Watch Duty Echo radio receivers help our reporting team monitor public safety radio traffic in areas where we need additional coverage. If you have a suitable location, you may be able to help by hosting an Echo receiver.

Watch Duty provides the necessary equipment. Hosts provide a suitable location, power, and internet connection.

How do we evaluate potential locations?

Our team identifies areas where additional radio coverage would be useful and works to deploy receivers in those locations.

If you offer a location, we'll evaluate it using viewshed analysis to understand its line of sight to surrounding areas. We also compare the location with information from the RadioReference database to determine which radio systems and repeaters the receiver may be able to hear.

Not every proposed location will be suitable for an Echo receiver. Our team will evaluate the site based on our current coverage needs and the reception we expect from that location.

What does a host location need?

A potential Echo receiver site should have:

• Reliable power and internet. Echo equipment uses Power over Ethernet (PoE), allowing power and data to be provided through a single Ethernet cable.
• Good line of sight to nearby repeaters. Location and surrounding terrain can significantly affect radio reception.
• Distance from strong transmission sources. TV, commercial radio, HAM radio, and other nearby transmitting antennas can interfere with reception.

Watch Duty provides the remaining equipment needed for the receiver.

What types of radio systems can Echo receive?

Echo receivers currently support analog, conventional radio systems.

They cannot currently monitor digital or trunked radio systems.

How do I offer a location?

If you're interested in hosting a Watch Duty Echo receiver, please contact us at support@watchduty.org.

When contacting us, please provide the address or location where you'd like to host the receiver so our team can evaluate the site.

Echo receivers are deployed based on Watch Duty's current radio coverage needs and priorities. We appreciate offers to host, but we may not need additional coverage in every area, and offering a location does not guarantee that a receiver will be installed.

If additional coverage would be useful in your area, our team will evaluate the proposed location to determine whether it's a good fit for an Echo receiver.