Palmentto P25 System

[N1RCW]

Recently relocated to SC and looking for advice on a good scanner to invest in to monitor the P25 Palmentto Network.. Thanks..

 

[bravo14]

Best way to get P25 Palmentto info is a admin can move it to the SC/NC/GA forum. You'll get the best results that way. If simulcast system you'll need a uniden sds100 Portable sds200 mobile or unication G series

 

[brian]

If you're willing to post a more precise location within South Carolina that you are located- for example, a county name - then that would help give you a more specific recommendation.

Most counties in South Carolina, as well as most state agencies and many municipalities, use the Palmetto 800 system, which is a P25 digital multi-site trunked radio system. So at minimum, you'll need a scanner that supports that system type.

Many larger counties that are "all in" with Palmetto 800 use sites that are simulcast. Right now, the Uniden SDS-100 & 200 are the only scanners that handle simulcast acceptably well, with the Unication G4 and G5 pagers (they aren't really scanners) also handling simulcast well.

Many of us find that other scanner models work acceptably well in some areas, and so your location really does dictate what may or may not work for you. The SDS models will work acceptably well anywhere in SC.

You also want to determine what your specific interests are in terms of services - law enforcement, fire or EMS, utilities, etc. More and more agencies are encrypting their communications. If your interests are narrow - say, only law enforcement - then you may want to verify that your specific agencies of interest do not use encryption before investing in a new scanner.

Hope this helps.

Brian

 

[N1RCW]

If you're willing to post a more precise location within South Carolina that you are located- for example, a county name - then that would help give you a more specific recommendation.

Most counties in South Carolina, as well as most state agencies and many municipalities, use the Palmetto 800 system, which is a P25 digital multi-site trunked radio system. So at minimum, you'll need a scanner that supports that system type.

Many larger counties that are "all in" with Palmetto 800 use sites that are simulcast. Right now, the Uniden SDS-100 & 200 are the only scanners that handle simulcast acceptably well, with the Unication G4 and G5 pagers (they aren't really scanners) also handling simulcast well.

Many of us find that other scanner models work acceptably well in some areas, and so your location really does dictate what may or may not work for you. The SDS models will work acceptably well anywhere in SC.

You also want to determine what your specific interests are in terms of services - law enforcement, fire or EMS, utilities, etc. More and more agencies are encrypting their communications. If your interests are narrow - say, only law enforcement - then you may want to verify that your specific agencies of interest do not use encryption before investing in a new scanner.

Hope this helps.

Brian

Hi Brian, Thanks for the response. It would be for the Beaufort/Jasper Counties. I know the Bluffton Police use encryption so there out but I’m interested in Public Safety/ Mutual aid Fire operations mainly . I monitor the VHF Beaufort County Fire Dispatch simual cast now but when they switch to a ops channel I’m out of luck . Will a Uniden BCD996P2 fit the mold? Thanks for helping me out. Rick N1RCW.

 

[brian]

Hi Rick -

Welcome to SC and to RadioReference. Happy to help.

So, Law enforcement in both Beaufort and Jasper Counties are fully encrypted. That includes both Sheriff's depts and all municipalities. In Beaufort County, EMS Dispatch/Ops and several of the Fire Ops channels are also encrypted. That's the bad news.

However, Beaufort County "South of Broad" (which is the Jasper County side of Beaufort County) is covered by Bluffton FD, which does not seem to use any encrypted Ops channels, and Hilton Head Island Fire/Rescue is also in the clear. Jasper County Fire and EMS are also in the clear. All of these agencies use the Palmetto 800 system.

Beaufort County is one that uses a simulcast P25 trunked radio system site, so if it's your focus for monitoring, you'll want to consider a radio that supports simulcast well, which right now includes the Uniden SDS-100 or 200. A BCD996P2 will fit the mold if you happen to be in an area that doesn't really suffer from simulcast problems. You won't know that without purchasing a scanner, programming it, and trying it out.

Worth noting, the Beaufort County Palmetto 800 site site #1-63 is a county operated site which is managed separately from the rest of the Palmetto 800 system. This means that you won't hear Beaufort County agencies on other Palmetto 800 sites (like the Jasper site #1-50, Bluffton Site 1-61 or Yemmassee #1-49). Likewise, you won't hear Jasper or Hampton County agencies on the Beaufort site. If your interests are to listen to Beaufort County agencies AND Jasper County agencies simultaneously, you'll need to program your radio in such a way that it forces the radio to scan the Beaufort County site as an independent system.

Feel free to post in the SC forum for more details.

Good luck.

Brian

 

[N1RCW]

Hi Rick -

Welcome to SC and to RadioReference. Happy to help.

So, Law enforcement in both Beaufort and Jasper Counties are fully encrypted. That includes both Sheriff's depts and all municipalities. In Beaufort County, EMS Dispatch/Ops and several of the Fire Ops channels are also encrypted. That's the bad news.

However, Beaufort County "South of Broad" (which is the Jasper County side of Beaufort County) is covered by Bluffton FD, which does not seem to use any encrypted Ops channels, and Hilton Head Island Fire/Rescue is also in the clear. Jasper County Fire and EMS are also in the clear. All of these agencies use the Palmetto 800 system.

Beaufort County is one that uses a simulcast P25 trunked radio system site, so if it's your focus for monitoring, you'll want to consider a radio that supports simulcast well, which right now includes the Uniden SDS-100 or 200. A BCD996P2 will fit the mold if you happen to be in an area that doesn't really suffer from simulcast problems. You won't know that without purchasing a scanner, programming it, and trying it out.

Worth noting, the Beaufort County Palmetto 800 site site #1-63 is a county operated site which is managed separately from the rest of the Palmetto 800 system. This means that you won't hear Beaufort County agencies on other Palmetto 800 sites (like the Jasper site #1-50, Bluffton Site 1-61 or Yemmassee #1-49). Likewise, you won't hear Jasper or Hampton County agencies on the Beaufort site. If your interests are to listen to Beaufort County agencies AND Jasper County agencies simultaneously, you'll need to program your radio in such a way that it forces the radio to scan the Beaufort County site as an independent system.

Feel free to post in the SC forum for more details.

Good luck.

Brian

 

[N1RCW]

Thank you Brian for all that information, I may reconsider investing in a scanner if a majority of the TG’s are encrypted. Tough area for monitoring that we moved to. At least for now I can at least monitor the Dispatch simual cast . Thanks again for your help and knowledge..