Scanning in Clallam County

Catch the action as it happens!

A scanning radio receiver (otherwise known as a ‘police scanner’ or plain ‘scanner’) is a multi-band receiver capable of scanning a pre-defined set of radio frequencies, all in one device. 

Early scanners were crystal- controlled, where you had to purchase a plug-in crystal for each frequency desired to be scanned. All later- model scanners are programmable, where the frequency can simply be punched in and instantly programmed.

Scanners are most popular for monitoring radio traffic from public agencies, such as police and fire departments, ambulances, utility and public works, and others.

In Clallam County, is is legal to possess, buy, and/or sell scanners, and are legal to be used in an automobile. Federal and state laws prohibit anyone from relaying information obtained from any private transmission to another person without consent. It is also illegal to listen to cellular telephone calls. . While it is technically possible to listen to cellular calls because analog cellular modulation is FM, all commercially available scanners have the cellular frequency band (869-894 MHz) blocked out for this reason.

For a complete, updated listing of area repeaters, scanner frequencies and more, check out the Intercept Radio website. You also may be sucessful with an Internet search for Scanner Frequencies. Note that these scanning sites come and go, but one that has been around for quite a long time is cityfreq.com, which includes local frequencies plus a large number of frequencies for areas nationwide.

The FCC has made their radio license database available on the Internet for public access. With the exception of the Federal Government, all other radio frequencies licensed by the FCC are listed here. Look up callsigns, search by geographic area, frequency, and more, directly from the source. Visit the FCC Universal Licensing System Database

A basic North Olympic Peninsula scanner frequency listing has been compiled with some of the most commonly monitored frequencies in the area. Please note that this list was last updated in 2004, so some of the frequencies may no longer be correct. Also, many agencies are moving to trunking frequencies. Click below to download the list:
North Olympic Peninsula Scanner Frequency List (basic) (PDF)

A few additional helpful items:
Another probably outdated document: Radio Shack Guide to Scanners (PDF)
A web site that has a bunch of useful information is Radio Scanner Guide
Repeaters Database

If you are unable to view the scanner frequency lists, please click on the link at the left to download the Adobe Reader. This will allow you to view PDF files.