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Highway Patrol shares information on VIPER system
By Sarah A. Wise
NL Staff Writer
1 May 2008 — In response to a growing controversy over the type of radio system the county intends to install, potentially using taxpayer money, a representative spoke on an alternative option in Pikeville on Thursday.
Captain J.A. Melvin of the NC Highway Patrol technical services unit spoke about the VIPER radio system, which the Highway Patrol uses. Currently, the county plans to install a different system that meets Project 25 specifications.
He began the session by telling the audience, made up mostly of volunteer firemen and rescue personnel, that he did not intend to enter the debate brewing in the county or to sway the audience toward the VIPER system.
Capt. Melvin said he simply wanted to provide accurate information on the system, because a lot of misinformation had been circulating.
For example, he cited a common misconception that VIPER belongs to the highway patrol. In fact, the system is a statewide radio network. The highway patrol simply manages the system.
VIPER is an abbreviated title for the system, Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders. The VIPER acronym refers to the infrastructure to support the emergency radio system
The system has two “solutions” to increase interoperability between emergency responders.
The first part is the tactical solution, which provides mainstreamed communication in emergency situations or during large events. The state has several VIPER enabled mobile towers which can be used by municipalities or counties in emergency situations when their own equipment is out of service. It can also be used during major events like festivals.
The second part is a strategic solution, which is a statewide permanent solution for all emergency responders. This refers to the permanent towers and radio systems that are used for communication.
Capt. Marvin said that 73 counties are on the VIPER network in some capacity, and eight counties in North Carolina are currently operating VIPER as their primary communication network.
Audience members expressed some concerns over the VIPER system, including cost of radios.
Capt. Marvin said that two brands of 800 megahertz radios work with the VIPER system, and within those brands are models ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 each. With the county’s proposed system, radios will run around d$2,500 each.
He added that the system the county is planning is compatible with VIPER and they will be able to be linked together if the county opts for the P25 system.
Another concern was the difference in cost between the proposed system and the VIPER system. The main difference between the two systems, which are technologically similar, is that towers already exist for the VIPER system and the county will have to erect towers for the P25 system. The VIPER system also does not have paging capabilities, so the county would have to install another system for pagers.
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