2008-2012 VIPER Discussion (Archive)

[WA4MJF]

NCSHP patrol zones (areas) are generally in in the same county. C-3 in Wake has the county divided in to 4 patrol zones (areas). I would think that Alamance and Orange are large enough to each have a District of their own and probably large enough to be divided into patrol zones (areas). From your post, Orange may be Troop D, District 7, if that is what you're hearing in Orange.

73 de Ronnie

 

[rpgallagher]

Ack! My upbringing listening to the NYSP just bit me again. They have zones as the next division under troops. Sorry about that. I meant to say that Orange and Alamance used to share District 5 and have, as far as I can remember, D5xx cars. I think the "7" designator is new. Or, alas, I'm getting older more ways than chronologically.

 

[SCPD]

According to Wikipedia Orange County is in fact D7

 

[Metrofire31]

VIPER Monitoring in Macon County

I am an occasional listener to VIPER as we have a second home in the mountains around Franklin (Macon County). This past weekend, I was monitoring VIPER on my BC396XT and heard transmissions on Talkgroups 1328 and 1424 - both NCHP Troop A (Eastern North Carolina).

Can someone explain to me how the system works so that I can hear a talkgroup in East Carolina when I'm in the very tip of Western Carolina?

 

[Drafin]

Can someone explain to me how the system works so that I can hear a talkgroup in East Carolina when I'm in the very tip of Western Carolina?

In very VERY simplified terms, there was a radio "visiting" from Troop A in the area. The tower realized this and was allowing transmissions to be broadcast so that this radio could send and receive back "home" if my understanding is correct.

It's not uncommon to hear very odd talkgroups in some very strange places.

Drafin

 

[Metrofire31]

VIPER in Macon County

Thanks, Drafin!

That certainly makes sense. Since most states tend to move their state police/troopers around other other posts/troops from time-to-time, it would make sense that the system would have the capability to responding to the troopers "current" location rather than confining them to their "home" area.

I've really enjoyed monitoring the VIPER system when we're in the mountains. Even though Macon County hasn't placed any agencies on the system as of yet, I enjoy putting my scanner in "SEARCH" mode and seeing which different talkgroups I can receive.

I appreciate the quick response.

Mike
"Metrofire31"
WQIT636
North Ga GMRS Network
Atlanta

 

[KE4ZNR]

Hey Mike,
Good to see you visiting our wonderful state!
Do keep in mind that Troopers are usually assigned a specific district and don't move around a whole lot. What you heard was an anomaly and not the normal day to day SHP Comms. The system could quickly be overloaded if every trooper decided to listen to the SHP District across the state. Usually Troopers have enough to handle just keeping up with traffic around them so my guess would be a VIPER Technician had his radio on the SHP talkgroup in question. Or an SHP higher up personnel.
Comms in a statewide smartzone system can be contained within a specific area a number of different ways at the zone controller. A Talkgroup can be assigned a specific area, and if the user on that talkgroup wanders outside of that area they get an "out of range" message. Same thing for the Radio ID (RID). The Rid can be programmed to a specific area.
Just a way to maintain system resources and try to use them in the most efficient way possible.
Drafin is right on everything he said and especially right when he said:

It's not uncommon to hear very odd talkgroups in some very strange places

That's one of the many things that makes monitoring VIPER fun. You never know
which talkgroups are going to be active where
That's why it is a blast to keep the scanner in Search (or Open) mode.
Never know what ya might hear
Happy Monitoring (and happy vacationing!)
Marshall KE4ZNR

Thanks, Drafin!

That certainly makes sense. Since most states tend to move their state police/troopers around other other posts/troops from time-to-time, it would make sense that the system would have the capability to responding to the troopers "current" location rather than confining them to their "home" area.

I've really enjoyed monitoring the VIPER system when we're in the mountains. Even though Macon County hasn't placed any agencies on the system as of yet, I enjoy putting my scanner in "SEARCH" mode and seeing which different talkgroups I can receive.

I appreciate the quick response.

Mike
"Metrofire31"
WQIT636
North Ga GMRS Network
Atlanta

 

[Metrofire31]

Viper

Hey Marshall!

You're absolutely right when you say "...our wonderful state...". I lived in Wilmington for two years in the early 80s and now have a home in the mountains in Macon County and without a doubt, North Carolina is a beautiful state - tip to tip. And I have enjoyed monitoring VIPER in Western NC where most everything is conventional. I'm certainly not complaining about conventional because I live in Atlanta where EVERYTHING is trunked (mostly P25) and being able to enjoy the simplicity and reliability of conventional is a real treat. Warren Cabe is the Director of Macon County Communications and he does an incredible job dealing with repeaters that have to work around tall mountains and across a large county. When it comes to communications, I believe that simpler is better and that true interoperability is often a matter of process rather than buying a new technology. I also realize that large metro areas need greater bandwidth and many more talkgroups than smaller areas. This variety is just one of the many reasons I enjoy spending time in a more enjoyable, more beautiful place like Macon County.

Thanks for your welcoming comments!

Mike
"Metrofire31"
Atlanta/Macon County, NC

 

[Flyham]

Ack! My upbringing listening to the NYSP just bit me again. They have zones as the next division under troops. Sorry about that. I meant to say that Orange and Alamance used to share District 5 and have, as far as I can remember, D5xx cars. I think the "7" designator is new. Or, alas, I'm getting older more ways than chronologically.

In trying to stay somewhat on topic with this thread, here goes. In the eyes of NCSHP. Alamance CO is Troop D Dist D5, Orange CO is Troop D Dist 7 (as of early 2010). Both districts, along with D4 (Person & Caswell Co) are dispatched on NCSHP Low Band Ch 1/2 and VIPER Talkgroup Trp D D5. The common theme being any district or districts that share a low-band channel are also sharing the same VIPER Talkgroup. It still keeps everyone on the same page.
There are other details, but I'll save them for another time.

 

[KE4ZNR]

While doing some searching this AM came up with 2 UNID VIPER IDs:

16880 Digital = "Keven Carpenter this is Allen Broadwell" early this AM.

5744 Digital= This one is a unique find. Talk of a racetrack? I have uploaded 2 wav files with the audio from this one: Index of /k/ke4znr//wav

Both of the above catches took place today off of the Wake Simulcast part of VIPER.

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[trumpetman]

Heard the 16880 this AM as well. Talk between Chimney Rock area and Elizabethtown.

 

[richardbritt]

Then there some of us who live in NC and listen in Atlanta GA when we travel there (to Conyers actually).

Enjoy the mountains. Good time of year. Hope you're up high and get cool temps

See ya

Richard in Chowan County

 

[SCPD]

If I had to guess I would say that the 16880 was some kind of Federal talkgroup since they just use names instead of unit numbers alot but there are no Federal lands around Chimney Rock.

 

[reconrider8]

could be some kinda training for nchp or take down practice for new officers

 

[WA4MJF]

The folks that don't have numbers use names on the radio, not just a Fed thing. We do that in my FD. Only those with permanently assigned radios have numbers. The rest just use their name.

 

[Ten42]

Tg 54736

It wasnt in the database this past weekend when I looked, but when I looked today it is, sorry for the premature posting. Thanks to all who keep the d/b up to the minute on VIPER.

 

[randyK]

Does anyone know if they have reassigned SHP MW Tech A (TG #4176) to a different agency? I've had several hits on it with new radio IDs.

 

[trumpetman]

I'm thinking it was reassigned....We've had 2 new VIPER sites come online today and I'm noticing a lot of chatter on 4192 (with a status bit of +8, which means the talkgroup has DES Encryption). It's digital also, I'm thinking the microwave techs have moved to a new digital TG.

 

[ncdadof3]

Western Nc has 2 new towers Corbin MTN in Henderson Co 868.9125 PCC 867.4875 ACC and Tryon Peak in Polk Co 868.325 Thanks to PBOY for all his hard work and to everyone else who moderates and submits the information that makes RR great

 

[KE4ZNR]

I think I have gotten all of the newest sites added & updated.
Though please let me know if anyone sees anything really amiss.
Happy Monitoring
Marshall KE4ZNR