Narrative:

Bdl is receiving a new ASR-9 antenna. This structure is approximately 20 ft higher than the old ASR-8 still in operation and is being constructed next to the ASR-9. This structure is blocking our radar coverage out the 125 degree bearing through the 135 degree bearing out to about 35 mi. This obstruction blocks both primary and beacon returns for upwards to about 45 seconds when the WX circuits are in. With the current halt on the ASR-9 commissionings due to the radar emission problems, it appears this situation could continue indefinitely affecting 1) radar service and vectors, 2) VFR flight advisories, 3) handoffs -- as this area is across V3 - V167 where numerous handoffs take place between bradley (Y90) and ocean approach (G90). Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: call to facility revealed that new ASR-9 antenna became operational in jul 1992. The old antenna was removed at that time. All previous problems with radar limitations no longer exist. The facility is happy with the display except that the WX portion occasionally gives different information than aircraft radar.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEW RADAR ANTENNA SITE NEXT TO EXISTING ANTENNA LOCATION CAUSES LOSS OF BOTH PRIMARY AND BEACON RETURNS IN SE QUADRANT.

Narrative: BDL IS RECEIVING A NEW ASR-9 ANTENNA. THIS STRUCTURE IS APPROX 20 FT HIGHER THAN THE OLD ASR-8 STILL IN OP AND IS BEING CONSTRUCTED NEXT TO THE ASR-9. THIS STRUCTURE IS BLOCKING OUR RADAR COVERAGE OUT THE 125 DEG BEARING THROUGH THE 135 DEG BEARING OUT TO ABOUT 35 MI. THIS OBSTRUCTION BLOCKS BOTH PRIMARY AND BEACON RETURNS FOR UPWARDS TO ABOUT 45 SECONDS WHEN THE WX CIRCUITS ARE IN. WITH THE CURRENT HALT ON THE ASR-9 COMMISSIONINGS DUE TO THE RADAR EMISSION PROBLEMS, IT APPEARS THIS SITUATION COULD CONTINUE INDEFINITELY AFFECTING 1) RADAR SVC AND VECTORS, 2) VFR FLT ADVISORIES, 3) HDOFS -- AS THIS AREA IS ACROSS V3 - V167 WHERE NUMEROUS HDOFS TAKE PLACE BTWN BRADLEY (Y90) AND OCEAN APCH (G90). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CALL TO FACILITY REVEALED THAT NEW ASR-9 ANTENNA BECAME OPERATIONAL IN JUL 1992. THE OLD ANTENNA WAS REMOVED AT THAT TIME. ALL PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH RADAR LIMITATIONS NO LONGER EXIST. THE FACILITY IS HAPPY WITH THE DISPLAY EXCEPT THAT THE WX PORTION OCCASIONALLY GIVES DIFFERENT INFO THAN ACFT RADAR.

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.