Narrative:

Since the installation of the ASR9 antenna, next to the working ASR8, traffic inbound on the blond arrival do not track. The primary disappears and the beacon target weakens and 'splits.' after the split, the ARTS tag will 'coast' on the north split and a 'splat' will appear on the south split. No position radar is capable until you vector the non-radar aircraft north or south of the ASR9 shadow. Management is mildly concerned, but this arrival procedure crosses almost all major traffic rtes for arrs and departures, and causes a major distraction to the controller. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the problem is ongoing. Maintenance has been unable to correct the problem of loss of targets. Facility procedures have been changed and moved the approach fix 5 mi away so the approach controller can see targets.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-8. TARGET LOSS.

Narrative: SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE ASR9 ANTENNA, NEXT TO THE WORKING ASR8, TFC INBOUND ON THE BLOND ARR DO NOT TRACK. THE PRIMARY DISAPPEARS AND THE BEACON TARGET WEAKENS AND 'SPLITS.' AFTER THE SPLIT, THE ARTS TAG WILL 'COAST' ON THE N SPLIT AND A 'SPLAT' WILL APPEAR ON THE S SPLIT. NO POS RADAR IS CAPABLE UNTIL YOU VECTOR THE NON-RADAR ACFT N OR S OF THE ASR9 SHADOW. MGMNT IS MILDLY CONCERNED, BUT THIS ARR PROC CROSSES ALMOST ALL MAJOR TFC RTES FOR ARRS AND DEPS, AND CAUSES A MAJOR DISTR TO THE CTLR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE PROB IS ONGOING. MAINT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROB OF LOSS OF TARGETS. FACILITY PROCS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND MOVED THE APCH FIX 5 MI AWAY SO THE APCH CTLR CAN SEE TARGETS.

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.