What does the radio code 10-1 indicate?

• A. Signal strong
• B. All clear
• C. Message received
• D. Signal weak

Answer: (D)

Radio communications pay attention to how well the message comes through, not just what the message says. A 10-1 indicates the signal quality is poor and you’re not able to copy the transmission clearly. It means the audio is weak or garbled, so the content can’t be reliably heard even though the sender is transmitting.

When you hear this, the practical response is to acknowledge the reception issue and take steps to improve it: move to a better location, check the radio or mic, reduce interference, or request a repeat so the message can be understood. This is different from a good signal (clear reception) or an acknowledgment of a message being received, which would indicate everything came through clearly.