VIPER

800 MHz radios have been proven to work in mountainous areas across the United States, and in fact the current CJIN mobile data network is operating on 800 MHz frequencies. The states of Utah, Colorado, West Virginia and Pennsylvania are using 800 MHz radios for their radio systems.

The State Highway Patrol was identified by the Legislative CJIN Report to be the managing agency of the 800 MHz statewide voice and the statewide data system. The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety through the Division of the State Highway Patrol is statutorily required to maintain a statewide radio system. The State Highway Patrol, as with the Mobile Data Network, will be a small user in comparison to the number of local users on the network.

As with all new technologies, there is an expense to implement and maintain this new statewide network. However, when compared to modern radio systems installed in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio our estimates for North Carolina are not unreasonable. It should be noted that the state of New York has recently received a bid for a statewide radio system that is estimated to cost one billion dollars.

No. Unfortunately, the technology used for 800 MHz trunked radio systems does not allow for a paging solution. Agencies requiring paging will have to continue to support their existing paging system. However, where available, tower space will be offered to VIPER participants on State Highway Patrol owned towers for local agency paging antennas.

Satellite technology does have one advantage over typical trunked radio systems in that it is not terrestrial-based. This essentially means that a satellite-based communications system would be relatively free from harm as related to most natural or manmade disasters.

However, the primary drawback to satellite-based systems is that in order to function, the subscriber handset or radio unit must be in constant view of the sky. This would eliminate operation inside buildings or in areas of dense foliage or during heavy rainfall or intense cloud cover.

Satellite communications often don't work well in urban canyons (in streets and alleyways between tall buildings) because there is no line of sight to the satellites on the horizon. All of these detractions far outweigh the benefit of the system being somewhat impervious to being dependent on easily damaged infrastructure on earth.

Satellite systems also suffer from lengthy delays as the conversation is routed up into the sky many hundreds of miles and back down again to the receiving radio or handset. Furthermore, satellite-based technology will have to be refreshed as the orbit of the satellite can only be sustained for a finite number of years.

However, satellite communications would be a viable option in areas where terrestrial infrastructure would be too costly to serve the population such as the desert southwest of the US or the Middle East.

No. VIPER is the expansion of an existing Motorola radio system owned by the State, so obviously Motorola radios will work on the network. A list of approved vendors that can provide VIPER compatible radios can be found in the "Publications" section of this website.

The success of VIPER depends on our partnerships with state and local agencies, and the sharing of existing resources which may range from property to build the towers on to re-use of existing towers. These in-kind contributions will help keep the overall cost of construction lower than if we had to buy property and build new towers where state-owned towers are not available.

It was those partnerships that allowed the state to build the statewide mobile data network for less than $20m as compared to the estimate in 1993 of more than $100m for the state to build the infrastructure.

Our goal is not to ask the locals for free use of their land and/or towers and then require them to pay to use the system. We don't want to find ourselves in a situation where all our partners demand that we pay them for their resources so they can pay a user's fee. Additionally, there are many rural area departments that would not be able to pay a user fee and therefore would not be able to participate in VIPER at all.

Local agencies will continue to dispatch and control their personnel as they do today. However, they will need to incorporate 800 MHz radios into their dispatch center consoles so they can communicate with their personnel.

This is an expensive project and there will be large amounts of funds spent. However, with the Patrol acting as prime contractor, there is not a single vendor profiting from the total project funds.

There are many products that will be purchased from different vendors who will be required to compete in the competitive bid process and many pieces purchased of the State's standing convenience contracts.

However, there may be circumstances such as product integration with existing infrastructure and compatibility where a single or fewer vendors may be selected, but those vendors will not profit from other infrastructure equipment. These products include, but are not limited to, equipment buildings, towers and tower work, generators, microwave equipment, intellirepeaters and network routers.

Most cell towers are not high enough to get the desired coverage for each site. However, in cases where cellular companies have erected tall towers, we will take them into consideration if offered access. In an effort to keep the annual recurring operating cost at a minimum, we seek tower space that does not require us to pay monthly lease fees.

No. Unfortunately, the Tactical solution is a temporary measure that should only be used during emergencies. The Tactical Solution will connect existing radio systems together to allow agencies to talk with one another. It does not increase radio capacity but rather increases radio traffic on existing channels. A comparison is much like the old party-line phone system where there were many users trying to use a single phone line or channel. The Tactical solution is a measure to provide basic interoperable communications until the Strategic Solution is constructed.

No, there are no mandates to participate in VIPER. The VIPER project is an effort to assist in the efficiency and effectiveness of state and local public safety agencies by using a common interoperable communications system. Optimally it would be more effective if all agencies were on VIPER, however, we realize that some agencies have recently invested in their own systems and have not realized a return on that investment. And we understand that there are agencies that have no desire to be a part of VIPER at all.

Like almost all technology products, radio prices vary depending upon the number and cost of options purchased regardless of the radio system they will be used on. Radios used to access VIPER can vary in price from $1500 to $4000.

Yes, but not as efficient. 

Leased commercially owned private radio system:
This involves a vendor building a statewide radio system for public safety and charging a user fee for each and every user. Too expensive. The estimated fee for each radio on the network would exceed $75.00 per month.

Public Radio Systems:
Another alternative is Nextel. However, the estimated number of towers needed to cover ALL NC could exceed 600. Return on investment for vendors would not be reasonably realized for rural areas. Not compliant with public safety APCO 25 Standards.

Satellite:
Satellite technology does have one advantage over typical trunked radio systems in that it is not terrestrial-based. However, the primary drawback to satellite systems is that the radio must be in constant view of the sky. This would eliminate operation inside buildings or in areas of dense foliage or during heavy rainfall or intense cloud cover.