Voice Procedure - Words in Voice Procedure

Words in Voice Procedure

Some words with specialized meanings are used in radio communication throughout the English-speaking world, and in international radio communication, where English is the lingua franca.

• Affirm — Yes
• Negative — No
• Reading you Five / Loud and clear — I understand what you say; 5×5.
• Over — I have finished talking and I am listening for your reply. Short for "Over to you." (not used in aviation)
• Come in — You may begin speaking now
• Out — I have finished talking to you and do not expect a reply. (not used in aviation)
• Wait — I do not have the answer or information to hand, I will attempt to source the answer or information requested shortly but until then I have finished talking and do not expect a reply. (not used in aviation)
• Roger — (also roger that) I understand what you said; ok; all right
• Ten four — I understand; ok; all right
• Copy — I heard what you just said; ok; all right.
• Wilco — Will comply (after receiving new directions).
• Go ahead or Send your traffic — Send your transmission.
• Say again repeat; Please repeat your last message (Repeat is only used in Canadian/US military radio terminology to request additional artillery fire)
• Break — Signals a pause during a long transmission to open the channel for other transmissions, especially for allowing any potential emergency traffic to get through. (Not used in British Army)
• Roger So Far — Confirm you have received and understood the contents of my transmission so far. This is used during Long Message Procedure (Messages lasting over 20 seconds prefixed by the Pro-Word 'Long Message' and the initiating C/S must give a gap of five seconds after the receiving station has replied with 'Roger'. This five seconds is to allow other Stations onto the net if they have important messages.
• Break-Break — Signals to all listeners on the frequency, the message to follow is priority. Almost always reserved for emergency traffic or in NATO forces, an urgent 9 line or Frag-O.
• Standby or Wait out — Pause for the next transmission. This does not usually entail staying off the air until the operator returns as they have used the word 'Out' which indicates the transmission has ended. The net is now free for other traffic to flow but users should be aware that the previous C/S may re-initiate a Call as per their 'Wait out'
• Callsign-Actual — Sometimes an individual (generally a superior) may have a person monitor the network for them. Saying "actual" after their callsign asserts you wish to speak to the specific person the callsign is attached to.
• Sécurité — Maritime safety call. Repeated three times. Has priority over routine calls.
• Pan-pan — Maritime/aviation urgency call. Repeated three times. Has priority over safety calls.
• Mayday — Maritime/aviation distress call. Repeated three times and at beginning of every following transmission relating to the current distress situation. Has priority over urgency and safety calls.

"Roger" was the U.S. military designation for the letter R (as in received) from 1927 to 1957.