A radio tower at dusk, its lights on against a deep blue sky — Photo: Atomic Taco from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0

Radio gear that works where you live

Type your ZIP code. See what radio your local police and fire use, your weather radio code and channel, and the gear that works with both.

Browse by kind of radio

A handheld Uniden digital scanner held in one hand — Photo: MamaGeek at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Police scanners

Which scanner hears your local police and fire. 91% of US counties show P25 digital licenses.

Overview
Scanner for my area
Best scanners
Encrypted police
BC125AT check
Hears nothing?

A white Midland weather alert radio showing the word WEATHER on its screen — Photo: Lg q60.avi, CC BY 4.0

Weather radios

Your county's weather radio code and channel, and which of the 1,036 towers were off the air at our last check.

Overview
Weather radio for my area
Best weather radios
Crank radio alarms

A park ranger seen from behind, holding a handheld radio among sunlit desert rocks — Photo: Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain

Walkie-talkies

Which walkie-talkies are really license-free, how far they really reach, and the right one for kids, trips and cars.

Overview
License-free check
GMRS vs FRS
Real range
For kids
Best GMRS
Rocky Talkie vs Motorola
Mixing brands
For cruises
For skiing
For seniors

How we check

We build on public records, not forum posts. Police radio data comes from FCC license files, and weather radio towers from the National Weather Service. Product specs come from each maker's page or manual, and we link the exact words. Every quote is re-checked on the live page before it appears here. Read our method.