I created this page to help my friends with scanners & ham radios identify the growing number of new & unusual sounds they might hear when monitoring outside the amateur bands.

I'm always looking for new additions to this page - if you have high-quality audio recordings that you want added to the database here, contact me. Do not e-mail me with questions like 'what is this sound'? - if it does not remotely sound similar to anything I have posted here, I won't know either!

All sounds are in MP3 format. Click on the title of each to play them. These sounds are public domain, and may be used by anyone. If you plan to use these for commercial purposes, please have the courtesy to give me credit as the source.

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Apr 02, 2021 from the GUI (if applicable), or review the Legal Notices and End User License Agreement File/README, on the Motorola Solutions Install Media, or resident in the Motorola Solutions Product. MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M logo are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Thanks to an anonymous user, we now have an audio clip of what the format sounds like to the end-user (via a Harris M7200 mobile radio)! LTR Passport Data Stream - This is an unknown data stream copied off the NJ Turnpike Authority 220 MHz Passport system.
Windows Offline (64-bit) filesize: 80.7 MB: Instructions: If you use 32-bit and 64-bit browsers interchangeably, you will need to install both 32-bit and 64-bit Java in order to have the Java plug-in for both browsers. » FAQ about 64-bit Java for Windows.

Windows XP SP3 32-bit Windows Vista 32-bit Windows 7. Use all default options and click “Accept”, “Install”, “Next” as prompted. Accept all End User License Agreements to proceed. Press Finish when complete as prompted by the following screen. Motorola Solutions APS User Guide Author: Motorola Solutions.

Section 1 - Unit Identifiers

Motorola MDC-1200 - This is the most common form of unit ID found in public safety. This is either broadcast at the start or the end of a unit's transmission (or both, if you so choose to have it programmed that way). The user's radio can also be programmed to emit a tone on key-up (to remind the user to wait before speaking, as the unit's mic is not activated until the ID is sent). (Thanks Great-Dane & Vinnie!)

MDC-1200 Preamble - This added feature of the MDC signaling system is designed to allow a properly programmed radio to mute the ID signal part of the transmission. The raw burst of data tells the radio to mute the speaker audio for a pre-determined length of time (usually 400 or 500 ms). If the radio is programmed correctly, the end-user (or dispatcher) would not hear this sound at all, only the person's voice.

MDC-1200 Echo - This sound is most commonly heard in a police cruiser or ambulance cab. What you are hearing is the very end of the 'wait tone' echoing off the inside of the vehicle and being picked up by the mic. Also, there are several Motorola radios that emit an 'ok' beep, just like a key press, when the PTT is used. Certain models of the Maxtrac's and 'Pro' series radios were famous for this.

MDC DOS - Data Operated Squelch is a feature on Motorola radios & repeaters that acts to block most of the sound of the MDC burst (when used at the end of a transmission), or all of the burst (when used at the start of a transmission). Functionality is heavily based on the settings of the radio matching across all radios in a particular fleet. NYPD is a known user of MDC DOS on their repeaters. (Thanks Victor!)

Motorola MDC-600 - This is an alternate form of the same protocol used in MDC-1200, but at only 600 baud. The FDNY was a noted user of this ID format before they switched from VHF to UHF. This is what it sounds like when blocked by DOS. (Thanks Foxo & Matt!)

Motorola ATIS - ATIS stands for Automatic Transmitter Identification System. It is predominantly used by marine vessels on inland waterways throughout Europe. This was a signaling format available in the U.S. on the HT1000 & VISAR, along with MDC & STAR. It is based on the DSC protocol. (Thanks Greg!)

MODAT - This is an older form of unit ID by Motorola. This is actually a slower-speed data transmission rate than MDC-1200, and what makes it truly unique is that the actual sound of the ID varies when you change the ID code. Baltimore FD and LAPD used to use this form of ID before they both went to digital.

GE STAR - This form of unit ID was General Electric's answer to MDC-1200 when they where still involved in the 2-way business (before selling that division to Ericsson).

GE G-Star 400 - I recorded this while monitoring Voorhees PD in Camden County, NJ. Only about half of the patrol units on a shift had this at the end of their transmissions.

DTMF - This is a simple stream of usually 4 or more DTMF tones used to ID the radio that is transmitting. (Thanks Greg!)

Kenwood FleetSync - FleetSync is a digital messaging & identification protocol developed by Kenwood that is used in their line of radios. It it quite similar to Motorola's MDC, but has many more capabilities. This second sample is an example of what it would sound like if the feature would be used to send a unit-to-unit message, GPS location burst, etc... (Thanks to Rich, N2DLX)

Here is an updated sample of FleetSync in the more common 1200-buad mode. (Thanks Augy!)
Here is a sample in the lesser-used 2400-baud mode. (Thanks Augy!)

Tait MP7 - MP7 is the digital identification protocol used on MPT1327 trunking systems. (Thanks Adam!)

Hytera HDC1200 - This is Hytera's version of Motorola's MDC1200. The HDC1200 system in Hytera radios is fully capable of decoding & displaying the data from Motorola radios, even though the two systems sound different over the air.

Section 2 - Voice Scrambling & Encryption

Motorola DVP-XL - This recording is from the Gloucester Twp. PD in Camden County, NJ. The dispatcher usually transmits a short warning tone & then calls the units she needs to speak to in 'secure' mode. As you can hear, the units in the field respond back to dispatch 'in the clear'. Gloucester Twp. uses this only as needed, and I've never heard any department use this full-time.

Motorola DES-XL - This is another format of analog encryption designed by Motorola that was designed to have greater range that standard DES before the signal becomes unintelligible. As with all analog encryption formats, the recovered audio is less than desirable. (Thanks Nick!)

Motorola SECURENET - This is another Motorola analog encryption format that goes back as far as the MTS/MCS line of radios. It uses CSVD encoding & the recovered audio is 'tape recorder' quality at best. Most all users of SECURENET were using with DES-XL. (Thanks Brandon!)

Encryption on FDMA - This is what encryption sounds like on a radio capable of receiving FDMA P25 audio. This was recorded from a Motorola Type-II trunking system, but the sound will be similar on a Phase-I P25 system.

Encryption on TDMA - This is what encryption sounds like on a radio capable of receiving TDMA P25 audio. This was recorded from the new Berks County, PA 700MHz Phase-II trunking system. The audio appears to have more of a 'sweeping' sound, and is less 'guttural' than when used on FDMA.

AES Encryption on ProVoice - This recording is of AES encryption being used on the Middlesex County, NJ EDACS system (Thanks Greg!)

Encryption on Aegis - This is a sample of encryption being used on Aegis digital voice. Here is what it sounds like decoded by a proper receiving radio. (Thanks Greg!)

Aegis VGE Encryption - This is a proprietary 64-bit encryption used on older GE radios (Thanks Ray!)

Unknown Analog Encryption - This recording is from a conventional UHF channel that is shared between Woodbridge & Perth Amboy PD's. If anyone can help identify what this is, it would be greatly appreciated! (Thanks Greg!)

Kenwood NEXEDGE Digital Encryption(Thanks Nick!)

MotoTRBO Basic Privacy Digital Encryption(Thanks

Motorola End User 32 Bits