Re: Yet more radios needed

[Michael Kurkowski <usenet.spam@gunzel.net>]

Maurie Daly <mauried@tpg.com.au> said:

>There is.
>The ROA (Railways of Australia) commission approached the SMA ( now the
>ACA ) in the late 1970s to request that a common block of channels be
>allocated Australia wide .
>I was working for the SMA at the time and its no mean feat to find 40
>channels in the one band that are clear across the whole country but we
>did it. The channels are all in the top two megs of the 410 - 420 Mhz
>band primarily in the 418 to 420 range with the reverse channel 9.45 Mhz
>lower. The intent was that given there were 40 channels available
>Australia wide for Railways,then the Railways would use them in a common
>way. Vline , the then AN and Westrail all used the common spectrum but
>used incompatible equipment in it ,and the SRA used 450.050 plus some of
>the common spectrum .
>The Cityrail system I beleive operates between 450 and 460 Mhz.

The one thing I've found really absurd, is 469.700mhz, being the Victorian 
local frequency is so far away from the allocated space. Same as per NSW 
450.050mhz.

IMHO, All that is needed Australia wide, are 100 allocated frequencies 
(less even) allocated for various purposes. e.g. 

Freq 1: Victoria, non metro north east standard guage: Somerton-Albury.
Freq 2: NSW, non metro main south line: Albury-Goulburn, etc.

Of course, to be allocated according to control areas. Allocate 2-5 common 
local range direct (simplex) channels. Allow driver-driver, guard-
driver(s), or in short, everyone who should need to talk to someone, able 
to talk to them.

The system should use a system that is already established as an industry 
standard (e.g. trunking [MPT1327 ???]) and/or a simplex/repeater system for 
areas of a fixed comms base, e.g. shunters, yards. 

Then once we've fixed the radio system, come up with a common set of 
safeworking systems nationwide...

Just some thoughts (medication time again!)

Michael