VIPER Statewide Radio System Discussion

[NCFireman11]

I'm hearing an unlisted TG off the WSSU tower, TG #33012. Definitely sounds like Vitalink Ground Transport units talking to dispatch and it falls in alignment with 33011, listed as Vitalink Ground but under the New Hanover County section instead of statewide medical transport. Do not know the official TG alias however.

Still catching lots of traffic on TG #33012. Most of the traffic is inter facility transports in the Wilmington area. I also heard what I assume is a transport ambulance today say they were in service for the day in Salisbury with a 129XXXX UID. Rowan Medical Center is a Novant facilty so this TG might be a regional Novant non emergency transport talkgroup?

 

[RaleighGuy]

Still catching lots of traffic on TG #33012. I also heard what I assume is a transport ambulance today say they were in service for the day in Salisbury with a 129XXXX UID.

Both the 330xx TG range and 129xxxxx RID range belong to New Hanover County, my guess would be Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center ground dispatch.

 

[mwestbrook]

I'm in Charlotte and I'm picking up local departments and channels on VIPER sites very far from me on my SDS200. The signals are between -90 and-100 dB. I know that I can pick up non-local departments if a radio is using a local site, but what would be the reason I'm getting sites from so far away? Examples:
Bladenboro 122 mi
Kenansville 160 mi
Butner 125 mi
Reidsville 94 mi

 

[RaleighGuy]

I'm in Charlotte and I'm picking up local departments and channels on VIPER sites very far from me on my SDS200. The signals are between -90 and-100 dB. I know that I can pick up non-local departments if a radio is using a local site, but what would be the reason I'm getting sites from so far away? Examples:
Bladenboro 122 mi
Kenansville 160 mi
Butner 125 mi
Reidsville 94 mi

Someone in the area has a radio for a system on those towers turned on, an EMS or Sheriff transport, it isn't unusual I pick up out of area calls all the time, sometimes from App State when I'm in Raleigh.

 

[drayd48]

I'm in Charlotte and I'm picking up local departments and channels on VIPER sites very far from me on my SDS200. The signals are between -90 and-100 dB. I know that I can pick up non-local departments if a radio is using a local site, but what would be the reason I'm getting sites from so far away? Examples:
Bladenboro 122 mi
Kenansville 160 mi
Butner 125 mi
Reidsville 94 mi

What specific TGs are you hearing them on and what tower are you monitoring?

 

[mwestbrook]

What specific TGs are you hearing them on and what tower are you monitoring?

What specific TGs are you hearing them on and what tower are you monitoring?

Towers:
Four County EMC Bladenboro 122 mi 3(3) 025(19)
Kenansville 160 mi 3(3) 032(20)
Butner 125 mi 1(1) 008(8)
Reidsville 94 mi 1(1) 043(2B)

TGs:
7000 and 7002 are the only two I've heard, which are programmed in my scanner as Cabarrus County EM and Cabarrus County Fire, respectively. However, after listening for a little while today, it is definitely law enforcement traffic on both those TGs. Definitely still Cabarrus County LE.

 

[GamecockSJ]

The frequencies are reused across the state, but the radio doesn’t know that. For instance 773.95625 is the control channel for both Kenansville and Concord sites. You’re probably hearing the Concord site and the database in the radio is matching the frequency to Kenansville.

Edit: and Bladenboro’s control channel matches a Randolph County site.

 

[IcomIcR20]

I'm in Charlotte and I'm picking up local departments and channels on VIPER sites very far from me on my SDS200. The signals are between -90 and-100 dB. I know that I can pick up non-local departments if a radio is using a local site, but what would be the reason I'm getting sites from so far away? Examples:
Bladenboro 122 mi
Kenansville 160 mi
Butner 125 mi
Reidsville 94 mi

I do not think you are actually hearing those sites. Frequencies are reused on VIPER throughout the state. For instance, 856.4375 is used on the Chapel Hill, Monroe, Holly Ridge, and South Mills sites. If you punch in a bunch of distant VIPER sites into your SDS, and one happens to share a frequency with a nearby site, it will seem like you are hearing traffic from that distant site, when in reality it is coming from a much closer site.

The fact that you are only hearing TGs that are local to you when listening to these allegedly distant sites, coupled with the fact that 800 MHz simply does not have that kind of range further supports this.

 

[RaleighGuy]

The frequencies are reused across the state, but the radio doesn’t know that. For instance 773.95625 is the control channel for both Kenansville and Concord sites. You’re probably hearing the Concord site and the database in the radio is matching the frequency to Kenansville.

I believe he is talking about hearing TGs from an area different than he is in. While frequencies are reused the TGs are not. The distances he gave wasn't for sites he is hearing, but distance from the towers that would normally carry the TGs.

 

[GamecockSJ]

I believe he is talking about hearing TGs from an area different than he is in. While frequencies are reused the TGs are not.

He said he’s in CLT and hearing Cabarrus County TGs, so he’s probably hearing the Concord site, but the radio is identifying at as Kenansville since the control channel freqs are the same.

 

[RaleighGuy]

He said he’s in CLT and hearing Cabarrus County TGs, so he’s probably hearing the Concord site, but the radio is identifying at as Kenansville since the control channel freqs are the same.

I misunderstood what OP was saying, you are correct, sorry. And @IcomIcR20 shouldn't you be studying or something

 

[IcomIcR20]

And @IcomIcR20 shouldn't you be studying or something

That is actually what I was doing when I saw the notification for this thread pop up

 

[mwestbrook]

I do not think you are actually hearing those sites. Frequencies are reused on VIPER throughout the state. For instance, 856.4375 is used on the Chapel Hill, Monroe, Holly Ridge, and South Mills sites. If you punch in a bunch of distant VIPER sites into your SDS, and one happens to share a frequency with a nearby site, it will seem like you are hearing traffic from that distant site, when in reality it is coming from a much closer site.

The fact that you are only hearing TGs that are local to you when listening to these allegedly distant sites, coupled with the fact that 800 MHz simply does not have that kind of range further supports this.

GamecockSJ and IcomICR20 I understand exactly what you are saying and that makes perfect sense. Thanks for getting me straightened out!

 

[NCFireman11]

Both the 330xx TG range and 129xxxxx RID range belong to New Hanover County, my guess would be Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center ground dispatch.

I understand that. I guess I didn't make myself clear. In my my experience it didn't make sense for a Salisbury based ambulance to monitor New Hanover County for ground transports (that's almost a 4 hour drive away). I guess it cuts down on the amount of dispatchers for Novant. Or maybe there is a difference operations wise between Novant Med Flight and Novant Vitalink.

Also, it appears Novant Forsyth Critical Care Transport uses cell phones primarily and VIPER only as a backup as I very rarely hear them on their TG# 52716. Maybe someone from the Charlotte area can chime in on Novant Presbyterian Critical Care uses for daily communications (VIPER vs phone). Based on the database, I'm wondering if Novant also has unlisted TG #52717?

 

[BryanTheRed]

Novant acquired New Hanover Regional Medical Center's transport teams, AirLink and VitalLink when they took over that hospital system. I believe they are standardizing their transport service into one entity. VitalLink trucks are starting to be stationed in the Salisbury area. Additionally, the MedTrans helicopter that Novant Rowan had partnered with has ceased operations as of 0900 yesterday morning.

 

[RaleighGuy]

NCSHP has a new 700 MHz license in Avery County, WSAJ270

ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WSAJ270 - NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

 

[bertolinidives]

System clock

The time clock displayed on a VIPER radio has the ability to choose it's source (internal, GPS, System). Does anyone know if the VIPER system sends out clock (time) data to the radios?

 

[RaleighGuy]

System clock

The time clock displayed on a VIPER radio has the ability to choose it's source (internal, GPS, System). Does anyone know if the VIPER system sends out clock (time) data to the radios?

I know they do not send LRRP information, I expect it is time coded by the CAD consoles

 

[K2NEC]

I'm not from NC but I'm looking for some help. Maybe it's a typo but in Columbus County, SO dispatch is listed twice (12504 and 12509), can anyone tell me what the difference in these is?

 

[Nchpiboy]

I'm not from NC but I'm looking for some help. Maybe it's a typo but in Columbus County, SO dispatch is listed twice (12504 and 12509), can anyone tell me what the difference in these is?

Possible duel dispatch centers ?