Radio 102
Techniques for the Field

Despite common belief, aural brevity codes are NOT used for "secrecy." There are NO "universal codes" either; not everybody uses "10-4" to mean the same thing, and that's a code most folks think is fairly universal. This reality is one reason why dispatchers should never use radio or "signal codes" when speaking on the telephone to other agencies or when composing a written message for broadcast outside their own agency.

Aural brevity codes or radio signal codes are used because they ALWAYS MEAN THE SAME THING (within that agency) and it usually takes less air time or syllables to get a message across if the appropriate codes are used. There are 10-codes, 11-codes, 12-codes, 9-codes; I've run across a 14-code someplace, too! There is no reason to try to list the different codes and their variants here; the concepts you do need to understand and practice are:

1. Use the appropriate code, correctly
2. If you can't remember the correct code, use plain speech. Don't "wing it" or guess the code to use.
3. If you're using radio signal codes, use the entire code: Prefix and the Suffix.

There are two parts to a radio signal codes: the "signal" that clues someone into the fact that a CODE is the next thing they are going to hear and need to understand (the Prefix), and the actual message content of the code (the Suffix).

It's extremely common for some users to drop code prefixes and just use the suffix in radio conversations, because of the mistaken belief that the prefix isn't necessary. It's all one code or another, right? Why not simply drop those ever-present numerical prefixes? "It's the danged 10 code so you don't need to use all them 10s every time, do ya?"

Wrong!

Code prefixes help the listener switch his/her brain from casually scoping out "language" into "translate this important message" mode. The brain processes words and numbers differently, and while capable of switching back and forth in a rapid manner, some brief moments can be wasted while the switch is made from 'words' to 'numbers' if there isn't any warning that the information is going to start arriving in a different format. (This same concept will be discussed at greater length when we get into how to broadcast addresses, VINs, DLs and other numerical information.)

Basically, you should use the whole danged code: the 10 and the 27. (Or whatever fits your circumstance.) Dispatchers who work for agencies that use the 10-code know exactly what I mean: units routinely ask for "27, 28 and 9" on a stop, instead of requesting "10-27, 10-28 and 10-29." Seems kind of silly to use the "10" in all three of those codes in a row like that, right? (That's the spurious rationale anyway.)

Well, if you drop a prefix once, in a combination request, pretty soon you'll be dropping the prefix for that code whenever you use it, even when it's the only request in a transmission. That's taking the "Brevity" of the Radio ABCs a bit too far...... And besides, if you "can" drop THAT 10, why not others?

Well, do you hear dispatchers saying, "9?" instead of "10-9?" or "4" instead of "10-4" -- it's not appropriate.

Use the entire radio signal, prefix AND suffix. It improves radio communications!

~How to maintain an effective radio conversation~

Phonetic Spelling - warn us first.

There are two "phonetic alphabets" in use in public safety communications: the "International" and the one often called the "police" or "APCO" phonetic alphabet. (I find the latter label quite interesting, because APCO telecommunications courses opt for either one, depending on what YOUR agency chooses to use.) Anyway, if you need to learn either one, this isn't the place to find 'em.

However, you will find some hints here on how to use a phonetic alphabet as effectively as possible for the best understanding over the radio.

• Not everything needs to be "spelled phonetically."
  Generally, phonetic spelling clarifies a word or name; Jones and Smith don't need to be spelled for us.
• Not every single letter of a word needs to be spelled phonetically.
  The name "Smythe" is one example.... because it's not a common spelling of the name.
• Attempt to pronounce the word (or name) immediately prior to the phonetic spelling.
  If the name is all vowels, mostly consonents, or the word is in a language you mangle on a regular basis, skip the pronunciation attempt. (In other words, don't go for the comic relief effect... pronouncing the word first is supposed to help someone understand how it's spelled... not confuse them further.)
• DON'T LAUNCH INTO A PHONETIC SPELLING WITHOUT TELLING US FIRST that you're going to be spelling something for us!
  Both phonetic alphabets use names - either names of persons or things (commonly called a "noun") - and oddly enough, some subjects whose names you're attempting to spell are.. well.... on those lists.

As one dispatcher has said, "How many times have I typed George Robert.... just to find out it's gonna end up to be Graciella Rodriguez or something!"

There are various ways to alert your dispatcher that you're going to be spelling something; some agencies prefer the term "I spell" while officers from other agencies often simply say something like, "Last name 'St. Thomas,' phonetically: Sam Tom, new word - Tom Henry Ocean Mary Adam Sam." (Yes, I made that part up about an officer actually pronouncing the name first, but that is the ideal procedure.) In any case, if you don't warn the dispatcher about an upcoming phonetic spelling, you can derail their whole documentation attempt for a few seconds.

A few seconds is precious time in this business.

Back to the Basics.
So, why do they STILL ask me to repeat what I've said?

(Thanks to many of my online peers for suggestions on this section of The Break Room. I am particularly indebted to Sergeant Andrew J. Brill, Training Manager, NZ Police Northern Communications Centre for a hefty chunk of information I'll probably plagarize in other areas, as well.....)