Radio Electronic Token Block

[AndrewIrvine]

There are some things on the WTR I just don't seem to be able to find. there are 20 channels allocated, the new frequencies for trains on the West Highland Line. Apparently the Helensburgh to Garelochhead section can be heard on 181.675.


"Following negotiation with OFCOM (the communications agency responsible for
radio spectrum management within the UK), Network Rail was allocated a total of 20
radio channels within a 2.4MHz section of Band III sub band 1 (180.4 - 182MHz) base
transmit paired with 188.4 - 190.8MHz mobile transmit) to support RETB operation.
The new frequency band is adjacent to the Band III frequencies that have been used
for NRN operation and thus the radio propagation characteristics will be broadly
similar."

[Neil57uk]

Andrew

They are hidden in the Network Rail Band III licence. You have to dig thro the 200mhz freqs to find them.

Of the 20 freqs 17 are in use so far. The Far North and Kyle Lines have not been switched on yet.

Easy to find if you have a slow drive to Oban and Mallaig.

[AndrewIrvine]

I seem to have found them all on one page, at last.

Details for licence number 0245716

All Scotland except for two.

TX: 181.9125 MHz
RX: 189.9125 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 181.1 MHz
RX: 189.1 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.4625 MHz
RX: 190.4625 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 180.8125 MHz
RX: 188.8125 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.875 MHz
RX: 190.875 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.775 MHz
RX: 190.775 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 181.675 MHz
RX: 189.675 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

Wales TX: 183.2 MHz
RX: 191.2 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 183.2 MHz
RX: 191.2 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.3125 MHz
RX: 190.3125 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.5625 MHz
RX: 190.5625 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 180.575 MHz
RX: 188.575 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 181.5625 MHz
RX: 189.5625 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.675 MHz
RX: 190.675 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.2125 MHz
RX: 190.2125 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 183.1 MHz
RX: 191.1 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 181.4125 MHz
RX: 189.4125 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.9875 MHz
RX: 190.9875 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 182.0125 MHz
RX: 190.0125 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 180.425 MHz
RX: 188.425 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

TX: 180.975 MHz
RX: 188.975 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

England
TX: 183.2 MHz
RX: 191.2 MHz
Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

[Neil57uk]

You will note that 183.200mhz is also listed for England and Wales. That popped up two years ago but not a squeek. Wonder what that's all about.

[AndrewIrvine]

Years ago, the late 80's / early 90's, frequencies around 138 mHz were published, I never heard anything there either. That was listening between here in Ayrshire, in Cumbria and Lancashire.

[Neil57uk]

When railway cab/shore and RETB started in the 1980's a hand full of frequencies in 138mhz range were used with input in the 107/108mhz range. When broadcast radio took over this range the railway moved to band III which had been vacated by 425 lines TV.

For a period you could monitor the railway on a car radio and I am told that RETB could be monitored on an old TV but I never did it myself.

[AndrewIrvine]

I only ever heard the police, roughly where Classic Fm is now.

[Neil57uk]

Yes, if I remember correctly, when I were a lad, the Police were just above 100mhz and could be heard on car radio's. The broadcast range was extended into the 100mhz range on car radios for some years before commercial radio stations moved into it which is why you could hear the police and the railway.

Scanners hadnt been invented. Sure sombody will have a record of the exact frequencies.