Batboard

Hi Guy's,

I'm new here and had a question, I've worked on the RR all my life and also volunteer on a heritage RR here in NY, they have assigned me the task of getting our new engine a radio...here are pics of the radio that was installed in it, which we never did get powered up, there were some things disconnected. I have scoured the net and can't find any info on this old boat anchor, does anyone out there have info on it?...I don't think we wanna use this one anymore so I'll probably end up purchasing a new radio for the cab, any ideas on where to find this stuff in the Kingston NY area, all of knowledge is with ham radio stuff so this is a little new to me...the tag says

FCC TX Data CC4242
FCC RX Data RC0121
Mod Q1524A

..hmm can't seem to get the pics to post..

First off, are these radios the Clean Cab Spectra radios?

Serial/Model numbers can help us further.

Regards,

-Frank C.

Joe,

You may also wish to explore the Search feature on this Board for more RR radio information, both for background as well as current proposed changes in RR radio operations from the FCC.
There is also a lot of information at http://www.radioreference.com in their forums section.

Regards,

fchrist16 wrote:First off, are these radios the Clean Cab Spectra radios?

Serial/Model numbers can help us further.

Regards,

-Frank C.

I'm familiar with the Spectra series, this is like no one I've ever seen,lol..the Serial # RK772B and the Model # is Q1524A

Tom in D.C. wrote:Joe,

You may also wish to explore the Search feature on this Board for more RR radio information, both for background as well as current proposed changes in RR radio operations from the FCC.
There is also a lot of information at http://www.radioreference.com in their forums section.

Regards,

Very cool, thanks for the link, I'll check that out also...

were are you located in ny

Joe,

I got your email pictures, which were rather dark to identify it, but I am convinced, as I said in my email reply it is probably a 1970 vintage transit radio, possibly "Dispatcher" or "Mocom" series.

Here is the bad news, the CC4242 type number indicates it is UHF not VHF RR band.
I can't cross it to a specific model radio.

This would be consistent with it's last use on SIRT which was UHF.

Not worth any effort for your use. Unfortunately, the antenna on the locomotive would also be UHF and need to be replaced.

If your where I think you are, your not far from me at all. If John Watson is in your ranks, then I know exactly where you are.

Finding a clean cab spectra will be difficult, and your budget may not be want to spend money for one.

Your best bet would be to aquire a recent model VHF radio, and have it programmed for the small handful of freq's that you will need. (Older spectra with DTMF mic, CDM1250, etc). Are you setup for 12vDC or only 72vDC? If 72vDC, you may want to look into the 72-12vDC power converters that are all over the railroad market - marketed for the cab.

KitN1MCC wrote:were are you located in ny

This is us:http://catskillmtrailroad.com/

The 407 is the new loco..

Pj wrote:If your where I think you are, your not far from me at all. If John Watson is in your ranks, then I know exactly where you are.

Finding a clean cab spectra will be difficult, and your budget may not be want to spend money for one.

Your best bet would be to aquire a recent model VHF radio, and have it programmed for the small handful of freq's that you will need. (Older spectra with DTMF mic, CDM1250, etc). Are you setup for 12vDC or only 72vDC? If 72vDC, you may want to look into the 72-12vDC power converters that are all over the railroad market - marketed for the cab.

This is us here: http://catskillmtrailroad.com/

I'll have to ask if there is a John Watson in our ranks, I just got reinvolved with CMRR as I my real railroad job was too demanding on my time, and I spent the last four years in MN dispatching for CP rail...our loco is ste up for 32 or 64 volt, so we'll have to get a converter...some problem they had with our RS-1 I believe...

i am here in ct and i have knowledge and have done a few loco installs it is not that far for me to ride out

Whatever you put in will have to be narrow band compliant in 2013. CDM's with a 32 volt converter work well. The only Clean Cab Motorola's were the Astro version of the Spectra. Not many were made, and there are even fewer available for purchase used.

what we have done is installed 12volt alternators with its won battery . When Locomotives start they put a hug draw on the 32volt system and it can do nasty things to electronics

That's why the Spectra 32v power supply is built to be so bulletproof. In all the years we have had them, the only problems have been blown fuses. Not once has a unit blown up or been damaged due to 3rd rail arcing or any other voltage spike.
As far as a replacement, again a CDM-1250 with a 32v power supply is you best best. Rail Comm in Memphis Tenn. has been installing them for about a year with great success. They take a standard Astron desk top power supply setup and remove the 110v supply and replace it with a 32v supply. Now this is for Clean cab setups only, no coach setups that I am aware of. Then you have to go to GE Transportation radios.