Train Monitoring Project
Sponsor: Trains of the OKC area & of Oklahoma
An Yahoo Group
The Trains of the OKC area are sponsoring this project and of Oklahoma, which is a Yahoo Group. This project is located in Sayre, and will be monitoring both the Elk City – Clinton areas and the Altus – Lawton areas of Southwester part of Oklahoma.
Grants and monthly classified ads that have been posted to the group’s website are funding this project. If you would like to purchase an ad you may visit our web site for more INFO or by sending e-mail to us at TOTOKCA @ cableone.net for more INFO. * To send us a text message you can send it to me at 580-309-4038 and if you want to FAX us you can ring this number twice and then wait for 5 minutes 580-928-3798 for this is also our voice phone line.
This project has the following equipment being used, if you would like to help with this list, please get with us. This "*" notes that we have this item on hand. The following items will be used with this project:
We already have the scanner, the 40-FT metal pole and location to place it, we will soon be special ordering the VHF beam antenna, plus a preamp for the antenna. We have the coaxial cable, but need to get some connections for the cable to tie in the scanner to the antenna.
We have a computer system that we are rebuilding, along with the audio streaming software. However, this project does need donations to help with purchasing the equipment on the list. We have linked up with Paypal to accept any donation made online using any major credit card, the link to use to make a donation is on our web pages.
The areas monitored are shown on the image below that the circle is general what area we are coving, which are both the Altus – Snyder and Elk City – Clinton areas shown on the map.
Map Note: The city of Lawton isn’t shown on this map. It will be listed as an area for which we will be monitoring. In general the area is of 50-mile area, which does includes Altus, Clinton, Elk City, and Snyder.
Bean Antenna INFO: This is a special made 6 element VHF antenna made for the railroad channels. We will have two VHF antenna’s used, one will just be a ground-plain type VHF antenna and the main antenna will be the custom made beam antenna. The cost of the bean antenna is around $175
Scanner Receiver: This is a used 16 channel Bearcat scanner, model # 145 XLT that we will be using. The cost to purchase was around $25. The RG-6 coaxial cable is used and was on hand. The cost when new was around $50 when we got it with the F connections. The scanner and antenna has to have special type of connections, which has a one time cost of $35 that we got from Radio Shack store.
Computer system: This is an older computer, which I have taken the time to rebuild into a good working system with monitor. We still need help with financing of these items as well as this project. Plus we will be offering a paid classified ad(s) on our website. We will offer a business card size ad (2X3) for around $20 per month. The web page also may have ads placed within the web site, but we will have to wait to see on this.
Audio Streaming Software: This is special software that allows someone to stream live a live audio feed. The cost to purchase is less than $100. For we are still researching audio streaming software at this time.
In General: We have researched doing this kind of project for sometime and with us having the AC power and location (building) on hand our Yahoo Group is the sponsor for this project. We already have high speed Internet service with Cableone and we have a wireless network and router to use with this project.
Co-Sponsorships: If your company or business would like to become a sponsor for this project. Besides of offering paid classified ads on our web site, we are in need for several Co-Sponsors for this project. A Co-Sponsorship(s) range from $20 to over $100 per month, just send us a note or message if you would like to help with the Co-Sponsorshiping of this project.
PS: Our group is also working on a 2nd project, which will be a live video streaming webcam, which we are still researching a location for. More INFO will be found on our web site within the next few weeks. If you are interested in helping with this live video webcam please let us know!