GSM-R

Question 1

Explain the two types of GSM-R calls and give examples of each type.

Answer 1

Point to point
-Normal
-Urgent
- DSD alarm
-Public address (receive only)
-Berth triggered broadcast (receive only)

Group calls
-Railway emergency
-Shunting group call
-Shunting emergency
- Broadcast area call (receive only)

Question 2

What is the function of this button?

Answer 2

Railway emergency group call (REC):
Used to make a railway emergency group call.
This type of call is given the highest priority.

Question 3

What is the function of this button?

Answer 3

Urgent call: Used to make an urgent call to the signaller. This will be given a higher priority than a standard call.

Question 4

What is the function of this button?

Answer 4

Call signaller (standard priority)

Question 5

What is the function of this button?

Answer 5

ST: Used to acknowledge to the signaller that a broadcast has been received AND understood.

Question 6

What is the function of this button?

Answer 6

Standing at signal: Used to inform the signaller that the train is at a stand at a stop signal.

Question 7

What is the function of this button?

Answer 7

Registration/turn on: Enables registration and deregistration of the GSM-R. Turns drivers control panel on when pressed for 2 seconds

Question 8

What are the functions of these buttons?

Answer 8

Increase or decrease brightness and scroll right/left: Alters brightness or enables scrolling where a message is greater than 20 characters

Question 9

What is the function of this button?

Answer 9

Test: used to test the train radio

Question 10

What are the functions of these buttons?

Answer 10

Up/down in menu or increase/decrease volume

Question 11

What is the function of this button?

Answer 11

TOC phone book: Provides access to the train operators contacts

Question 12

What is the function of this button?

Answer 12

Menu: provides access to the in-built menu

Question 13

What is the function of this button?

Answer 13

Accept: Used to answer calls and accept user entries on the display

Question 14

What is the function of this button?

Answer 14

Reject or cancel: Used to reject or delete entries on the display or to end a call

Question 15

How is the train radio connected and when will it turn on?

Answer 15

All radios are connected to the trains battery supply. (So any may be used when the batteries are switched on)
Usually turned on when master switch is moved away from the off position.
Pressing the register/deregister button for more than 2 seconds will also power up the driver control panel.

Question 16

When preparing a train for service what must you do on the GSM-R?

Answer 16

Register the radio using the trains head code. (Check the correct head code is displayed on the radio) This supports the correct routing of calls from both the train and the signaller

Question 17

What code should you use if you encounter registration problems?

Answer 17

Company wild card code 99x (found in sectional appendix)
If using a wild card, you would have to use the phonebook to contact the signaller

Question 18

What is the procedure if you receive a ‘registration failed’ message on the display?

Answer 18

1. Check registration code and enter a second time
2. Contact signaller (using phonebook) in case there is a known issue
3. After contacting signaller one further attempt using a wildcard
4. Tell the signaller if this also fails

Question 19

There are a number of point to point call types, explain how Normal and Urgent call types work.

Answer 19

These are similar to telephone calls in which both people can speak at the same time

Question 20

There are a number of point to point call types, explain what is meant by:
Driver safety device (DSD) alarm

Answer 20

An alarm from the trains radio to the signallers fixed terminal in the event the driver does not acknowledge and reset the DSD in the allotted timescale for the traction type

Question 21

There are a number of point to point call types, explain what is meant by:
Public address (PA) call

Answer 21

Calls made by the signaller or control and are one way. The driver will also hear the PA over the radio loudspeaker

Question 22

There are a number of point to point call types, explain what is meant by:
Berth triggered broadcast call

Answer 22

A pre-recorded message triggered when a train enters a selected berth.
The driver should acknowledge using the ST button when fully received and understood.
It allows the signaller to caution a train in certain circumstances without the need to bring the train to a stand first.

Question 23

There are a number of group call types, explain what is meant by:
Railway Emergency Group call (REC)

Answer 23

This is a multi-party method of communication but only one person can speak at a time

Question 24

There are a number of group call types, explain what is meant by:
Broadcast area call

Answer 24

This allows a signaller to broadcast a message to several trains within a given area

Question 25

There are a number of group call types, explain what is meant by: Shunting group call

Answer 25

A conference call where multiple drivers and shunters can participate