LiveATC Discussion Forums

Air Traffic Monitoring => Listener Forum => Topic started by: guscarus767 on February 24, 2023, 01:16:55 AM

Title: Can only hear pilots and not controllers on some feeds
Post by: guscarus767 on February 24, 2023, 01:16:55 AM

I've had this issue for a while now...and I'm pretty sure it isn't just me. On many frequencies I listen to, I can only hear the pilots, and not the controllers. Is there an explanation for this? Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Can only hear pilots and not controllers on some feeds
Post by: RonR on February 24, 2023, 04:08:51 PM

Yes there is an explanation for this :)

In order to hear the controller, it would require the receiving radio to be very close to the transmission site that is located on the ground.  On the other hand, the aircraft are transmitting high in the sky so their signals will travel much much farther than a controller's transmissions from the ground.  When a feed site is not close to an ATC transmission site, you will only hear the aircraft in the sky.

Sometimes a controller will switch to an alternate transmission site which might not be in range of the feed site.

I hope this makes sense :)

Ron