Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 8:29:51 GMT
Im really interested to know exactly how this system works. Can anyone shed any light on how it works?
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on May 22, 2012 9:11:53 GMT
Switch it on, speak through a microphone and out comes your voice a lot louder than when it went in. Simples.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 11:40:48 GMT
Not that PA System sorry, Im not fully familiar with the terminology. Im talking about the Automated Announcement System on the Piccadilly Line in particular.
The announcements that Julie Berry voiced? That system.
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Post by v52gc on May 22, 2012 12:11:41 GMT
What is it about how it works you want to know?
It can be triggered manually by inputting codes on a keypad: -custom announcements (such as mind the doors, move down, and lots more including unused ones such as cross the platform for a train to Central London"...) -This station is ... -The next station is... -This is a Piccadilly Line Service to...
Or journeys may be set using a different keypad using a start station, a route code (tourist mode; stopping at Turnham Green or not; stopping at Terminal 4 or not; stopping at Ravenscourt Park, Stamford Brook, Turnham Green, Chiswick Park or not) and a destination station. This will also set the destination on the train's destination indicators.
Any possible route can be set (eg Terminal 5 to Cockfosters, Acton Town to Turnpike Lane, but not Rayners Lane to Northfields...)
After telling the train when to start the announcements, it will do them automatically using a wheel revolution counter between stations and by the door open circuit and wheel revolution counter at stations.
The system can sometimes get "lost" and will just stop working and the route needs to be re-entered using the current station as the start point.
Volume in the cars cannot be adjusted from the cab.
The auto announcements can be cancelled individually or cut-out (but not for too many stations otherwise the system gets lost)
Updating the system is not easy apparently.
There is a Test Mode which makes the system cycle through station names and self diagnose errors in the system. It will also self diagnose on the move things such as lost signals to amplifiers in certain cars. I'm not too sure how this works though as it can say its lost a signal to a car when the announcements are still working in that car.
Hope this helps, I'll update if I think of anything else.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 12:52:26 GMT
Thats brilliant!
So how does one control the volume in individual cabs? Would someone have to manually turn it up on the cabs amplifier?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 13:12:38 GMT
Thats brilliant! So how does one control the volume in individual cabs? Would someone have to manually turn it up on the cabs amplifier? The PAs volume is controlled electronically by speed sensing, as the train's speed increases, so does the volume. If the driver wants to increase the volume manually, the driver would have to just shout down the microphone. ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 13:22:20 GMT
But many times the automated announcements have played so quietly, they're better off not being played at all?
How do you turn up these announcements?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 13:33:24 GMT
But many times the automated announcements have played so quietly, they're better off not being played at all? How do you turn up these announcements? The would I expect be down to the amplifier settings which the depot would have to adjust or rectify any fault causing low volume. Have you noticed this to be a problem on certain lines? You could make a note of the car numbers the next time you notice this problem and report it to TfL or on here and I am sure it will get attention.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2012 13:59:11 GMT
Mainly the Piccadilly Line. Havent taken note of any cab numbers, but I will do from now on.
Ive noticed that sometimes the announcements dont play at all. But I expect that would be to do with that our fellow poster explained to me above.
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Post by chrisvandenkieboom on May 22, 2012 14:39:09 GMT
This is what test mode looks like on the 73TS
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Post by v52gc on May 22, 2012 14:54:23 GMT
From what I've been told resistors in each car need to be changed to adjust the base level of the DVA (Digital Voice Announcer) in each car individually. Another reason it could be too low is the system to make it louder during movement is faulty. If you want to report it make sure you quote the actual car number, printed in blue on the outside of the car, not just the train or cab number. All I've written about is all for the Piccadilly Line mind you! A few reasons for it not working include: -it's broken -it's got lost (the wheel revolution count does not match up with when the doors open so the system no longer knows what station it is at) -the DVA didn't get told when to start -the doors open circuit didn't send a signal to initiate the station announcement (solution to this is to press the door open buttons again...) Please note that in a lot of cabs you cannot hear the DVA so sometimes don't know it's not working. And there is no way of knowing in cars further back and/or when the train is in motion. You can always tell the driver if it's not working if you can. They sit at the front . Most won't bite.
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Post by Dstock7080 on May 22, 2012 15:08:59 GMT
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Post by Alight on Jul 3, 2012 22:04:21 GMT
Interesting thread. Looking at the test video, I didn't realise there was an aeroplane symbol - they should use it! The test message implies that it is a 2nd version - I assume the 1st version was the original male voice? --- Just to add to v52gc informative post, there are two version of the terminating at Terminals 1,2,3 announcement: -This is a Piccadilly line service to Heathrow Terminals 4 and 123 (most common) -This is a Piccadilly line service to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via Terminal 4 (less common and can be heard in this clip) It all depends on whether the route has been set as Cockfosters-Cockfosters via Heathrow loop, or simply to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3. --- stevenvig, the problem you've raised about volume is a common one and the Piccadilly line seems to be most affected by this. Like you say, it seems to only affect the odd car and not necessarily whole trains, so I've always assumed it's to do with the speakers within that car. Could be wrong though.
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Fahad
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Post by Fahad on Jul 3, 2012 22:32:12 GMT
As the wheels get more and more worn, do the announcements become more and more inaccurate?
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