A portable radio is disclosed including transmit circuitry coupled to an antenna, and channel selection circuitry coupled to the transmit circuitry. The transmit circuitry receives transmit channel information, and is configured to selectively transmit on one of multiple radio frequency channels dependent upon the transmit channel information. The channel selection circuitry receives a sequence of audible tones conveying the transmit channel information, decodes the sequence of audible tones to produce the transmit channel information, and provides the transmit channel information to the transmitter circuitry. A described method of conveying information includes decoding at least a portion of a license plate number to identify a radio frequency channel, and transmitting a radio frequency signal conveying the information on the radio frequency channel.