ATC equipment problem radio communication. Tone on frequency blocked frequency.

Attributes
ACN	228043
Time
Date	199212
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mke
State Reference	WI
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	228043
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	227792
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On dec/xx/92 I was on duty in the mke TRACON when I received a loud tone for about 10 seconds over 1 of my radio frequencys. This tone completely blocked my frequency, stopping all communication with aircraft on my frequency. There have been several of these incidents at mke in the last 4 months. The source of these tones is unknown. I feel it is only a matter of time before this happens in a critical situation, causing a loss of separation between aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADIO COM. TONE ON FREQ BLOCKED FREQ.

Narrative: ON DEC/XX/92 I WAS ON DUTY IN THE MKE TRACON WHEN I RECEIVED A LOUD TONE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS OVER 1 OF MY RADIO FREQS. THIS TONE COMPLETELY BLOCKED MY FREQ, STOPPING ALL COM WITH ACFT ON MY FREQ. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF THESE INCIDENTS AT MKE IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. THE SOURCE OF THESE TONES IS UNKNOWN. I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS HAPPENS IN A CRITICAL SITUATION, CAUSING A LOSS OF SEPARATION BTWN ACFT.

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.