Does anyone out there that isn’t a first responder have access to the emergency services radio frequency? Or is it encrypted. This day in age I would just like to know what’s happening around me when it happens not when the news reports it. Thanks guys

Does anyone out there that isn’t a first responder have access to the emergency services radio frequency? Or is it encrypted. This day in age I would just like to know what’s happening around me when it happens not when the news reports it. Thanks guys

I know some phone apps will let you listen to some of these frequencies but not transmit. I know police radios are supposed to have some level of protection but I have heard them through one of these apps.

I don't know if fire fighters or EMS would need the same encryption. I have seen a guy sitting at starbucks a couple times and he appears to be listening to some sort of radio but never asked him what he was listening to.

I know some phone apps will let you listen to some of these frequencies but not transmit. I know police radios are supposed to have some level of protection but I have heard them through one of these apps.

I don't know if fire fighters or EMS would need the same encryption. I have seen a guy sitting at starbucks a couple times and he appears to be listening to some sort of radio but never asked him what he was listening to.

I’ve downloaded a couple apps, they have east and west Hawaii for the big island, the only thing they have for Hawaii is the Hawaii amateur repeater radio. Had some weird convos on there haha

Microsoft has an app called "Police Radio Scanner 5.0" (amateur repeaters)
Does Honolulu, BI and Maui

Does anyone out there that isn’t a first responder have access to the emergency services radio frequency?

Define what sort of thing you want to listen to. 

There is no one simple frequency you can monitor that covers everything. 

You would be overwhelmed if there were.  So would the users, so it does not exist. 

FEMA and Civil Defense, yes, but not active very often.