San Bernardino County, California: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in San Bernardino County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in San Bernardino County
- Fire dispatch — most fire departments stay on open radio even when police go encrypted
- EMS / ambulance dispatch — emergency medical services often remain unencrypted for interoperability
- NOAA Weather Radio — direct NWS broadcasts on 162.400–162.550 MHz
- Public works & utilities — city maintenance, road crews, and utilities typically unencrypted
Recommended Scanners for San Bernardino County
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Agencies in San Bernardino County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all California agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| American Medical Response | ems | P25 AES-256 |
| Barstow Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Chino Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Fontana Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Montclair Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| San Bernardino Community College District Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| San Bernardino County Coroner | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
| San Bernardino County Sheriff | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
| San Manuel Band Of Mission Indians | other | P25 AES-256 |
| Upland Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in San Bernardino County, California?
Most police and sheriff agencies in San Bernardino County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels. Check the local fire and EMS frequencies which often remain unencrypted even when police go encrypted.
Is police radio encrypted in San Bernardino County?
Yes — 4 out of 10 agencies in San Bernardino County use full encryption. An additional 6 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for San Bernardino County?
For San Bernardino County, we recommend a scanner that covers VHF and UHF frequencies for fire, EMS, and weather — the Uniden BC125AT is the best value. For broader exploration, the RTL-SDR V4 with free SDRTrunk software can scan the full spectrum.