Although not used by many people to any great extent nowadays, you will come into contact with a ceratin amount of slang and codes, simply because it saves time compared with saying a whole sentence, and can be easily and quickly said when one is concentrating on driving not chatting.

Here are some of the ones you might hear...

The “Ten” code - originally used by American Police. These are the most common 10- codes you will hear, usually said without the 10, i.e. “what’s your twenty”, “give me a nine”, “anyone give me a thirteen” etc.

10-1 Poor Reception
10-4 OK, Message Received
10-6 Busy, Occupied
10-9 Repeat what was just said
10-10 Message Complete (Also used to say goodbye)
10-13 Traffic Report
10-20 Location
10-36 The Correct Time

You may also come across the “Q” code, mainly used by Radio Amateurs but a few have been adopted by CB users.

QRM Manmade interference
QRN Natural interference / static
QRT Stop transmitting / closing down
QRZ Who is calling / invitation to transmit
QSK Can I break into this channel ?
QSL Card sent by post to confirm contact
QSO Conversation
QSY Change channel
QTH Location

Radio & Signal reports are given using scales :
Radio 1-5 for audio quality ; Signal 1-9 and +20, +30 for signals over 9.
R1 = almost in-audible, R5 = excellent audio

There are slang names for many things you might encounter on the road or on the CB, here are a few surviving ones... Advertising : Police flashing lights & sirens

Big Wheeler : HGV or other large vehicle

Bleed-over : Interference from a nearby CB’er on another channel

Breaker : Fellow CB’er

Bucketmouth : Person swearing

Earwigging : Listening

Eyeball : Meeting another CB user

Evil Knievel : Police motorcycle

Fender-bender : Road accident

Good Buddy : CB friend

Handle : CB name

Keying Up : Transmitting

Lady Breaker : Female CB User

Landline : Telephone

Mids : EU Band

Modulating : Talking on the CB

Muppet Channels : UK Band

Negative/Negatory : No

On the side : Break in on a conversation

Positive : Yes

Personal : First Name

Pounds : Graduations on the signal meter

Rig Check : Check rig is working ok

Rollerskate : Car

Smokey / Bear : Police

Square-wheeled : Stationary Vehicle

Twenty : Location (from 10 code)

Twig : CB Aerial

Wally : Person acting stupidly