DPD1
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- Joined
- Jul 24, 2005
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- 1,994
I thought this was interesting. People are nutty.
FCC fines clandestine train tracking company | Trains Magazine
FCC fines clandestine train tracking company | Trains Magazine
I've seen similar cases where an "IT centric" group/company decides to use licensed spectrum for something, and then just completely ignores the FCC rules. It rarely ends well. Not sure if it's just pure ignorance or willful.
A follow up story from AAR find that they were legal radio wise due to a license by rule (Part 15 unlicensed) for some of the equipment, and not all the equipment used by the RR's required a license.
Trespassing is something the RR should go after and has nothing to do with the FCC. So if they set up outside RR ROW like on a bridge they could legally obtain that information. This amounts to nothing more than what happens every time you leave or enter a Walmart or other store with the RFID chips in clothing. I'm not saying it's right but just our society and the lack of privacy. I see encryption coming.
Quote"I'm just wondering what the survival rate on these boxes was going to be. Seems like the vandalizing/theft rate alone, would make it a dumb proposition.
I agree some of our PTC transponders were ripped up, the clowns thinking they were worth something or had copper in them.
Except, RFID "readers" and toll pass "readers" aren't receivers. They are TRANSceivers, they must transmit to interrogate and power up the RFID tags or toll passes. So they still fall fully under the category of FCC regulated transmitters, to whatever extent the FCC deals with that.
Amtrak has long had th even longer traditional RR policy about anyone on their right of way, including platforms, terminals, and stations. If you are sightseeing or picnicking or searching for a lost child...TFB, that ain't railroad business, you ain't a paying customer, and the bulls will gladly (and roughly) throw you in a detention cell until someone takes you to the judge. They're not interested in making friends, you've either got business being there, or you're removed from the property.
I can totally see some "railfans" putting up some RFID readers to track the trains. Lol.