Narrative:

When houston center was proposing plans for resectorization, a problem of frequency coverage for hmu sector was identify. The problem was not addressed and hmu sector operates with 126.0 as its only frequency. This causes the northwest 1/3 of the sector to have no frequency coverage without activating and using buec equipment. This part of the sector is also run with no radar coverage at or below 6000 ft. The #1 priority buec is used over 50% of the time to work the sector. This buec has been OTS continuously since jan/92 and off and on for the past month. Today, friday afternoon, the main and standby transmitters failed and I had no buec that could cover the sector or any other frequency available. The sector had to be combined on another during one of the busiest days of the week. The primary frequency for the sector should provide coverage for the whole sector. Reliable back-up equipment should be available. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated facility management was aware of the frequency coverage problem at the time of resectorization. Facility management had stated a new rcag site would be installed at mcb to take care of the problem within 4 to 6 weeks. 6 months after resectorization the site had not been installed. A ucr was filed. Reporter stated they have received word that the rcag site has been funded and within 4 to 6 weeks will be operational.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADIO FREQ FAILURE BUEC OTS REQUIRING COMBINED POSITIONS OF OP. POOR RADIO COVERAGE IN HMU SECTOR.

Narrative: WHEN HOUSTON CTR WAS PROPOSING PLANS FOR RESECTORIZATION, A PROBLEM OF FREQ COVERAGE FOR HMU SECTOR WAS IDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED AND HMU SECTOR OPERATES WITH 126.0 AS ITS ONLY FREQ. THIS CAUSES THE NW 1/3 OF THE SECTOR TO HAVE NO FREQ COVERAGE WITHOUT ACTIVATING AND USING BUEC EQUIP. THIS PART OF THE SECTOR IS ALSO RUN WITH NO RADAR COVERAGE AT OR BELOW 6000 FT. THE #1 PRIORITY BUEC IS USED OVER 50% OF THE TIME TO WORK THE SECTOR. THIS BUEC HAS BEEN OTS CONTINUOUSLY SINCE JAN/92 AND OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST MONTH. TODAY, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE MAIN AND STANDBY XMITTERS FAILED AND I HAD NO BUEC THAT COULD COVER THE SECTOR OR ANY OTHER FREQ AVAILABLE. THE SECTOR HAD TO BE COMBINED ON ANOTHER DURING ONE OF THE BUSIEST DAYS OF THE WK. THE PRIMARY FREQ FOR THE SECTOR SHOULD PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE WHOLE SECTOR. RELIABLE BACK-UP EQUIP SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED FACILITY MGMNT WAS AWARE OF THE FREQ COVERAGE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF RESECTORIZATION. FACILITY MGMNT HAD STATED A NEW RCAG SITE WOULD BE INSTALLED AT MCB TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM WITHIN 4 TO 6 WEEKS. 6 MONTHS AFTER RESECTORIZATION THE SITE HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED. A UCR WAS FILED. RPTR STATED THEY HAVE RECEIVED WORD THAT THE RCAG SITE HAS BEEN FUNDED AND WITHIN 4 TO 6 WEEKS WILL BE OPERATIONAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.