphabet
This standard code is used by the military, many police organizations, and plenty of civilian users to add clarity when relaying alphanumeric data or whenever a word needs to be spelled out for whatever reason. It’s a good idea to learn this because it comes in handy, especially when used as part of other codes or when signal conditions are suboptimal.
The phonetic alphabet is easy to understand because the words on the list below stand in for letters in the alphabet, with the first letter of the word being the letter indicated.
If using it to spell out a word, for whatever reason, say “I spell” before rattling off the relevant words. As an example: “I’m looking for my dog, Max. I spell Mike Alpha X-ray.”
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-ray
Zulu
Tom Marlowe practically grew up with a gun in his hand, and has held all kinds of jobs in the gun industry: range safety, sales, instruction and consulting, Tom has the experience to help civilian shooters figure out what will work best for them.