Metro North New Haven Line Radio Changes

[N1SQB]

Hmm.

The funny thing is that it's sporadic, not consistent. RTC does not give out a PL, most of the line guys don't either. But every once in a while someone will transmit and the 123.0 shows up. Weird! I wonder if it is meant to separate the two districts on the frequency? ( G, F )

Manny

 

[radioman2001]

I was wondering if anyone can explain why some trains and or personnel on the NHVN line are registering a 123.0 pl on the scanners but dispatch or RTC is not?

Manny

All mobiles owned and operated by MTA/MNRR have a TX PL code of 123.0. I suggested that in 2008 when we started doing the Narrow Band updates. The reason is that maybe in the future someone outside MTA/MNRR will get a brain and realize that we are not the only RF on our channels, and this is a good way of mitigating it instead of running out and padding the receivers and then going back a week later and removing them.

All base stations do NOT transmit PL so that you don't get feedback from other sites on the consoles.

If you are picking up mobile transmissions without PL they are probably not MTA/MNRR radios, like Amtrak or contractors or bootleggers which we have seen a lot of lately.

BTW a Bulletin Order was issued banning any radio not owned by MTA/MNRR on any working person with the penalty of removing them from service on the spot. The Baefong's were getting out of control.

The E and F district split is coming soon, we are down to less than a dozen radios to be reprogrammed.

 

[N1SQB]

All mobiles owned and operated by MTA/MNRR have a TX PL code of 123.0. I suggested that in 2008 when we started doing the Narrow Band updates. The reason is that maybe in the future someone outside MTA/MNRR will get a brain and realize that we are not the only RF on our channels, and this is a good way of mitigating it instead of running out and padding the receivers and then going back a week later and removing them.

All base stations do NOT transmit PL so that you don't get feedback from other sites on the consoles.

If you are picking up mobile transmissions without PL they are probably not MTA/MNRR radios, like Amtrak or contractors or bootleggers which we have seen a lot of lately.

BTW a Bulletin Order was issued banning any radio not owned by MTA/MNRR on any working person with the penalty of removing them from service on the spot. The Baefong's were getting out of control.

The E and F district split is coming soon, we are down to less than a dozen radios to be reprogrammed.

First and foremost, thank you for clearing this up! The traffic I am hearing is "legit" traffic like foremen communicating with or responding to RTC. Interesting bulletin by the way. I can understand why they are doing it. By E and F split, do you mean E as in F-4 160.335 Stamford and East and F as in anything west of Stamford on F-3 160.545?

Manny

 

[radioman2001]

That's my understanding Stamford is supposed to be the dividing line, 160.545 West of 160.335 East of including spurs, but you never know what might happen. I know this project started nearly 5 years ago, since so many other RR operate on this section of track everyone had to be notified and while I don't understand why approve. I suggested that signage be placed in the area to notify train crews to switch channels as is now done on the Hudson line at Spike. That was done after an Amtrak while in the process of changing channels late hit a MNRR service truck that got stuck on the tracks in a snowstorm, and they couldn't hear them calling. Amtrak now has to switch some 2-3 miles south of Spike before entering MNRR territory.

Now as far as MNRR personnel using radios without PL or MDC id they are the ones who will be responsible if something happens, and don't have a properly programmed radio or a non MNNRR one. We are still running into some radios that havn't been narrow banded, and usually it's radios that don't really belong to that person, and are afraid of showing up with it for reprogramming. A few years ago I recovered a radio that belonged to the radio shop and went missing in GCT 3 years earlier while the radio tech was doing repairs on a train. It was being held by a coach cleaner, and needless to say he didn't get it back and he quickly exited the area when we told him.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

coming off the shoreline the Amtrak crews will some times switch before mill river

 

[radioman2001]

Here is the latest as of July 1,2016. the plan is for the new channels to go into effect sometime in the Fall. Now that all the revenue cars are basically done, we have to finish up the portables and some vehicle radios. There are some base stations that need new duplexers for the new yard channel, and we are still finding some radios not narrow banded and even some non-functioning old Vertex and Yeasu radios (20-30 years old) in old track equipment. I wish i could find a few Micors for nostalgia.

More as I get the info.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

i have a bunch of non RR micors here

 

[CqDx]

I havn't placed an order yet but I suspect it will be for 4000 Icom IC-F3161DT portables with multi-unit rack chargers and all the other accessories needed. We have been working with Icom since 2008 and this model portable was designed for RR use. While it is kinda moot now it had a one time key sequence to change all the programmed Wide band freqs to Narrow band all at once in the field. The mobiles are CS-F3160_F5060 V4 RR again a unit designed for RR use. The repeaters are FR5000 series, some equipped with Digital Voip boards for wide are operation. Something our Telco department wants since they want to migrate away from POTS lines for control.

Hello radioman2001 has it been confirmed that the Icom portables will soon be replacing the HT1250?

I still see HT1250 everywhere, some even with a bright yellow RADIO MODIFIED sticker and some may be shiny recased radios.

Thanks for the help, keep up with the good work!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[radioman2001]

I can confirm that we have a 3 year contract with Icom for portables, we don't need mobiles at this time due to a large stock I created back in 2013-5. We won't be outright replacing any HT1250's per se just for new issues and replacements due to age and damage. Recently we found in a closet 300 HT-1250's that had not been issued and the person responsible for them had retired. So that might slow down the Icom being issued at least in Transportation.

The radio modified sticker is an extension of what we did with narrow banding, it is a quick way of looking at the radio and determining if it's up to date in it's programming. A yellow radio means it's the Radio Shop, as we have other sensitive frequencies in them, and only Radio Shop personnel should have the radio.

Another update after yesterday's, I received a phone call that Conn is going to start reprogramming base stations for the new channels along the ROW. So maybe it's coming faster, I'll know more after a meeting later today.

Quote"I have a bunch of non RR micors here"
So do I, around 100 Micors and Mocom 70's I bought from Con-Ed in NYC when they went to 800 trunking. Not really interested in any more, I have to figure out what to do with them before I retire and move, but I still would love to find a couple of RR Micors.

My collection also now includes the Trainmaster XD I got a few months ago.

 

[Lynch_Christopher]

Since we are now into October any updates as to the switchover with the new channels?

 

[PJH]

Radioman, please take a look at The database and see if it's still accurate. If any changes should be made please email or pm me and I'll make any corrections or tweaks. Thanks!

 

[radioman2001]

Ok I have been waiting for a hard cut over date to post, so see next post.

I will look at the listing to ensure they are correct.

Ok after looking at the database a few corrections are in order. First all frequencies should have TX PL of 123.0.
All Transportation frequencies are CSQ RX.
Next Channel 6 160.77 has PL 123.0 on TX and RX to filter out PSEG on LI.
Channel 7 160.335 Tunnel Emerg has PL on TX and RX. \
All yards Highbridge, Croton, North White Plains ,Stamford, New Haven will be 161.04 shortly.

Decided best to list.

The radio channel line up for trains only is as follows
F-1 Hudson 160.95 PL 123.0 TX only
F-2 Harlem 161.28 PL 123.0 TX only
F-3 N Haven W 160.545 PL 123.0 TX only
F-4 N Haven E 160.335 PL 123.0 TX only
F-5 All Yards 161.04 PL 123.0 TX only
F-6 Local Talk 160.77 PL 123.0 TX/RX

All Portables and Mobiles
F-7 Tunnel E 160.335 PL 123.0 TX/RX
F-8 H&H MOW 160.410 PL 123.0 TX only *
F-9 NH MOW 161.160 PL 123.0 TX only

* NXDN Radio Shop Only

 

[radioman2001]

Somebody's ears must have been burning on this issue. I just receive info that the cut over is to take place the weekend of October 29 to 30. I guess I'll be working late that weekend the cut is at 12:01 Saturday.

To further update your database, all three lines operate on F-2 Harlem Channel from GCT to different points where they switch to their respective line frequency. Hudson Trains switch from Harlem when leaving GCT at Spike, New Haven trains switch at Woodlawn where the tracks split. Obviously they switch to Harlem at those same points when going South or West when heading to GCT.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

Why did they put PSEG so close to the RR channels

I have been thinking of picking up an NXDN radio

 

[radioman2001]

Back in the 80's frequency allocation was a free for all if the frequency wasn't used in a Metropolitan area no matter what service it could be applied for. RR channels have been used for data (Westchester County and NJ Transit buses had one for years) ambulance services (Hatzola NYC and a private service in Boston area). So I think Mother M again went out as they have in the past with their lawyers and grabbed a few RR channels for LIPA which is now run by PSEG, also NYSEG uses some in upstate New York as well. This causes problem for legitamate RR's needing channels as we have in the past. 3 to 4 years was the norm to co-ordinate for allocations until the wreck in 2013. I had one application sitting at co-ordination for 5 years.

All our NXDN is encrypted

 

[RadioDitch]

Will this be affecting the alignment of RTC's territories at all?

 

[radioman2001]

OK here we go bulletin order issued

Paraphrasing here.

HUDSON LINE
STATIONS

Radio Channel assignment for Highbridge Yard MP 6.6 and Harmon Yard MP 33.3 changed to
channel 5.


HARLEM LINE
STATIONS

Radio Channel assignment for North White Plains Yard MP 24.1 and Brewster Yard MP 53.0
changed to channel 5.


NEW HAVEN LINE
STATIONS

Radio Channel assignment for Stamford Yard MP 33.7, East Bridgeport Yard MP 57.0 and New
Haven Yard MP 72.1 changed to channel 5.


SYSTEM SPECIAL INSTRUCTION 5
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES

The following radio frequencies are in use for train operations:
Channel 1 (56/56) – Frequency 160.950
Hudson Line CP 8 (inclusive) – Division Post / Amtrak.
Channel 2 (78/78) – Frequency 161.280
Hudson Line GCT – CP 8 (exclusive), Harlem Line and Beacon Line.
Channel 3 (29/29) – Frequency 160.545
New Haven Line and all Branches.
Channel 5 (62/62) – Frequency 161.040
High Bridge, Harmon, North White Plains, Brewster, Stamford, East Bridgeport and
New Haven Yards.

I am going to be working most of the weekend to make sure all goes smoothly.



Page 2


Effective: 0003 HOURS – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
Page 1 of 1
Beginning at 0430 hours on Sunday, October 30, 2016 the following radio channels 4 and 6 are added to
radio frequencies and in service.
• Radio channel 4 in service on the New Haven Line east of MP 36, Danbury Branch and Waterbury Branch.
• Radio channel 6 Local.
(a) NEW HAVEN LINE
STATIONS

Radio Channel assignment for the New Haven Line CP 235 (exclusive) to Division Post / Amtrak,
Danbury Branch and Waterbury Branch changed to channel 4.

(b) SYSTEM SPECIAL INSTRUCTION 5
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES
The following radio frequencies are in use for train operations:
Channel 1 (56/56) – Frequency 160.950
Hudson Line CP 8 (inclusive) – Division Post / Amtrak
Channel 2 (78/78) – Frequency 161.280
Hudson Line GCT – CP 8 (exclusive), Harlem Line and Beacon Line.
Channel 3 (29/29) – Frequency 160.545
New Haven Line CP 212 – CP 235 (inclusive) and New Canaan Branch.
Channel 4 (15/15) – Frequency 160.335
New Haven Line CP 235 (exclusive) – Division Post / Amtrak, Danbury Branch and
Waterbury Branch.
Channel 5 (62/62) – Frequency 161.040
High Bridge, Harmon, North White Plains, Brewster, Stamford, East Bridgeport and
New Haven Yards.
Channel 6 (44/44) – Frequency 160.770
Local channel



Quote"Will this be affecting the alignment of RTC's territories at all?

I don't believe so, they picked a place where the desks (territory) begin/end, but I don't usually work over in NH territory. That's the way it's been at least for now, but I will be working with the NH techs on PTC soon.

I just checked the Ops manual, "E" desk ends at Stamford so I don't think so.
__________________

 

[Kitn1mcc]

i did notice a new covered over sign in the new haven yard today

 

[radioman2001]

I guess we can close this one out, other than the johnny come lately or I didn't know for portable update reprogramming it's all done.

 

[PJH]

radioman, please send me a private message or email - need to run something by you for the database...

Guys the database will be updated later today - as a bunch of everybody submitted the same information