Breaker Breaker, Wyoming: Are CB Radios Are Making a Comeback?

What would you say if I told you there was still a communication device that was free to use, there was no monthly fee, and you could use it as much as you wanted? I bet your ears would perk up, and you'd be intrigued.

There is still a form of communication that is free to use. The only expense is the original purchase price. If you're a truck driver, you know what I'm talking about.

The CB Radio.

When I was a teen, all of my friends had a CB in their vehicles. We didn't have cell phones back then, and it was our way of communicating and finding out where the fun stuff was happening. I always enjoyed engaging in conversations with truck drivers during our long trips since we didn't have anything else to do.

Most people you come into contact with now have cell phones, and the CB, in most cases, has gone away. However, some CB enthusiasts are still around and CB Radios are still used by many.

Have you ever heard the codes used by police officers or truck drivers and wondered what they meant?

Here's a list of the '10-codes' used by anyone using a radio system.

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/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 to _____
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Completed last assignment
10-25 Can you Contact ______
10-26 Disregard Last Information/Cancel Last Message/Ignore
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 needed
10-35 Confidential Information
10-36 Correct Time is _____
10-38 Ambulance needed at _____
10-39 Your message delivered
10-41 Please tune in to channel ___
10-42 Traffic Accident at _____
10-43 Traffic tie-up at _____
10-44 I have a message for you (or ____)
10-45 All units within range, please report
10-50 Break Channel
10-62 Unable to copy, use the phone
10-62sl unable to copy on AM, use Sideband Lower (not an official code)
10-62su unable to copy on AM, use Sideband Upper (not an official code)
10-65 Awaiting your next message/assignment
10-67 All units comply
10-70 Fire at _____
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 sec.
10-99 Mission completed, all units secure
10-100 Need to go to Bathroom
10-200 Police needed at _____

Let's make a push for the CB radio to become popular again, and if that happens, you need to know the lingo. I'll provide you with a few basic terms and codes to get you started. Then, you take a deep dive into the list of CB lingo. You've heard of going down a rabbit hole? That's exactly what I did, and now I'm dead set on buying a CB radio system.