ZMP controller voiced concern regarding the recent performance of frequency 132.90; the reporter pro...

Narrative:

Air carrier X could not hear my transmitter on 132.90. This is located at tvc; and has traditionally been a good frequency. In last few months performance has gone downhill. This aircraft was on the MBS135007 fix at 16;000 feet; and only 16 NM out of my airspace; and they could not hear my transmissions. This is unacceptable; since it will tie up the frequency and cause workload to increase when traffic increases. Either: a) vote the 132.90 frequency with the 118.05 frequency location (at mbs) b) install new equipment at the tvc site; and/or find the source of interference; or c) change the loas and sops: assign 118.05 to sector 02; since the main and standby equipment work better in that airspace and have terrific coverage; compared to sector 01. 125.47 works much better in sector 01; and covers better than 118.05; with the exception of a 10 NM radius around Y31 airport; which the buec on 118.05 works better because it is located there. I fly my personal aircraft in that airspace; and I know all of this to be a fact. Change the LOA's with ZOB to assign all aircraft 118.05 entering sector 02. Change the LOA with mbs approach to assign all aircraft entering sector 02 to 118.05.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMP Controller voiced concern regarding the recent performance of frequency 132.90; the reporter providing a number of equipment and/or procedural solutions to the problem.

Narrative: Air Carrier X could not hear my transmitter on 132.90. This is located at TVC; and has traditionally been a good frequency. In last few months performance has gone downhill. This aircraft was on the MBS135007 fix at 16;000 feet; and only 16 NM out of my airspace; and they could not hear my transmissions. This is unacceptable; since it will tie up the frequency and cause workload to increase when traffic increases. Either: a) Vote the 132.90 frequency with the 118.05 frequency location (at MBS) b) Install new equipment at the TVC site; and/or find the source of interference; or c) Change the LOAs and SOPs: assign 118.05 to Sector 02; since the main and standby equipment work better in that airspace and have terrific coverage; compared to Sector 01. 125.47 works much better in Sector 01; and covers better than 118.05; with the exception of a 10 NM radius around Y31 airport; which the BUEC on 118.05 works better because it is located there. I fly my personal aircraft in that airspace; and I know all of this to be a fact. Change the LOA's with ZOB to assign all aircraft 118.05 entering Sector 02. Change the LOA with MBS approach to assign all aircraft entering Sector 02 to 118.05.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1086496
Time
Date	201305
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZMP.ARTCC
State Reference	MN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZMP controller voiced concern regarding the recent performance of frequency 132.90; the reporter providing a number of equipment and/or procedural solutions to the problem.