Allegheny County, PA police scanner: police dispatch is still open. Here's what you can still hear.
Last checked: 27 Oct 2026
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police: CBS Pittsburgh reported in March 2026 that someone transmitted threats against the mayor on the county's analog radio system, and the messages were heard on police scanners. A February 2024 Point Park Globe opinion piece says the bureau only encrypts special operations, on a separate channel from the main feed. (Scope: main dispatch audible on scanners; special operations encrypted (per Feb 2024 opinion piece).)
We haven't found an official or news source on fire radio encryption here yet. The FCC licenses below show whether the county's channels are analog or digital, not whether they are encrypted.
We haven't found an official or news source on EMS radio encryption here yet. The FCC licenses below show whether the county's channels are analog or digital, not whether they are encrypted.
What you can still hear
- Pittsburgh Bureau of Police: main dispatch audible on scanners; special operations encrypted (per Feb 2024 opinion piece).
- Old analog scanner, county-wide: Mixed: some analog, some digital (FCC licenses).
Agency by agency
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Reported openWhat: main dispatch audible on scanners; special operations encrypted (per Feb 2024 opinion piece)
Analog or digital?
Works on an old analog scanner? Mixed: some analog, some digital. The main licensees split between analog and digital channels.
- Digital only: 57%
- Analog only: 40%
- Licensed for both: 3%
578 voice channels of the main licensees; 85 licensees with voice channels in the county. Licenses show analog or digital, never encryption. FCC ULS license file of 18 Oct 2026
Recommended scanner
Analog + digital Works on an old analog scanner? Mixed: some analog, some digital. The main licensees split between analog and digital channels. From FCC licenses, which don't show encryption.
Top pick
Uniden SDS100 (handheld)
The county's main licensed channels are a mix of analog and digital. A digital P25 Phase II scanner hears analog and P25, wherever traffic isn't encrypted. It also handles simulcast sites, which licenses don't show.
- $689.99 Amazon
- $699.99 ScannerMaster
Prices as of 19 Oct 2026
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change your price.
Cheaper P25 option
Whistler WS1065 (desk)
Hears P25 Phase I and II, but can struggle near simulcast sites. A good choice if you've confirmed the local system isn't simulcast.
- $351.49 Amazon
Price as of 19 Oct 2026
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change your price.
Analog only
Uniden BC125AT (handheld)
Hears only the analog channels, which here are part of the picture.
- $137.65 Amazon
Price as of 19 Oct 2026
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change your price.
What NOT to buy
- Anything sold as an “encryption decoder.” It won't play encrypted traffic.
Questions
Can I still listen to Allegheny County, PA police on a scanner?
Reported clear: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (main dispatch audible on scanners; special operations encrypted (per Feb 2024 opinion piece)). Police agencies not named here haven't been checked yet.
Do I need a digital scanner in Allegheny County, PA?
Mixed: some analog, some digital. The main licensees split between analog and digital channels. Licenses show whether a channel is analog or digital, not whether it's encrypted.
Which scanner should I buy for Allegheny County, PA?
Uniden SDS100 ($689.99 at Amazon, price as of 19 Oct 2026). The county's main licensed channels are a mix of analog and digital. A digital P25 Phase II scanner hears analog and P25, wherever traffic isn't encrypted. It also handles simulcast sites, which licenses don't show.
Are fire and EMS radios encrypted in Allegheny County, PA?
Fire: Not checked yet. EMS: Not checked yet. "Not checked yet" means we haven't found an official or news source so far.
Where does this information come from?
The analog or digital answer comes from the FCC's public license file of 18 Oct 2026: the voice channels licensed to public safety agencies with transmitter sites in the county. Encryption comes from official statements and news reports, each listed under Sources with its date.
Cities in this county
Pittsburgh · Whitehall · McKeesport · West Mifflin · Plum · Baldwin · Munhall · Clairton · Coraopolis · Jefferson Hills · Pleasant Hills · White Oak · West View · Forest Hills · Green Tree · Tarentum · Etna · West Homestead · Edgeworth