SCHEART is short for the South Carolina Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team. The Team has multiple components, One component is a group of volunteers who support emergency communications for healthcare and state/county governments. Another component is the ownership and management of statewide network of repeaters which provide an auxiliary communication path for amateur radio operators to support hospitals, county emergency management officials and state agencies during emergencies. There is also a not for profit corporation, SCHEART Inc., which works to obtain funds to expand and enhance the SCHEART system. SCHEART represents a partnership between the amateur radio community and SCEMD, SCETV, and SLED. The FCC license is held by a club which administers the system and assures compliance with FCC Rules and Regulations. 

SCHEART does not provide or maintain DMR code plugs. There are hundreds of DMR radio models, each with different programming software, firmware, and code plug formats. A code plug that works for one radio may not work for another.

SCHEART’s mission is to operate and support the statewide communications network. We publish the technical information needed to access the SCHEART network—including repeater frequencies, talkgroups, color codes, and time slot assignments—but we do not create or support radio-specific programming files.

For assistance with programming your radio, consult your radio manufacturer, dealer, local amateur radio club, or another user with experience programming your particular model.

Any amateur radio operator with a current license can use the SCHEART System, as long as FCC Rules and Regulations are followed. Since the primary purpose of the SCHEART system is emergency communications, official use of the networks in support of the South Carolina healthcare system and state and local emergency operations will ALWAYS take precedence over routine amateur communications.

The SCHEART system is comprised of networks of linked amateur radio repeaters strategically located throughout South Carolina. SCHEART provides a digital network with 32 repeaters and an analog network with 17 VHF and 15 UHF repeaters. The analog network is shown here. The digital network is shown here.

There are two separate networks in the SCHEART system, an analog network and a digital network. Details about the analog VHF and UHF repeaters are here. Details about the digital network are here.

Using the information on this page and the instructions for the specific DMR radio you are using, you can program your radio for the SCHEART DMR system. You will have to use the programs and connections for your radio as supplied by the manufacturer to perform the programming.

Any use of the SCHEART system or individual repeaters for networks (Controlled Nets) must be approved in advance. Fill out a Contact Us form to make requests. This includes local events where the SCHEART repeater will be used to facilitate communications. Requests for use of a repeater for nets not directly supporting the SCHEART system mission will not be approved.

SCHEART depends on the support of the amateur radio community. Whether you volunteer your time, share your technical expertise, host network equipment, assist with training, or make a financial contribution, your support helps strengthen South Carolina’s emergency communications infrastructure. You can make a financial contribution here.

Engineers at South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) and its volunteers are charged with the operation, maintenance and repair of the SCHEART system. Users can report issues here.

To report technical issues with the use of the SCHEART system, create a Trouble Ticket here.