The latest version of the Joe’s Scanner app is live, and this release brings a major improvement: the app is now distributed as a self-installing Windows application. Installation and future updates are significantly easier, and you will no longer need to manually manage files.
Now Available to All Joe’s Scanner Subscribers, 7 day free trial for all new subscribers.
Access to the Windows app is now open to all active subscribers. If you have a current subscription on joesscanner.com, you can install and use the new version immediately.
If you run into any issues, have questions, or want to provide feedback, feel free to reach out. Your input helps drive future enhancements to the platform.
A lot of you have been asking for this, and it’s finally time to share it: a dedicated JoesScanner application is on the way.
This project has taken months of steady work, long nights, and a lot of learning. I hadn’t written real code in almost 20 years before starting this, so jumping back into modern development tools and frameworks was a challenge by itself. But piece by piece, the app came together, and it is now far enough along that I can give you a full preview.
This will be the official desktop client for the JoesScanner service, built specifically for real time monitoring, clean audio playback, and user control over what you hear.
First Look: Live Screenshots
Main Screen
Settings Screen
These screenshots are taken directly from the current build of the app using live data from the JoesScanner system.
Built For Real World Listening
The entire design is centered around how scanning is actually used: long sessions, bursts of activity, catching up on backlogged calls, and filtering out noise when things get busy.
A few highlights:
Clean, Organized Call List
The main screen provides:
Time of each call
Receiver, site, and talkgroup path
Transcriptions when available
Call length displayed on the right
Smooth scrolling of recent activity
Current activity stays at the top where it belongs.
Connection Controls Up Front
At the top of the app you’ll see:
Connection status
Audio On or Off
Playback speed slider
Calls waiting counter
Jump to live, Disconnect, and Settings buttons
Everything is visible at a glance.
Smart Playback Speed
One of the most useful features is the playback speed slider.
It automatically activates only when there is a backlog of calls waiting to be played. When the system gets busy and calls pile up, you can increase speed to catch up. When you’re fully caught up, the slider disengages and audio plays at normal speed.
This keeps listening natural during quiet periods and gives you the tools to keep up when traffic spikes.
Powerful Filters
The filter system lets you control traffic at multiple levels:
Receiver > Site > Talkgroup
For each item you can:
Mute: Temporarily hide audio from that source
Disable: Fully block new calls from that item
Clear: Remove filtering rules and let traffic flow again
This makes it easy to trim out unwanted channels or narrow your focus during a specific event.
Adjustable Call Queue
In Settings you can choose how many recent calls to keep. If you prefer only a few calls in history, you can lower it. If you want a deeper backlog to review, you can increase it.
The queue works together with the speed slider and calls-waiting counter so you always know how far behind real time you are.
Simple, Useful Connection Settings
The Connection panel includes:
A server field with a shortcut to automatically fill in the JoesScanner default
Your standard login (user/pass)
A Validate button to test credentials
A Show button to toggle password visibility
Once saved, everything persists automatically.
Logging Tools Included
There’s a built-in log viewer for troubleshooting. You can:
Review connection information
Check for warnings or temporary network issues
Close the log when done
Download the log as a text file with a timestamped filename
This is especially useful during setup or if anything unexpected happens.
Months Of Work Behind The Scenes
This app represents a major effort over several months. Relearning development after 20 years, catching up with modern .NET, MAUI, and asynchronous audio streaming, and then turning all that into a polished user experience has been a huge undertaking.
But the end result is taking shape, and I’m excited to share it with you.
Coming Soon
The app is nearly ready for public release. The last step is fine tuning, packaging, and preparing installation instructions.
Another post will go up once everything is ready to download.
Thank you all for supporting JoesScanner and being part of this community. This app is built for you, and I’m looking forward to getting it into your hands.
Donate to continue supporting growth of this app and the overall service.
JAAS now creates a text transcript for most recorded calls. You can read dialog and you can search it by keyword across the full archive.
What you see
A Notes/text column in archive tables with a live snippet from each call
Standard columns stay the same: Time, Date, Target, Target Label, Source
The system time and total entry count show at the top as before
Click a row to open the call and view the full transcript or click show all rows to view all
How it works
Transcripts attach to calls after recording finishes
Global search now returns matches from transcripts and metadata
Copy any line from Notes/text for reports or follow up
Confidence scores show on the call view so you can judge quality
Coverage and quality
Transcription runs on the server. It works best on clear P25 audio. Encrypted or garbled audio is skipped. Expect some word errors. We improve the models as we gather feedback.
At launch this is enabled for Treasure Valley and Magic Valley. Older calls are being backfilled in order of demand.
Privacy and retention
Only traffic we already archive is transcribed. Private calls and encrypted talkgroups remain excluded. Transcripts follow the same retention policy as audio. If your agency needs an exclusion, contact support with details.
Availability and price
Included for active JAAS subscribers at no extra cost during the beta period. If pricing changes later, you will see clear notice before any billing change. Current pricing is on the pricing page.
Feedback
Tell me where it helps and where it stumbles. Note the talkgroup and time. Use the support form so I can track requests.
Big News: Joe’s Scanner Now Has an Official Website and Store!
After much hard work, I’m excited to announce that Joes Scanner finally has an official website and store at JoesScanner.com!
I’d love for you to look around, explore the new features, and let me know what you think. Your feedback is important, so feel free to share your thoughts via the feedback form on the Support page.
Important Update on Subscriptions: All new subscriptions will now be handled directly through the website. Don’t worry if you’re already subscribed via BuyMeACoffee.com—your subscription will still be honored, and it will continue to renew as usual.
However, as part of this transition (and due to some changes in available options), we’re updating the subscription structure:
There will now be one subscription plan that covers all systems.
The standard fee for access will be $6 a month.
There are also options to pay more if you’d like to help the channel grow or show extra support and appreciation!
Why Switch to the Website for Your Subscription? If you’re currently signed up on BuyMeACoffee.com, you can stick with that platform, but there are some benefits to switching over to the new website:
I get a bit more support from subscriptions via JoesScanner.com.
I can now manage subscriptions, offer discounts, and even allow affiliate signups through the website—features not available on BuyMeACoffee.
For help canceling your subscription on BuyMeACoffee please go here
Please note, no new signups will be allowed on BuyMeACoffee.com, so if you’re considering subscribing, head over to JoesScanner.com/shop/!
If you need any assistance signing up for a subscription or navigating the new site, check out the Support section or visit the Store for more information.
Thank you so much for your continued support—it means the world to me and helps the channel grow!
I am happy to announce that Citizen Joe is officially changing its domain name! To better align with the focus of our community and services, we’re moving from meaninglessurl.com to JoesScanner.com.
Starting now, all updates, news, and services will be hosted on the new domain. Make sure to bookmark JoesScanner.com and stay tuned for exciting developments!
If you’re using the scanner via phone app or webpage, please update your connection URL from meaninglessurl.com to JoesScanner.com. The old link and all services using the old link, will continue to work until December 31st, after which it will be deactivated. So, don’t forget to update the phone app settings and web app bookmarks before then.
In Idaho, law enforcement agencies, like many others across the U.S., have the option to encrypt their radio communications. However, there are no specific statewide rules that mandate whether agencies must encrypt or keep their channels open to the public. Instead, encryption policies are typically determined by the individual law enforcement agencies at the local or regional level.
Here are some general guidelines that apply to law enforcement radio communications in Idaho:
Agency Discretion: Encryption decisions are usually made at the department or municipal level, meaning that city police, county sheriffs, and other law enforcement bodies can choose to encrypt their channels for safety, security, or operational reasons.
Public Safety and Operational Security: The main reasons for encryption include protecting sensitive information during active incidents, ensuring officer safety, and preventing criminals from monitoring police communications. Encryption is especially common during high-risk situations or when personal information is transmitted.
Media Access: In some areas, news organizations may be granted access to encrypted communications through special agreements or credentials, though this is not guaranteed.
Public Access to Unencrypted Channels: Although certain channels might be encrypted, many law enforcement agencies still leave some channels, such as routine dispatch or secondary channels, unencrypted. This maintains a level of transparency while protecting more sensitive operations.
Legal Precedents and Challenges: There is no federal law that prohibits law enforcement agencies from encrypting their communications, and some states have passed laws encouraging transparency by limiting the use of encryption. Idaho, however, has not passed such laws, so the decision remains within the control of individual agencies.
In Idaho specifically, agencies like the Idaho State Police and local county sheriffs may have a mix of encrypted and open channels. Those running monitoring services (like Joe’s Scanner) often focus on unencrypted channels that remain publicly accessible.
I hope this information is helpful in understanding P-25 communications in Idaho.
I’ve received quite a few emails and messages recently asking about P25 encryption, its security, and related concerns. To address these questions, I’ve put together this brief guide to share some key information with all of you.
P25 (Project 25) radio systems are used by public safety organizations, government agencies, and other entities to ensure secure and reliable communication. One of the key features of P25 systems is encryption, which helps protect sensitive communications from unauthorized access.
What is P25 Encryption?
Encryption in P25 radio systems scrambles voice or data transmissions, making it unreadable to anyone without the correct encryption key. This is crucial for police, fire departments, and emergency services, where maintaining confidentiality is paramount for safety and security.
How is P25 Communication Used?
P25 systems allow seamless communication across different agencies and jurisdictions, especially during emergencies. Here are a few common uses:
Law Enforcement: Protecting officer communications regarding operations, sensitive information, or ongoing investigations.
Fire and Rescue: Ensuring coordinated efforts in life-and-death situations without interference from unauthorized listeners.
EMS (Emergency Medical Services): Securely transmitting patient data and emergency response coordination.
Federal Agencies: Homeland security, military, and other federal operations rely on secure channels for tactical operations and national security.
How Secure is P25 Encryption?
P25 encryption is designed to be highly secure, using advanced encryption standards like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys. Cracking this encryption is extremely difficult due to the complexity of modern encryption algorithms, making it almost impossible for unauthorized parties to intercept or decrypt the communication without the proper keys.
However, no encryption is 100% unbreakable. The likelihood of P25 encryption being hacked is very low, but it can happen under certain conditions, such as poor key management, insider threats, or sophisticated adversaries. For general use, though, P25 encryption is considered one of the most secure communication methods available.
Penalties for Cracking P25 Encryption
Attempting to crack or intercept P25 encrypted communication is illegal under the Federal Wiretap Act and other laws governing unauthorized access to electronic communications. Penalties can include:
Fines: Hefty fines that can range into the thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Prison time: Offenders can face up to 5 years in federal prison for unauthorized decryption of protected communication.
Civil lawsuits: Victims of illegal decryption or interception can also pursue civil suits, leading to additional financial penalties.
It’s important to remember that attempting to bypass P25 encryption not only violates the law but also undermines the safety and effectiveness of our public safety infrastructure.
For more information or questions about P25 encryption, feel free to reach out to me, I prioritize understanding the laws and technicalities behind radio systems!
I’m excited to share that I’ve added Twin Falls to the systems I monitor! As some of you may already know, Boise PD has encrypted all of their channels. To adapt to these changes, I’ve made updates to Joe’s Scanner pricing structure.
New Membership Options: You can now choose between monitoring a single system or multiple systems. When you visit Buy Me a Coffee, you’ll find two options: Single Site or Multiple Site access levels.
If you sign up for Single Site access, you’ll receive an email asking if you’d prefer access to Treasure Valley or Twin Falls. After you reply, I’ll set up your account as requested.
If you don’t see the email or sign up during the evening, feel free to email me at [email protected] to speed things up. Please make sure to specify which system you’d like access to.
For Current Members: Current members will automatically default to the Multiple Site access level, as it matches your current subscription. If you’d prefer to downgrade to Single Site access, you’ll need to cancel your existing membership and sign up again—I don’t have the ability to transfer accounts between tiers. However, this is optional! You can simply turn off Twin Falls using the TG button if you’d prefer not to hear it. But of course, I’d appreciate the extra support if you stick with the multiple site option. If you do downgrade, your passcode will remain the same and will require no further configuration on your part.
Feedback & Contact: I’m always open to your feedback! You can comment on this post, reach out on my YouTube channel, or send an email to [email protected] for any questions or discussions.
Updated Channel List for the Treasure Valley ICAWIN System
It’s been some time since Ada County transitioned certain channels to encryption, and I thought it would be helpful to share an updated list of the channels that remain unencrypted. Below, you’ll find the current list of accessible channels within the Treasure Valley ICAWIN system. Hope this comes in handy for everyone!
1400 – Ada FD1_EMS 1401 – Ada Fire 2 1402 – Ada Fire 3 1403 – Ada Fire 4 1404 – Ada Fire 5 1409 – Ada Fire 10 1411 – Ada Fire 12 1907 – Ada LE All Call 14000 – Canyon SO 1 Disp 14300 – Canyon FD 3 14400 – Canyon FD 1 14401 – Canyon FD 2 14403 – Nampa Fire Disp 14408 – Nampa FireOpsC14 14600 – Unknown 45016 – StLukeLifFlt 45017 – Portneuf Air Res 46300 – ISP Dist 3 Prim 46310 – ISP Dist 3 Mall 52500 – ISU Pub Safety 1
Thanks for Tuning In!
Remember, you can take your listening experience to the next level by accessing Joe’s Scanner on both Android and iPhone. The app offers enhanced features and improved sound quality. Don’t miss out—sign up today at https://buymeacoffee.com/citizenjoe!
“Joes Scanner – Single site access” allows one user to connect to a single site. This can be changed on a monthly basis. Cost is $6 per month. Can be canceled at any time. Android and Apple apps available.
“Joes Scanner – Multiple site access” will have access to all sites offered. Cost is $10 per month. Can be canceled at any time. Android and Apple apps available.
All existing memberships will convert to a multiple site access accounts effective now. If you are an existing member and wish to switch to the single site access, you must log into here and cancel your existing membership, then sign up for the single site membership.
