Re: FreightCorp Radios

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

>>
>It hasn't happened, I was having a go at the system. I think they're still
>trialing Train Orders out west somewhere.

>Drivers are supposed to log onto the new (?) radio system before departing
>Macarthur, Moss Vale or Goulbourn - or something like that. It's a pathetic
>system, way over budget, way over time (about 3 years) and looks like it was
>designed by Fischer-Price. The CityRail radio certainly looks better, but I
>don't know if it is.


The SRA Train Radio System or whatever it is now called is / was / always will 
be a total disaster.
Theres nothing at all wrong with using radio for communications with trains , 
cars planes or whatever if the system is designed properly by people who know 
what they are doing.
Ive worked in the Radio Comms Business for 20 years + and I cringe in horror 
when I see some of the schemes which the Railways dream up.
Conceptually the Trunked Radio System that the SRA have installed should work 
well if 
1/ The whole system was designed and installed by the one company,which it 
isnt.
2/ The Base Stations which cover the train lines were located where they would 
provide the best coverage,which they arnt ,(most are simply placed along the 
line in old station buildings or convenient SRA locations.
This method of design provides cost savings , in that the Railways own the 
land and buildings ,but it provides the worst Radio Coverage possible.
In any case Radio shouldnt be used for safeworking unless it is digitally 
encrypted so that a driver is absolutely certain that he is talking to a train 
controller and that the train controller is absolutely certain that he is 
talking to the correct train.
Even so , the system on its own is only barely better than nothing,in that if 
a driver misinterprets an order , or a controller gives an incorrect order the 
1st the controller will know about the head on , is when someone rings him up 
to tell him.
Radio should be used purely for communications between drivers & 
controllers,but not for safeworking,at least not on heavily trafficked lines 
where opposing movements on single line sections are common.

cheers
MD



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Maurie Daly
Department of Communications Lab.
Canberra
Australia
mauried@commslab.gov.au
ph 6 2791331
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