Analog and Digital radios use the same frequencies but are completely different in the way that they communicate. Analog radios can be picked up with off-the-shelf scanners. They generally do not allow for any private communications. Digital radios cannot currently be scanned by fans or competitors. They provide for private conversations without the "hiss" and "scratchy" sounds of traditional Analog radios. Most digital radios will also operate in an analog mode for backward compatibility.