Emergency responders in Dauphin County are dispatched via radio transmissions. Currently, the County uses both UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and Low Band frequencies to provide communications with the field responders. For EMS and fire services, the telecommunicator activates a series of tones that will activate receivers used by field personnel. The telecommunicator then transmits, using plain English, the required information necessary to complete the dispatch process. All communications between the telecommunicators and the field responders are made through this radio system. These are the transmissions one may hear when listening to a scanner.

Police are dispatched in a similar manner with exception to the tone activation. Since police are on patrol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, simply calling the unit number will alert the officer of a pending dispatch.

Due to the terrain of Dauphin County there are several tower sites and repeaters to carry the signal from the originating point to the intended receiver. There are areas where radio transmissions just will not work (just like losing a signal to a cellular phone). The current radio system is aged and is in the process of receiving a total overhaul (see Radio Project).