Franklin County, Ohio: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Franklin County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Franklin 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 Franklin County
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Agencies in Franklin County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Ohio agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Brice Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Columbus Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Ghanna Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Westerville Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Franklin County, Ohio?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Franklin 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 Franklin County?
Police radio in Franklin County is not fully encrypted. Most agencies use open or mixed radio systems that can be monitored with a digital scanner.
What scanner do I need for Franklin County?
For Franklin 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.