ZHU controller expressed concern regarding unreliable 128.15 receivers when the diversity algorithm ...

Attributes
ACN	759796
Time
Date	200711
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zhu.artcc
State Reference	TX
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 10 controller supervisory : 8 controller time certified in position1 : 2
ASRS Report	759796
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zhu.artcc

Narrative:

Corpus christi area of specialization; sector 58; frequency 128.15 receivers at both rcag sites (remote communications air ground) located at sarita; tx; and rockport; tx; is unreliable when diversity algorithm function is enabled. Da is a highly desirable feature for efficient control of traffic in this sector. More specifically; when da is enabled; incoming aircraft xmissions are sometimes not received audibly in the controller's headset. The only indication is by viewing the receive indication lights on the vscs 'twinkle.' also; some xmissions that are being received have 'cut out' during reception. This has been an ongoing problem for several months.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZHU CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING UNRELIABLE 128.15 RECEIVERS WHEN THE DIVERSITY ALGORITHM FUNCTION IS ENABLED.

Narrative: CORPUS CHRISTI AREA OF SPECIALIZATION; SECTOR 58; FREQ 128.15 RECEIVERS AT BOTH RCAG SITES (REMOTE COMS AIR GND) LOCATED AT SARITA; TX; AND ROCKPORT; TX; IS UNRELIABLE WHEN DIVERSITY ALGORITHM FUNCTION IS ENABLED. DA IS A HIGHLY DESIRABLE FEATURE FOR EFFICIENT CTL OF TFC IN THIS SECTOR. MORE SPECIFICALLY; WHEN DA IS ENABLED; INCOMING ACFT XMISSIONS ARE SOMETIMES NOT RECEIVED AUDIBLY IN THE CTLR'S HEADSET. THE ONLY INDICATION IS BY VIEWING THE RECEIVE INDICATION LIGHTS ON THE VSCS 'TWINKLE.' ALSO; SOME XMISSIONS THAT ARE BEING RECEIVED HAVE 'CUT OUT' DURING RECEPTION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROB FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

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.

ZHU controller expressed concern regarding unreliable 128.15 receivers when the diversity algorithm function is enabled.