What does 10-2 mean?

• A. Signal good
• B. Affirmative
• C. Busy
• D. In service

Answer: (A)

Radio communications rely on quick, standardized shorthand so responders can understand each other without long exchanges. The code for 10-2 signifies that the signal is good—the transmission came through clearly and there are no reception issues on your end. It’s about how well the message is being received, not what the message says.

So, you’d use or respond with 10-2 to indicate you heard the other station loud and clear, which helps the other person know there’s no static, distortion, or dropped words to worry about. This is different from affirming the content of a message (that would be a yes or agreement) or from indicating your duty status (being on duty or available). In many agencies, other codes cover those aspects, such as confirming understanding or indicating busy status.