Radio frequencies

[alangj]

I'm sure that this is the sort of question that attorneys would object to as having been "asked and answered" (probably several times), but I'll ask it anyway. What is the range of radio frequencies used in US/North American railroading voice communications, etc.?

By piecing together information from various articles (in Trains magazine), I've been able to document that AAR channel 9 is at 160.245mHz and AAR channel 96 is at 161.550mHz, with everything in between falling nicely into 0.015mHz steps by AAR channel number. If I extrapolate back down to where "channel 1" would be, that calculates out to be 160.125mHz. "Channel 1" seems to be as good a starting point as any, but what's the highest channel number (and frequency) in use nowadays?

Thanks (in advance) for any information,

Alan
Evergreen Park, IL

[therailnut]

if you have a 100 channel scanner you can use all the 97 railroad frequecies. Here is a link to those railroad frequencies. http://rochester.railfan.net/rrfreqlist.html If you are looking for a specific area. you may want to go pick up the compedium of railroad frqencies published by kalmbach. That should give you what you are looking for.

[alangj]

Thanx for the information and the reference, Jack. That's exactly what I was looking for. I guess that in keeping with the radio theme, I should say "That's a big 10-4, good buddy!"

Alan

[Anonymous]

Alan
If you have a 100 channel scanner, it might be helpful to mark the local channels. I like to use the delay program. I also have put in on channel 98 EOT frequency, so I can see if there is a train close me. They transmit approx. 3-5 miles. A web site you might try is http://www.trainweb.com/radio/
it looks like there is some good info. Also try Trains mag. for your local frequencies.
Craig

[Anonymous]

Here's what I've done on my scanner (200 channels in banks of 20):

Banks 1-3: Local air traffic
Banks 4-7: Local Fire/rescue/police
Bank 8: Local UP frequencies
Bank 9: Local BNSF, IMRL, and Boone & Scenic Valley
Bank 10: EOT (Put on a separate bank so that I can lock it out after I pick up a transmission)

[alangj]

OK, now that leads me to two more questions on the same topic. 1) How (by what physical facilities) are the radio signals broadcast to the trains in a given area/division? I've never noticed any really obvious signs of transmitter (or repeater) towers immediately alongside any right-of-way, so where are the "ground-based" facilities typically located in order to provide full coverage within their areas? Making the assumption that the antennas are more widely-spaced, and not "aimed" directionally just along the right-of-way leads to the second question. 2) How far away from (off to the side of) a set of tracks could you be and still reliably expect to pick up the transmissions on a scanner radio? Are the RR signals more-or-less omnidirectional and wide-ranging, in order to insure reliable communications with the train crews, regardless of location on the tracks?

Just curious.

Alan

[Anonymous]

My best educated guess is that the transmitters for the different subs are located at the sub headquarters. The antennas don't have to be very tall, since the frequencies they're broadcasting on travel pretty far. Yard frequencies are usually at the yard office. As for picking uo the transmissions, it all depends on what kind and length of antenna you have, the time of day, weather conditions (cloud cover makes FM waves travel farther), and whether you're in a valley or on a hill. There are many other factors, but these are the main ones.

[alangj]

Sounds real reasonable to me! Thanks!