Police Scanner Encryption: Can You Still Listen? (2025 Guide)
Police Scanner Encryption: Can You Still Listen?
Heads-up: Every U.S. agency now encrypts some traffic. You can still hear plenty—fire, EMS, aviation, rail, weather, even police dispatch—but what’s audible changes by ZIP code and over time. Use this guide to check your local status and keep listening.
- Few agencies encrypt everything; most leave dispatch or fire open.
- Broadcastify/web feeds cover unencrypted channels free—no hardware but most run on a 30+ minute delay.
- A digital police scanner still captures 90+% of routine calls in partly encrypted areas.
- Follow the 5-step checklist below to confirm what’s encrypted near you.
Why Police Radio Encryption Matters
For more than 90 years, scanner listeners have helped catch suspects, spot wildfires, and even save first responders’ lives. When agencies flip the switch to encryption, that two-way accountability goes dark—unless citizens adapt.
What Is Police Radio Encryption?
Encryption scrambles a digital radio signal so only radios with the correct key can hear plain speech:
- Digital-only: P25, DMR, NXDN, etc.—analog can’t be encrypted.
- Key rotation: Similar to changing your Wi-Fi password on a schedule.
- Legal angle: Decoding without permission violates U.S. Title 18 § 2512.
Learn more: RadioReference Wiki | APCO Bulletin | FCC § 2512
Types of Police Radio Encryption
| Scheme | Typical Use | Listener Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AES-256 | Large metro PDs, federal | Unbreakable without key |
| ADP (ARC4) | Mid-size PDs | Secure; older scanners detect only carrier |
| ProVoice + ESK | Legacy EDACS | Silent to scanners |
| Talk-Group-Level | Dispatch clear, TAC encrypted | You still hear routine calls |
▶ Watch the Video
More videos:
- Chicago Encryption Debate (CBS2)
- Silent Night — NewsNation
- What Can You Do When They Encrypt? — Scanner School
- Encryption? No Problem! — Scanner School
- Ham Radio Crash Course Panel
Is My Area Encrypted? — Snapshot
The 30 largest U.S. metros. Click “Look Up” to open RadioReference, then drill down to your county:
| # | Metro | Lookup |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York – Newark | Look Up |
| 2 | Los Angeles – Long Beach – Anaheim | Look Up |
| 3 | Chicago – Naperville | Look Up |
| 4 | Dallas – Fort Worth – Arlington, TX | Look Up |
| 5 | Houston – The Woodlands – Sugar Land, TX | Look Up |
| 6 | Washington, DC – Arlington – Alexandria, VA–MD–WV | Look Up |
| 7 | Philadelphia – Camden – Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MD | Look Up |
| 8 | Miami – Fort Lauderdale – West Palm Beach, FL | Look Up |
| 9 | Atlanta – Sandy Springs – Alpharetta, GA | Look Up |
| 10 | Phoenix – Mesa – Chandler, AZ | Look Up |
| 11 | Boston – Cambridge – Newton, MA–NH | Look Up |
| 12 | San Francisco – Oakland – Berkeley, CA | Look Up |
| 13 | Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario, CA | Look Up |
| 14 | Detroit – Warren – Dearborn, MI | Look Up |
| 15 | Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue, WA | Look Up |
| 16 | Minneapolis – St Paul – Bloomington, MN–WI | Look Up |
| 17 | San Diego – Chula Vista – Carlsbad, CA | Look Up |
| 18 | Tampa – St Petersburg – Clearwater, FL | Look Up |
| 19 | Denver – Aurora – Lakewood, CO | Look Up |
| 20 | Baltimore – Columbia – Towson, MD | Look Up |
| 21 | St Louis, MO–IL | Look Up |
| 22 | Charlotte – Concord – Gastonia, NC–SC | Look Up |
| 23 | Orlando – Kissimmee – Sanford, FL | Look Up |
| 24 | San Antonio – New Braunfels, TX | Look Up |
| 25 | Portland – Vancouver – Hillsboro, OR–WA | Look Up |
| 26 | Sacramento – Roseville – Folsom, CA | Look Up |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | Look Up |
| 28 | Las Vegas – Henderson – Paradise, NV | Look Up |
| 29 | Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | Look Up |
| 30 | Kansas City, MO–KS | Look Up |
Real-World Case Studies
Denver, CO — Transparency Clash
Denver fully encrypted in 2019. Media FOIA requests for delayed audio remain unresolved (CPR News).
Dallas, TX — Compromise Model
Dispatch is clear; SWAT & narcotics groups are encrypted—listeners still catch roughly 75 % of routine traffic (RadioReference Thread).
Orange County, CA — Flip-Flop
OC Fire encrypted in 2019, reversed days later after public backlash—now partial encryption (OC Register).
Can Civilian Scanners Decrypt?
No. Nothing in the consumer market defeats AES-256 legally. Attempting to decode without authorization violates U.S. law (Title 18 § 2512).
Work-Arounds & What Still Works
- Broadcastify & apps: Stream unencrypted channels—zero hardware.
- Agency delay feeds: Some departments publish 15–30 min-delayed audio.
- Fire/EMS remain clear: Even fully encrypted counties often leave fire ops open.
- Modern scanners: Uniden SDS100 excels on mixed systems.
- Cross-county monitoring: Adjacent counties may be clear—add them.
Live in a partially encrypted area? Our pre-programmed Uniden SDS100 kit keeps you hearing 90 % of calls.
How to Check Your Local Department
Want to research on your own? You can use the same database the pros use: RadioReference.
RadioReference has the most accurate frequency database—you can look at your area here.
RadioReference is a user-generated database (like Wikipedia), so any updates will take time to appear.
Below is an example of basic law enforcement encryption illustrated on RadioReference.
Note: DE, TE, or De under Mode on RadioReference signifies encryption
The prime example of an encryption decision not sticking is the Orange County Fire Department, who decided to reverse encryption in October 2019.
As of January 2021, fire communication has still not been decrypted. Decrypting channels isn’t a flip of the switch, techs have to decode these channels one by one.
Below is the system Orange County Fire operates on and what it looks like on Radio Reference.
Here are the channels that are supposed to get decrypted
For an example of encryption that likely isn't going away, there are two states with full encryption on statewide police:
Florida
Pennsylvania
Where Can I Read More About Encryption?
- Police Radio Encryption: A Transparency Failure — Arlington Cardinal
- More Police Departments Look to Tune Public Out — USA Today
Future & Bills
Transparency bills are on the rise (e.g., Illinois HB-3911). Watch for delayed-feed mandates by 2026.
FAQs (30)
Can my scanner decrypt AES-256 with custom firmware?
No. You need the agency’s key; firmware can’t brute-force AES-256.
Is owning a police scanner legal in every state?
Yes, but Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida restrict in-car use without a ham license.
Do smartphone apps like Broadcastify get around encryption?
No. Apps can only relay unencrypted audio that someone else is legally streaming. Usually on a 30 minute delay.
Why do some fire departments stay unencrypted?
Fire/EMS traffic is less sensitive and relies on open mutual-aid interoperability.
What does the “E” flag mean on RadioReference?
Entire talk-group is encrypted—scanners will hear digital noise only.
What about “TE” or “PE” in the mode column?
“TE” = TDMA Encrypted (P25 Phase II); “PE” = ProVoice Encrypted (EDACS).
Can encryption be disabled for large public events?
Yes. Agencies sometimes switch to clear mode during marathons, parades, or multi-agency drills.
Do police officers use the same scanners hobbyists buy?
No. They use issued radios provisioned with encryption keys, not consumer scanners.
What is an agency “delay feed”?
An official audio stream released 15–30 minutes after real-time to balance transparency and officer safety. This is why most folks buy a police scanner - where there is not delay.
Will an RTL-SDR dongle capture encrypted audio?
It will receive the data stream but you’ll hear undecodable garble without the key.
Does encryption reduce how much radio traffic I hear?
Yes. Officers often move routine updates to MDT/text once talk-groups go closed.
Is encryption used outside of law enforcement?
Yes—federal agencies, hospitals, utilities, private security, and military bases also encrypt but use of this varies greatly.
Can ham operators encrypt their transmissions?
No. FCC Part 97 forbids obscuring the meaning of amateur-radio traffic.
How can citizens push back against full encryption?
Partner with local media, file FOIA requests, and lobby for delayed public feeds.
Why did Orange County remove encryption on fire channels?
Public backlash and interoperability issues led officials to roll back.
Do any federal talk-groups remain in the clear?
Occasionally—training or helicopter ops may use clear analog VHF/UHF.
Can encryption keys leak online?
Rarely. When leaks happen, agencies rekey rapidly to invalidate them.
Is scanning still worth it in 2025?
Absolutely—rail, air, marine, weather, and most fire traffic remain open nationwide as well as most police.
What’s the key difference between P25 Phase I vs Phase II?
Phase II is TDMA (two calls per frequency) and includes stronger encryption features.
Do I need a license to own a digital scanner?
No license to receive; transmitting services (ham, GMRS) require FCC authorization.
Can I legally record encrypted traffic for later decryption?
Recording is allowed, but decrypting without permission is a federal offense.
How often do agencies change encryption keys?
Anywhere from daily to annually; NIST recommends at least every 90 days.
Do some media outlets receive decryption keys?
A few cities issue limited-access radios to credentialed press under strict MOUs.
What is OTAR?
Over-the-Air Rekeying—dispatch can update all radios’ keys remotely.
Can my old analog scanner still hear anything?
Yes—NOAA weather, aviation VHF, marine, rail, business, and some rural PD/FD.
Why does encrypted audio sound like a buzz saw?
That’s digital ciphertext; without keys a scanner can’t translate it to voice.
Will all U.S. police go fully encrypted?
Experts expect some large metros by 2027 will have some encryption, but many rural agencies will remain clear.
Could 5G replace traditional police radios?
Mission-critical voice still favors dedicated LMR; 5G push-to-talk is experimental.
Do agencies pay ongoing fees for encryption?
Yes—software licenses, key-management servers, and support can top six figures yearly.
Can volunteering with an agency grant listening access?
Some reserve programs issue radios, but encryption keys remain tightly controlled.
Ready to Monitor?
- Quiz: “Will a scanner work in my county?”
- Talk to an expert: 737.777.9876
- Free shipping, expert programming, lifetime tech support.
Conclusion
Encryption changes the rules, but it doesn’t end the hobby. With the right gear—or a call to Zip Scanners—you’ll stay informed and keep traditions alive.
Last updated:
Written by Luke H from Zip Scanners Police-Scanner Experts.
