Will a scanner work in my area?

[JackieL204]

I live in Eubank, Kentucky 42567 in Pulaski County. I want to listen to police and sheriff communications in 42567 and in Somerset 42501. Would also like to listen to sheriff and police in Stanford, Kentucky (Lincoln County) as I am right on the borderline for both counties. I also want to listen to Kentucky State Police. There is a lot of activity for the Pulaski Sheriff’s office out my road. I always see them going by with lights on. Would like to listen and see what’s up.
I am in a hilly area with poor cell phone reception. I do have an external scanner antenna on a 8’-10’ high pole.
I just found a Whistler TRX-1 at a local pawn shop for $264 and wondered if that would work for my area.
What type scanner should I be looking for? I have been told the Somerset Police and Lincoln county police signals are encrypted but I cannot find any info on what’s encrypted and what isn’t. Is every police frequency in my area encrypted? I do not have an internet connection for a computer but have an HP Stream laptop. A WiFi is not far away.

 

[fredva]

Pulaski County sheriff uses a conventional DMR system which is unencrypted, according to the RadioReference database: Pulaski County, Kentucky (KY) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference A TRX-1 should work, as it receives unencrypted DMR transmissions. You are out of luck with Lincoln County Sheriff, however. They are encrypted. I'm not seeing Somerset PD listed separately. You probably can receive Kentucky State Police currently. I believe I saw KSP is getting a new radio system. A TRX may work fine on the new system, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Enjoi19]

Pulaski County sheriff uses a conventional DMR system which is unencrypted, according to the RadioReference database: Pulaski County, Kentucky (KY) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference A TRX-1 should work, as it receives unencrypted DMR transmissions. You are out of luck with Lincoln County Sheriff, however. They are encrypted. I'm not seeing Somerset PD listed separately. You probably can receive Kentucky State Police currently. I believe I saw KSP is getting a new radio system. A TRX may work fine on the new system, but I don't know for sure.

Somerset is encrypted NXDN for police, further down on that page. Lincoln county; the sheriff is encrypted NXDN as well.

For the poster: Any time you see a large "E" at the end of a mode on the database, it indicates encryption. You can see it on the page that Fred linked.

The TRX-1 would actually be decent for this area as DMR works out of the box and this is not a trunked system (Since the TRX just scans DMR voice channels and does not actually trunk track it).

 

[JackieL204]

Thanks for this info. What does Mode FMN mean? Would the TRX-1 pick up FMN for fire and rescue?
I am about 23 miles from Somerset and the Pulaski Sheriff’s Department.

 

[doctordialtone]

Thanks for this info. What does Mode FMN mean?

It just means Narrow Band FM.

Any scanner will receive NFM. It's not really a factor.

Scanner School Session 5 - AM, FM, SSB (USB, LSB), NFM, WBFM

Explain the Difference between Narrow band FM and Wide band FM - Electronics Post

The major differences between the Narrow Band and Wide Band FM

electronicspost.com

 

[fredva]

I am about 23 miles from Somerset and the Pulaski Sheriff’s Department

The sheriff's department needs to have a radio system that communicates with car radios throughout most of the county. That means there is a decent chance you should be able to receive their communications as well with an external antenna. You'd have to try to know for sure. I'm going to link a page that shows the transmitters for the county's radio system. Perhaps one of these transmitters is fairly close to you: FCC Callsign WPRF953 (PULASKI, COUNTY OF - SHERIFF OFFICE)

EDIT: Now that I see where Eubank is on the map, it looks like you are in a part of the county that is farthest from a transmitter. Hmm. I can't really tell you what the reception would be. It's possible you might have to raise that external antenna up higher.

 

[JackieL204]

Good info on those transmitters. It looks like I should be able to pick them up. Might go put the TRX-1 in layaway.

 

[JackieL204]

The sheriff's department needs to have a radio system that communicates with car radios throughout most of the county. That means there is a decent chance you should be able to receive their communications as well with an external antenna. You'd have to try to know for sure. I'm going to link a page that shows the transmitters for the county's radio system. Perhaps one of these transmitters is fairly close to you: FCC Callsign WPRF953 (PULASKI, COUNTY OF - SHERIFF OFFICE)

EDIT: Now that I see where Eubank is on the map, it looks like you are in a part of the county that is farthest from a transmitter. Hmm. I can't really tell you what the reception would be. It's possible you might have to raise that external antenna up higher.

I see your edit now . Now back on the fence. I have a two section braced Tri-tower I could put up. I could only go up about 15’ with that. That’s about my limit. I’m not the best at Climbing towers and ladders.

 

[fredva]

If it were me, I'd probably buy the TRX, and raise the antenna to 15' if I didn't get reception with the existing antenna set-up. If that didn't work, it's likely that I could sell it at for least $264. Before I bought the scanner, I'd try it out at least on the NOAA weather radio broadcasts to verify it is working. (The WX button gives that capability).

The TRX is not the scanner I'd recommend for every part of the country. There are more sophisticated radio systems that other scanners are better at handling. But in your area and for that price, I don't think that is a bad deal.

 

[JackieL204]

Good advice. I’ll take some batteries along and check it out. The pawn shop sometimes offers a $20, 30-day warranty on certain things. I usually don’t buy an extra warranty but it might be good in this case. The price drops on October 19 to $219. I have waited for the price drop on things there before and missed out. It’s a gamble. $264 seemed like a good price for me. I’ve read the TRX has good audio quality and that’s a plus being hearing impaired.
thanks to all for the help and advice.

 

[whitty]

Good advice. I’ll take some batteries along and check it out. The pawn shop sometimes offers a $20, 30-day warranty on certain things. I usually don’t buy an extra warranty but it might be good in this case. The price drops on October 19 to $219. I have waited for the price drop on things there before and missed out. It’s a gamble. $264 seemed like a good price for me. I’ve read the TRX has good audio quality and that’s a plus being hearing impaired.
thanks to all for the help and advice.

I live in southwestern Wayne county and have my antenna around 20 ft. and receive Pulaski County loud and clear here.

 

[JackieL204]

I know Wayne County. Thanks for telling me about your antenna. If you can get the signal then I should be able to get it too. I have the tower sections to go 20’-25’. Will have to hire someone to put them up past the first section but I can set the base section in concrete myself.

 

[whitty]

I know Wayne County. Thanks for telling me about your antenna. If you can get the signal then I should be able to get it too. I have the tower sections to go 20’-25’. Will have to hire someone to put them up past the first section but I can set the base section in concrete myself.

Yep, you should get it easily.

 

[JackieL204]

Well, the TRX-1 is now mine-or in 90 days it will be. They let me have it at $250 tax and all. 90 days layaway. And for another $11 I got a 15 day warranty. The associate told me if it didn’t come in I could return it within 15 days after getting it out of layaway and I would get the full $250 back. It did power on and get the WX. Will have to download the manual. Got a lot of learning to do for sure.

Now to work erecting the 20’ tower.

 

[fredva]

You can also download the EZScan software and have the programming ready to upload to the scanner before you get it.

 

[JackieL204]

Will this scanner antenna work? It’s a 30 year old antenna I bought my Dad. If not, what do I need to get?

 

[JackieL204]

Base tower hole is ready for cement.

 

[mastr]

Base tower hole is ready for cement.

With all due respect, no it isn't. (1) Put some gravel in the bottom so the tower legs can drain. (2) Are you sure the hole is deep/wide enough?

 

[JackieL204]

Thanks for the gravel tip. 2’ wide 2’ deep now. Should it be bigger?

 

[mastr]

Thanks for the gravel tip. 2’ wide 2’ deep now. Should it be bigger?

(disclaimer- this is not engineering advice, no warranty expressed or implied)
IF it was my project, the hole would be at least 3 feet deep, 3 foot diameter, and flat at the bottom-not bowl shaped.
24 inches deep is not much if someone will ever climb on that assembly.