Palmetto 800 trunked system and Pro-94

[trgams]

I hope someone might be able to help me...not sure, because this is a pretty old scanner, but here goes....Is this scanner capable of following the palmetto 800 system in South Carolina, or am I in need of upgrading to listen to it? I can follow conventional trunked frequencies in my county (Richland) and I also hear some trunked systems in adjacent counties, but as I understand it the Palmetto 800 system is statewide, and it would be fun to listen to other counties as-well...thanks for any help you might be able to provide...KI4RPO

 

[n2mdk]

It should be able to track it the problem is it is a CAI system so some of the TGs are digital, the database, really isn't too specific as to what a lot of them are.

 

[trgams]

Sorry to be so obtuse, but what is a CAI system, and what are TG's? Not too up on these abbreviations unfortunately..Thanks for the response.

 

[n2mdk]

Common Air Interface meaning a standard 800 MHz Moto system with some digital channels.

 

[evan]

You are able to monitor the Palmetto 800 with a Pro-94, but you can only listen to analog talkgroups-no digital. The most important agency that is digital that you would probably want to listen to is Columbia PD. You will still be able to hear Richland Co. SD, Columbia FD, Richland Co. EMS, and SCHP. All of these agencies are on the Palmetto 800. If you are already listening to them, then you are listening to the Palmetoo 800 and don't even realize it. Remember that just because the system is statewide, you will not hear all the talkgroups on one tower. From Richland County you may be able to hear adjacent counties that use the system, but don't expect to listen to talkgroups from the coast, upstate, etc.

You will get a lot more locaiton specific responses and offerings of programming help if you post this question in the SC forum.

 

[brian]

Talkgoups are essentially "channels" on a trunked system. They are the numbers you'd program in that correspond to the channels on a trunked system you'd want to hear.

As stated above, for now at least, a PRO-94 can monitor the Palmetto 800 system. But many agencies are switching to digital modulation, which will sound like noise on the PRO-94. You'll not want to program those talkgroups, or you'll want to lock them out. Fortunately, most of the public safety agencies in the Midlands are still analog.

It should be able to track it the problem is it is a CAI system so some of the TGs are digital, the database, really isn't too specific as to what a lot of them are.

I'd like to read some clarification of this statement. In the database on the Palmetto 800 page, there is a "Mode" column next to the talkgroups. In the case that a talkgroup has a
"D" (for digital) or "E" (for Encrypted), you won't be able to receive that talkgroup on the PRO-94. For cases where the "Mode" column is blank or missing altogether, that talkgroup is analog and can be monitored by the PRO-94. I'm not sure what's "not too specific" about that.

To the OP, come on over the South Carolina State forum and we'll help you out as best we can.

 

[n2mdk]

To me a blank space or missing means unknown, that's not being too specific when there could be an A there. I like specificity:wink:

 

[trgams]

Hey...Thanks for all the help so-far, I really appreciate it....It helps to understand how the frequencies are utilized in Columbia....Keep 'em comming.