What does the code 10-20 indicate?

• A. Location
• B. Call by telephone
• C. Acknowledgement/Message Received
• D. Signal good

Answer: (A)

Radio codes use concise phrases to speed up communication. 10-20 specifically asks for or reports location. In practice, a dispatcher or a fellow unit may say “What’s your 10-20?” to quickly learn where you are so they can coordinate actions or provide directions. This focus on location helps maintain situational awareness and safety without lengthy explanations.

Acknowledge receipt is signaled by a different code, often something like 10-4, so that the message being received isn’t mixed up with location reporting. The idea of calling by telephone isn’t tied to this code, and “signal good” refers to the radio’s transmission quality rather than where you are.