Why do they always say "clear"?

[K8cpa-chuck]

The FDNY does not use K to acknowledge a transmission, it's to have the person verify they received your transmission:



WHAT DOES THE LETTER K MEAN? K

I knew it was either the police department or the fire department or somebody and then they said K for something.

I didn't mean to sound like I was trying to spread false information or anything like that; my apologies if you took it that way. [emoji10]

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[SCPD]

It depends on where you go. Typically in interop most switch to a common clear English legible form. But as they say nothing is common.

 

[PhillyPhoto]

I knew it was either the police department or the fire department or somebody and then they said K for something.

I didn't mean to sound like I was trying to spread false information or anything like that; my apologies if you took it that way. [emoji10]

No problem. New York is one of those cities with a very distinct way of doing things, that others sometimes try to imitate, but can't always duplicate.

 

[PACNWDude]

I left this for a bit, lots of responses. I'll side with those that use the ICS/NIMS method of clear and concise communications.

As for "trying to act like the military", well in my area, the local PD is always trying to do that. Military radio protocol is very different than public safety radio protocol, and for good reason. (Very different end result needed in many cases.) Between branches of the military, there are also slight differences in radio protocol as well.

When it really comes down to someone needing to understand something, anything that works may be fine, but if you are dealing with different agencies and people from different parts of the country, go with ICS/NIMS. It also wouldn't hurt for many people involved to actually read the NIFOG too.

 

[krokus]

When I was stationed in Hawaii, I heard a few agencies reply to hails with "Receiving." Apparently, that was borrowed from the UK.

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[wa2chj]

I can't believe no one has mentioned that "K" is a CW prosign meaning end of transmission.

 

[Thunderbolt]

Some of the police departments down in southern Florida use, or used to use, "QSL" in place of 10-4. In fact, I was watching a TV show around 20 years ago, and one unit told the patrol supervisor to "QSY Tac-1." They switched to Tac-1, and were looking for a suspect who fled on foot. These are normally used in Amateur Radio CW nets, but apparently someone who set up the protocol for this department must have been a ham.

73's

Ron

 

[AZScanner]

Out here in Arizona, lots of agencies (both units in the field AND dispatchers, who should know better) seem to think "10-4" means "Affirmative" and often use it in that context. That's always been a minor peeve of mine.

-AZ

 

[FPOWLD]

For some Dept's..... "clear" means that the mobile or dispatch unit is clear on the message. Such as " car 666 states... clear on Jones street...dispatcher responds ..."clear" meaning dispatch is clear on car 666's transmisiion/messsage. Of course some depts use other terms.

 

[CapnJon]

Hey can't no worse than new york. To acknowledge transmissions they say "k".

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Xcel gas company in the U.P. say's K-4.

 

[nperuta96]

jersey city nj says ready when they are clear and available in quarters.

new Britain ct uses the 10 codes

and Hartford ct uses the codes 311 for medicals and 111 for fires

so it all depends on the city stat department and chief
.

 

[detroit780]

Clear

I think you'll find all the dispatchers on the MPSCS system use clear. It's the way they are trained and means the dispatcher or officer is clear on the information and clear of the communication (End)

You can read in some attitude at times too on how they say CLEAR!, CLEEEEEAR! or just clear.

I knew it was either the police department or the fire department or somebody and then they said K for something.

I didn't mean to sound like I was trying to spread false information or anything like that; my apologies if you took it that way. [emoji10]

Sent from my galaxy s4 using tapatalk and voice to text.