ZDC controller expressed concern regarding radio communication coverage in the rdu sector areas.

Attributes
ACN	742677
Time
Date	200706
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 39000
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 18 controller non radar : 18 controller radar : 15 controller time certified in position1 : 18 flight time total : 21
ASRS Report	742677
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zdc.artcc

Narrative:

The transmitter and receiver for the raleigh hi sector (FL240-FL600) has been questionable for months (along with other frequencys in-house). Today; we are on the buec site. Yesterday; we were on the main and standby sites. All 3 have dead spots in coverage; to the point where safety could be jeopardized. Several nights ago; there were numerous thunderstorms and areas of heavy to extreme precipitation. I was working rdu hi and had many aircraft that were deviating. There were times where my control instructions went unanswered; causing an increased workload for me. I can't hear the planes; and they can't hear me. Today; it just happened again around XA50 local time. I had a B737 at FL390; who I gave a crossing restr to. He said I was breaking up; and I couldn't hear him clearly; either. After repeated attempts; I got the clearance through. This was around 30 NM south of rdu. Then about 40 north of rdu; I tried to give same aircraft a frequency change. He had trouble hearing me again; and commented that 'your radios are really bad.' if this scenario continues; it could result in an operational error or worse; unless it is fixed; or the traffic is rerouted and or curtailed into the sector.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADIO COM COVERAGE IN THE RDU SECTOR AREAS.

Narrative: THE XMITTER AND RECEIVER FOR THE RALEIGH HI SECTOR (FL240-FL600) HAS BEEN QUESTIONABLE FOR MONTHS (ALONG WITH OTHER FREQS IN-HOUSE). TODAY; WE ARE ON THE BUEC SITE. YESTERDAY; WE WERE ON THE MAIN AND STANDBY SITES. ALL 3 HAVE DEAD SPOTS IN COVERAGE; TO THE POINT WHERE SAFETY COULD BE JEOPARDIZED. SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO; THERE WERE NUMEROUS TSTMS AND AREAS OF HVY TO EXTREME PRECIP. I WAS WORKING RDU HI AND HAD MANY ACFT THAT WERE DEVIATING. THERE WERE TIMES WHERE MY CTL INSTRUCTIONS WENT UNANSWERED; CAUSING AN INCREASED WORKLOAD FOR ME. I CAN'T HEAR THE PLANES; AND THEY CAN'T HEAR ME. TODAY; IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AROUND XA50 LCL TIME. I HAD A B737 AT FL390; WHO I GAVE A XING RESTR TO. HE SAID I WAS BREAKING UP; AND I COULDN'T HEAR HIM CLRLY; EITHER. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS; I GOT THE CLRNC THROUGH. THIS WAS AROUND 30 NM S OF RDU. THEN ABOUT 40 N OF RDU; I TRIED TO GIVE SAME ACFT A FREQ CHANGE. HE HAD TROUBLE HEARING ME AGAIN; AND COMMENTED THAT 'YOUR RADIOS ARE REALLY BAD.' IF THIS SCENARIO CONTINUES; IT COULD RESULT IN AN OPERROR OR WORSE; UNLESS IT IS FIXED; OR THE TFC IS REROUTED AND OR CURTAILED INTO THE SECTOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.