Santa Clara County, California: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Santa Clara County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County
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Agencies in Santa Clara County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all California agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Foothill-De Anza Community College District | university | P25 AES-256 |
| Gilroy Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Los Altos Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Los Gatos Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Milpitas Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Morgan Hill Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Mountain View Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Mountain View Fire | fire | P25 AES-256 |
| NASA Ames Research Center | other | P25 AES-256 |
| Palo Alto Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| San Jose Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| San Jose Incident Command System | other | P25 AES-256 |
| San Jose State University Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Santa Clara Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Santa Clara County, California?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County?
Yes — 11 out of 22 agencies in Santa Clara County use full encryption. An additional 10 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Santa Clara County?
For Santa Clara 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.