Updates

Glastonbury PD Joins the Network — and iOS v1.3 Is Live

Two pieces of news today, and both are live right now. Glastonbury PD is on the network The Glastonbury node just picked up its 15th live stream — and its first law-enforcement channel: Glastonbury Police dispatch. This one is different under the hood. It doesn't come from the node's software-defined radio like the other 14 streams — it's a dedicated wired receiver feeding the node directly. To you, none of that matters: open ToneOut, tap Glastonbury PD, and listen. It's in the app's feed list right now — nothing to update — and in the browser at feeds.toneout.app. iOS v1.3 is approved and live Apple approved v1.3 and it's on the App Store now. This is the release we wrote about earlier this month: Broadcastify feeds open Broadcastify's official player inside the app, and ToneOut Network streams are back on the proven audio engine that ran reliably for months. If ToneOut has felt off since the Broadcastify shakeup, update now — this is the fix. And the network keeps moving: more receivers are on deck for the Glastonbury node, and Android is in Google's hands — the full story is in the previous post. Same honest ask as always: if a feed sounds wrong or drops out, tell us on our Facebook page. Those reports drive what gets fixed next.

ToneOut for Android — In Review Right Now, Public Launch Next

Android is the question we get more than any other, so here's the full, honest picture — including the update sitting in Google's review queue as you read this. Where Android actually stands ToneOut for Android is built. It's a real native Android app — written in Kotlin, not a port or a web wrapper — and it's been in closed beta testing on Google Play since early July. Here's the part most people don't see: Google requires new developer accounts to run a closed test and prove the app holds up before it's allowed into the public Play Store. To get through that requirement properly, we ran the beta through a professional QA lab — 25 Android testers working a structured 22-point pass over two weeks: onboarding, live playback, saved and custom feeds, location permissions, billing. Every core flow passed, with zero crashes. That testing wrapped, and last night the production application went in — the formal request to take ToneOut public on Google Play. Google reviews those by hand. It can take a few days; it can be faster. The moment it's approved, Android goes live for everyone at once. The update in review right now While that application is with Google, a new build — Android v1.1 — is in the review queue and should start reaching beta testers as soon as today. What's in it: • Broadcastify feeds now open Broadcastify's official player — the same change we shipped on iPhone in v1.3, after Broadcastify retired the direct streams apps used to play. • Google Play billing rebuilt for the Dual Listen unlock — this one came straight out of the QA findings. • The new ToneOut app icon. • Playback and stability fixes, now targeting Android 16. This is the exact build that goes public when Google approves the application — it's not a preview, it's the release. What Android gets on day one The full ToneOut experience, same as iPhone: browse scanner feeds by state, every ToneOut Network channel — all 15 live streams from the Glastonbury node — Nearby feeds by GPS (location never leaves your phone), saved feeds, custom stream URLs, background playback with lock-screen controls, and Dual Listen as a one-time unlock. Dark, ad-free, no account, no tracking. And Tone Alerts? The groundwork shipped this morning: the Glastonbury node's tone detector — the same one that pages iPhones today — learned to speak Google's push system, and that update is running on the node right now. The Android app already carries the Tone Alerts screen; the next Android build turns it on. If you're waiting on Android, do one thing: drop your email in the waitlist below. That list gets exactly one email — the one that says ToneOut is live on Google Play. And when Google gives the word, this page and our Facebook page are where you'll hear it first.

COMING SOONTone Alerts on Android: the server side went live on the node this morning — alerts switch on in the next Android build after launch.

What Happened to Broadcastify Feeds — and ToneOut v1.3

If ToneOut has felt broken this week, you're not imagining it — and it wasn't your phone. Here's the honest rundown of what happened and what we did about it. Two separate things went wrong at once. 1. Broadcastify changed how apps can access their audio. Broadcastify recently retired the free direct-stream links that ToneOut (and other scanner apps) used to play their feeds, and made static stream links a Broadcastify Premium feature. The result: every Broadcastify feed in the app stopped connecting, on every network, while their website kept working. That change happened on their side — but explaining it is on us, and here it is. 2. Our v1.2 update shipped with a real bug. ToneOut Network streams in v1.2 could connect, show LIVE, and then play silence. That one was ours. We found it, fixed it, and rebuilt the streaming engine on the exact playback code that ran reliably for months in v1.1. What v1.3 does • Broadcastify feeds now open Broadcastify's official player right inside the app — the same free, ad-supported player as their website, so it works the same way the website does and keeps working if they change things again. • ToneOut Network streams play natively again, on the proven v1.1 audio engine. This also fixes the overheating some of you noticed during long listening sessions. • Feeds renamed for clarity — "Glastonbury Dispatch" is now "Glastonbury Dispatch Fire." v1.3 is on its way to the App Store now and should be available within a few days, pending Apple review. Update as soon as you see it. The bigger lesson This week is exactly why the ToneOut Network exists. Feeds that live on someone else's servers can change or disappear overnight — we just lived it. Our own receiver nodes are different: 13 channels are streaming from the Glastonbury node right now, they're ours, and nobody can paywall them or shut them off. More receivers and more towns are already in motion. Questions, or a feed acting up? Reach out on our Facebook page — those reports are exactly how this got tracked down.

One Antenna, 13 Channels — the Glastonbury Node Just Got a Lot Bigger

ToneOut Node 01 in Glastonbury just went from 3 streams to 13 — same Raspberry Pi, same single antenna. Here's the trick: the software-defined radio in the node doesn't tune one frequency like a scanner does. It captures a whole 2.4 MHz slice of spectrum at once, and software pulls individual channels out of that slice. Until now we were only decoding two of them. We re-centered the receiver, and now every public safety channel in that slice streams simultaneously — nothing takes turns, nothing gets missed. New channels live right now: • Glastonbury Fire Police (452.1875 MHz) • Manchester Fire 1 (452.775 MHz) • Manchester Fire 2 / 8th District (453.4625 MHz) • South Windsor Fire (453.2375 MHz) • Rocky Hill Fire (453.575 MHz) • Rocky Hill EMS (453.275 MHz) • Wethersfield EMS (453.025 MHz) • Marlborough Fire Ops (453.3125 MHz) • East Hartford Fire Admin (453.85 MHz) • CRCOG Intercity Fire (452.1375 MHz) • UCALL40 Mutual Aid (453.2125 MHz) Glastonbury Dispatch (452.445 MHz) and Glastonbury EMS (453.075 MHz) are unchanged — same streams, same recordings, and Tone Alerts keep watching dispatch 24/7 exactly as before. If you already have the app, there's nothing to update. The new feeds show up on their own — just open ToneOut and they're in the list. One honest note: the new frequencies come from public scanner databases, and some of that data is old. A few of these channels may turn out to be quiet or moved. If a feed seems dead — or you know the local radio scene and spot something we got wrong — reach out on our Facebook page. That feedback directly shapes what stays, what goes, and what gets added.

COMING SOONTwo more receivers are already ordered for this node — next up: East Hartford Fire Dispatch (460.600 MHz) and more surrounding towns.

ToneOut v1.1 — Tone Alerts

ToneOut v1.1 is live on the App Store. New: Tone Alerts Get a push notification the moment your department is toned out. ToneOut listens to Glastonbury dispatch 24/7 and detects real Quick Call II two-tone pages — the same tones your pager hears. When your tones drop, your phone goes off. All-Call alerts are free.

COMING SOONIndividual company alerts: coming soon as a subscription.

Also in this release Improved live stream reliability on ToneOut Network feeds. Fixed an issue where some feeds would load but never play. More ToneOut nodes are coming — we're working with fire departments to install receiver nodes in new coverage areas. Want your town covered? Reach out on our Facebook page. Why ToneOut ToneOut came out of conversations around the firehouse about gaps in how members get alerted and hear what's going on. It doesn't replace IamResponding or the response apps your department already runs — it's a supplement: live dispatch audio and tone alerts alongside the tools you already have. ToneOut is not an emergency service and is not a substitute for official dispatch paging. Always call 911 in an emergency.

ToneOut Is Live on the App Store

It's official — ToneOut is approved and live on the App Store. After months of building, testing, and a stint in Apple's review queue, you can download it right now, for free. What you get today A free, ad-free scanner for iPhone. Stream live police, fire, and EMS dispatch audio from a curated library of Broadcastify feeds across nine states — Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and California. Save your favorites for one-tap access, and keep your stream controls handy with the persistent Now Playing bar. No account, no subscription. Go further with Pro (one-time purchase, no subscriptions): Dual Listen monitors two feeds at once with independent volume, and Background Audio keeps you listening from the Lock Screen and Control Center while you use other apps. What's next We're just getting started. Android beta opens by the end of this week, we're adding more states to our Broadcastify coverage, and we're bringing more ToneOut Network nodes online. Push to Talk is what we're building next — it lands on iOS first, then Android after testing. See the full plan on our new roadmap, and tell us what you want built. Download ToneOut free on the App Store and see the roadmap at https://toneout.app/roadmap.

ToneOut Is Here — Here's Everything You Need to Know

ToneOut has been submitted to the App Store. After months of development, the iOS app is now in Apple's review queue. Here's what's launching and what's on the way. What ToneOut is A free, ad-free scanner app for iPhone. It streams live dispatch audio from police, fire, and EMS feeds. No account, no subscription — you tap a feed and listen. Core features Browse and listen — A curated library of Broadcastify scanner feeds organized by state. We're launching with coverage across nine states — Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and California — and adding more regularly. Save your favorites — Save any feed for one-tap access. No account needed; everything is stored locally on your device. Now Playing bar — A persistent Now Playing bar keeps your stream controls handy no matter where you are in the app. Pro features (one-time purchase) Dual Listen — Monitor two feeds at once, each with its own independent volume. Follow an incident across multiple agencies without losing either channel. Background Audio — Keep listening while you're in other apps. ToneOut keeps playing from the Lock Screen and Control Center with the screen off. Both are available individually or as a bundle. One-time purchase — you own them for good, no recurring charges. ToneOut Network (beta) ToneOut Network is our own live audio infrastructure. We've got our first Raspberry Pi node deployed in the field, capturing and streaming real radio traffic straight through the app. This is early — coverage is limited to wherever active nodes are running, and more are coming soon. If you'd want to host one in your area, reach out. What's coming next Android — beta testing starts by the end of next week. Sign up at toneout.app if you want early access. More states, more coverage — we're adding new Broadcastify feeds and expanding ToneOut Network coverage as we go. Get ToneOut ToneOut for iOS is in App Store review right now. Once it's approved it'll be a free download at https://toneout.app/.

First ToneOut Node is live for testing

The first ToneOut Node went live today. ToneOut Nodes are our own self-hosted radio feeds — a Raspberry Pi with an SDR antenna running out of Glastonbury, CT, streaming local fire and EMS dispatch over HTTPS to anyone who wants to listen. Three streams are public right now from the Glastonbury node: • Dispatch (452.445 MHz) • EMS (453.075 MHz) • Combined Fire/EMS Listen at feeds.toneout.app — the dashboard lists each one. Most useful when there's actually a run going. This is beta — one node, one town, one antenna. The bigger plan is a distributed network of these nodes hosted by first responders, radio enthusiasts, and anyone else who wants to put one up for their own town. I'll be putting together pre-configured kits for anyone who wants one — power them on, plug into internet, and the node automatically joins the ToneOut network and starts feeding. If you'd rather configure your own, I'll provide the full instructions for that path too. Either way, all you need on your end is power and internet. The iOS app is in TestFlight and is being wired up to consume these streams next. If you hear something cut out, sound rough, or fail to load — let me know. Beta means feedback matters. If you're interested in hosting a node for your town, get in touch.

ToneOut Beta Is Open

We pushed an update yesterday, and the timing felt right, so we're opening the beta up wider. The first round of TestFlight invitations already went out to people who'd been on the waitlist longest. That group has been running the app, listening to real feeds, and sending feedback. It's been solid. Today we're opening it up wider. The first 100 people on iPhone can join the beta right now. What ToneOut is An ad free scanner app for iPhone. No subscriptions, no banners, no upsells stacked on top of upsells. You open it, you pick a feed, you listen. Police, fire, EMS, wherever you are. It was built out of frustration with every other scanner app on the market. Most of them are either riddled with ads, locked behind expensive monthly plans, or both. ToneOut is a one time thing: the app is free, and if you want Dual Listen (two feeds simultaneously, independent volume), that's a $4.99 one time purchase. That's it. Audio comes from Broadcastify: nationwide coverage. Coming soon: our very own ToneOut network, built for ToneOut listeners. What's in the beta • Browse feeds by state or by your location • Sequential scanner style playback: calls play one after another the way a real scanner works • Dual Listen for two feeds at once (Pro, $4.99 one time) • Save systems you listen to regularly • Background audio with lock screen controls • Dark UI, no light mode, no clutter How to join iPhone only. You'll need Apple's TestFlight app installed. It's free from the App Store if you don't have it already. Once you have TestFlight, tap the link below and ToneOut installs like any other app: Join the ToneOut Beta on TestFlight https://testflight.apple.com/join/KMJQ1YVE Spots are capped at 100 for this round. When that fills up, the link will stop accepting new testers. A couple of notes This is beta software. It's stable. We've been running it daily, but beta means bugs happen. If something sounds wrong, crashes, or doesn't behave the way you'd expect, use TestFlight's Send Beta Feedback: you can attach a screenshot and a note, and it goes straight to us. That feedback directly shapes what gets fixed before the full App Store release. Also: ToneOut is not an emergency service. Scanner audio is delayed. Always call 911. Full App Store release is coming. This is the step before that. Don't forget to sign up for the waitlist for when it comes out: https://toneout.app/

Android is coming, after iOS

Since opening the waitlist, a ton of you have asked about Android in texts, emails, and DMs. Thank you for the feedback, and for signing up. It's what keeps this moving. Here's the plan: iOS ships first. After that, work starts on a native Android version of ToneOut, built in Kotlin. Not a port, not a wrapper. A real Android app. Real talk: I'm a Swift and web developer, not a Kotlin developer. That's where Claude Code comes in. I'll be leaning on it heavily to bridge the gap and help me build a proper Kotlin app from the ground up. It means Android takes longer than iOS did, but it'll be done right. The bigger goal is a shared ToneOut network across both platforms. When push to talk arrives, iPhone and Android users will be on the same channels and will be able to talk to each other. A few features will stay platform specific based on what each phone supports, but the core scanner and PTT experience works on both. One of the biggest things I've been focused on is latency. It's come up in almost every conversation with people who know radio systems well, and it's something I've been researching hard. A scanner is only as good as how fast audio reaches you. The goal is to push latency as low as physically possible, on both iOS and Android, for both live dispatch audio and push to talk between users. iOS first. Android follows.

New Audio Infrastructure: Broadcastify & Future Plans

After a lot of research into audio sourcing, we've gone with Broadcastify to power ToneOut's feeds. Broadcastify gives us reliable, nationwide coverage of public safety radio, which means ToneOut can launch with feeds just about anywhere you are. It's a solid foundation to build on while we work toward audio infrastructure of our own. RadioReference has paused new commercial API licenses due to an unprecedented surge in demand driven by AI products. We respect their decision and wish them well, but honestly, this pushed us toward something even better. Looking ahead, we're also researching what it would take to run our own dedicated feed infrastructure. The early plan is to start small, testing in our own town first, and learn from there. Down the road, we'd love to make it possible for others to set up their own nodes, whether through a kit list or a simple guide. Nothing is set in stone yet, but the long term vision is to give ToneOut its own independent coverage that doesn't rely entirely on third party providers. That kind of independence is what will set ToneOut apart from every other scanner app out there. We're taking it one step at a time, but we're building toward something bigger. Stay tuned.

Welcome to ToneOut Updates

This is where we'll post development progress, new features, and announcements. Stay tuned as we build ToneOut, the scanner and push to talk app designed for first responders.