NS getting closer to NXDN use systemwide.

[INDY72]

On many, many of the mods NS is doing to licenses, they are REMOVING all analog emissions designators alongside the additions of the NXDN ones. This is in addition to taking fregs they no longer use off of locations. This should be a "take notice" event.

 

[WX4JCW]

Wonder if they will keep it in the clear

 

[INDY72]

Wonder if they will keep it in the clear

All but Police should be. There has been literally zero discussion, or even whispers of encrypting basic rail ops. It would be hard to implements anyway. You would need to have the same keys for every Class I at all times which pretty much kills any chance of security making it pointless anyway. And thats just a basic reason. Railroad police departments on the other hand are already running encrypted NXDN when they run radio at all on rail freqs. Other than Amtrak who is full in the clear analog.

 

[RRR]

Narrow or very narrow?

(And on that note, NXDN advertises "2 voice paths via FDMA" but I have never seen an option in KPG111 or D1N to program this, nor have I ever heard of it being implemented.)

 

[Ensnared]

What is "NS" in this thread?

 

[werinshades]

What is "NS" in this thread?

Norfolk Southern would be my guess

 

[GTR8000]

(And on that note, NXDN advertises "2 voice paths via FDMA" but I have never seen an option in KPG111 or D1N to program this, nor have I ever heard of it being implemented.)

Where do you see that advertised? Are you sure that you're not getting confused with the statement that two 6.25 kHz FDMA channels can fit side by side in a 12.5 kHz channel space that other system types occupy?

 

[RRR]

Are you sure that you're not getting confused with the statement that two 6.25 kHz FDMA channels can fit side by side in a 12.5 kHz channel space that other system types occupy?

I probably am. I just don't see any other way it could be done. Channel separation is a good thing, not jamming them together, but I digress. (The photo below is somewhat deceptive, the 2 path NXDN is also 12.5 like DMR, not really "6.25 X2")
(Edited for spelling correction)

 

[iceman977th]

I haven’t heard of NS doing any testing at all on digital, haven’t heard any digital transmissions aside from the crossing frequencies.

Mike

 

[INDY72]

Narrow or very narrow?

(And on that note, NXDN advertises "2 voice paths via FDMA" but I have never seen an option in KPG111 or D1N to program this, nor have I ever heard of it being implemented.)

8k not the 4 so very narrow. Unless I have it backwards.

 

[Tim-B]

Hey MIlf, were the license modifications also for the main subdivision frequencies where locomotives talk to dispatchers or was is just on the frequencies they use for yard jobs?

 

[mmckenna]

8k not the 4 so very narrow. Unless I have it backwards.

The 8K emission designator is the 12.5KHz NXDN channel. In Kenwood programming terms, that is referred to as "narrow".
The 4K emission designator is the 6.25KHz NXDN channel. "Very Narrow" in the programming software.

 

[INDY72]

The 8K emission designator is the 12.5KHz NXDN channel. In Kenwood programming terms, that is referred to as "narrow".
The 4K emission designator is the 6.25KHz NXDN channel. "Very Narrow" in the programming software.

TY I had it backwards.

 

[INDY72]

Hey MIlf, were the license modifications also for the main subdivision frequencies where locomotives talk to dispatchers or was is just on the frequencies they use for yard jobs?

Here is a sample of whats popping.
0009597303 - NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY IG KUE742 MOD
Loc 1=FRANKFORT MW TOWER
...Delete freqs: 161.250, 161.550 FB
...Delete freqs: 161.250, 161.550 MO
...Mod freq: 161.565 (Delete 11K2F3E)
Loc 2=BLUFFTON MW TOWER
...Delete freq: 160.575 MO
...Delee freq: 160.575 FB
...Mod freq: 161.565 (Delete 11K2F3E)
Loc 3=HARTFORD CITY MW TOWER
...Delete freqs: 160.575, 161.550 FB
...Delete freqs: 161.550, 160.575 MO
...Mod freq: 161.565 (Delete 11K2F3E)
Loc 4=DELPHI MW TOWER
...Delete freqs: 160.515, 161.475 FB
...Delete freqs: 161.475, 160.515 MO
...Mod freq: 161.565 (Delete 11K2F3E)
Loc 9=SIGNAL OFFICE, BLUFFTON, IN WELLS County
...Delete freqs: 161.475, 160.515 Fb
...Mod freq: 161.565 (Delete 11K2F3E)
0009597302 - NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY IG KNFX239 MOD
LAFAYETTE MW TOWER, LAFAYETTE, IN TIPPECANOE County
...Delete freqs: 161.475, 160.515, 161.550 FB
...Mod freq: 161.115 FB 30/110w 11K2F3E, [A] 8K30F1D, [A] 8K30F1E
...Delete freqs: 160.515, 161.550, 161.475 MO

This is ongoing and rather a new development as for deleting the ANALOG portions. Norfolk Southern has been doing a lot of extensive restructuring of its lineup nationwide. Both streamlining, and getting things lined up. They join pretty much all the Class I's in this, but as far as I know are the ONLY ones popping off the analog.

 

[Tim-B]

Okay, thanks. We've got BNSF where I am and they are still on the analog channels. Their licenses here do have the NXDN 6.25 KHz emmissions type on them as well as analog but so far I have only heard analog. But I guess the times they are a changin. Ready for them with an IC-R30 I bought just for the occassion.

 

[INDY72]

Okay, thanks. We've got BNSF where I am and they are still on the analog channels. Their licenses here do have the NXDN 6.25 KHz emmissions type on them as well as analog but so far I have only heard analog. But I guess the times they are a changin. Ready for them with an IC-R30 I bought just for the occassion.

Yeah that is another oddity I have noticed. Some are adding the 6.25, others the 12.5, and some adding BOTH... Its like they don't really care as long as NXDN is added to the licenses. But yeah, the majority of NXDN is sporadic yard, and MOW crews, and Police. And most of the PD's are 100% E. But most of the radios are now all NXDN capable in most of the units. There are still a lot to change out, but its a LOT closer to reality now and a LOT sooner than was speculated just 2 years ago. The speed of the mods and new licensing also says loads. The big issue I see is getting everyone to talk together about what RAN's will be universal, and what ones will be exclusive to individual agencies. Then the smaller railroads come into play as some of them are on the border of broke most days. But anyway, back to the topic at hand, NS is getting a lot closer to being ready.

 

[Tim-B]

Wow, I didn't realize that some licenses were 12.5 KHz. I wonder if that was an oversight or if it was intentional. You would think that they would all be the same nationwide to make sure they can communicate. Will be interesting to see what happens. "We are on the right channel. Why aren't they answering?"

 

[RRR]

I find it quite interesting of the claims that Railroads will use the "Narrow" (12.5) v/s "Very Narrow" (6.25) when Icom radios will only do NXDN / IDAS on Very Narrow 6.25....

(And there are a whole heap of Icom radios out on the rails)

 

[burner50]

I find it quite interesting of the claims that Railroads will use the "Narrow" (12.5) v/s "Very Narrow" (6.25) when Icom radios will only do NXDN / IDAS on Very Narrow 6.25....

(And there are a whole heap of Icom radios out on the rails)

There's also a whole heap of Kenwood radios out on the rails...

I was always issued Kenwood radios when I worked for UP. If you opened up a JEM "clean cab" radio, you would often find a kenwood radio inside it (many were also icom).

 

[mmckenna]

I find it quite interesting of the claims that Railroads will use the "Narrow" (12.5) v/s "Very Narrow" (6.25) when Icom radios will only do NXDN / IDAS on Very Narrow 6.25....

(And there are a whole heap of Icom radios out on the rails)

The newer Icom IDAS radios will do 6.25 or 12.5KHz.

Been a while since I touched any Icom stuff, I know some of the original IDAS stuff only did 6.25, but not sure if that was a hardware limitation or just firmware.