FRA Radio?

[NS9710]

Does the FRA have radio channels they use, as the FAA does for aviation, or are they primarily by phone?

 

[ecps92]

Federal Railroad Administration - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Does the FRA have radio channels they use, as the FAA does for aviation, or are they primarily by phone?

 

[kg6nlw]

The AAR and Railroads use 160-161 primarily on analog. They're listed in the DB and the "old" Wideband plan is here < https://dpdproductions.com/pages/railroad-frequencies-old-aar-plan >

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[Tim-B]

On the wiki page in the link in post 2 there is no mention of mode. Are the transmissions on these frequencies analog, or digital and if digital then what kind of digital? I know the regular RR frequencies are mostly analog with some NXDN but these frequencies are different. This is a federal regulatory agency on federal frequencies. I am thinking they are probably P25. Has anyone heard any traffic and if so then what mode are they using?

 

[kg6nlw]

On the wiki page in the link in post 2 there is no mention of mode. Are the transmissions on these frequencies analog, or digital and if digital then what kind of digital? I know the regular RR frequencies are mostly analog with some NXDN but these frequencies are different. This is a federal regulatory agency on federal frequencies. I am thinking they are probably P25. Has anyone heard any traffic and if so then what mode are they using?

As far as I know, the FRA does not have its own frequencies in their radios. They use whatever the railroad they're on is using. I know when the FRA inspectors come by they're always on our road channel. Most RR is still analog, with some NXDN being used nationwide on smaller lines/yards.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[ecps92]

Most Federal users are either Analog or P25 [a few DMR here n there, but 90%+ is Analog or P25]
those are their NTIA allocations - wether used or not... YMMV

On the wiki page in the link in post 2 there is no mention of mode. Are the transmissions on these frequencies analog, or digital and if digital then what kind of digital? I know the regular RR frequencies are mostly analog with some NXDN but these frequencies are different. This is a federal regulatory agency on federal frequencies. I am thinking they are probably P25. Has anyone heard any traffic and if so then what mode are they using?

 

[INDY72]

In all the years I have monitored or ever worked with any of the Big Dogs of the transportation world in any capacity, I have only ever seen the NTSB, and FAA using anything other than loaner radios and cell phones on accident/crash scenes etc. Never saw any FRA using anything other than the AAR freqs, or talk to us on our fire radios. Of course there might be the odd duck that has seen other in use. If they did use anything other than DHS common, its most likely P25 and E.

 

[BigLebowski]

The frequencies in the wiki, if anything, are likely for DOT/FRA OIG.

 

[ecps92]

Yup, unlike many years ago, with changes in TECH there is no need for a Two-way anymore with a Cellphone ready 24/7
that is until the infrastructure goes down and they pull out the Cache of radios with dead batteries from 8+ yrs of not being maintained.

Even NTSB is allocated NTIA spectrum, but rarely seen with anything but an Aviation Radio to talk to the ATC as needed

In all the years I have monitored or ever worked with any of the Big Dogs of the transportation world in any capacity, I have only ever seen the NTSB, and FAA using anything other than loaner radios and cell phones on accident/crash scenes etc. Never saw any FRA using anything other than the AAR freqs, or talk to us on our fire radios. Of course there might be the odd duck that has seen other in use. If they did use anything other than DHS common, its most likely P25 and E.