New to listening to the scanner? This guide explains how the NHscan.com live feed works, what you’ll hear on it, and how to make sense of the radio traffic in Coös and Grafton Counties.
How to listen
Press ▶ Listen Live in the bar at the top of any page. The audio starts after a few seconds of buffering. The Now Hearing line shows which channel and frequency the scanner is stopped on, or “Scanning” when it is searching for activity.
Want to keep listening while you browse? Click ⧉ Pop-out. A small player window opens that keeps playing no matter which page you visit. On a phone, you can lock your screen and most browsers will keep the audio going.
Why does it go quiet?
A scanner only plays audio when someone is actually transmitting. In the North Country there can be long quiet stretches, especially overnight, followed by bursts of activity when a call comes in. Silence doesn’t mean the feed is down — the Live data indicator and the “Scanning” status tell you the stream is still connected.
What you’ll hear
- Police dispatch — local departments and county sheriffs being sent to calls, running plates and checking in on traffic stops.
- Fire & EMS — tones for fire departments and ambulances, mutual-aid requests between towns, and units updating dispatch on scene.
- NH State Police — Troop F covers the North Country, including the interstates and major routes through the White Mountains.
- Medical helicopter & interfacility traffic — occasional coordination for patient transfers and landing zones.
Our frequency list shows which channels are monitored, and the 10-codes reference explains the shorthand you’ll hear, like “10-4” or “10-50”.
Understanding the radio traffic
Dispatchers speak in short, coded phrases to keep channels clear. A typical call might go: tones, then the dispatcher names the department, the type of call and the address, then units respond with their unit number and “en route”. Unit numbers usually identify the department and the type of apparatus — for example engines, tankers, rescue units or ambulances.
Much of what you hear is routine. A call for “smoke in the area” is often a permitted burn, and many medical calls are minor. Avoid jumping to conclusions from a single transmission.
Coverage area
The feed is aimed at Coös County and Grafton County — communities like Berlin, Gorham, Lancaster, Whitefield, Littleton, Colebrook, Groveton, Bethlehem, Franconia, Lincoln, Woodsville, Haverhill and Plymouth. Mountain terrain affects reception, so some distant units may sound weak or broken even when dispatch comes in clearly.
Is listening legal?
The NHscan.com feed rebroadcasts public, unencrypted transmissions that anyone can receive with a scanner radio. Listening for general interest is common across New Hampshire. Some agencies use encrypted channels for sensitive operations, and those are not — and cannot be — part of this feed.
Please be responsible
- Don’t go to the scene. Responders need clear roads and room to work.
- Don’t post rumors. Scanner traffic is unconfirmed, early information. Never share names, addresses or details of medical calls on social media.
- In an emergency, call 911 — never rely on the scanner for help.
Other ways to stay informed
Check our Alerts page for active weather warnings, the News page for local headlines and fire & emergency posts, our webcams for current conditions in Whitefield and Littleton, and the flight tracker to see aircraft overhead. You can also listen through our Broadcastify feed and follow NHscan.com on Facebook.