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An introduction to Monitoring Fundamentals strictly from the perspective of telecom network alarm management.
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Reserve Your Seat TodayRailroad networks span hundreds or thousands of miles. Your revenue depends on keeping critical infrastructure operational. This includes signals, switches, communication equipment, and trackside facilities. When equipment fails along remote sections of track, you need to know immediately.
At DPS Telecom, we've helped railroad operators monitor their networks for over 37 years. Our RTUs and central monitoring software give you real-time visibility into equipment status across your entire rail network.
Railway infrastructure includes both revenue-generating equipment and the supporting systems that keep trains moving safely. Here's what railroad operators typically monitor:
Signal and Control Systems:
Communication Infrastructure:
Power and Environmental:
Safety and Security:
Example: Alaska Railroad monitors these systems and continues expanding their monitoring scope. As their team noted: "We want to continue to expand what we are monitoring for our business use, but we also want to provide more for everyone else."
Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) are installed at your trackside locations. This includes equipment shelters, signal bungalows, and communication sites. These units monitor equipment through several methods: contact closures for discrete alarms, analog sensors for voltage and temperature, and protocol connections for smart equipment.
Our NetGuardian RTUs collect data from:
RTUs communicate back to your central office using your existing infrastructure. We support Ethernet, cellular (GSM/CDMA), serial, fiber, and other transports. You're not locked into a single communication method.
T/Mon software consolidates alarms from all your trackside RTUs into a single view. Your operations team sees the complete network status from one screen.
When an alarm occurs, T/Mon can:
Example: NJ Transit uses this approach to monitor FAA-required lighting on microwave towers. The RTUs give them real-time information if lights fail to turn on at night or if bulbs burn out.
We manufacture both the RTUs at your trackside sites and the T/Mon software at your central office. You avoid the complexity of integrating hardware from one vendor with software from another.
Approximately 80% of railroad monitoring needs fit our standard RTU configurations. For the remaining 20%, our engineers create custom builds. We match your exact requirements.
We don't charge Non-Recurring Engineering fees when you meet our minimum order quantities.
This matters for railroads. Every signal house has unique equipment. Manufacturers vary from site to site. Your monitoring priorities differ based on location and criticality.
Trackside equipment shelters face extreme conditions. Temperatures swing from below zero to over 100°F. Humidity levels fluctuate. Equipment vibrates from passing trains.
Our RTUs are designed for these environments. Many units installed in the 1980s remain in service today.
When you call technical support, you speak with the engineers who designed your equipment. No call center scripts or endless transfers. Our support team consists of computer science professionals who can actually solve problems.
We've worked with national railroads, regional lines, and municipal transit systems. Transportation clients depend on our monitoring to keep passengers and freight moving safely.
Monitor signal aspects, lamp failures, and power supply status. Detect issues before trains encounter dark signals or conflicting indications.
Track switch heater operation during winter weather. Verify heaters activate when temperatures drop and confirm proper power draw.
Monitor wayside radios, repeaters, and emergency communication equipment. Ensure dispatch can always reach train crews.
Track battery voltage at remote sites. Receive alerts when batteries begin to fail, allowing scheduled replacement before outages occur.
Monitor temperature and humidity in equipment shelters. Prevent heat-related failures and condensation damage.
Ensure FAA-required obstruction lighting operates correctly. Receive immediate notification of lamp failures to maintain regulatory compliance.
Our RTUs work with equipment from any manufacturer. Protocol support includes SNMP, Modbus, DNP3, and TL1.
Our RTUs can report to existing SNMP managers. Common platforms include SolarWinds and IBM OpenView. T/Mon currently supports 30+ protocols. We added them because railroad clients needed them.
Need a protocol we don't support yet? Tell us what you're trying to accomplish. We develop protocol support when it serves our clients' requirements.
30-Day Loaner Program
Try our equipment at your trackside locations risk-free. We'll configure an RTU for your application and you can test it in your actual environment.
Application Engineering Consultation
Our engineers will assess your specific monitoring requirements at no cost. We'll recommend a solution that fits your network, not a one-size-fits-all package.
Factory Training
We provide comprehensive training on RTU installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. Your team will understand exactly how the system works.
Long-Term Support
Your relationship with DPS doesn't end when we ship equipment. We provide 24/7 technical support, maintenance agreements, and upgrade programs.
Many of our railroad clients have worked with us for over 20 years. We measure our success by how well your network performs.
Our RTUs operate on 12-48VDC or 110-240VAC. Most installations use the same DC power that feeds your signal equipment.
Yes. Our RTUs support GSM and CDMA cellular connections. Many railroad sites rely on cellular for their primary or backup communication path.
We design each RTU configuration specifically for your site. Whether you have Union Switch & Signal, Safetran, or Alstom equipment, we'll create the appropriate interface.
T/Mon detects communication loss and sends an alert. You'll know immediately if a site goes offline rather than discovering it when equipment fails.
Yes. We can provide turnkey installation or work with your existing contractors. We also offer factory training so your team can handle installations.
Our RTUs report to most SCADA platforms via standard protocols. If you have specific integration requirements, our engineers will work through the details with you.
DPS Telecom has manufactured remote monitoring systems for 37 years. Over 1,500 organizations rely on our solutions. This includes railroad operators, telecommunications providers, utilities, and government agencies.
We've deployed 172,800+ monitoring devices worldwide. Many units operate reliably for 20+ years.
Our American manufacturing facility is in Fresno, California. This gives us direct control over quality. It also enables rapid response to custom requirements.
When you work with DPS, you're not just buying equipment. You're gaining a partner committed to your long-term success.
