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More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by gbs on Mon Jan 1 22:52:19 2018



Adventures from this afternoon:

1. I entered the Liberty Av (C) station around 1:00, and the mezzanine clock above the turnstiles said the next two trains were Euclid-bound, arriving in 11 and 27 minutes. I asked the agent if the trains were running to Manhattan and she said they were, so I went downstairs, not knowing how long I'd have to wait (good thing they've installed these things). The clock on our platform was completely blank, but across the tracks I could see that their clock showed the same two Euclid Cs. Seven minutes later, with only a Manhattan-bound A passing through the station during that time, our clock suddenly said the next Manhattan C was 2 minutes away. Across the tracks their clock showed the same two trains, at 4 and 20 minutes away. Sure enough our train did arrive in 2 minutes, which means it was always the very next train into the station, but it was never listed as such when I arrived there.

2. I entered the Pacific St station (D,N,R) and the mezzanine clock showed two D trains next, one to Stillwell and one to Norwood. This is absolutely ridiculous at a location that serves three lines in two directions. Downstairs on the downtown side the clock showed a Stillwell D in 3 minutes and a Bay Ridge R in 17 minutes. I wanted the N and assumed I'd have to wait longer than 17 minutes. The D did come in 3 minutes, and as soon as it left, the top line showed the next N arriving in 1 minute, with the R still at 17 minutes. So it appears that this particular platform clock has the top line reserved for the express track and the bottom line reserved for the local track, unlike at Roosevelt Av (E,F,M,R), where the two lines simply show the next two trains, regardless of the track. In both cases one clock for a platform with two tracks and multiple lines is totally inadequate. Each track should have its own clock.

3. I entered 8 Av (N), where the new Manhattan-bound platform has two double-sided signs, and where one would have been perfectly adequate (talk about mis-spent money). The message crawl at the bottom said N and R trains were by-passing 49 St in both directions because of preparations for "tonight's" New Year's activities. This was clearly yesterday's message and should have been removed. There was also a second advisory about signal trouble at Times Square. Was this also yesterday, or current?

Of all the weaknesses of this program, the worst offender is the locations where the clocks have been installed, often in the most obscure area on the platform or turnstile area. Visit 63 Drive (M,R) and see where they've put them (if you can find them) and where they should have put them. Visit Queensboro Plaza (N,W,7) upper level and see where the N,W clock is and where the 7 clock is. Enter Northern Blvd (M,R) Queens-bound and look for the mezzanine clock (hint: look behind you). It's enough to make someone believe in small government.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by BrooklynTrain on Mon Jan 1 23:19:25 2018, in response to More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Mon Jan 1 22:52:19 2018.

For Liberty Ave "C", the train won't show until it's left its terminal. (Train might drop an interval, depart late, etc.) Next time, put in Euclid Ave in your phone to see scheduled terminal departure time.

For Atlantic/Pacific, use your phone to see the next 4 departures instead of just 2 shown in the station.



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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Mon Jan 1 23:30:39 2018, in response to More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Mon Jan 1 22:52:19 2018.

One problem I see with the countdown clocks at stations with multiple lines is how does the clock know which service is actually next? At Pacific St, how can it tell if the next train on the express tk is an N or a D or overnight whether the next train on the lcl tk is an N or an R? At Dekalb, I suppose it’s possible for the countdown clock to read where the trains are coming from since they either come from different tks S/B or punch the route request button at Pacific St N/B but that is not possible at every station.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 00:10:07 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Mon Jan 1 23:30:39 2018.


I assume the train carries an identifier of some sorts. At Roosevelt Av the clock seems to (almost) always know whether the train is an M or R on the local track and an E or F on the express track and properly identifies them as such.

One weekend when the R was running on the express track between Continental and Roosevelt, the clock showed the R arriving on the local track (which was closed), but it knew it was an R train that was arriving.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 00:14:00 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by BrooklynTrain on Mon Jan 1 23:19:25 2018.


I (and probably some few others) happen not to have a smart phone, but if that's the case, why bother with the expense and trouble of installing these clocks, and just install instructions for using your phone to find the next trains? It would have been a whole lot cheaper and more accurate.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by jasonnyc on Tue Jan 2 02:04:56 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 00:10:07 2018.

Yeah it uses Bluetooth. I don't think it connects to the track circuits at all to identify what track it's actually on. I was waiting for an uptown C on CPW once at a local station and it said a train was approaching. It was on the express track and obviously wasn't going to stop.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Snarf368 on Tue Jan 2 02:45:51 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 00:14:00 2018.

No

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 02:48:34 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by jasonnyc on Tue Jan 2 02:04:56 2018.


Does each train carry a piece of hardware that identifies its route letter? How does the Bluetooth system work with the clocks?

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 07:13:16 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Mon Jan 1 23:30:39 2018.

One problem I see with the countdown clocks at stations with multiple lines is how does the clock know which service is actually next? At Pacific St, how can it tell if the next train on the express tk is an N or a D or overnight whether the next train on the lcl tk is an N or an R?

The countdown clocks don't work off the track circuits. Therefore, they have more information regarding the trains that are on the tracks.

In particular, the route and track are passed along. Work trains could be included; I have not seen them in the feed. However, their presence isn't required for next train displays.

I suppose it’s possible for the countdown clock to read where the trains are coming from since they either come from different tks

The real time feed contains information regarding all trains currently operating as well as those that will go into service within the next 30 minutes. The feed is updated every minute.

There's enough incoming information to display several train arrivals and correct it, should there be unforeseen events.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 08:05:40 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by BrooklynTrain on Mon Jan 1 23:19:25 2018.

Why should we spend money on Data when they pissed our money away on useless countdown clocks ?

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Lou from Brooklyn on Tue Jan 2 08:07:56 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Mon Jan 1 23:30:39 2018.

This morning, Kings Hwy Brighton staff entrance single two line clock shows quincy northbound and southbound, not the B trains that arrived in both directions well before the listed quincy's.

Of course the single platform clock (three entrences to the platform) on the north plat had the northbound Bravo listed but most people were down in the heated areas or on the steps.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 08:17:42 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 08:05:40 2018.

I find countdown clocks very useful. They have frequently saved me a few minutes, telling me whether I should take the local at hand or wait for the next express. Occasionally they even tell me to abandon all hope for this line and take a different route.




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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Tue Jan 2 08:37:35 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 08:17:42 2018.

I think of them as position indicators, rather than actual countdowns, and that informs my decisions a lot around the system. At my regular stations, I've come to recognize what "x min" really means as to where the train is. After that it's a matter of knowing the trackwork going on and anything else out of the ordinary around the system, and that all leads to what course of action I'll take. If it's not a station I'm accustomed to, I just take a guess based on whatever timetable data I may remember as to what "x min" means. I rarely assume that in exactly "x min" I'll be getting on the train, unless I'm in a brand new spot and completely unfamiliar with the timetables.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 08:38:18 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 08:05:40 2018.

Why should we spend money on Data when they pissed our money away on useless countdown clocks ?

We would not be able to document how bad service actually is without the data to verify it.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 08:44:20 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by New Flyer #857 on Tue Jan 2 08:37:35 2018.

Agreed that the "x minutes" is imprecise and that it is really a position indicator. Which is why at 205th-Norwood it goes directly from 8 minutes to zero.

Another blatant example: a northbound 4/5 at 14th can never be "1 minute" away. the clock always goes directly from 2 minutes to zero.

Another amusing observation at Norwood. The destination of trains is given as Bedford Park Boulevard rather than Coney Island. Yes, it's true that there is a crew change at BPB, but what does that have to do with customers?




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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 09:05:30 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 08:38:18 2018.

OK, but then what ? Bitching about the MTA is like pissing against a cement wall given their arrogance. They and the politicians are just photo-op-junkies.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 09:06:42 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 08:17:42 2018.

Try the one at 86th/4th for a northbound train. They tell you nothing until the train is physically in the station.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by G1Ravage on Tue Jan 2 09:26:11 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 02:48:34 2018.

It connects with an internal dispatching program, which feeds the train's ID and destination to the train. Bluetooth receivers at the entering and leaving ends of each station help with the train tracking to provide approximate arrival times, and also to tell you what the train is, and where it is going.

The information being fed to the train also has the anticipated schedule, and what track it should be on at each station. So if a local train is re-routed to the express track, the clocks at the express station might still show the train arriving on the local track, despite the train now being on the express.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Steamdriven on Tue Jan 2 10:40:15 2018, in response to More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Mon Jan 1 22:52:19 2018.

The MTA was designed to avoid accountability. It's not meant to work for the riders, it's meant to work for big gov/big union cronies, and little fiddles won't fix it. Here are two alternatives:

Method A:
Break up the MTA into separate, competing systems, sell them off to operators with a record of running a service business. Provide a subsidy per passenger-mile to each, adjusted by a simple, non-game-able service quality metric. We could call them, ohhhh, the Innovative Rapid Transit, the Interborough New Design, and the ButtHead MeatHead Division, which goes to the hipster locales. Much like the historic system, set it up so that nearby lines are owned/operated by competing companies wherever possible. Thus, whatever owns the B/Q in Brooklyn is a different company than the F, D is owned separately from N, numbered lines separate from lettered, J/Z line separate from all. Yeah there's shared trackage, deal with it.

Method B:
Take a group of pizzed off riders, have them rate the subway service. Failing grade --------> Governor, MTA board, NY state legislature, judges who interfere with running the thing right and top union officials stay within the confines of the transit system (not including office buildings, the library attached to a subway station, etc) and must be aboard a train or local bus between the hours of 5am to 7pm until the system is graded B or better, or they reach age 75.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 10:47:34 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Steamdriven on Tue Jan 2 10:40:15 2018.

Your Method A sounds more like RTA in Chicago, with 3 subsidiaries, each with their own Boards, each trying to eat each other's lunch. It is also line management on steroids. for example, the R train would be fucked silly, moreso than it is already, by whichever end of the route it does not belong to. That's how they would "deal with it".

I think Chicagoland folks prefer the MTA model.

I like Method B.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 10:52:17 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 09:05:30 2018.

but then what ?

One of the MTA's many failures is not using its own data to improve service in a timely manner. A less "not so good" system's performance can be vastly improved by using feedback. Unfortunately, the MTA is using this data for customer relations and not for operations.

This failure permeates not only through NYCT's neanderthal thinking but is also found in some of its younger employees who left in disgust. There was a recent talk by some of NYCT's disgusted former employees.

One speaker mentioned substituting a dispatcher in place of bus to promote better service by eliminating what Mike Quill used to call "Banana Buses". (Mike said that's because they come in bunches.) I told him, in private, that he was wrong. The data for every bus is updated every minute. A fairly simple program using this data could perform a lot better than a dispatcher in the field. Remedial instructions could be sent automatically to the individual buses.

The same applies to subway operations.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 2 11:19:36 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Steamdriven on Tue Jan 2 10:40:15 2018.

The MTA was created for the sole purpose of curtailing Robert Moses' power.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 13:45:24 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Tue Jan 2 00:10:07 2018.

I can see the NTTs having some sort of electronic device identifying the train but with the possible exception of the R-46s with electronic signs, I can’t see the MTA investing money for any sort of electronic devices for cars like the R-32s and 42s which are soon to be scrapped.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by MATHA531 on Tue Jan 2 13:49:42 2018, in response to More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Mon Jan 1 22:52:19 2018.

What a wonderful thing that all stations now have countdown clocks on our subway. We're only about 25 years behind London. What will we get now and they're always accurate there. Will wonders ever cease.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 14:16:20 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 08:44:20 2018.

We used to have the same trouble in the command center when writing up train delay reports. The crew who boarded at Bed Pk would ID the train as its departure time lvg Bed Pk instead of the departure time lvg 205 St and many of the console T/Ds didn’t bother to put the proper call letters in their train delay reports. It would seem to me that the crew boarding at Bed Pk either would or should know the proper call letters of their train regardless of where they actually took charge of it. In the case of the countdown clocks, there is no excuse whatsoever for the proper info to be displayed.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 14:24:38 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 2 11:19:36 2018.

Well, now that Moses is departed, there is no longer a need for such a super agency.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by MainR3664 on Tue Jan 2 14:37:29 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 08:17:42 2018.

I like the clocks as well. At first I saw some weird errors at Pacific Street, but it's been explained to me on here that that was because at the time, not all of the IND-BMT had the receivers, so a train could seem to come out of nowhere.

However, I do agree that many of them are very poorly placed. For example, at 8th St/NYU southbound, the clock is right in the middle of the platform (I assume it's bi-directional, but I haven't checked) , but the station can only be entered from the north or south ends. Therefore, I think there should be a clock set a few feet (maybe 15-20 feet) from the bottom of each stairway. This way, you can comfortably read it once you've descended, and people are incentivized not to stand right at the stairway landings...

At Whitehall St., Brooklyn-bound, they just need MORE of them. The platform is narrow, and gets crowded in the PM rush. Better placement would result in more people getting somewhat accurate information, and adjusting their plans accordingly.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 2 14:46:56 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by MainR3664 on Tue Jan 2 14:37:29 2018.

I hardly bother using the clocks in the station and just use a phone.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by R30A on Tue Jan 2 15:40:56 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 13:45:24 2018.

I can't see them doing it either. Not for the reason you state, but because they already have installed transmitters on all the trains so why in the world would they do it again?

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 16:25:17 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 13:45:24 2018.

I can see the NTTs having some sort of electronic device identifying the train but with the possible exception of the R-46s with electronic signs, I can’t see the MTA investing money for any sort of electronic devices for cars like the R-32s and 42s which are soon to be scrapped.

The system was developed by people outside the MTA and the railroad industry. Therefore, it took very little time to develop, is inexpensive and can be useful if the data is correctly analyzed.

The devices are similar to EZ Pass tags - cheap and unobtrusive.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 16:55:53 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by R30A on Tue Jan 2 15:40:56 2018.

Other than the NTTs, what cars have transmitters and when were they installed?

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 17:02:41 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by MainR3664 on Tue Jan 2 14:37:29 2018.

Are countdown clocks really needed in the height of the rush hour when there is frequent train service? It seems to me that countdown clocks are the most useful in the evening and overnight when headways are longer.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 17:11:52 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 17:02:41 2018.

Are countdown clocks really needed in the height of the rush hour when there is frequent train service?

They can be very helpful. If the express runs on 2-3 minute headways and the next train is in 6 minutes, I know I probably won't be able to get onto it anyway, so I might as well take the local in 3 minutes.

They provide a small assistance at a small cost.


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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by transitbuff on Tue Jan 2 17:39:24 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by AlM on Tue Jan 2 17:11:52 2018.

I have a beef where "1 min" can be as much as 3 min....also, if more than 2 services share a platform (and/or track)..you are on your own with this setup!!

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Snarf368 on Tue Jan 2 18:16:38 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 17:02:41 2018.

Yes they are needed. Frequently waiting for a Jamaica bound E , I see 2 trains a minute apart. Packed train arrives but I decide to wait for the half full one directly behind.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by R30a on Tue Jan 2 18:20:58 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 16:55:53 2018.

Every train has one. Not sure if every car does or if every unit does or if every operating position does, but somehow every train, R32 to R179 shows up on the displays.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Snarf368 on Tue Jan 2 20:14:33 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 07:13:16 2018.

The feed is updated every 5 seconds

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 21:09:21 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Snarf368 on Tue Jan 2 20:14:33 2018.

The feed is updated every 5 seconds

Thanks for the info.

I'd have to spend some real money, if I wanted to capture the data at that rate.

I also don't know how useful it would be for my purpose. The vehicle position data is rather crude. There's a single snapshot for each vehicle with each download. That snapshot timestamp has sometimes been almost a minute before the download timestamp. I will not have received any additional information, if the same vehicle snapshot is repeated every 5 seconds for almost a minute.

N.B. just so we are talking about the same thing. I'm talking about the feeds for software developers that the MTA makes available. I'm not talking about the communications between trains and the CBTC or ATS system. That would have far more precise vehicle position information. That feed isn't available, so far as I know.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Tue Jan 2 23:39:50 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Joe V on Tue Jan 2 09:06:42 2018.

Same theory with bus time. When you are a stop or 2 down the line, bus time means nothing.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by randyo on Wed Jan 3 00:04:46 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 21:09:21 2018.

It’s interesting that the feed is updated so frequently since my Bustime app only updates every 60 seconds.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by K. Trout on Wed Jan 3 12:16:16 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Stephen Bauman on Tue Jan 2 16:25:17 2018.

The devices are similar to EZ Pass tags


Do you have a source for this? I have also heard the term Bluetooth being bandied about (at least on this board) - I had assumed it was a Bluetooth LE broadcast similar to Apple's iBeacon, but now that you mention it, an EZPass-like technology is probably more reliable at anything above walking speed.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by MainR3664 on Wed Jan 3 14:29:42 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Tue Jan 2 17:02:41 2018.

I can agree. But "off peak" use is still common. And also, if you're there at rush hour, and a reliable- easily visible clock shows a significant delay, people have a chance to change their plans ...

If my way home is seriously F-ed up, I text my wife that there's an issue, and I go for dinner myself.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by MainR3664 on Wed Jan 3 14:35:32 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by randyo on Wed Jan 3 00:04:46 2018.

And I've noticed that even then, it can be a bit behind...

I've also noticed that Bus Time requires really, really good data service to work well. I get many errors, and notices to "check my connection". But then, I go to Uber (not to use Uber, just to check the app), and all seems fine.

So yes, Bus Time has its shortcomings, as do the B-Division countdown clocks. But both are better that what we had before (nuttin' honey!!) . I think though, that many of the B-Division clocks are poorly placed.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by AlM on Wed Jan 3 15:00:19 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by transitbuff on Tue Jan 2 17:39:24 2018.

also, if more than 2 services share a platform (and/or track)..you are on your own with this setup!!

I haven't seen many problems lately of the wrong service being announced as the next one coming.



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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by R30A on Wed Jan 3 16:33:10 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by AlM on Wed Jan 3 15:00:19 2018.

The real problem seems to be how it cannot discern which track the train is actually on. It will not announce express trains diverted to the local at local stations, and it will announce local trains running on the express track at local stations.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by AlM on Wed Jan 3 17:26:07 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by R30A on Wed Jan 3 16:33:10 2018.

Agreed. But if the train is on the correct track it will generally know correctly what type of train it is.


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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by fdtutf on Wed Jan 3 17:46:46 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by MATHA531 on Tue Jan 2 13:49:42 2018.

Yeah, Stockholm has also had them for years. And done right; e.g., at platform level there's a separate clock for each platform face.

Then again, Stockholm has also had cell phone service throughout its subway (both stations and interstation tunnels) since the year 2000, so.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Wed Jan 3 20:51:29 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by Snarf368 on Tue Jan 2 20:14:33 2018.

The feed is updated every 5 seconds

I don't think so.

I request the feed every minute via a cron job. There's jitter in the timing of a cron job. However, there's definitely more than a 5 second interval between one request and the next.

I've received several instances of the exact same feed, when the requests were 1 minute apart. I'm now in the process of writing SQL to remove these duplicates because they present problems for more complex analysis. Fortunately, I had the good sense to record both the time I made the download request and the data's internal timestamp. It should not be a difficult job.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by 3-9 on Thu Jan 4 00:10:42 2018, in response to Re: More count-down clock lunacy, posted by MainR3664 on Tue Jan 2 14:37:29 2018.

At Delancey/Essex, they placed the M/J/Z ones at just the right places - right above the stairways connecting to the F, for those who want to choose the F or M, and one further down the platform. For the F, they put it in the waiting area, which more or less works, but if you want to choose between the F or M, you have to wait on the F platform to read both displays.

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Re: More count-down clock lunacy

Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Jan 4 02:35:10 2018, in response to More count-down clock lunacy, posted by gbs on Mon Jan 1 22:52:19 2018.

That's nothing compared to what I saw at 46th Street.

The countdown clocks show a 7 train to 111 Street in 8 minutes, a train to Mets-Willets Point in 12 minutes, and a train to Main Street in 16 minutes.

All three of those trains are signed to go to Main Street.

Also, the 7501-7510 set is not reporting.

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