Before You Buy a Scanner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using RadioReference

In our other articles, we’ve talked about complex topics like encryption and P25 Phase II. We’ve mentioned that the only way to know what scanner to buy is to “check your local area.”

This is that guide. This is the single most important skill you can learn in the radio scanning hobby.

We are going to teach you how to read the “secret map” that all hobbyists (and even scanner manufacturers) use. This map is the **RadioReference.com database**.

A quick note: This database is community-driven, meaning it’s maintained by hobbyists. It is overwhelmingly accurate, but there can be small delays. It is, without question, the best and only resource for this information. In fact, when you buy a scanner like the Uniden HomePatrol-2 and use the “Enter Zip Code” feature, it is simply pulling its information from a saved copy of this exact same database.

You’re just about to learn how to read the source code for yourself. It takes less than 5 minutes.

Step 1: Navigate to Your State and County

Go to **RadioReference.com.
1. In the top menu, hover over “Databases.”
2. Click on “Frequency Database.”
3. Click on your State (or province).
4. On the next page, find and click on your County**.

You are now looking at the master list for your county. It might look overwhelming, but you only need to pay attention to two small sections.

Step 2: Know Where to Look (Trunked vs. Conventional)

You will see two main categories: “Trunked Radio Systems” and “Conventional.”

• Conventional: These are old-school, single-channel frequencies. Think of a simple walkie-talkie.
• Trunked: These are modern, computer-controlled systems where many agencies share a pool of frequencies. (We have a whole article on this!)

Pro Tip: Always look at the “Trunked Radio Systems” section first. This is where 99% of major city and county public safety (Police, Fire, EMS) operations are located.

Step 3: Check the “System Type” (The Phase II Test)

In the “Trunked Radio Systems” list, find the main system for your area. It will likely be named “City of [Your City]” or “[Your County] Public Safety.”

Look at the columns. You want to find the column labeled “System Type.”

This is where you answer the P25 Phase II question. * If the System Type says “Project 25 Phase II”: You must buy a Phase II-capable scanner. * If it says “Project 25 Phase I”: You only need a Phase I scanner (though a Phase II scanner will work perfectly). * If it says “Motorola,” “EDACS,” or “LTR”: These are older trunking types that most modern digital scanners can also handle. * If it says “Analog”: Any scanner, even an old analog one, can listen to this.

You have just solved the “Phase I vs. Phase II” puzzle.

Step 4: Decode the Talkgroups (The Encryption Test)

Now, click on the Name of that main system.

This is the final step. You will now see a long list of “Talkgroups.” A talkgroup is just a “virtual channel” for a specific group (like “Police Dispatch” or “Fire Tac 1”).

Look at the columns next to the talkgroup name. You are looking for the column labeled “Mode.”

This is the most important column in the entire database. It tells you exactly what you can and cannot hear.

• A = Analog. You can hear this.
• D = Digital. You can hear this (with a digital scanner).
• E = Encrypted. You cannot hear this. This is the “unbreakable lock” we talked about in our other guide.
• T = Trunked. Just tells you it’s a trunked channel.

Your 3-Minute Diagnosis: A Real-World Example

Let’s pretend we’re looking at a fictional county’s talkgroup list:

What does this tell us?
It tells us that Police Dispatch and Tactical are Encrypted (E). We cannot listen to them.
However, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, and even the Police Info channel are Digital (D) and in the clear.

This means a digital scanner would be a fantastic purchase for this area! You could follow all fire and medical emergencies in real-time.

Conclusion: You Are Now Your Own Expert

That’s it. In the time it takes to read this article, you have learned the single most valuable skill in radio scanning.

You no longer have to guess. You don’t have to trust a forum post or a product description. You can now look up any county in the country and know, with certainty, what you can really hear. You are now your own expert.