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Wide-angle documentary photograph of the Illinois State Capitol building exterior at golden hour with muted editorial color grade

Illinois Bills Force Media Access When Police E...

Illinois SB0265 and HB3719 would require police to give media real-time scanner access when encrypting dispatch. Learn how stalled bills could impact scanner listeners.

Illinois Bills Force Media Access When Police E...

Illinois SB0265 and HB3719 would require police to give media real-time scanner access when encrypting dispatch. Learn how stalled bills could impact scanner listeners.

Night scene of a gas station parking lot in Humble Texas with distant cruiser lights

Scanner Listeners Help Rescue 3 Kidnapped Kids ...

Open Harris County police radios helped civilians spot a stolen SUV with three children inside. A real-world case for keeping scanner traffic unencrypted.

Scanner Listeners Help Rescue 3 Kidnapped Kids ...

Open Harris County police radios helped civilians spot a stolen SUV with three children inside. A real-world case for keeping scanner traffic unencrypted.

Radio tower on a misty ridge in Skagit County Washington at golden hour

Skagit County Police Radio: Partial Encryption,...

Washington's Skagit County rolls a rare partial encryption model: dispatch stays publicly audible while tactical channels go dark. Here's what scanner listeners can still hear.

Skagit County Police Radio: Partial Encryption,...

Washington's Skagit County rolls a rare partial encryption model: dispatch stays publicly audible while tactical channels go dark. Here's what scanner listeners can still hear.

Documentary establishing shot of the Polk County Sheriff's Office exterior in Bartow, Florida at dusk, with American flags and Florida palm trees visible in foreground

Polk County Sheriff Releases K-9 Shooting Dispa...

The Polk County Sheriff's Office publicly released raw dispatch radio traffic from the Aug 6 shootout that wounded K-9 Ace. Hear the scanner audio and read the full story.

Polk County Sheriff Releases K-9 Shooting Dispa...

The Polk County Sheriff's Office publicly released raw dispatch radio traffic from the Aug 6 shootout that wounded K-9 Ace. Hear the scanner audio and read the full story.

Documentary photograph of a rural Missouri radio communications tower on a grassy hilltop at golden hour, wide shot showing antenna arrays and open Midwestern farmland

Boone County 911 Plans P25 Encryption: Columbia...

Boone County Joint Communications plans an 800 MHz P25 upgrade that will encrypt all police channels. Columbia MO scanner listeners face a looming blackout.

Boone County 911 Plans P25 Encryption: Columbia...

Boone County Joint Communications plans an 800 MHz P25 upgrade that will encrypt all police channels. Columbia MO scanner listeners face a looming blackout.

A wildfire burns along a ridge at dusk, smoke rising, seen from a rural highway.

How a Police Scanner Got a Reporter to the Old ...

A Spokane reporter heard the Old Trails fire on her police scanner before any public alert — and was first on scene. See how scanner listeners stay ahead of breaking...

How a Police Scanner Got a Reporter to the Old ...

A Spokane reporter heard the Old Trails fire on her police scanner before any public alert — and was first on scene. See how scanner listeners stay ahead of breaking...

Shop Pre-Programmed Police Scanners

Short answer: every scanner here ships programmed to your zip code. We load the local police, fire, EMS and weather frequencies by hand before it leaves us, so there is no cable, no software and nothing to set up, and listening needs no FCC license.

Short answer: pick the radio and we do the rest. We load your police, fire, EMS and weather frequencies from your zip code by hand before it ships, so there is no cable, no software and nothing to set up, and listening needs no FCC license.

Every scanner here ships programmed to your zip code. Tell us the area you want to hear, and we load the local police, fire, EMS, and weather frequencies by hand before it leaves us. No cable, no software, no setup — turn it on and press scan.

Programmed by hand

Your zip code specifically — not a generic regional preset.

Free US shipping

Included on every order, anywhere in the United States.

No license needed

Listening requires no FCC license and no radio experience.

We check first

Send your zip and we'll tell you what's actually receivable there.

Which one is right for you?

Buying your first scanner? The UV-5R. Proven, affordable, and does everything most people need.
Want it pocket-sized? The UV-5R Mini. Same core capability, USB-C charging.
Want the widest coverage? The K5 Plus. Adds airband and 1.25M reception, bigger battery.

Before you order, let us check your area

Most US counties still run analog on at least some public safety channels. A growing number have moved to encrypted or digital P25 systems that no analog scanner can receive — at any price.

Send us your zip code and we'll tell you honestly what's receivable where you live. We'd rather turn down a sale than ship you a radio that can't hear your county.

New to this? Read What Can You Hear on a Police Scanner? or the Ultimate Scanner Guide.

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