Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Lancaster County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County
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Agencies in Lancaster County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Pennsylvania agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Borough Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Caernarvon Fire | fire | P25 AES-256 |
| Caernarvon Township Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Christina Borough Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Columbia Borough Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| East Colcallco Township Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| East Earl Township Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| East Hempfield Township Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| East Lampeter Township Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Epharta EMS | ems | P25 AES-256 |
| Epharta Borough Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Epharta Township Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Elizabethtown Borough Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Fivepointville Fire | fire | P25 AES-256 |
| Lancaster City Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County?
Yes — 26 out of 36 agencies in Lancaster County use full encryption. An additional 10 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Lancaster County?
For Lancaster 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.