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CB Radio Slang and 10 Codes

Posted by Pat Haggerty updated

If you’re new to the CB Radio world, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the CB Slang (and CB Frequencies and Channels). Just like we wouldn’t advise that you jump into a card game with a bunch of Italian mobsters without knowing a little Italian, it’s not a great idea to start communicating broadly through your CB radio without a little local language knowledge. 

The In’s and Out’s of CB Slang

With nearly 2,000 CB Slang Terms, we won’t be listing them all here, but let’s overview some of the most popular ones. If you want to really learn the lingo, there’s an entire CB Slang dictionary online.

Ace

Important CB operator

Ancient Mariner

AM or FM user

Backdoor

Vehicle behind

Beam

Directional antenna

Big Mama

9-foot whip antenna

Boat Anchor

An old tube rig or a radio that’s unrepairable

Chicken Coop

Weigh station

CW

Morse code

Double Key

Two stations talking at the same time

Foot warmer/heater/kicker/wearing socks

Linear amplifier

Fox Charlie Charlie

FCC

Fox hunt

FCC hunting for illegal operators

Gallon

1000 watts of power

Haircut palace

Bridge or overpass with low clearance

Mobile

CB radio setup in car or truck

Play dead

Standby

Prescription

FCC rules

QRM

Noise or inference on the radio

QSO

Conversation

Set of dials

CB rig

Smile and comb your hair

Radar trap ahead

Twin Huskies

Dual antennas


CB Radio 10 Codes

In addition to CB Slang, you’ll also hear CB operators use 10 codes, another special dialect of the CB community. Popularized and mostly used by truckers, here’s a list of the most popular 10 codes you’ll hear on the radio waves.

10-1

Receiving poorly (I can’t hear you)

10-2

Receiving well (I can hear you)

10-3

Stop transmitting (aka shut up)

10-4

Affirmative/Message received

10-6

Busy/Hold on

10-9

Repeat message

10-10

Transmission completed (I’m done talking)

10-13

Weather/road conditions

10-17

Urgent business

10-20

Identifying location (often adapted to “What’s your 20?”)

10-27

I’m moving to channel [insert channel]

10-33

Emergency traffic at this station

10-38

Ambulance needed at [insert location]

10-45

All units within range please report

10-62

Unable to copy; please use phone

10-99

Mission completed

10-100

Bathroom break

10-200

Police needed at [insert location]


With a solid knowledge of all the CB slang and 10 codes above, you should be able to understand what’s being said when you dip your foot into communicating with a broader CB audience or at least sound like a pro when you’re on the trail with your buddies.

For more introduction to CB radios, check out our popular articles and videos on CB Radio Fundamentals and Choosing the Best CB Equipment.

Author

Pat Haggerty

About the Author

As the owner and operator of Right Channel Radios, Pat Haggerty has been helping customers find the best radio solutions since 2008. He is highly knowledgeable in all mobile radio options and setups, including CB radios, GMRS radios, and HAM radios. His wide library of how-to and help articles is frequently referred to as one of the best resources for CB radio installations and technical support online. When he's not assisting radio enthusiasts online or on the phone, you can find Pat enjoying all that Montana's trails have to offer on his skis, mountain bike or Land Cruiser.


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