Talk:Connect Project
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'The District Line will be the first line to receive the beta, with the other lines receiving it after the beta on the District Line and then the District Line will receive it last.' This sentence does not make sense to me. Can someone clarify how the district line will receive it first and also last?
The District Line is basically receiving a beta (although since written, it has been changed to ELL with trial successfully running). The beta is a downgraded version. The system will be installed on all other lines, and then the ELL will receive the upgraded equipment last. Tubechallenger
TETRA technology will NOT allow people to use their mobile phones. The mobile phone network and the TETRA network are very different. BT 23:33, 22 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Connect project and phones on the London Underground
The Connect Project was NOT to provide Mobile Phones. Its intention was to "Connect" all the LUL Staff via a Radio and Telephone network. Each frontline LUL staff and all trains are supplied with the New (ish) Tetra Digital Radio. This radio technology allows more users to use the same number of Frequencies by use of Digital Multiplexing. Other benefits of Tetra can be found in the Tetra link. Integrating the emergency services is a remement requirement from the report arising from the Kings Cross Fire. e.g. Fire staff must be able to contact each other and LUL staff during an incident in a tunnel or station by use of a radio. So principly the Connect Project is a Secure, Safety Private Mobile Radio system. Its internal to staff and emergency staff.
Mobile Phones on the underground have been on LUL's discussion table since at least 1996. Early discussions revealed a safety impact which would concerned LUL management, that the phone user would be distracted and become a "one under". e.g. walk off a platform under a train. Subsequent investigations revealed the true cost and complexity of providing phone use underground. The major problems facing the installer/desginer of a phone network underground are many, They include, Lack of power supplies, Lack of space, Can not use high power in confined spaces due to harmful emissions to members of public, Higher frequencies used by Mobile Phones mean 4 to 6 times the amount of equipment.
The conclusion on phones is that major stations and lines which have short distances between stations will have a mobile phone system. Major stations will also have WIMAX and WIFI technologies where they interchange with Network Rail Lines.
A proposed alternative technology was to enable phone use in trains only by installing low powered repeaters within the trains. The cost of adding this additonal hardware and then proving it was still safe to run the train would far exceed the cost benefit to the mobile phone user. This technology is in place on Heathrow Express and other rail lines.
