Introducing the PoliceRadio.org Field Guide Library: 8 Digital Guides for Listeners, Preppers & Ham Beginners
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We get asked the same questions every week. What can I actually hear in my county? Is everything encrypted now? Which radio should I buy? Do I need a license? How do I stay informed when the power and the cell towers go out?
Most of those questions have long answers, and they deserve better than a paragraph in an email. So we turned them into a library.
Today we're launching the PoliceRadio.org Field Guide Library: eight digital guides written in plain English, covering everything from your first scanner to a full family emergency communications plan.
For curious listeners
- The Complete Police Scanner Handbook — how scanning works, what you can hear, how to pick a scanner, and how to use it like a pro. The one to start with.
- Scanner Codes & Signals Decoded — 10-codes, Q-codes, PL tones, and the language of the airwaves.
- Police Radio Encryption Explained — the straight story on what encryption is, why agencies use it, and what you can still hear.
For preppers and families
- The Off-Grid Survival Communications Guide — why communications fail first in a disaster, and how to build a family radio plan on a budget.
- Emergency Frequencies Directory — NOAA, FRS, GMRS, MURS, CB, marine, aviation, and ham, all in one reference with a printable frequency sheet.
- Ham Radio Handbook for Beginners — getting licensed, buying your first radio, and making your first contact.
For the tech-curious
- SDR Starter Guide — how a $30 USB stick can hear P25 digital systems that analog scanners can't.
And one that's free
The Emergency Frequency Cheat Sheet is a one-page reference of every emergency frequency worth knowing: NOAA weather channels, FRS/GMRS, MURS, CB 9 and 19, ham calling frequencies, marine channel 16, and the aviation guard frequency. It's free. Grab it, keep it in the go-bag, and print a copy for the kitchen drawer.
Bundles that make it easy
Not sure where to start? The Listener Starter Bundle covers the basics, the Prepper Communications Bundle covers family preparedness, and the Master Library includes all seven guides in one download.
Why we built this
Scanning is changing. A growing number of agencies are moving to digital or encrypted systems, and the honest answer to "what can I hear?" is getting more complicated, not less. We'd rather give you the full picture, including the parts that aren't good news, than sell you something that can't hear your county.
Every guide is delivered as a PDF by email after checkout. No shipping, no waiting, read them on any device.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what I can hear in my county? Check your zip code free on our coverage checker before you buy anything.
Do I need a license to listen? No. Listening to unencrypted public-safety radio requires no FCC license. The ham guide covers the license you'd need if you want to transmit.
Are the guides physical books? No, they're digital PDFs delivered by email after checkout.
Can I buy the guides separately? Yes, every guide is available individually, or save more with the bundles.
Is the cheat sheet really free? Yes. No strings.
For deeper research, the same databases the hobby runs on are free to browse: RadioReference.com for frequency data, ARRL for ham licensing, and NOAA Weather Radio for weather alerts.
Start with a free zip-code check, grab the cheat sheet, and hear what's happening on your street.