--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Police Scanner Radio & Fire" developer_entity: "GordonEdwards.net LLC" bundle_id: "net.gordonedwards.Scanner-Radio-Deluxe" app_store_id: "498405045" google_play_id: "com.police.scanner.radio" category: "News" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-05-04" report_date: "2026-05-19" last_verified: "2026-05-19T19:40:33.390Z" report_version: "2.6.7" total_reviews: 519109 overall_rating: 4.64 sentiment: "Mixed" sentiment_score: 45 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.8 top_praise_theme: "Clear and informative audio streams provide valuable local news and emergency awareness for listeners" top_complaint_theme: "Intrusive and persistent advertising patterns disrupt the listening experience and block core app functionality" top_request_theme: "Silent ad implementation would prevent the disruption of vital public safety information during broadcasts" review_sample_size: 143 total_review_count: 143 analyzed_review_count: 90 data_age_days: 13 momentum_velocity: "active" intelligence_version: 3 nemesis: "Police Scanner: Fire Radio" competitor_count: 7 tags: ["news", "freemium", "mixed sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "local", "enthusiasts,", "public"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/net-gordonedwards-scanner-radio-deluxe" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Police Scanner Radio & Fire App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: News · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 4.64 · Sentiment Mixed - **Recent focus**: Intrusive and persistent advertising patterns disrupt the listening experience and block core app functionality (top complaint) · Clear and informative audio streams provide valuable local news and emergency awareness for listeners (top praise) · Silent ad implementation would prevent the disruption of vital public safety information during broadcasts (top request) > **TL;DR:** Police Scanner Radio & Fire is a news app by GordonEdwards.net LLC, rated 4.64/5 by 519.1K users, with Mixed user sentiment (45/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Police Scanner Radio & Fire shows Mixed sentiment (4.64/5 from 519.1K reviews) — users praise clear and informative audio streams provide valuable local news and emergency awareness for listeners but report issues with intrusive and persistent advertising patterns disrupt the listening experience and block core app functionality. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.64/5 (519.1K reviews) | | **User Mood** | Mixed | | **Category** | News | | **Developer** | GordonEdwards.net LLC | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.8/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 0d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** GordonEdwards.net LLC - **Category:** News - **Target Audience:** Local news enthusiasts, public safety observers, and individuals monitoring emergency activity in their area. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 2.6.7 - **Audit Date:** 2026-05-19 - **Signal Count:** 143 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.8/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 498405045 - **Bundle ID:** net.gordonedwards.Scanner-Radio-Deluxe - **Google Play ID:** com.police.scanner.radio - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-05-19 - **Short Description:** Police Scanner you can listen to Live Police/Fire/Radio Scanners ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Police Scanner Radio & Fire is a news and utility app that provides live emergency radio streaming for local news enthusiasts on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** Users hire this app for real-time situational awareness during local emergencies, replacing traditional radio hardware with a mobile-first, alert-driven experience. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Differentiator] Breaking News Alerts:** Push notifications triggered when specific scanner feeds exceed 2,000 listeners or Broadcastify alerts are posted * *User Intent:* Users want timely prompts to stay engaged without missing updates. - **[Differentiator] Audio Clipping:** Tool to capture, save, and share segments of live scanner audio with the community * *User Intent:* Users seek social connection and competitive engagement with peers. - **[Standard] 10-Code Reference:** In-app chart defining common police and fire radio codes for listener context ## Market Position {#market-position} The app maintains a #9 Free / #12 Grossing position in the US, holding the #9 slot for the current period. The gap between discovery and monetization signals that ad-intrusiveness is likely suppressing long-term revenue potential. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free ad-supported access to all scanner feeds - **Analysis:** Ad-supported model relies on high-volume listener traffic to monetize through inventory. ## 🟡 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 90 of 143 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.64/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.6/5 (518.6K ratings) | Android 4.1/5 (518 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Mixed ### Top Praises - **Clear and informative audio streams provide valuable local news and emergency awareness for listeners** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Intrusive and persistent advertising patterns disrupt the listening experience and block core app functionality** ### Top Requests (What Users Want) - **Silent ad implementation would prevent the disruption of vital public safety information during broadcasts** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Breaking news alerts drive session frequency during high-interest events - Audio clipping loop functions as a viral acquisition lever - CarPlay integration extends usage to commute windows **Critical Frictions:** - Ad-interruption of audio feeds causes high churn - Unreliable feed availability erodes trust in safety utility - Subscription conversion processes lack transparency **Growth Levers:** - Geospatial mapping integration provides visual context - B2B partnerships with local news for verified alerts - Scanner-only mode to defend against niche rivals **Market Threats:** - Ad-light competitors siphoning power users - Platform policy changes regarding intrusive ad-blocking - General news apps competing for attention during major events ## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes} The app has introduced social-sharing features like Audio Clipping while facing increased user friction from aggressive ad-monetization that disrupts core audio playback. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-05-19 ### High-impact changes - **[Declined] Ad-monetization friction** (sentiment) — User feedback shifted from general subscription concerns to specific reports of ads blocking core playback and requiring force-closes. - **[Improved] Breaking News Alerts repositioning** (features) — Alerts moved from standard to differentiator status, now tied to specific listener thresholds of 2,000+ users. ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] Audio Clipping** (features) — New tool added to capture, save, and share live scanner audio segments. - **[Added] 10-Code Reference** (features) — New in-app chart added to define common police and fire radio codes. - **[Added] Ad-interruption weakness** (swot) — Ad-interruption of audio feeds and unreliable feed availability added as primary weaknesses. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Police Scanner Radio & Fire vs Police Scanner: Fire Radio — Head to Head - **[Police Scanner: Fire Radio](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-radio-police-scanner-scanner)** by Guru Network Limited Inc.: With over 159,000 reviews and a high rating, this app serves the exact same niche of live emergency audio streaming as the target. - **Moat strength:** Medium — durable but contestable - **Key differences:** - Focuses exclusively on emergency radio feeds without the distraction of general news or podcast content. - Maintains a dedicated emergency-first UI that prioritizes rapid access to local scanner streams. - Provides a streamlined, single-purpose experience that reduces the cognitive load for emergency monitoring users. - **Where Police Scanner Radio & Fire wins:** - ✅ Integrates broader breaking news alerts alongside scanner audio to provide a more comprehensive safety context. - ✅ Offers a more diverse content ecosystem that keeps users engaged during periods of low scanner activity. - **Where Police Scanner: Fire Radio wins:** - ❌ Delivers a more focused, low-latency audio experience specifically optimized for high-demand emergency monitoring scenarios. - ❌ Maintains a cleaner, specialized interface that avoids the feature bloat found in general news-integrated apps. - **Verdict:** The target app must decide if it wants to be a general news hub or a specialized scanner tool; it should consider a 'Scanner-Only' mode to compete directly with this rival's focus. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-smartestapple-50radiopro)** by Smartest Apps LLC [Moat: High]: A long-standing direct competitor in the scanner niche with high update velocity and a massive legacy user base. - Maintains a massive, long-term database of global scanner feeds that exceeds most niche competitors. - Aggressive update cadence ensures compatibility with the latest iOS versions and hardware performance standards. - **[Police Scanner +](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-regoapps-copradiolite)** by Rego Apps [Moat: Medium]: Directly competes for the same emergency-monitoring audience with a similar feature set and long-term market presence. - Offers a simplified, lightweight interface that prioritizes immediate audio playback over complex news aggregation. - Provides a more traditional, radio-tuner style UX that appeals to legacy scanner hobbyists. - **[Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/org-watchduty-app)** by Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc. [Moat: High]: While specialized, it captures the same 'public safety' intent as the target app through high-velocity mapping updates. - Integrates real-time geospatial mapping of wildfires, providing visual context that audio-only scanners lack. - Employs a high-frequency update model that delivers critical safety information faster than traditional news outlets. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-particlenews-newsbreak)** by Particle Media Inc.: Competes for the 'local news' attention share, though it lacks the live scanner audio component. - Leverages a massive, AI-driven local news aggregation engine that provides hyper-local updates beyond emergency audio. - Utilizes a social-first engagement model that encourages user-generated content and community reporting. - **[CNN: Live & Breaking News](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-cnn-iphone)** by CNN Interactive Group, Inc.: A dominant player in the general news category that competes for the user's time during major breaking events. - Provides professional, high-production-value video reporting that serves as a contrast to raw scanner audio. - Offers a global news perspective that shifts the user focus from local incidents to national headlines. ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[Spotify for Creators](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-anchorfminc-anchor)** by Spotify: High release velocity and platform backing make this an emerging threat in the audio-consumption space. ## What's New - **Latest (v2.6.7, 2 weeks ago):** Added ability to tap usernames in Clips to view user profiles. ## App Momentum (Active) {#momentum} - Shipped user profile viewing via Clips - Fixed area map and notification stability > **Cadence:** 5 total versions · 4 majors in last 6 months · 15 days since last update · 13 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Police Scanner Radio & Fire is an established news app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.64/5 rating from 519.1K reviews, it shows polarized user reception. > **Bottom Line:** The app holds a strong discovery position, but aggressive ad-monetization is actively eroding the user base, so the PM must prioritize silent ad formats to stop churn before the #9 chart rank slips. **Best for:** Local news enthusiasts, public safety observers, and individuals monitoring emergency activity in their area. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] [HIGH IMPACT] Implement silent ad formats because ad-interruption is the #1 complaint → reduce churn — *Sentiment analysis identifies ad-interruption as the primary driver of negative feedback.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Pause the development of new social-sharing features — ad-retention has higher revenue impact.)_ - [ ] [INVEST] [HIGH IMPACT] Audit feed-buffering logic because unreliable access is the #2 complaint → increase session duration — *User reviews frequently cite offline status and buffering as reasons for abandonment.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Delay the rollout of new UI themes — stability is critical for safety-tool perception.)_ ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Geospatial mapping (available in Watch Duty but missing here) - Emergency-first, ad-free UI (available in Police Scanner: Fire Radio but missing here) ### Outlook: Declining The emergency-monitoring market is consolidating around high-reliability, ad-light experiences, leaving this app exposed. Maintenance-mode updates that fail to address ad-intrusiveness will accelerate churn to specialized rivals, so the PM must pivot to silent ad formats to protect the current chart position. - 🔴 Persistent ad-blocking bugs in the latest update erode the daily active habit, which compounds the rating drag already visible on Android. - 🔴 The gap between Free and Grossing rank suggests that current ad-monetization is actively suppressing the conversion of listeners into long-term revenue. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.64/5 | | Total Reviews | 519.1K | | Sentiment | Mixed (45/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Police Scanner Radio & Fire** (this app) | 4.64/5 | Mixed | GordonEdwards.net LLC | | [Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/org-watchduty-app) | 4.9/5 | Thrilled | Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc. | | [Police Scanner +](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-regoapps-copradiolite) | 4.5/5 | N/A | Rego Apps | | [Police Scanner: Fire Radio](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-radio-police-scanner-scanner) | 4.7/5 | N/A | Guru Network Limited Inc. | | [Spotify for Creators](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-anchorfminc-anchor) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Spotify | | [5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-smartestapple-50radiopro) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Smartest Apps LLC | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** GordonEdwards.net LLC - **Website:** [https://scannerradio.app](https://scannerradio.app) - **Social:** [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/scannerradio) · [X/Twitter](https://twitter.com/scannerradio) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/police-scanner-radio-fire/id498405045?uo=2) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.police.scanner.radio&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://scannerradio.app) - **Sources:** Developer website content, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/org-watchduty-app) (Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc.) — 4.9/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*Police Scanner +*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-regoapps-copradiolite) (Rego Apps) — 4.5/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Police Scanner: Fire Radio*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-radio-police-scanner-scanner) (Guru Network Limited Inc.) — 4.7/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Spotify for Creators*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-anchorfminc-anchor) (Spotify) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-smartestapple-50radiopro) (Smartest Apps LLC) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-particlenews-newsbreak) (Particle Media Inc.) — 4.8/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*CNN: Live & Breaking News*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-cnn-iphone) (CNN Interactive Group, Inc.) — 4.8/5 Rating | Terrible Sentiment - [*The Press of Atlantic City*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/the-press-of-atlantic-city) (BH Media Group) — 4.3/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*PIX11 New York's Very Own*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/pix11-new-york-s-very-own) (Nexstar Broadcasting) — 3.8/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*News4JAX+*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/news4jax) (Graham Media Group, Inc) — 3.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.8/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 143 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/net-gordonedwards-scanner-radio-deluxe) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.