I've long seen 173.375 listed as an Amtrak Police frequency for on-train use. I'm curious about how this system works.
I've noticed that on many (but not all) NEC trains I've ridden on (both Acela and non-Acela), there's an on-train repeater retransmitting the local road channel (it's clearly on the train, since the signal strength doesn't vary). This seems odd to me; if it's for use by Amtrak police riding the train with their portables, wouldn't it make more sense to repeat the Amtrak Police frequency? And if it repeats the road channel, wouldn't that be useful for general crew use as well?
Is this just a repeated audio feed from the cab radio, or is it a separate system? Is there also an uplink frequency for the portables?
I've also noticed that in Wilmington there's a fixed repeater that rebroadcasts the local police dispatch channel, which I assume is for Amtrak's use. And in New York, there's a Spanish-language taxi dispatch service there, presumably an unlicensed pirate. But I'm curious specifically about the on-train system.
Thanks
I've noticed that on many (but not all) NEC trains I've ridden on (both Acela and non-Acela), there's an on-train repeater retransmitting the local road channel (it's clearly on the train, since the signal strength doesn't vary). This seems odd to me; if it's for use by Amtrak police riding the train with their portables, wouldn't it make more sense to repeat the Amtrak Police frequency? And if it repeats the road channel, wouldn't that be useful for general crew use as well?
Is this just a repeated audio feed from the cab radio, or is it a separate system? Is there also an uplink frequency for the portables?
I've also noticed that in Wilmington there's a fixed repeater that rebroadcasts the local police dispatch channel, which I assume is for Amtrak's use. And in New York, there's a Spanish-language taxi dispatch service there, presumably an unlicensed pirate. But I'm curious specifically about the on-train system.
Thanks