CB Radio 10-Codes

10 codes originated in the USA and are CB radio lingo mostly used in English-speaking countries. However, no matter which codes are used in your country, be aware that there are local dialects in every urban area and region. You have to listen to others to learn the phrases and codes in your area. And not everyone knows or uses 10-codes, so be prepared for some people to not understand you.

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QSL Card from Golden Termite & Pest Control

10-1 Receiving Poorly
10-2 Receiving Well
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 Ok, Message Received
10-5 Relay Message
10-6 Busy, Stand By
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air
10-8 In Service, subject to call
10-9 Repeat Message
10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By
10-11 Talking too Rapidly
10-12 Visitors Present
10-13 Advise weather and road conditions
10-16 Make Pickup at……
10-17 Urgent Business
10-18 Anything for us?
10-19 Nothing for you, return to base
10-20 My Location is ……… or What’s your Location?
10-21 Call by Telephone
10-22 Report in Person too ……
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Completed last assignment
10-25 Can you Contact …….
10-26 Disregard Last Information/Cancel Last Message
10-27 I am moving to Channel ……
10-28 Identify your station
10-29 Time is up for contact
10-30 Does not conform to FCC Rules
10-32 I will give you a radio check
10-33 Emergency Traffic at this station
10-34 Trouble at this station, help is needed
10-35 Confidential Information
10-36 Need correct time
10-37 Wrecker needed at ……
10-38 Ambulance needed at ………
10-39 Your message delivered
10-41 Please tune to channel ……..
10-42 Traffic Accident at ……….
10-43 Traffic tied up at ………
10-44 I have a message for you
10-45 All units within range please report
10-50 Break Channel
10-60 What is next message number?
10-62 Unable to copy, use phone
10-65 Awaiting your next message or assignment
10-67 All units comply
10-70 Fire at …….
10-71 Proceed with transmission in sequence
10-73 Speed Trap at …………
10-75 You are causing interference
10-77 Negative Contact
10-84 My telephone number is ………
10-85 My address is ………..
10-91 Talk closer to the Mike
10-92 Your transmitter is out of adjustment
10-93 Check my frequency on this channel
10-94 Please give me a long count
10-95 Transmit dead carrier for 5 seconds
10-99 Mission completed, all units secure
10-100 Need to go to Bathroom
10-200 Police needed at ……….

I Hope You Are Feeling

This is the first post of a new series called Come Home Soon. This series will highlight postcard messages from the past. Some of the cards are wonderfully written notes, some are confusing, many are misspelled and all of them are one of a kind.

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On the Road to Alpine Tavern – Mt. Lowe, California

Mailed from Mt. Lowe, California to Miss Florence Price of Los Angeles, California on May 31, 1913:

I hope you are feeling, we missed you to-day and missed your mother also. – Catherine Pugh

10-4, Good Buddy

As most of you who followed the link I sent out know by know, I am fascinated by CB radio culture of the 1970s. I have tens of thousands of CB radio QSL cards, numerous catalogs and other crazy memorabilia from a sadly under documented era.  My goal is to share the images and stories from this cultural phenomenon.

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A CB radio QSL card for Bashful & Cuddles

CB radio has often been dismissed as a fad from the 1970s akin to the pet rock. Admittedly, CB really did thrive most  in the 1970s, reaching its peak in 1976-77, but it is a lot more just than a fad.

The Courier Express, December 31, 1976

This is the story of America coping with a gas crisis, sharing homemade and professional made artwork, collecting and  learning a whole new form of what we now refer to as social media.

CB was truly a medium for people. It didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, black or white, urban or rural you could use and enjoy Citizens Band Radio.

Over the life of this website, I will be posting newspaper articles, magazines, catalogs, stories and images from CB users and QSL collectors.

QSL cards have especially been a fascination of mine. The next CB related post will try to explain QSL cards, their collectors and why it is relevant to today’s culture. I will also try to explain its demise and why it has been a mostly forgotten world.

Buckle up, because it is going to be a lot to take in.

Feel free to share your CB stories/pictures with me in the comments or drop me a line at cardboardamerica@gmail.com

BONUS:

The Paris News, September 27, 1978

On September 26, 1978, Governor Dolph Briscoe of Texas declared, “10-4 Day-CB Recognition Day” to honor the the 1958 birth of citizens band radio. This would be one of the last major years of the CB radio craze.

The speech given that day sounds eerily familiar to the social media of today:

In his proclamation, Governor Briscoe noted the growth of CB Radio and its social aspects; “friendships formed, the monotony of tedious journeys broken, communication established between home and business.”

Governor Briscoe joined the nation’s other governors as well as many federal officials in observing “10-4 Day.” The Oct. 4 celebration highlights a special yearlong anniversary program sponsored by the Electronic Industries Association which includes the honoring of former First Lady, Betty Ford, as “CB’s First Mama,” and recognizes her early use of CB radio.

Betty Ford, CB radio and the 1976 campaign stories coming soon….

The All-New Cardboard America

This has been a long time coming….

Starting October 4, 2016 the new Cardboard America website will the combined home for all of the Cardboard America projects, news, merchandise and collaborations.

The new site will feature:

  • Postcards
  • Slides
  • Matchbooks
  • Motel History
  • Restaurant History
  • CB Radio History
  • CB Radio QSL Cards
  • Disaster History
  • Catalogs throughout the years
  • World’s Fairs
  • Scrapbooks
  • Stories
  • all of the other stuff that is part of the Cardboard America collection

I cannot wait to share my collection, stories and ephemera with everyone. I hope you enjoy.

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