Q's about AVL and such.

[AlmostHandy]

So, I was reading the Chief Seattle Geek blog, by Bill Schrier, who is the Chief Technology Officer for Seattle.

In one of his latest blogs, he reports on some technology that was highlighted during the Annual Police awards. It says that the new SPIDER dispatching system that they're using will include an Automatic Vehicle Locater (AVL) system. Is that something that can be monitored and decoded?

Also, the metro bus system has some data frequencies listed in the database. What would one do with this kind of telemetry information from a scanner? Would a discriminator tap, and some software allow me to track this kind of thing?

 

[kellykeeton]

you can deploy on V/UHF, but Seattle already has a full 3g capable cars -but for the V/UHF

so likely - no its on cell (and thus VPN)

http://www.imp.bg.ac.yu/SR/Products/gps-spider.htm

 

[AtomicTaco]

Also, the metro bus system has some data frequencies listed in the database. What would one do with this kind of telemetry information from a scanner? Would a discriminator tap, and some software allow me to track this kind of thing?

You'd need some sort of software to decode it. I don't remember what protocol it is, but based on its sound I think it's a Motorola protocol of some sort. It depends on the software you get and the protocol you're monitoring--some can work with the audio output, some need the tap.

 

[kellykeeton]

You'd need some sort of software to decode it. I don't remember what protocol it is, but based on its sound I think it's a Motorola protocol of some sort. It depends on the software you get and the protocol you're monitoring--some can work with the audio output, some need the tap.

except I don't believe that they are using V/Uhf and the data is on cell and VPN on Cell so there is no way to get the data.

 

[AtomicTaco]

except I don't believe that they are using V/Uhf and the data is on cell and VPN on Cell so there is no way to get the data.

I was referring to the UHF data channels that KC Metro uses.

 

[kellykeeton]

ahh yes, thought this was PD my bad, at one time a old application MDT.exe would decode it but 3/4 years ago now it hasn't worked.

 

[AlmostHandy]

heh, well, I kind of combined a PD question and a Metro question.

So, as I understand it, the PD's SPIDER system, uses cell freqs, and are unmonitorable, but the busses are, as long as you have the right software.

Far out. I wonder if any software exists that would work, or if I'd have to go wrangle some Digipen students into making it.

I've heard that there are telemetry systems on trains too. Does anyone know of any public software that can decode that kind of thing? Maybe something that can plot a map? That would be cool.

 

[kellykeeton]

yes you could find software to decode the new metro system, I don't know of any that is out there any more ...but haven't looked.

and yes there was software for trains, I had some back in 2000 but havent monitored trains for so long, look it up on google its real cool you can see switches on tracks and everything. since seattle isnt a big train area it might not be as easy to find but i have seen it in use back in the 90's