Basic Radio Terms???

[pilot76knob]

Hey i'm new to the career and i was wondering what some of the radio terms ment..I have been listing to my dads scanner every so often and i just wanna know some of the basic terms and lingo etc..Any help will be greatly appriciated!!!thanks

[CaptainS]

Depends on where you are from. Sometimes different parts of the world, have different meannings for the same thing.

[pilot76knob]

yes i am from east coast usa..aka nc...and i am working on getting a ten codes sheet from the station...so i guess that will give me the info i need? thanks though

[KEEPBACK200FEET]

what part of NC? Again, it is going to vary with your area.

[phillipmc]

Im currently with a vollie deptartment in Eastern NC although we still use the 10 codes they are being "phased out" and being replaced with plain speach

1 thing i would learn is the condition codes of fires

like condition 1 = minor fire
condition 2 = working fire
ect..

hope this helps any questions just ask

[KEEPBACK200FEET]

Originally posted by phillipmc

Im currently with a vollie deptartment in Eastern NC although we still use the 10 codes they are being "phased out" and being replaced with plain speach

1 thing i would learn is the condition codes of fires

like condition 1 = minor fire
condition 2 = working fire
ect..

hope this helps any questions just ask

I'm not sure which county you are in, but that is not how it is in my county here in eastern NC. The best thing to do is ask someone in your department because sometimes even different departments in the same county use different lingo.

[MarcusKspn]

Here we are in the same city and fire, ems, and police all have their own lingo, 10 codes mean different things, and one department doesn't use 10 codes. I think your best bet is to not try to clutter your head with any radio lingo until you get on with a department and then just learn what they use. Currently there is still no standart for a unified Radio lingo. Even though that was supposed to be our priority goal to fix post 9/11.

[tyler101]

http://www.thebravest.com/fdny/fdny10codes[1].html

[Dave1983]

Ours are pretty basic. Responding, on scene, available, in service, out of service etc. Easy to understand. ;)

[pilot76knob]

Hey yall thanks for the advice but i am currently a jr/explorer in Pilot Knob FD in surry county...I know most of the basic 10 codes its just some of the less common ones are kinda vauge...but thanks for all the help its greatly appreicatred...

[pfd4life]

Well, we have Ya hey, hey der(dare), ya sure, come here a minute, oh ya, uh....lets see what else.., I suppose it passes as clear text :D And no I'm not kidding, some departments around me actually speak that way. Damn redneck yoopers. :D

[fireman4949]

Well, we have Ya hey, hey der(dare), ya sure, come here a minute, oh ya, uh....lets see what else.., I suppose it passes as clear text :D And no I'm not kidding, some departments around me actually speak that way. Damn redneck yoopers. :D

Clear text is great if you have people that understand what clear text is supposed to be...CLEAR! If you have people that key the mike, then engage their thought process as to what their next few words should be, it can be embarrasing as hell! :eek:

We have been clear text for many years. As a rule, it works very well and has eliminated the confusion and dangers of different codes being used by different agencies.

We do still use some codes for such things as suicides, rapes, infectious diseases, airport alerts, etc., just to provide a hint of privacy for the citizens involved.




Kevin :D

[S8ER95Z]

I was under the impression 10 codes are supposed to dissapear.

[TaberLFD]

The 10 Code system is being phased out in Western NY also. The Fire Depts. still only used the basic 10 codes like 10-4 is OK and copy, and 10-13 is Motor Vehicle Accident. But I'm sure a lot of the 10 codes are different depending on what state or area you are in. Now they want the radio transmits to be more monitor friendly by not trying to hide what your saying to the public. Any radio transmit is in plan english here like Ambulance 371 responding, on location, in route to hospital, in service returning to the hall, and in quarters off the air.

[KEEPBACK200FEET]

Message Deleted.

[Firefighter2230]

http://www.ci.winston-salem.nc.us/psc/html/codes.html
There's Winston-Salem police 10 codes I know of one county close by that still uses 10 codes and I think these will match up to most that might use them in NC.

[KEEPBACK200FEET]

http://www.ci.winston-salem.nc.us/psc/html/codes.html
There's Winston-Salem police 10 codes I know of one county close by that still uses 10 codes and I think these will match up to most that might use them in NC.


Yea, I looked over them, most of them seem to be consistent with what I have in my two counties here in NC.

[pilot76knob]

Thank yall for the help its greatly appriciated...

[pfd4life]

Clear text is great if you have people that understand what clear text is supposed to be...CLEAR! If you have people that key the mike, then engage their thought process as to what their next few words should be, it can be embarrasing as hell! :eek: Embarassing yes, but with some dept's around here I expect it. We use SOME 10 codes, usually only 10-8/10-24, 10-50, and 10-79. The first two for assignment complet, and in service returning. The third for MVA's, and the last for a deceased party. The bacon around here uses 10 codes heavily yet...drives me nuts but I've got 99% figured out.

[allineedisu]

You can't go wrong with plain talk.

Enroute, arrived on scene, in service, back in quarters, etc.

Pretty simple and most folks can understand it and no memorizing some dumb 10 codes or signals. Even understandable for those who can’t speak English!

[LRFPD60]

We never used 10 codes as a department but dispatch used to use 10-50 for an MVA or 10-70 for a fire. We now use all plain talk with the exception of some details on calls where you don't want scanner land to know. One example would be if you roll up on a medical or an MVA and the guy is drunk instead of saying he is drunk or appears drunk we typically use 10-55 or just say he is "55". Other than that we don't use 10 codes.

[ff38p23]

My department doesnt use 10 codes at all anymore...wich sucks for me becuase I have this habbit of always saying 10-4 when ever I am on dispatch or on the radio when I am really suppose to say received, or, understood, or something along those lines. IMO plain speech is the way to go, less confusing. However when it comes to certain sensitive topics, such as a death. We usually say DOA (Deciesed on Arrival) Or, on scene with an untimely (Untimely death) And...just for special occasion! When we happen to have a milk truck catch on fire! Our deputy cheif will say...Confirm we have cheese...confirmed we have cheese! Haha.

[fireman4949]

As I stated earlier, we do use a few signals and codes still...

10-4...About the only one of the remaining 10 codes still in use.

Signals:
Sig-0...Armed with a weapon
Sig-2...Intoxicated
Sig-4...Auto accident
Sig-7...Fatality
Sig-20...Psychiatric patient
Sig-21...Known infectious disease such as Hepatitis, TB, HIV, etc. Used to alert for universal precautions
Sig-55...Assault
Sig-66 (66-A)...Rape, or attempted rape
Sig-88 (88-A)...Suicide, or attempted suicide

Other than these few, virtually everything else is clear text.




Kevin :D

[SafetyPro]

We don't use 10 codes and for the most part use clear text. We do use a few abreviations though and a couple of "codes", so here's some of the unique terms you might here on our system.

Code 4 - generally used in regards to PD with unsafe situations, as in "stage for PD Code 4" which means "wait for the police to control the situation before you go in".

5150 - transporting an individual who is a threat to self or others (suicidal, psychotic, etc.) under PD authority (i.e. "I need PD to respond for a 5150.")

AIQ - "Available in Quarters"

AOR - "Available on Radio". If a call comes in, the unit will be contacted via radio, but there won't be the full tone activation and station alerting...used when a unit is staffed and out of quarters.

AOS - "Available on Scene". The unit is at an incident, but not committed, and is available to respond. Often used, for example, for an ambulance that's holding at the scene of, say, a fire, after the situation is controlled (like during mop-up).

RP - Either "Reporting Party" or "Responsible Party" based on context. The former's whoever called 911 and the latter's the building/property owner.

UTL - "Unable to Locate". For example, the RP calls in an odor of smoke, the engine responds and investigates, but can't find the source of the odor (or maybe can't even smell the odor).

TC - "Traffic Collision". We tend not to use the term MVA out here.

Still Alarm - A call initiated by an FD unit. Usually is either a walk-in at the station, a TC in front of the station, or a flag down while a unit is driving. Involves an incident number being assigned, but no dispatch unless additional units are requested. "Dispatch, Engine 51, show us on a still alarm, TC in front of our station, have PD respond."

Unit Identifiers
RA - Rescue Ambulance, an FD-run (usually) ALS ambulance
Squad - A non-transport ALS unit, usually carried both EMS and some fire gear. What Johnny and Roy drove on Emergency!
AU - Air Utility, a mobile SCBA-filling unit with spare cylinders
USAR - Urban Search and Rescue unit, similar to a "heavy rescue" in other parts of the country. Responds for technical rescue situations, but not usually on "routine" extrication calls.

[fieldseng2]

We use plain English. Say like we see it.

[phillipmc]

Also another reason our dept and good reason to go clear speach is because of NIMS. I know our dept is working diligently to get the NIMS classes under our belts.

[osh599]

We stopped using 10 codes in the middle 90's. Being a part-paid department, it was too confusing for members to keep track of them. Also, in my neck of the woods in sw Michigan, different agencies have a different version of the 10 code system. Police are generally the same but the ambulance services are really confusing.

We started using plain text for all of our operations. You say what you see and everyone understands it. Instead of hearing a 10-13 (fire) 10-16 (alarm) like some departments do, makes more sense just to say Fire Alarm. Also, less words to speak.

Also, we were the first fire department in our county (and still are for the most part) to use call party first in all of our radio communications. Our state police use it and it is most effective when communicating. For example; county dispatch from..... We have found that by using this form of communication, it generally gets the other parties attention sooner than having them questioning as to whom is calling them.

[KEEPBACK200FEET]

Also, we were the first fire department in our county (and still are for the most part) to use call party first in all of our radio communications. Our state police use it and it is most effective when communicating. For example; county dispatch from..... We have found that by using this form of communication, it generally gets the other parties attention sooner than having them questioning as to whom is calling them.


According to the FCC, thats the proper way to call anyway. Plus it really throws people off at 2 a.m. if you call like that in an area that doesnt usually do it like that. :D

[PFDFIREDOG]

10 codes can get confusing because what one means in 1 state or county can be totally different in another, plain english we feel is the best, always repeat back what you here to the person talking so if any miss communication was made it can be corrected. The only numbers we use and its because of our dispatch is the speed of which we respond,( priority 1, priority 2) or fatal which has a number assigned to it.
I.E.
car 77 from fire control
fire control from car 77
be advised car 77 you have a 1 car mva over embankment
received 1 car over embankment

[lilyogi]

Ok, Has anyone heard anything that they are now going back to 10 codes with nims? I have not heard this, I talked to my chief that we need to stop using 10 codes and he said he heard that they are no longer saying that, something about the police depts threw a fit?@?!#$? Any help on documentation supporting the plain english would be greatly appreciated.

[onebugle]

I read something about it the other day. You are correct, law enforcement had issues with not being able to use 10 codes. The change was made that 10 codes could be used for every day use, except when an incident required NIMS then they are not to be used. I believe you will find the info on NIMS website.

[lilyogi]

I was able to find the info I needed, thank you

[scvfd412]

My department uses 10 codes, we have a career FF on our volunteer department, they use plain english, he's trying to get us into the habit of it and I actually like plain text better. It's embarrassing to your department for someone to use the wrong 10 code and cause confusion. We have had members do that!

[wiexplorer18]

Ours are pretty basic. Responding, on scene, available, in service, out of service etc. Easy to understand. ;)

Same here...

[ladder2121]

GOA= Gone on arrival
SOA= Secure on arrival
DOA= Dead on arrival
Code Blue= police priority, unable to give nature.
Signal 1= death by fire
Signal 2= Death by natural causes
Signal 3= Death un-natural causes
ALS Red= Critical
ALS yellow= urgent but not critical or life threatening.
BLS= Basic life support not urgent
General alarm= all available apparatus respond.
Level one man power= priority to the scene without PPE, or with PPE if you have it with you, in POV or assigned apparatus.
Level two man power= to the scene with PPE not priority, POV or apparatus.
Level three man power= to the scene full PPE in assigned apparatus routine.