Police Scanner Programming

Have your police scanner professionally programmed by our expert police scanner technicians. We guarantee 100% satisfaction on all programming.

This service is for those that already have a scanner. If you're buying a new scanner, we offer programming on all scanner product pages.

There are 3 ways to have your police scanner programmed:

1. SD Card Programming
2. Same Day (email) Programming
3. Mail-In Programming

Click on the tabs below to learn more about programming and see the differences between the three options.

Can I program this scanner myself?

We created a programming decision tree as well as programming videos (above) to help you decided on whether you should include professional programming with your scanner but we HIGHLY recommend adding programming.

Here is a YouTube Playlist we put together that answers most of, if not all, your programming questions.

How long does this take?

SD Card - You will receive your card 2-4 business days after you order. All cards ship via USPS from Minneapolis.

Same Day Email - we'll email you your programmed files within a few hours of ordering.

Mail in - 3-9 days. 1-3 days to arrive, 1-3 days to program and 1-3 days to ship back.

What if this does not work?

We have a 100% money back guarantee if for any reason you’re not happy with the result.

How are you so much cheaper than other programming places?

We’re awesome. Also, we have 2 full time programming experts and other places ship their scanners to us for us to program. They charge more and you get this exact same thing.

Can you program X, Y, Z?

We can program anything that is Radio Reference. If you have frequencies that are not in Radio Reference, as long as you can put them in a CSV file, we can program them.

Additional Memory?

You can add a larger memory (SD card) to increase favorites lists and recording space. Only applicable to scanners that have SD cards. Recording time by SD card size:

• 2 GB Card = 6 hours
• 4 GB Card = 12 hours
• 8 GB Card = 24 hours
• 16 GB Card = 50 hours
• 32 GB Card = 100 hours
• 64 GB Card = 200 hours

Frequencies not Counties?

We use the Radio Reference database and however many frequencies from here you'd like programmed is how we charge.

Programmed SD Card

This is an option for the following scanners

• HomePatrol 2
• HomePatrol 1
• BCD536HP
• BCD436HP
• SDS100
• SDS200
• TRX-1
• TRX-2

All other scanners do not have an SD card and you must choose 'mail-in'.

Your programmed SD card will arrive 2-4 business days after you place your order. All you’ll need to do is replace the existing SD card.

Included with SD Card Programming Service:

• Frequency database update
• Creation of favorites list for Law, Fire and EMS for as many counties as you choose
• 8 GB SD card

Same Day Programming

This is an option for the following scanners

• HomePatrol 2
• HomePatrol 1
• BCD536HP
• BCD436HP
• SDS100
• TRX-1
• TRX-2

This is essentially the same as SD card programming, sans the SD card. We create a Favorites List for each of the counties you choose and export the programming as an hpe. file to be sent via email attachment.

Open the "Same Day" tab below for more information and procedures.

Mail-in Programming

This is an option for the following scanners

• BCD325P2
• BCD996P2
• SR30C
• BC125AT
• BCD160DN
• BCD260DN

These are all the scanner that do NOT have an SD card so we must physically receive your scanner, plug in, program and ship back to you.

Open the "Mail-In" tab below for more information and procedures.

Programming is the #1 concern of potential police scanner buyers. Each scanners' programming is unique & we added how-to's on each scanner product page showing how to program that particular scanner.

We recommend following the programming decision tree & watching programming videos to determine whether you should have your scanner professionally programmed.

All scanners we sell offer programming & we can program any police scanner. 90% of all scanner sales include programming either at purchase or post sale.

One Touch Start Up

Adding the one touch startup along with programming allows our technicians to make hardware, software & frequency updates. There is a lag from production till when you get your scanner and with the 'one touch start up' our technicians will make all updates.

You can buy only the programming which will give you everything needed to listen in your area. The "One Touch Start Up" is popular with those that do not have access to a computer, those that buy as a gif or those that just want their scanner to "work" without having to do anything but power on. Note that the "One Touch Start Up" may add 2 days to delivery.

What lives on the SD card?

The SD stores scanner memory, which includes both programming data and firmware.

Can I ship my scanner in?

That's not totally necessary, as we send out a new SD card to replace the one that came with the scanner.

What's the difference between Same Day Programming and SD card programming?

Same Day Programming is only an hpe. file that contains HP Series Sentinel programming that we send via email. SD Card programming is a physical memory chip that contains your programming and we send it through USPS First Class PKG.

I have the card, how do I access the programming?

Here is step-by-step guide.

Steps to access your programming:

Step #1 Download hpe. file

Step #2 Open Sentinel software

Step #3 File -> "Import from hpe. file (Favorites List)..."

Step #4 Click "New Favorites List"

Step #5 Name your Favorites List

Step #6. Press OK

Step #7 Double click on hpe. file

Steps to write programming to your scanner:

Step #1 Edit -> Edit Profile -> Turn "Monitor" ON

Step #2 Select target model

Step #3 Clear User Data on SD card (icon highlighted)

Step #4 Write to Scanner (down arrow)

Step #5 Update Firmware

Why do I need to mail my scanner in?

Your scanner does not have an SD card and must be shipped in to our warehouse to be programmed. Create a shipping label (UPS, Fedex, USPS) and carefully pack your item(s).

Where do I ship my scanner?

Zip Scanners 1601 67th Ave N. Suite A. Minneapolis, MN 55430

2 shipping labels?

Add a 2nd shipping label from us (address above) back to you, write down the tracking number and you can follow it's progress. We have you create the 2nd shipping label as the cost of this varies greatly based on scanners(s), box shape, method, and location. To make this as easy and inexpensive for everyone, we have you create the return shipping label and put it inside the box when you ship to us.

What do I ship?

Scanner, USB programming cable, AC adapter (base scanners) batteries (handheld scanners), prepaid return shipping label.