ZTL controller expressed concern regarding limited radio coverage near odf VORTAC.

Attributes
ACN	618169
Time
Date	200405
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : odf.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 18
ASRS Report	618169
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility FAA
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility

Narrative:

There is a routine problem at the lanier sector R50. The frequency, 126.77, does not work within 10 miles of the odf VORTAC. I have reported the problem several times, only to be ignored. This time, the two aircraft were in conflict, and we tried to turn ours, but he was over odf VORTAC and could not hear us. Fortunately, the next sector, R34, who had the other aircraft, turned theirs hard and avoided the operational error. Even though this occurred, the report of the bad frequency coverage was ignored.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING LIMITED RADIO COVERAGE NEAR ODF VORTAC.

Narrative: THERE IS A ROUTINE PROB AT THE LANIER SECTOR R50. THE FREQ, 126.77, DOES NOT WORK WITHIN 10 MILES OF THE ODF VORTAC. I HAVE RPTED THE PROB SEVERAL TIMES, ONLY TO BE IGNORED. THIS TIME, THE TWO ACFT WERE IN CONFLICT, AND WE TRIED TO TURN OURS, BUT HE WAS OVER ODF VORTAC AND COULD NOT HEAR US. FORTUNATELY, THE NEXT SECTOR, R34, WHO HAD THE OTHER ACFT, TURNED THEIRS HARD AND AVOIDED THE OPERATIONAL ERROR. EVEN THOUGH THIS OCCURRED, THE RPT OF THE BAD FREQ COVERAGE WAS IGNORED.

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.