radio comms for mbta trains explained
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Peteri Szerlagi
Aug 16, 2025, 10:34:43 PM8/16/25
to usafire
https://youtu.be/SYU7pzw2Uio?si=3WR72erGqYkiHPdY
18 minute video
afaik the railroads use 3 types of radios - portables + mobiles + bases
bases might transmit with 100 watts of power from an antenna 50 feet in the air
mobile radios are in the locomotives - they might transmit at 25 watts
of power - from approx 15 feet above the ground
the portables will transmit at maybe 5 watts at maybe 5 feet above ground level
bases can be heard over the greatest distances - portables can be
heard over the shortest distances - typically
if someone uses a portable radio on a train track at the top of a mtn
pass - then maybe they can be heard quite a distance - radio waves
travel in straight lines - they dont go thru hills and mtns - they do
go thru trees - and - the more powerful signals can be heard over
longer distances than the weaker radio signals
18 minute video
afaik the railroads use 3 types of radios - portables + mobiles + bases
bases might transmit with 100 watts of power from an antenna 50 feet in the air
mobile radios are in the locomotives - they might transmit at 25 watts
of power - from approx 15 feet above the ground
the portables will transmit at maybe 5 watts at maybe 5 feet above ground level
bases can be heard over the greatest distances - portables can be
heard over the shortest distances - typically
if someone uses a portable radio on a train track at the top of a mtn
pass - then maybe they can be heard quite a distance - radio waves
travel in straight lines - they dont go thru hills and mtns - they do
go thru trees - and - the more powerful signals can be heard over
longer distances than the weaker radio signals
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