Defect Detectors

[baybum]

Hello all, I posted this in the Rail forum to no avail. Wanted to post here in case there were any local rail fans in Maryland.
Are there still voice detectors in the Baltimore/Maryland area, or is it all digital data now?
If so, on what frequencies can they be heard?

Thanks

 

[ffemt25]

They broadcast on whatever road channel that railroad uses for that subdivision.

 

[WA3CSX]

yes they are still used, I tell you one is located in Hyattsville and another up by Laurel. And without looking at my timetable unknown where the others are.

 

[baybum]

WA3...would you happen to have the frequencies?

 

[Bjc123]

Maryland Railroads (Maryland) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Maryland Railroads (Maryland)

www.radioreference.com

Depends on exactly where you are railfanning

 

[WA3CSX]

WA3...would you happen to have the frequencies?

usually on the road channel
csx road 160.230

 

[baybum]

Bjc...yes I'm aware of the database. I'm in Howard. Just wasn't sure which road channel would be better/closer for me.
Thanks Wa3...I'll give it a shot. I assume these are all simplex, so I'll need to be close?

 

[WA3CSX]

Bjc...yes I'm aware of the database. I'm in Howard. Just wasn't sure which road channel would be better/closer for me.
Thanks Wa3...I'll give it a shot. I assume these are all simplex, so I'll need to be close?

no, should be repeater and since you up in HoCo, you may also want to see if you can hear the Baltimore terminal dispatcher 161.100 and jessup yard 161.490 and just for fun see if you can hear Bayview 160.530

 

[Dispatcher308]

They are simplex and most of them are less than 8 watts and have pole or roof mounted antennas on the hut, there are a few in the area here near work (Illchester and Daniels) and I can barely hear either on an outside antenna and I sit very close to the river.

The link below is for the Old Main line only

OM-Old Main Line Sub - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[baybum]

Thanks, very good info, from everybody.
I'm at Rt 29 and 100 and I don't hear any RR traffic from here, except occasional Amtrak police.
Guess I need to go out and walk the line.

 

[Dispatcher308]

Thanks, very good info, from everybody.
I'm at Rt 29 and 100 and I don't hear any RR traffic from here, except occasional Amtrak police.
Guess I need to go out and walk the line.

Im sure that if you sit at Old Frederick and the River or on Daniels Road at the State Park you could probably hear the Daniels Detector, the Illchester detector, you could probably sit at Illchester Rd and the River and hear it.

Edit: Also I apologize, the detector at Daniels is licensed for 25 watts, so I was wrong on the wattage out, I had only ever seen 1-8 watts licensed.

 

[N4VKF]

Need a buff trip to Riverdale Park.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

Im sure that if you sit at Old Frederick and the River or on Daniels Road at the State Park you could probably hear the Daniels Detector, the Illchester detector, you could probably sit at Illchester Rd and the River and hear it.

Edit: Also I apologize, the detector at Daniels is licensed for 25 watts, so I was wrong on the wattage out, I had only ever seen 1-8 watts licensed.

How do you find out how much wattage a detector is licensed for?

 

[Floridarailfanning]

How do you find out how much wattage a detector is licensed for?

The callsign lists the frequencies and max power output.

Here's an example:
FCC Callsign WNRG514 (CSX Transporation)

 

[Mark]

Norfolk Southern in Delaware on NS Delmarva branch detector voice booms on same as NS voice track channel 160.800
Seen the actual transmitter box along the track with small Yagi style antenna