Author Topic: Phoenix, AZ Feed  (Read 8438 times)

Offline cactushp

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Phoenix, AZ Feed
« on: February 12, 2007, 07:28:57 PM »
So I am the feeder for KPHX (Phoenix, AZ). I have a Grove Scanner Beam Antenna II with a PRO-94 scanner.
http://www.liveatc.net/forums/index.php/topic,2377.0.html
One thing that has been bugging me for a while is poor radio reception for phx tower.  The ground frequencys come in the clearest while sometimes you cant even pick up the tower freqeuncys. Sometimes, you can hear the aircraft transmitting on the ground but not the controllers! It would make sense to me that the ATC transmitters are more powerfull than the aircraft transmitters. Also, considering they recently moved into the new facility I would think the updtated equipment would improve reception. I thought wrong :|. I understand that I live in a area where reception is difficult, but my main point is that the aircraft reception is stronger than ATC reception while on the ground. Does anyone have any ideas to improve reception quality?



Offline LHP50

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2007, 12:22:18 PM »
Sorry Cactus, our transmitters at Phoenix approach are weak and we use the same setup as Phoenix Tower.  I wish you could find a resolution to the situation, changing antennae location is the only suggestion I have.  Our new building is great but it is a little like putting a dress on a pig.
LH-P50

Offline cactushp

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2007, 07:02:54 PM »
Thanks LHP. Do you work at the tracon/atct?
Anyways one of these days I (hope at least) to build an antenna tower to elevate the height of my antenna.

Offline LHP50

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2007, 12:44:17 AM »
yes, I have been a controller in the TRACON for14 years.  LH are my operating initials, P50 is the FAA designator for PHX TRACON, hence "LHP50"  How did you learn the names of our approach sectors- Apache, Freeway, Verde and Quartz?  I hope you are able to find better reception.  I frequently am aware of situations, some humerous, some serious, that I would love to replay from the archives on this site. 
LH

Offline T210 Driver

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2007, 11:31:10 AM »
Often times, approach radios for controllers are not co-located on the field.   Up here in the northeast, we see on many instances, the ATC radio is at an adjacent airport.

Reasons here is frequency conflicts.  If tower is talking on 118.3  and approach is on 118.7, expensive filtering would be required to make both channels 'co-habbit' at the tower. 

If the ATC radio is co-located at the field, it may be a different antenna installation where the signal for ATC is favoring to send its signals 'upwards' to the airborne plane.

Hope that answers why some channels are heard well, and the other is crappy.


Paul
'82 T210
KBTV   
N1ELL

Offline cactushp

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2007, 07:12:21 PM »
How did you learn the names of our approach sectors- Apache, Freeway, Verde and Quartz? 
Well I am a member of the virtual ZAB ARTCC, which is part of VATSIM.
www.zabartcc.org
And we have a very realistic training program to train new "controllers."

Often times, approach radios for controllers are not co-located on the field.   Up here in the northeast, we see on many instances, the ATC radio is at an adjacent airport.
I am not sure if the antennae location is the same for both TRACON and tower, but I understand their are transmitter locations just north of the 7L centerline and on the terminal 3 parking structure.

Reasons here is frequency conflicts.  If tower is talking on 118.3  and approach is on 118.7, expensive filtering would be required to make both channels 'co-habbit' at the tower. 

If the ATC radio is co-located at the field, it may be a different antenna installation where the signal for ATC is favoring to send its signals 'upwards' to the airborne plane.

Hope that answers why some channels are heard well, and the other is crappy.


Paul
'82 T210
KBTV   
N1ELL

Thanks Paul. One of these days i'll try to get a filter and maybe that will help with the static.

Offline cactushp

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2007, 02:01:00 PM »
Well now, the south local and south ground frequencys are much clearer. However, the north local frequency is unreadable.

Offline LHP50

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2007, 10:19:35 PM »
Have you tried 119.2 -north departure/"Navajo" or 126.8 -south departure/"Santan"?  How is your reception of them?

Offline cactushp

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Re: Phoenix, AZ Feed
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2007, 11:06:37 PM »
Navajo is about as clear as twr was before today. Santan is as clear as twr is today because I live on the north side. I understand the radios are set up so if you live on the north side of the airport you can pick up south side better.