Agenda - 11-17-2011 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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users at once. When the system is broadcasting, every tower in the system is used to get the message out to all users. Orange County utilizes towers in Alamance, Durham, and Chatham counties to communicate with emergency services providers in Orange County on the state- wide radio system. Adding channels to existing towers will improve system capacity. The cost of one channel added to one tower is approximately $30,000 and multiple channels will be needed on multiple towers. Building Penetration -refers to the reception and transmission from handheld radios operating within buildings. Mobile Repeaters significantly improve in building reception. The Chapel Hill Fire Department has used mobile repeaters to significantly improve VIPER radio reception. Repeaters can either be mobile or mounted to a fixed location. Mobile repeaters in emergency vehicles will significantly improve building penetration. Mobile Repeaters are estimated to cost $20,000 each and many repeaters will likely be needed. Listed below are the VIPER towers that provide service to Orange County and the number of channels on each tower. V/PER Towers Orange County: Eno Mountain (Hillsborough) 8 Channels WUNC (Chatham Mtn.) 5 Channels Orange County North (Laws) 5 Channels UNC - MED (Brickhouse Bldg) 8 Channels Durham County: Cole Mill Road 5 Channels Camden (Roxboro Rd.) 5 Channels A/amance County: Cane Mtn. 8 Channels Altamahaw 8 Channels Orange County does not have the technical expertise to evaluate coverage and capacity issues with the VIPER system. A technical analysis is required to provide accurate information to solve the coverage and capacity deficiencies. A coverage and capacity assessment will provide the County with analysis of present coverage, suggestions for upgrades of existing sites, and additional locations for supplemental sites to increase the coverage to an acceptable level. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This presentation of this information has no immediate financial impact on the County. After a coverage & capacity assessment has been completed, a financial plan will be presented to the Board. Staff anticipates a total cost estimate for towers, additional channels, and repeaters to be between $3.5 and $5 million dollars which would to be included in the County's Capital Investment Plan. A coverage and capacity assessment is estimated not to exceed $50,000, and the Emergency Telephone System Fund has adequate fund balance to cover this cost.