Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about monitoring Chautauqua County public safety radio
ScanCHQ is a web-based dashboard designed for real-time monitoring of public safety radio transmissions across Chautauqua County. Unlike traditional hardware scanners, we use a modern interface (Rdio Scanner) to stream police, fire, and EMS communications directly to your browser or mobile device, complete with alpha tags that identify exactly who is speaking.
Yes. In the United States, listening to unencrypted public safety radio transmissions is legal. ScanCHQ is intended for transparent, community-focused monitoring. However, using the information gathered from this service to aid in the commission of a crime or to interfere with emergency operations is strictly prohibited and constitutes a felony under New York State Law.
The dashboard currently monitors major countywide agencies, including:
- POLICE County Sheriff and Local Police (unencrypted channels)
- FIRE Fire & EMS Dispatch
- PUBLIC WORKS Department of Public Works (when active)
- INTEROP Mutual Aid frequencies
Radio transmissions are subject to environmental interference. Factors like atmospheric conditions, the distance of the transmitting unit from our receiver, and local terrain can all impact signal clarity. While we use high-quality SDR hardware, we cannot guarantee crystal-clear audio 100% of the time — this is the inherent nature of live RF radio.
Absolutely. ScanCHQ is built on modern web standards (HTML5 and WebSockets), meaning it is fully responsive. It works just like an app in your mobile browser without requiring a separate download from the App Store or Google Play.
While there isn't a native app in the App Store or Google Play, this website is designed to work exactly like an app when you save it to the home screen on your device.
Save SCANCHQ to Your Home Screen
- iPhone or iPad:
- Safari and go to scanchq.com
- Tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen
- Scroll down in the menu that appears and tap Add to Home Screen
- Tap Add in the top right corner
- The SCANCHQ icon will now appear on your home screen like any other app
- Android Phone or Tablet:
- Open Chrome and go to scanchq.com
- Tap the three dots
in the top right corner of the screen
- Tap Add to Home Screen
- Tap Add to confirm
- The SCANCHQ icon will now appear on your home screen like any other app.
Yes. One of the best features of our interface is the Call Log. If you miss a transmission, you can look back at the history to replay recent calls — up to 30 days of archive. This is particularly useful for tracking the progression of an emergency incident after the initial dispatch.
Maintaining a reliable, 24/7 radio feed requires dedicated hardware, high-speed fiber bandwidth, and server hosting. The subscription model ensures we can provide a high-quality, consistent experience over the long term.
On July 1, 2026, the introductory free access period ends and standard pricing goes into effect. The pricing timeline is as follows:
If you have already registered and locked in Pre-launch Status, your rate stays at $3/mo. New members joining after the launch window will be subject to the then-current market rate.
We're Here to Help
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to us directly or head back to the live dashboard.
