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Scanner Codes & Signals Decoded

Scanner Codes & Signals Decoded

$9.99 USD
$9.99 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

What's inside

  • The most common 10-codes and why they vary by agency
  • Fire and EMS codes, tones, and medical priority terms
  • Plain-language signals and how to read them
  • Q-codes and abbreviations from the ham, aviation, and marine bands
  • CTCSS/PL tones, DCS, and NAC codes explained
  • How to read a RadioReference entry, including what encrypted (DE/TE) looks like

Who this is for

New scanner owners who hear codes on the air and want to know what they mean. Pairs with any police scanner.

Frequently asked questions

Are 10-codes the same everywhere? No, they vary by agency and region, and many departments have switched to plain language. This guide explains the common ones and how to decode your local variations.

Does this include my county's specific codes? Codes are regional. The guide covers the national common set and how to research your area.

Delivery

Instant download. After checkout, the PDF is delivered by email through Shopify Digital Downloads. Read it on any phone, tablet, or computer. Personal use license: buy it once, keep it forever, use it in your household.

More from PoliceRadio.org: The Complete Police Scanner Handbook · scanners

No shipping, no returns: digital products are delivered electronically with no shipping fee, and because downloads are delivered instantly they are non-returnable and non-refundable once delivered. If your download link fails or a file is defective, contact us within 30 days and we will replace it or refund you in full.

How the zip code programming works

After you order, we program this radio by hand to the zip code you're shipping to — loading the local police, fire, EMS, weather, and public safety frequencies available in that area. It arrives channel-ready. No computer, no programming cable, and no CHIRP software.

Need it programmed for a different area? Leave the zip code in your order notes at checkout.

Will it work in my area?

Most US counties still run analog on at least some public safety channels, but a growing number have moved to encrypted or digital P25 systems that an analog scanner cannot receive.

Check your zip code before you order and see what's receivable where you live. We'd rather turn down a sale than ship you a radio that can't hear your county.

Is this legal? Do I need a license?

Owning and listening to a police scanner is legal in almost every US state, because these are unencrypted public airwaves, and no FCC license is required to listen. A small number of states restrict scanner use inside a moving vehicle or while committing another crime — check your state's rules before mobile use. This is general information, not legal advice.

Note that these radios are two-way transceivers. Transmitting without the appropriate FCC licence is illegal — we programme them for listening.

Shipping & returns

Free shipping anywhere in the United States. Each radio is programmed individually after your order comes in, then shipped.

View full details

  • Programmed To Your Zip Code

    Local police, fire, and EMS frequencies loaded before it ships.

  • Works Out Of The Box

    No computer, no cable, no CHIRP software.

  • Free US Shipping

    Every order ships free within the United States.

  • Free Coverage Check

    Check your zip code and see what's actually receivable where you live.

    Check my area 
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Not Sure This Will Hear Your Area?

Run your zip code through our free checker and see what a scanner actually picks up where you live — before you spend a dollar.

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