Maintenance Tools
MRL-BPT ( BTM Production Tester)
BTM (Balise Transmission Modules) are antennas that are connected to the onboard unit and read the telegrams of Eurobalises in ERTMS. These devices are mostly analogue devices. And as such they are more sensitive to reproducibility issues. Unfortunately, depending on the supplier or the aging of BTM, they do not perform as necessary on the track. This is caused by one of 3 main reasons: 1) the BTM is not compliant anymore, 2) it is suffering from interference or 3) there is interference where it is placed.
MRL-BPT (Multitel BTM Production Tester) can perform the following tests of chapter 5 SS85:
- 5.2.5 Transmission test
- 5.2.8 Electrical Up-link Signal Charateristics (including MTIE and Amplitude Jitter)
- 5.2.12 Handling of Various Telegrams
- 5.2.13 Handling of Balise Sequences
- 5.2.14 Fundamental concepts of Balise Receiver
- 5.2.6 Electrical Telepowering characteristics (option)
MRL-BPT Presentation and Interfaces:
BPT is composed of 2 parts:
- a 24 U -19 inches rack cabinet with rackable equipments
- a table with BTM antenna holder.
Performance: Fully automated test for all the tests above is performed in less than 20min, providing a report with the summary of the results, that can follow the documentation of the BTM.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-EPT ( Eurobalise Production Tester)
Eurobalise devices are mostly analogue devices. And as such they are more sensitive to reproducibility issues. Unfortunately, depending on the supplier or the aging of Eurobalises, they do not perform as necessary on the track. This is caused by one of 3 main reasons: 1) the balise is not compliant anymore, 2) it is suffering from interference or 3) there is interference in the place where it is placed.
The Subset-036 Eurobalise compliancy: The solution for the 1st issue (balise not compliancy) can be addressed at on a 1st analysis with MRL-EPT (Eurobalise Production Tester). The checklist is: Central Frequency, Frequency Deviation, MTIE, Jitter, Impedance, interface C and a number of proprietary tests that reduce significantly the risk of failure in the field.
Performance: Fully automated test for all the above-mentioned tests is performed in less than 10min,providing a report with the summary of the result that can follow the documentation of the Balise.
The 2nd analysis or the interference (Subset-116) and deeper analysis will require the use of the accredited Laboratory and eventually a full accredited test campaign following Subset-085, Subset-116 and some of our proprietary additional tests to Subset-085.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-OBA ( On Board Analyzer)
Asset management of Balises in ERTMS requires a lot of effort. With the MRL-OBA (Onboard Balise Analyzer), one cannot only control the place where the balises are in the track, but also know which ones need to be repaired and provide prediction of the need to have them repaired.
The solution consists of placing the MRL-OBA on the train and passing regularly on the track record the position and ID of each balise, its content and the quality of its signal. This recorded Balise signal quality is analyzed with respect to changes of values in time and a prediction on the future potential failure is provided.
Easy Operation:
The tool is designed to provide easy operation:
- Recover the data of from the MRL-OBA antenna (from its rack) and transfer to the MRL-OBA tool (PC)
- The PC will provide on each new data upload a maintenance task list with the reason for each maintenance (failure or predicted failure – including the type of error).
Additionally the tools allow an expert to further identify the errors found.
The Subset-036 Eurobalise compliancy:
The MRL-OBA solution does not interfere with the existing air gap communication (Subset-036 and Subset-085). The OBA Antenna can be placed close to an existing BTM of ERTMS or other close implementation such as KVB antenna.
The quality check includes the following characteristics: Central Frequency, Frequency Deviation, MTIE, Jitter and power for a range of values listed below:
Performance: OBA can store balises data for up to 1 month. The Eurobalise fault prediction is available starting from at least 3 measurements of the same Balise and with at least 1 month of interval between measurements.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-OTA (On Track Balise Analyzer)
Maintaining Railway Network Quality is essential to assure minimal change in the timetables and its loss of revenue or customer confidence. In particular, events that disturb the network are non repetitive. With this in mind, the MRL-OTA (On Track Balise Analyzer/Track Analyzer) helps infrastructure managers to address areas of where the airgap communication between Balise and BTM produce non repetitive disturbances.
The solution consists in placing antennas below the Eurobalises where non repetitive issues are happening. The equipment will silently analyze not only the Eurobalise quality behaviour, but also the BTM and local interferences.
Support to Experts:On the event of an issue with the airgap communication (Eurobalise/BTM), the tool will provide the basic results such as Central Frequency, Frequency Deviation, MTIE, Jitter, uplink power and telepowering power and spectrum and indicate the presence of any interference in the uplink and telepowering frequency ranges, but also providing in depth data for expert review of the causes of the issue.
The Subset-036 Eurobalise compliancy:The MRL-OTA solution does not interfere with the existing air gap communication (Subset-036 and Subset-085). The OTA Antenna can be placed under an existing Eurobalise.
Performance: MRL-OTA can store balises data for up to 6 months. The detailed analysis is available through Ethernet connection with the main module. Typically, the main module supports two groups of up to 5 Balises each. Customisation of the number of Balise Groups and quantity of Balises per group is available.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-BPT ( BTM Production Tester)
BTM (Balise Transmission Modules) are antennas that are connected to the onboard unit and read the telegrams of Eurobalises in ERTMS. These devices are mostly analogue devices. And as such they are more sensitive to reproducibility issues. Unfortunately, depending on the supplier or the aging of BTM, they do not perform as necessary on the track. This is caused by one of 3 main reasons: 1) the BTM is not compliant anymore, 2) it is suffering from interference or 3) there is interference where it is placed.
MRL-BPT (Multitel BTM Production Tester) can perform the following tests of chapter 5 SS85:
- 5.2.5 Transmission test
- 5.2.8 Electrical Up-link Signal Charateristics (including MTIE and Amplitude Jitter)
- 5.2.12 Handling of Various Telegrams
- 5.2.13 Handling of Balise Sequences
- 5.2.14 Fundamental concepts of Balise Receiver
- 5.2.6 Electrical Telepowering characteristics (option)
MRL-BPT Presentation and Interfaces:
BPT is composed of 2 parts:
- a 24 U -19 inches rack cabinet with rackable equipments
- a table with BTM antenna holder.
Performance: Fully automated test for all the tests above is performed in less than 20min, providing a report with the summary of the results, that can follow the documentation of the BTM.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-EPT ( Eurobalise Production Tester)
Eurobalise devices are mostly analogue devices. And as such they are more sensitive to reproducibility issues. Unfortunately, depending on the supplier or the aging of Eurobalises, they do not perform as necessary on the track. This is caused by one of 3 main reasons: 1) the balise is not compliant anymore, 2) it is suffering from interference or 3) there is interference in the place where it is placed.
The Subset-036 Eurobalise compliancy: The solution for the 1st issue (balise not compliancy) can be addressed at on a 1st analysis with MRL-EPT (Eurobalise Production Tester). The checklist is: Central Frequency, Frequency Deviation, MTIE, Jitter, Impedance, interface C and a number of proprietary tests that reduce significantly the risk of failure in the field.
Performance: Fully automated test for all the above-mentioned tests is performed in less than 10min,providing a report with the summary of the result that can follow the documentation of the Balise.
The 2nd analysis or the interference (Subset-116) and deeper analysis will require the use of the accredited Laboratory and eventually a full accredited test campaign following Subset-085, Subset-116 and some of our proprietary additional tests to Subset-085.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-OBA ( On Board Analyzer)
Asset management of Balises in ERTMS requires a lot of effort. With the MRL-OBA (Onboard Balise Analyzer), one cannot only control the place where the balises are in the track, but also know which ones need to be repaired and provide prediction of the need to have them repaired.
The solution consists of placing the MRL-OBA on the train and passing regularly on the track record the position and ID of each balise, its content and the quality of its signal. This recorded Balise signal quality is analyzed with respect to changes of values in time and a prediction on the future potential failure is provided.
Easy Operation:
The tool is designed to provide easy operation:
- Recover the data of from the MRL-OBA antenna (from its rack) and transfer to the MRL-OBA tool (PC)
- The PC will provide on each new data upload a maintenance task list with the reason for each maintenance (failure or predicted failure – including the type of error).
Additionally the tools allow an expert to further identify the errors found.
The Subset-036 Eurobalise compliancy:
The MRL-OBA solution does not interfere with the existing air gap communication (Subset-036 and Subset-085). The OBA Antenna can be placed close to an existing BTM of ERTMS or other close implementation such as KVB antenna.
The quality check includes the following characteristics: Central Frequency, Frequency Deviation, MTIE, Jitter and power for a range of values listed below:
Performance: OBA can store balises data for up to 1 month. The Eurobalise fault prediction is available starting from at least 3 measurements of the same Balise and with at least 1 month of interval between measurements.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.
MRL-OTA (On Track Balise Analyzer)
Maintaining Railway Network Quality is essential to assure minimal change in the timetables and its loss of revenue or customer confidence. In particular, events that disturb the network are non repetitive. With this in mind, the MRL-OTA (On Track Balise Analyzer/Track Analyzer) helps infrastructure managers to address areas of where the airgap communication between Balise and BTM produce non repetitive disturbances.
The solution consists in placing antennas below the Eurobalises where non repetitive issues are happening. The equipment will silently analyze not only the Eurobalise quality behaviour, but also the BTM and local interferences.
Support to Experts:On the event of an issue with the airgap communication (Eurobalise/BTM), the tool will provide the basic results such as Central Frequency, Frequency Deviation, MTIE, Jitter, uplink power and telepowering power and spectrum and indicate the presence of any interference in the uplink and telepowering frequency ranges, but also providing in depth data for expert review of the causes of the issue.
The Subset-036 Eurobalise compliancy:The MRL-OTA solution does not interfere with the existing air gap communication (Subset-036 and Subset-085). The OTA Antenna can be placed under an existing Eurobalise.
Performance: MRL-OTA can store balises data for up to 6 months. The detailed analysis is available through Ethernet connection with the main module. Typically, the main module supports two groups of up to 5 Balises each. Customisation of the number of Balise Groups and quantity of Balises per group is available.
Beyond Standards: The Multitel Maintenance Tools provide support to Eurobalises following Subset-036 and Subset-085 for some tests, the most relevant ones, supposing that the device design was once fully certified but not only. In many cases, the tests performed are outside the scope of Subset-085 tests and indeed need extra test procedures that check the compliancy with additional requirements developed by Multitel, together with Infrastructure Managers across many countries, as a result of availability issues found during operations.