Whether you’re training new starters – or refreshing the skills of seasoned personnel with years of experience working with two-way radios – it’s essential to ensure that everyone speaks the same radio lingo. Otherwise you may find responders struggling to get up to speed with what’s being said. Or failing to answer communications directed at them by dispatchers appropriately.

Short-hand radio expressions have been around for decades. Back in 1937, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) developed the so called ‘ten-codes’. Historically used by law enforcement officers in North America, these brevity codes were used to represent commonly used phrases.

Since then, many industries have evolved standardised terms that are used as 2-way radio communication shortcuts. The aim of these ‘dispatch signals’ is to boost communication response rates and collaboration between teams – and even different agencies.

But this only works if everyone uses the same agreed terminology. Which means your organisation needs to define which terms will be used during message transmissions – or whether you are going to stick to plain English only.

Getting started

To get you started, we’ve put together a list of some commonly used radio communication phrases and radio lingo traditionally used in public safety and complex security environments, such as industrial settings or sports stadiums.

While some of this terminology has fallen into disuse in this day and age for many two-way radio users, you may find that reviving some of these tried and tested phrases (Radio Lingo) helps improve your team’s communication.

Roger That

Message received and understood – similar to Ten Four or Copy That

Roger so far

Confirm parts of long message before continuing with rest of message

Affirmative

Normally used when a question is asked and the reply is YES

Negative

Normally used when a question is asked and the reply is NO

Come in

Asking another party to acknowledge they can hear you

Go Ahead

I am ready for your message

Say Again

Repeat all your last transmission

Say all after/before

Repeat all after/before a certain key word or phrase

Over

Your message is finished – invitation for others to respond/transmit

Out

All conversation is finished – no answer is required or expected

Radio Check

What’s my signal strength? Can you hear me?

Read You Loud & Clear

Your transmission signal is good

Wilco

I will comply

Break, Break

Interruption to a transmission to communicate urgently

Emergency emergency

Distress call – used when there is grave or imminent danger to life – immediate assistance is required

Stand By

Wait for a short period and I will get back to you

Wait Out

The waiting period is longer than expected – I will call you as soon as possible

I spell

The next word will be spelt out using the phonetic alphabet

Your organisation may also utilise code words like ‘Code Blue’ – to indicate a non crucial incident, ‘Code Yellow’ – for an incident requiring immediate response but is not yet dangerous, and ‘Code Red’ – for a serious incident.

If you work in the security sector, then you may employ terms like ‘Cyclone’ to indicate a violent situation or ‘Tanto’ to request immediate back up. Similarly, if you operate in the marine or aviation industries, then you may use specific terms like ‘MayDay’ or ‘Pan-Pan’ to indicate urgent help is needed.

Whatever sector you work in, make sure everyone is familiar with the call signs used in your workplace. Because when everyone uses the same radio communications etiquette, it helps to ensure every message is heard loud and clear.

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Link to original Article at Hytera Communications.