AM Radio Train Station Broadcasts

[sery2831]

In the article about MBCR getting it's final extension an improvement that goes hand in hand with the new GPS train status updates is a program that gives an update on AM radio! Anderson RTC on the Lowell is supposed to be testing this in the near future.

Here is the quote from the article found on Boston.com: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaki ... ail_c.html

In addition, the T plans to launch a low-frequency AM radio broadcast at some stations that will let commuters hear when trains are arriving, without getting out of their cars, allowing them to stay warm and dry during bad weather. That plan will be rolled out at the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn later this month, and to other stations with at least 50 parking spots soon after, the MBTA announced.

[To keep this on topic, this thread will be about the AM Radio broadcasts... The GPS thread is here: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 65&t=64340 ]

[CRail]

Don't forget the predecessor to the multimillion dollar LED clock, the scrolling No Smoking signs!

[BostonUrbEx]

Oh my God, the MBTA plans on implementing a small, but useful project. What's the catch?!

[sery2831]

That if you sit in your car the train will leave you

[rethcir]

This might warrant its own topic but.. Did anyone take the greenbush or middleboro/lakeville lines today and check out the train arrival signs? This is an easy way to take some of the edge off train commuting, I hope the data stream is opened up for iphone/bb developers, etc too.

I have some friends who were trapped in Lowell for a couple extra hours one holiday when they read the wrong schedule, they certainly could have used this.

[sery2831]

Here is the topic about the count down LED signs...

[To keep this on topic, this thread will be about the AM Radio broadcasts... The GPS thread is here: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 65&t=64340 ]

[jaymac]

This is one of those low-cost, high-return investments in customer relations that had seemed to have disappeared from the T in recent years. If the algorithms and GPS data are effectively integrated, this will greatly reduce the feelings of discomfort on top of inconvenience generated by waiting at unheated or insufficiently sheltered platforms. When it gets established system-wide, that will be even better.
Does anybody have any idea who gets props for this?

[StevieC48]

Is all the trafic networks going to have access to this or is going to be for one traffic network? Here is a list of the popular trafic networks used by the radio stations Smart Routes Cambridge,Total Traffic Medford and Metro Traffic Boston.

[sery2831]

Stevie it's a now arriving announcement broadcast in the parking lot.

[StevieC48]

Ok lol I mis understood the post my bad thanks for clearing that up.

[mitch3910]

I saw this sticker in a couple locations when I got off the train in Haverhill tonight. I didn't see them this morning (though I could have still been asleep). Anyone know what the deal with this is?

[BostonUrbEx]

I thought that project died a while ago?

The plan was to play delays and alerts regularly. And they were considering music to break it up a little bit. There is definitely a thread about this somewhere on this forum.

[diburning]

Been there, done that.

It's hooked up to the signs. A computer voice broadcasts over the radio what is being displayed on the sign. (Most of the time, you hear a robot voice saying WELCOME... TO.... COMMUTER...RAIL) and the robot voice would also announce the countdown, any delays, stand back, etc. The range isn't very far so once you leave the station area or the parking lot if the station has one, you wouldn't be able to hear it anymore.

[jamesinclair]

Its exactly what it says it is.

It lets you sit in the warmth of your car and hear the announcements instead of freezing at the platform.

[scrook]

Low power AM info broadcast (found at the top or bottom extreme of your AM 'dial' -- for who uses dials these days?), as is used for local traffic, state/national park, airport, etc. information dissemination. With timely messages and alerts could be useful.