VIPER Statewide Radio System Discussion

RaleighGuy

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Ok getting several unknown talk groups of the (McCain) Raeford tower following #46806/ #46813/#46969/#47197/#46822
Several new Talk groups coming up off the viper McCain tower #46806/46813/46969/47197/46822/47248/47050

Those are all TGs from Site 2 of the Cary/Wake System belonging to Fire/EMS/PS Tac and others, if you have access to the RIDs you will probably see 183xxxx and 184xxxx, it is possible one of the voice channels for the Cary/Wake Site 2 system is also on the McCain Tower and conditions are right to pick it up, though I did not see any over lap.
 

GMB951

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Those are all TGs from Site 2 of the Cary/Wake System belonging to Fire/EMS/PS Tac and others, if you have access to the RIDs you will probably see 183xxxx and 184xxxx, it is possible one of the voice channels for the Cary/Wake Site 2 system is also on the McCain Tower and conditions are right to pick it up, though I did not see any over lap.
ok,thanks
 
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I have noticed when I am going through Burke County listening to VIPER, the talk group 6532 has Morganton Police sometimes and other times it sounds like fire dispatch. I am losing my marbles or can someone else that lives nearby confirm this. Normal listening either in the afternoon or in the evening if that matters. I know 6533 is fire dispatch, but I am sure I hear fire on 6532 as well.
 

trumpetman

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Morganton is a public safety department, they are combined fire and police and likely talk about both disciplines on their channels. There's also a chance talk group names or usage may have changed since the last database submission.
 

TylerMK

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Talk group 6532 is Morganton Department of Public Safety dispatch and is labeled Burke Law 2. Both law enforcement and fire calls are dispatched on Burke Law 2 and in the case of a fire, operations will be moved to one of the Burke Tac talk groups. Talk group 6533 is no longer assigned to Morganton Public Safety.
 
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Thank you @trumpetman and @TylerMK for the help. That makes sense now since I wasn't aware of the organizational model of Morganton Fire and Police. Sidenote for others here is their website and they proclaim their success of a public safety model (Public Safety).

Back to business, should someone with close knowledge to the situation submit a ticket to have the talk groups updated on the RRDB for VIPER to properly reflect the "Morganton Public Safety Dispatch" using TG ID 6532. This is not indicative of its current state in RRDB:

1720209342097.png

Per @TylerMK, it seems that 6532 needs to be changed to "Morganton Public Safety Dispatch" from "Morganton Police Dispatch". As for TG 6533, I don't know what the current state is as @TylerMK says it no longer assigned to Morganton Public Safety.

Thanks!
 

TylerMK

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Thank you @trumpetman and @TylerMK for the help. That makes sense now since I wasn't aware of the organizational model of Morganton Fire and Police. Sidenote for others here is their website and they proclaim their success of a public safety model (Public Safety).

Back to business, should someone with close knowledge to the situation submit a ticket to have the talk groups updated on the RRDB for VIPER to properly reflect the "Morganton Public Safety Dispatch" using TG ID 6532. This is not indicative of its current state in RRDB:

View attachment 165196

Per @TylerMK, it seems that 6532 needs to be changed to "Morganton Public Safety Dispatch" from "Morganton Police Dispatch". As for TG 6533, I don't know what the current state is as @TylerMK says it no longer assigned to Morganton Public Safety.

Thanks!
Yeah the Burke County talkgroups need to be updated at some point, I'll try to do that when time pemits. The actual name of talkgroup 6532 is Burke Law 2.
 

Huntercw

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What 800MHz NMO mobile antenna is everyone using for Viper? I am using the Larsen 150/450/758 tri band due to the positive feedback I saw, and while it seems to work pretty well, I am only monitoring 800MHz Viper and not UHF or VHF, so if I can get even better reception with a single band antenna I would prefer to do so, I've scrolled through a lot of older threads and people seem to have mixed opinions on the low profile shark fin or soup can antennas. I really do not have any preference on the size, type, or cost, I just want the best antenna for my setup. It seems NCSHP use some kind of very low profile antenna as I cannot see anything on the newer cars. I would assume whatever they are using would probably be the best but I'm still novice to the multi site trunked radio field.

 

BigLebowski

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What 800MHz NMO mobile antenna is everyone using for Viper? I am using the Larsen 150/450/758 tri band due to the positive feedback I saw, and while it seems to work pretty well, I am only monitoring 800MHz Viper and not UHF or VHF, so if I can get even better reception with a single band antenna I would prefer to do so, I've scrolled through a lot of older threads and people seem to have mixed opinions on the low profile shark fin or soup can antennas. I really do not have any preference on the size, type, or cost, I just want the best antenna for my setup. It seems NCSHP use some kind of very low profile antenna as I cannot see anything on the newer cars. I would assume whatever they are using would probably be the best but I'm still novice to the multi site trunked radio field.


The best solution depends on a lot of factors. Where are you located? Do you just want to listen to the closest sites or are you trying to pull in distant sites?

Viper is a robust system with lots of sites, so actual radios have no issues using low profile antennas as they will just affiliate to the closest site and pull the needed talkgroup to that site.

I would try an 800mhz 1/4 wave (cheap, but buy a good quality one) and see how it works for you and then move up from there. If you are in the mountains I would try a dedicated 800mhz gain antenna.
 

Huntercw

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The best solution depends on a lot of factors. Where are you located? Do you just want to listen to the closest sites or are you trying to pull in distant sites?

Viper is a robust system with lots of sites, so actual radios have no issues using low profile antennas as they will just affiliate to the closest site and pull the needed talkgroup to that site.

I would try an 800mhz 1/4 wave (cheap, but buy a good quality one) and see how it works for you and then move up from there. If you are in the mountains I would try a dedicated 800mhz gain antenna.
I am located in Western North Carolina, which is in the mountains. I have a BCD996P2 and have all the sites around me programmed in, I have a GPS module on the way to switch sites on and off as I travel, so I guess I would be trying to pull in the closest sites to where I am. I guess this is just my ignorance on the subject, but I was under the assumption that the taller the antenna the better the signal. I have looked at the 1/4 wave antennas and they look like they are pretty short. But do you think that would be the best for my situation?
 

Quantar22

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Apr 6, 2007
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I am located in Western North Carolina, which is in the mountains. I have a BCD996P2 and have all the sites around me programmed in, I have a GPS module on the way to switch sites on and off as I travel, so I guess I would be trying to pull in the closest sites to where I am. I guess this is just my ignorance on the subject, but I was under the assumption that the taller the antenna the better the signal. I have looked at the 1/4 wave antennas and they look like they are pretty short. But do you think that would be the best for my situation?
With the inherently wider vertical beamwidth of a 1/4 WL antenna versus say a gain antenna you will find reception better in mountainous areas with VIPER. Vertical beamwidth is narrower on the horizon with gain antennas. The way I explain it to others is think of where the tower sites are in relation to your receiver/transcsiver. They are generally hundreds; if not thousands of feet; vertically higher than you are while only being 10 or so air miles away or less. You will find a lower gain antenna works well in these areas. Good luck and happy monitoring!
 

BigLebowski

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I am located in Western North Carolina, which is in the mountains. I have a BCD996P2 and have all the sites around me programmed in, I have a GPS module on the way to switch sites on and off as I travel, so I guess I would be trying to pull in the closest sites to where I am. I guess this is just my ignorance on the subject, but I was under the assumption that the taller the antenna the better the signal. I have looked at the 1/4 wave antennas and they look like they are pretty short. But do you think that would be the best for my situation?

What you have already is a fine antenna, I have two of the spring models on one of my vehicles. For use on a scanner I doubt you will see much difference between what you have now and a dedicated 800mhz gain antenna. If you want to go low profile try a 1/4 wave.
 

Huntercw

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Okay just so I understand, a 1/4 wave has less gain and therefore has a wider pattern, and a high gain has a more narrow pattern which will create a stronger signal but in the mountains that can be an issue due to obstructions? Seems like pros and cons to both. I guess in some areas each would be better but you can only have one. Also I see the antenna I have is "Unity Gain", what is this?
 

BryanTheRed

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What 800MHz NMO mobile antenna is everyone using for Viper? I am using the Larsen 150/450/758 tri band due to the positive feedback I saw, and while it seems to work pretty well, I am only monitoring 800MHz Viper and not UHF or VHF, so if I can get even better reception with a single band antenna I would prefer to do so, I've scrolled through a lot of older threads and people seem to have mixed opinions on the low profile shark fin or soup can antennas. I really do not have any preference on the size, type, or cost, I just want the best antenna for my setup. It seems NCSHP use some kind of very low profile antenna as I cannot see anything on the newer cars. I would assume whatever they are using would probably be the best but I'm still novice to the multi site trunked radio field.

I am running a Laird Mirage with a APX4500. I get amazing coverage on VIPER and my local system.
 
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