MBTA Radio Rebanding

[flyerD7010]

Source: MBTA > About the MBTA > News & Events

MBTA re-banding its radio system to comply with an FCC mandate

Start Date: 08/25/2009 End Date: Email: LRivera@mbta.com Phone: (617) 222-1510

Project will result in a temporary deactivation of ‘real-time’ schedule information on Silver Line/Washington Street

Effective Tuesday, August 25th, the MBTA will begin a federally mandated re-banding program. Under this program, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that public safety and public transit agencies across the country move to new frequencies to realign the radio spectrum.

The MBTA is required to reconfigure its existing communication system facilities. Over the course of one month, the 800 MHZ band will undergo reconfiguration to minimize harmful Commercial interference to the public safety radio communications systems.

During this time, real-time arrival countdown signage regularly available at stops along the Silver Line/Washington Street corridor will be temporarily deactivated. Signage is being posted along the Silver Line corridor notifying customers of the temporary deactivation.

In addition, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology will be unavailable to dispatchers in the MBTA’s Bus Operations Control Center. As a result, bus dispatchers will not have the capability of making real time schedule adjustments. As the MBTA’s mobile radios are reprogrammed, they will begin to migrate over to the new frequency set and begin to populate the data system. Completion is slated for September 24th, but communications personnel are determined to complete the transition before that date.

The MBTA apologizes for any inconveniences customers may experience during this period of transition.

[zerg901]

Paid for by NEXTEL - who gets the money from their customers and investors I presume. And the FCC chips in some spectrum for NEXTEL.

[garys]

Originally Posted by flyerD7010

Completion is slated for September 24th, but communications personnel are determined to complete the transition before that date.

It would be the first time in history that the MBTA completed anything on time, let alone early. Never mind within budget. But, miracles do happen, I suppose.

[raisindot]

Originally Posted by flyerD7010

Source: MBTA > About the MBTA > News & Events

...During this time, real-time arrival countdown signage regularly available at stops along the Silver Line/Washington Street corridor will be temporarily deactivated.

...In addition, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology will be unavailable to dispatchers in the MBTA’s Bus Operations Control Center. As a result, bus dispatchers will not have the capability of making real time schedule adjustments.

Tell me how this is any different than the usual non-working signs, late arrivals, and inefficiencies that make the MBTA the most cost-deficient public transportation system in the country.

Suzie

[ctrabs74]

Is the MBTA using that EDACS system? The database page for the T hasn't been updated in about a year.

[ecps92]

Yes, the MBTA Operations is patched into the EDACS [Red Line, Green Line, Bus's etc] However they are still using the UHF T Band channels.

The MBTA Police is still primarily UHF T Band

Originally Posted by ctrabs74

Is the MBTA using that EDACS system? The database page for the T hasn't been updated in about a year.

[zerg901]

I listened to the T PD, Green Line, and Red Line today via UHF. The audio was crisp - sounded like analog not digital. I also think that the bus channel on UHF was dead. Maybe the buses are the only field units actually transmitting on the 800 mhz TRS at this point. (Basically I think I am saying the same thing that ecps92 just said). Peter Sz

PS - there is digital traffic heard on the 800 Mhz freqs - perhaps it is the buses - and whatever UHF channels they have patched up to the 800 Mhz system.

[garys]

Originally Posted by ecps92

Yes, the MBTA Operations is patched into the EDACS [Red Line, Green Line, Bus's etc] However they are still using the UHF T Band channels.

The MBTA Police is still primarily UHF T Band

From what I see on the street, the Transit PD is still using their UHF radios. UHF Channel 1 at least, will stay on line after they complete the transition. It will be used for interop with BPD and other agencies. I think the plan is to keep Channel 1 active in the tunnels and give access to outside agencies that don't have infrastructure underground. Channel 2 isn't built out under ground, so I don't know if they'll give that channel up.

[zerg901]

472.6875 seems to be dead. I logged MBTA buses on this freq in May 2009. Apparently the buses have gone to 800 Mhz now. Peter Sz