Vehicle Location System (VLS)

last SG · 2004-01-06T10:10:14+00:00

I've seen service 806 with pax boarding from the first exit using the ez-link readers. There was also once a service 962 bus was too full to allow passengers...

SBS9818A SG

Originally posted by service_238:
SBS 32 [b]J

I noticed that most or all of the 238 buses has an extra 'machine' behind the ezlink machine at the driver's seat. It is very near the windscreen. What is that thing used for?[/b]

Oh, the one on Sv. 54 and Sv. 24?

^tamago^ SG

the beige device (some blue, esp. on Svc 54 buses) is exclusive to SBST, most probably for aiding the drivers in adhering to the schedule.. this in-house device actually beeped a few times loudly when Svc 88 buses sped too fast along TPE.. and it knows whether the doors are opened or closed, from what i had observed from the LCD display of the beige device on Svc 88.. it doesn’t look like part of VLS since TIBS buses doesn’t need that to operate their VLS on IDFCs.. probably the beige device includes a common GPS that VLS uses also.. for TIBS the GPS, supplied by ERG Transit Systems Australia (the one that supplied ez-link systems), is a stainless steel device fitted behind the driver’s seat on O405s..

service_238 SG

I noticed the BEEP sound when the drivers are approaching a bus stop, but not every bus stop. So i reckon it is not used to update fare stages..

^tamago^ SG

no, not that soft mid-pitch beep from the IDFC, which is sometimes inaudible.. i still have no idea what it does, since it does not follow a fixed pattern.. but buses with VLS do not have the IDFC beep and when i enquired about this soft IDFC beep from the 544E VLS bus driver he didn't know about it also..

the beep on the SBST in-house beige device is very loud and high-pitched, like volume 5 on a Nokia phone, lasting about a second..

off_service SG

It seems that the VLS of any buses would have problems operating on sv 962. I wonder what is going on.

I've seen TIB 1188 T on sv 962 and the VLS is working in similar manner as the mentioned TIB 593 M.

Interesting to note that the driver of the 2 mentioned buses is the same person. Mr. Green

SBS9818A SG

Today at Bishan Int SBS 3598 was used for VLS familirization tour for BCs. Yesterday 3599X was there.

service_238 SG

Well at least these ‘extra’ Scanias from bram have something to do.. lolz..

SBS9818A SG

Ya come out and park at interchange.

^tamago^ SG

SBS 931 P on Svc 27 also has VLS enabled.. go for those checking on how it works in the airport PTB where the GPS may not be able to receive the signal..

SBS9818A SG

Yes, it'll be interesting, wonder how the GPS transmitter will work underground.

^tamago^ SG

558R on Svc 106 also has VLS enabled.. the difference is that this time round after the BEPs are set to “ENTRY” mode they stay for 30 secs.. and the readers react slower somewhat to the closing of doors..

TIB822C SG

Hey there everyone...

Well.... TIB744U on Service 970 also had its VLS enabled... Quite good, though some passengers still went in front telling the service captain that they can't tap the ezlink card... Poor service captain, had to explain and explain and explain... Confused

^tamago^ SG

SBS3812E of Svc 13 also had VLS enabled, but it appears it is running an older version of VLS, like most SBST buses.. for one thing, the readers were never disabled (what's the point) but the fare stages were updated when it detects that it is approaching the bus stop.. it works by detecting constantly and repeatedly the location of the bus along its route (as stored in the IDFC) and changing the fare stage if it believes it is approaching the bus stop along the route.. this is lousy as there is no point in doing this anyway..

this old way and version of VLS makes the IDFC give out a rather inaudible, high-pitched and very short "beep" if it is detects the bus as being off the route and the IDFC displays "VLS OFF ROUTE".. and from the amount of beeps heard on buses running the old and not updated VLS versions (mostly SBST buses and the "beeps" come on whether VLS is on or not) it is apparent the old way of verifying whether the bus is on its route repeatedly is a bad idea since the incidences of the GPS not receiving the satellite signal if it comes under a tree or other obstacles is causing a lot of "VLS OFF ROUTE" beeps as most bus spotters have noticed.. so the mystery of those irritating IDFC beeps is finally solved..

iamgoondu SG

Some commuters are not aware about the new enhanced system and thought the Readers are faulty. And go to another reader (at another exit ). I am referring to those dual carriage bus (What do you call these buses).

Perhaps it should show a 'disable' image, rather than a 'no entry' picture. Many commuters associate 'no entry' pictures to 'faulty'.

off_service SG

It's called Bendy Bus.

I agree with your point that many passengers associate the "No Entry" sign with faulty. Perhaps they should look into the sign used.

« Previous Page