>> Just trying to get a feel for if I can monitor on a handheld instead of a base.
You can use a non-trunking scanner - if it receives 800 MHz. - to listen to the control channels for particular sites and get an idea of how strong the continuous data stream of the control channel is. The site frequencies are listed on the "Palmetto 800" page on Radio Reference:
Palmetto 800 Trunking System, Various, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies
As Barry008 and Trunktracker71 suggested, I would encourage you to check the three Pal 800 site control frequencies. I would also suggest you check the signal strengths both outside your residence, and inside in the room you might tend to monitor in.
The Middendorf site (Chesterfield / McBee) should give you the best signal, but the construction of a residence may attentuate a signal enough to make the data stream unreadable inside the house. Conversely, 800 MHz. signals can propagate during the nightime hours.
If you decide to purchase a handheld trunktracker, there are antennas specifically tuned to enhance 800 MHz. reception. Radio Shack sells a very popular duckie for 800 use.
>> Also I do have a regular older 800mhz scanner that is not a trunk tracker. Is it possible to receive the analog frequencies on this scanner for Kershaw EMS. I am not sure if they are on digital or not.
On the same Palmetto 800 URL cited above, you will also find a list of identified system talkgroups. The list begins with state agency talkgroups, followed by county / local agency talkgroups. An "A" of "D" listed next to the talkgroup indicates whether the talkgroup is analog or P25 digital.
Kershaw County Fire Dispatch and Kershaw County EMS Dispatch are both listed as analog, although that will eventually change.
You can also use a non-trunking scanner, if it receives 800 MHz., to listen to the voice frequencies of a Motorola analog trunking site. There are some issues with monitoring that way, though:
- talkgroups are not assigned to specific frequencies ... they can air on any of the site voice freqs
- you will not be able to control what you hear ... you will hear every talkgroup airing on the site
- you may miss hearing EMS comms because your scanner has stopped on other active comms
- you will hear digital noise everytime your scanner receives a talkgroup using P25 modulation
- you will only hear a particular talkgroup if there is a radio on that talkgroup affiliated with the site you are monitoring *
* Even when using a trunktracking scanner, affiliation is still an issue. If you want to monitor ambulance communications, someone on that talkgroup must be affiliated with the site you are monitoring (in most cases).
