Insufficient radio coverage and loss of radio contact concerns reporter.

Attributes
ACN	123664
Time
Date	198909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aug
State Reference	ME
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bfi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zbw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	123664
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

Small transport X was handed off to me from portland approach level at 9000. The frequency coverage in the western part of this sector is very poor at lower altitudes. We have expressed our frustration over the poor radios for yrs to FAA management to no avail. At 9000 ft I was unable to communicate with the aircraft for about 20 mi. This sector is geographically very large. We work with 2 sites for 120.25. The frequency of 124.25 is located at bangor, me. 120.25 is located both at houlton, me and at bangor, me. The 124.25 bangor site also is having problems with tones coming over the lines, enhancing the problem. We've had a note on the sector for 3 months telling us to leave it in the overhead speaker, which makes it difficult to hear all xmissions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSUFFICIENT RADIO COVERAGE AND LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT CONCERNS REPORTER.

Narrative: SMT X WAS HANDED OFF TO ME FROM PORTLAND APCH LEVEL AT 9000. THE FREQ COVERAGE IN THE WESTERN PART OF THIS SECTOR IS VERY POOR AT LOWER ALTS. WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR FRUSTRATION OVER THE POOR RADIOS FOR YRS TO FAA MGMNT TO NO AVAIL. AT 9000 FT I WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ACFT FOR ABOUT 20 MI. THIS SECTOR IS GEOGRAPHICALLY VERY LARGE. WE WORK WITH 2 SITES FOR 120.25. THE FREQ OF 124.25 IS LOCATED AT BANGOR, ME. 120.25 IS LOCATED BOTH AT HOULTON, ME AND AT BANGOR, ME. THE 124.25 BANGOR SITE ALSO IS HAVING PROBS WITH TONES COMING OVER THE LINES, ENHANCING THE PROB. WE'VE HAD A NOTE ON THE SECTOR FOR 3 MONTHS TELLING US TO LEAVE IT IN THE OVERHEAD SPEAKER, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO HEAR ALL XMISSIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.