MBTA Rail Service to New Bedford & Fall River ?

[KEWB-N1EXA]

Seeing The MBTA is currently improving the rail system South of the Middleboro Station has anybody seen any License request for New Frequencies for the Fall River and New Bedford routes or will they use the existing CH21 160.425 SE MA Road Freq and the 160.725 South Station to Kingston MA Dispatch Frequency ?

Peter N1EXA

 

[KB1VLA]

I believe Keolis has 161.475 earmarked for that service.

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

I believe Keolis has 161.475 earmarked for that service.

Thanks
I got to put an X on the bottom of the boat for that catch.
just looked them up on the web.

HOME

HOME

www.keoliscs.com

Pete N1EXA

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

I believe Keolis has 161.475 earmarked for that service.

Looking this one up found this on the web at Scan NE

161.4750
R
100.0
Facilities
CH 091
Boston Engine Terminal

161.4750
R
NXDN
Facilities
CH 475
Boston Engine Terminal

161.4750
S
131.8
Facilities
CH 091
Wydett Circle Service and Inspection Facility​

This is why I question Analog ch 91 Vs ch 475 NXDN for the MBTA when I'm in Boston I get both platforms on my scanner.

We will see what choice Keolis (MBTA) makes for this end of the state.

Peter N1EXA

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

Saturday morning Heard on MBTA Old Colony Dispatch 1 minute if Data Burst (Purr) on 160.725 then it was a minute or so on 160.590 Sounded like RR NXDN to Me.

Peter N1EXA

 

[kb1kvd]

The current plan for southcoast rail is to continue using AAR 041 down to New Bedford and Fall River. The move to AAR 091 is currently planned for a later date (most likely after phase 2 is complete). As for the data burst you're hearing on AAR 032 and AAR 041 that would P25 that is coming in. The State of Maine COMNET system has a site that operates on a few of our channels and they come in strong on our base sites. We have been in regular talks with their engineers over the issues and have become a less frequent thing to our radio system.

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

The current plan for southcoast rail is to continue using AAR 041 down to New Bedford and Fall River. The move to AAR 091 is currently planned for a later date (most likely after phase 2 is complete). As for the data burst you're hearing on AAR 032 and AAR 041 that would P25 that is coming in. The State of Maine COMNET system has a site that operates on a few of our channels and they come in strong on our base sites. We have been in regular talks with their engineers over the issues and have become a less frequent thing to our radio system.

Great
Train question from a New Bedford Listener - So the MBTA will use CH41 160.725 for Dispatch what happens to
whats being used Currently in New Bedford for Rail Channels ? As of now CH13 for Bay Colony which id assume would not change because its just a short run through to Dartmouth and Westport from the New Bedford split but CH21 is for
Mass Coastal would that stay on CH21 or have to get on CH41 for Dispatch control to run with the MBTA
Trains and If there is going to be Storage for MBTA trains over night in the New Bedford yard is there going to
be a Yard Engineering Channel ?
I'm asking because I use a Bearcat 15 Crystal scanner for the New Bedford Harbor and Canal ops and for the Rail Yards ops. Yes I can put it on a 996 or 15X But the Bearcat 15 made by GRE is a Fantastic VHF Scanner.
Mass Coastal as of a few weeks ago pulled everything out of the yard So ill Assume Keolis will be showing up soon.

Phase 2 is for Electric trains. Well lets see that happen ! I'm ready for Phase 1....

Peter N1EXA

 

[kb1kvd]

Currently AAR 041 160.725 is only used on the old colony commuter rail lines (Middleboro mainline, plymouth/kingston, and greenbush branches) and currently the New Bedford mainline,Fall River branch, Middleboro secondary and framingham secondary are on AAR 021 160.425. Those lines right now are dispatched by Iowa Pacific Mass Coastal dispatcher. Once southcoast rail actually goes in then MBTA (keolis) would would take it over and then we would extend the old colony dispatcher radios down to the south coast line. Mass Coastal would have to be on our road channel for all moves on those lines. Which means AAR 021 would no longer be used south of probably weir junction or east of cotley. As of right now we're still a couple of years away from having anything in place. We're working closely with the south coast rail project contractors and engineers in designing the infrastructure for the radio system for the south coast rail project.

 

[Citywide173]

But the Bearcat 15 made by GRE is a Fantastic VHF Scanner.

I think you mean Electra. GRE and Uniden (the company that bought Electra) are direct competitors.

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

Currently AAR 041 160.725 is only used on the old colony commuter rail lines (Middleboro mainline, plymouth/kingston, and greenbush branches) and currently the New Bedford mainline,Fall River branch, Middleboro secondary and framingham secondary are on AAR 021 160.425. Those lines right now are dispatched by Iowa Pacific Mass Coastal dispatcher. Once southcoast rail actually goes in then MBTA (keolis) would would take it over and then we would extend the old colony dispatcher radios down to the south coast line. Mass Coastal would have to be on our road channel for all moves on those lines. Which means AAR 021 would no longer be used south of probably weir junction or east of cotley. As of right now we're still a couple of years away from having anything in place. We're working closely with the south coast rail project contractors and engineers in designing the infrastructure for the radio system for the south coast rail project.



Peter N1EXA

I am just tooling in my head the traffic control on 1 track from Middleboro being split to 2 cities...Now on this single track you are running inbound and outbound
trains during the day and late night running freight. The radio traffic is going to be interesting and Id assume A remote tower will have to be in New Bedford
or along the route from Taunton to fill the gap. What is the Power in Wattage
of a Train engine radio and Base control running Simplex ? Id assume hand helds
are 2-3 watts at most and when Bay Colony is close I can listen to the engineer
and crossing signal man talk. The Other day Bay Colony called Mass Coastal Engine to Engine and it seems like it was 15-25 watts based on the signal I got.

I'm asking these questions while the fishing is good on the subject - Your the first to respond with some working information to my questions on the subject.

Peter N1EXA

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

I think you mean Electra. GRE and Uniden (the company that bought Electra) are direct competitors.

I have a 1980s Bearcat 15 Made in Japan and It does not resemble any Bearcat Electra nor uniden product. Its Frame and PCB resemble GRE in Manufacturing.
This radio looks to be rebranded from a radio shack GRE style radio such as the
RS Pro 2001 but in Crystal type not processor. Even the Instruction Book does not
resemble Electras format. If its not a GRE then Its a Cloan of thier styling.

Peter N1EXA

 

[ecps92]

Do you mean a Bearcat IV not a Bearcat 15 ?? - since you mentioned Crystals
like this one ? Bearcat IV Electra Scanner / Receiver

I have a 1980s Bearcat 15 Made in Japan and It does not resemble any Bearcat Electra nor uniden product. Its Frame and PCB resemble GRE in Manufacturing.
This radio looks to be rebranded from a radio shack GRE style radio such as the
RS Pro 2001 but in Crystal type not processor. Even the Instruction Book does not
resemble Electras format. If its not a GRE then Its a Cloan of thier styling.

Peter N1EXA

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

Do you mean a Bearcat IV not a Bearcat 15 ?? - since you mentioned Crystals
like this one ? Bearcat IV Electra Scanner / Receiver

Nope
It's A Bearcat 15 made in Japan inside and out it does not look like the Electra Product from the Thin Fiber PCB to the Housing Its not covered in Plastic Wood tone even the LED's on the front are Square. Your going to have get that google shovel and dig for this one ( Bearcat 15 Japan )... Guy was selling them New On Ebay a few months back as Warehouse found stock for
$49.95 each...He sold them out fast now he has the Plastic body Electra.Indiana Bearcat 5 for sale at $39.95 each .
As For the Bearcat 15 even the crystal holder is not pins on the board and a jumper wire its a 10 position socket with a 4 way switch for each crystal. Its heavy and has all metric screws it has the same frame work as the 1970s Radio Shack GRE made scanners. even the chrome plated decals on the back and top are in the GRE style of the 70s.



I buy the Crystals new on ebay $10 each from a vendor who will cut any frequency for 10.8 IF or 10.7 IF .

Peter N1EXA

 

[fxdscon]

Nope
It's A Bearcat 15 made in Japan

Does your scanner look like this? Does it have the manufacturer's tag on the back?

When you scroll down to the first pic of the rear of the scanner at this link (the pic without the "Acquired by Uniden" sticker covering the bottom of the manufacturer's tag" on a good monitor you can see:

"Product of Japan
Electra Company Division of Masco Corp Cumberland IN"

RadioPics Database - Bearcat 15

.

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

Does your scanner look like this? Does it have the manufacturer's tag on the back?

When you scroll down to the first pic of the rear of the scanner at this link (the pic without the "Acquired by Uniden" sticker covering the bottom of the manufacturer's tag" on a good monitor you can see:

"Product of Japan
Electra Company Division of Masco Corp Cumberland IN"

RadioPics Database - Bearcat 15

.

Thats the Bearcat 15 I have. It does not look or Feel like an Electra Product.
The reason I'm saying Possible its A GRE is because the Electronics and Metal work looks Just like my Old Radio Shack GRE Made Scanners of that era.

GRE Products Made for Radio Shack of the 1970 and early 80s Are like AMC
Cars yes they look different but there all made the same way and more or less use the same parts. Look at the Circuit Board of the Bearcat 15 the components and wires... Electra Products dont even come close and early Uniden stuff is kinda
Poor In Quality I would say they improved thier product with the 400 and 560 style scanner.

Peter N1EXA

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

I think you mean Electra. GRE and Uniden (the company that bought Electra) are direct competitors.

GOOGLE GRE Corp General Research of Electronics Inc
Way back when ( Pre 2012 ) they made Products for Radio Shack, Uniden and Commtel
The Whistler group Took Over in 2014 Around the same time GRE Decided to Cease all USA Operations.

Just looked it up...
Peter N1EXA

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

The current plan for southcoast rail is to continue using AAR 041 down to New Bedford and Fall River. The move to AAR 091 is currently planned for a later date (most likely after phase 2 is complete). As for the data burst you're hearing on AAR 032 and AAR 041 that would P25 that is coming in. The State of Maine COMNET system has a site that operates on a few of our channels and they come in strong on our base sites. We have been in regular talks with their engineers over the issues and have become a less frequent thing to our radio system.

So all this Digital Racket On my Train Frequencies in the morning is The Railroad in Maine Bombing in because of Springtime Ducting.....~
Today I had Dispatch 160.920 Analog Come in like it was next door....~Think it
was The Providence Worcester Dispatch.

Peter N1EXA

 

[fxdscon]

GOOGLE GRE Corp General Research of Electronics Inc
Way back when ( Pre 2012 ) they made Products for Radio Shack, Uniden and Commtel
The Whistler group Took Over in 2014 Around the same time GRE Decided to Cease all USA Operations.

Just looked it up...
Peter N1EXA

GRE and Uniden both made many products for Radio Shack.

Radio Shack Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

To see something factual showing that GRE actually made Uniden products would be very interesting indeed!

Edit --> Just saw that on Wikipedia.... interesting!

.

 

[KEWB-N1EXA]

GRE and Uniden both made many products for Radio Shack.

Radio Shack Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

To see something factual showing that GRE actually made Uniden products would be very interesting indeed!

Edit --> Just saw that on Wikipedia.... interesting!

.

That listing is Stuff within the last few Decades. My Pro-2001 Is Before this Listing say 40 years ago 1979 GRE. Thing Still Runs Great for its age.

Peter N1EXA

 

[Citywide173]

The Bearcat 15 was a pre-Uniden radio manufactured by Electra. If you look at the back, there may or may not be an "Acquired by Uniden" sticker covering over the Electra info. Electra made their own radios. RadioPics Database - Bearcat 15