Amtrak PD Changes?

[BigLebowski]

Perusing the Amtrak licenses that they have recently been updating along the NEC, and I am seeing that they are now licensing the old PD input of 160.365 as the repeater output, and 161.295 as the input. At the same time, they are adding the P25 emission to the police frequencies only. I have also seen APX8500's in the newer patrol vehicles as the only radio and multiband antennas.

Anyone actually monitored any changes to the system yet?

 

[trentbob]

What location are you seeing apx only car radios and tri band antenna?

In Lower Bucks County along Northeast Corridor we had lost Amtrak police for a while but now they're on the old standard frequency for dispatch with a PL of 100.0, very few transmissions, only have one car covering from Cornwell Heights to Morris yard.

Also foot patrol ride trains from Trenton to New York and back and will report on that PL tone to Philadelphia. That's called the Trenton repeater even though it's across the river in PA in Morrisville.

Rarely see a car but if I do I'll look.. I know they do not have direct contact with Bucks County Police dispatch on 7-800 Phase 2 encrypted. Have to go through Philly dispatch.

I would think if they had 8500's they would be able to directly talk to Bucks County dispatch and Philly, the last time I saw an Amtrak car in Bucks County in suicide alley high speed section between Croydon and Bristol stations, it had a standard quarter wave 16 in whip.

 

[BigLebowski]

Philadelphia. Some cars still have the Icom mobiles but the new ones are APX with the big thick-base multiband antenna.

 

[trentbob]

Philadelphia. Some cars still have the Icom mobiles but the new ones are APX with the big thick-base multiband antenna.

Pectel, I think it's the brand antenna, I used one for a while and did not like it, big thick Base with a rubber mount but nmo, originally it was the Larson tri-band newer model with the spring and heavy duty nmo mount that was paired with the 8500.

That's the one I use for monitoring in my car. Also works very well transmitting on 2 m.

Sometimes traveling in Bristol or Croydon or Levittown I hear a marked car making a station check or checking on a trespasser, I'll try to see if I can spot one of their cars, they are often up at Morrisville yard, I'll be able to see that antenna mile away LOL.

 

[ElevatorsAndRadios]

Out in SoCal they are carrying APX8000s, but I am not sure what frequency they are using. Their cars have F5061Ds.

 

[motorcoachdoug]

Here in the DC metro area at Union Station I see both their cars , more like 3 or 4 of them at one time parked right in front on the sidewalk with APX8500 with the sharkfin type multiband antenna and APX8K portables. With so many agencies here in DC they need that type of radio to interop with.