New to the 21st Century of Scanning in Lexington South Carolina Help

[overtocd]

Hey! I grew up listening to scanners. My dad was a news director for NBC in Chicago for 20 years so I grew up sitting listening to scanners for stories, being in the press room, he even had a handheld in his car.
I am looking to get back into just listening to the local police and sheriff departments in Richland counties, Lexington police and sheriff here in South Carolina. Now I know that since 2002 things have changed. But I am looking to purchase a scanner that would work well out here. Would just like a handheld one I could listen to in the area. I know that things have switched over to digital. Also that they use the Palmetto 800 network out here or something? Can you really even listen in out in South Carolina or are all the calls "encrypted"?

On the database it says most are "encrypted" so you can't really hear anything? Really only interested in listening to police calls. Could someone please give me some advice out here? Also maybe what is a good handheld scanner? Maybe a few to to choose from? Ones that would work well out here?

Things have drastically changed since the days of just listening on my dads old one, so I was hoping to get some advice. I currently live in Lexington, SC so whatever would work best for this area.

Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[brian]

Welcome to the forum.

A digital trunktracking scanner is required to listen to Law Enforcement agencies in the midlands area of SC. Most agencies in the midlands do use Palmetto 800 and use digital talkgroups on that system. It's expected that Palmetto 800 will change to a "full" P25 trunked system sometime in 2017, so you'll want purchase a more current scanner to ensure that you're compliant.

Uniden and Whistler are the two manufacturers in the digital trunktracking market. Whistler scanners are also re-branded as RadioShack scanners. There are pros and cons to all, and you can read more about them in the respective "model" forums on this site. You can also get a list of and read specs on these models in the Wiki:

Categoryigital Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki

Lexington County Sheriff and USC PD are examples of midlands law enforcement agencies that use encryption on their radio channels. Richland County Sheriff and Columbia PD also have some encrypted channels but their day-to-day dispatch channels are not encrypted at this time. That could change at any time in the future.

Good luck and feel free to post any other questions.

 

[overtocd]

Awesome thank you. So can you really honestly hear anything through Richland or Lexington if they are encrypted? This "encryption" thing is something new to me.

Would you be able to suggest one I can purchase off Amazon? I would like to get the best handheld that I can use to listen in this area.

 

[brian]

Uniden BCD396XL, BCD352P2, BCD436HP

Whistler WS1040, WS1080

RadioShack PRO-668, PRO-651

You can hear any talkgroups or frequencies that aren't marked encrypted ("E" in the mode column). Any talkgroups that are marked encrypted are not monitorable. On Palmetto 800, many of the same talkgroups are carried by both the Lexington and Richland sites, although you'll mostly hear Richland Co talkgroups on the Richland site (Cell 30) and mostly Lexington Co talkgrouops on the Lexington Site (Cell 20). You'll hear some of both on Cell 44 Harbison if you're able to hear that site. If a talkgroup is encrypted, it's encrypted on all sites.

 

[overtocd]

Ok so I purchased the Uniden BCD396XT about a week ago and I have been working on getting it programmed. To say the least, I have read the entire owners manual 4 times, read the software that came with it, I have programmed in the ones for Lexington county and can basically pick up just a few different ones. I have never run into difficulty like this before with technology but I am EXTREMELY confused on how this is supposed to work. Is there anyone that can help me program this? Or is there a place I could take it where someone could do it? I am at my wits end with it honestly, I don't understand ALL the different frequencies, P25, the thousands of different groups, or how to put in the fire, EMT, police, this has become way more that my technical abilities can handle. Can any advise on someone that could help me? Or a place I could drop it off to have it programmed. I have a $300.00 device that I just literally cannot understand how to use and why I am only getting like three frequencies on it.

 

[n9pbt]

Overtocd, did you get any help yet? And, where about are you located? You can send me I believe its called a "private message," if you don't wish to post anything too specific here.

 

[overtocd]

Overtocd, did you get any help yet? And, where about are you located? You can send me I believe its called a "private message," if you don't wish to post anything too specific here.

No I have not really gotten any help yet. I will try to send you a private message. I live right over in Lexington by the dam. Just trying to figure out how to get the most out of the scanner besides just literally the two frequencies that come through. ANY help would be appreciated.

 

[sthreatt]

Copied from the database : "Lexington Co. SD uses the Palmetto 800 system for its primary communications. The majority of their channels are encrypted and cannot be monitored."

 

[n9pbt]

Overtocd, I responded to your PM, I hope. Let me know if you do not receive the response.

 

[n9pbt]

overtocd,

Not sure if the PM didn't make it through. Please let me know if you are still having trouble. I would be more than happy to meet with you and give you a hand getting started.

 

[Jhutchison3]

I have picked out a WS1040 for Christmas and have been reading on how to program it. I will be thankful for any help in advance. I live about 2 miles from CAE.