Author Topic: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?  (Read 8465 times)

Offline JetScan1

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US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« on: October 26, 2010, 04:52:33 PM »
In Canada and Europe it is standard for Approach Control and Enroute ARTCC frequencies to be linked via a frequency relay system, so that when a controller is working more than one frequency, the aircraft tuned to different frequencies will still be able to hear each other. The YUL ACC (Noranda sector) feed is a good example of this system, where you can hear the aircraft using many different frequencies while only monitoring 133.975.

I've never heard this system being used in the US before until today. Listening now to Cleveland Center on the ZOB Area 6 (Pittsburgh Area) feed it appears that frequency 135.175 and 134.475 are now linked via relay. The controller, which you can hear loud and clear on 134.475 is also working 135.175, when aircraft are transmitting on 135.175 but being recieved on 134.475 you can clearly hear the difference in transmission strength and clarity.

Anyone have any more information on this system being implemented in the US or heard it in use at any other US ARTCC facilities ?

DJ



Offline aevins

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2010, 07:14:06 PM »
I read something about this being implemented, I'll see if I can find it.

Offline PIT

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2010, 11:44:55 PM »
PIT does this at night. If you listen to ground you can hear the tower comms but only the controller not the aircraft and vice verse for tower. During the day everything is separated. Their is one member on here that has more information on it. I will see if he can drop a post.

Offline rodmanb294

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2010, 11:44:54 AM »
It's really simple...  At night Facilities usually operate with reduced staffing and operational positions within a facility are combined.  Towers sometimes go down to one person on the mid shift... When that happens , controllers usually just transimited simultaneously on all frequencies.  That why you only hear the controller...  In the ARTCCS's  (whicih I also worked)  sectors are combined, havng the same effect..

Has nothing to do with implementing anything new..       

I controlled traffic in the 60's , 70',s and 80',s... We were doing it then and they're doing it now...    :)


Rod

Offline Walters

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2010, 11:53:21 AM »
yeah rodman has it right for example if u are working 3 frequencies and someone is monitoring one of them.. you will hear all the planes on the freq being monitored but always hear the controller, the way the switching system is set up (in the center at least) is that when u key up u broadcast on all the active frequencies at your sector

Offline JetScan1

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2010, 12:30:48 PM »
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Has nothing to do with implementing anything new..  I controlled traffic in the 60's , 70',s and 80',s... We were doing it then and they're doing it now...

No this is not what I'm talking about. In the past when sectors were merged or a controller was transmitting on multiple frequencies an AIRCRAFT could not hear another AIRCRAFT that was operating on a different frequency, only the controller could. With this new system, when a contrioller is working multiple frequencies, the transmission from the AIRCRAFT are re-broadcast on all the other frequencies as well, so now the pilots can hear the transmission from all the aircraft the controller is working and not just the ones on the same frequency. I've been flying into/over US airspace since the early eighties and have never heard this system used before in the US, until yesterday.

DJ

Offline captkel

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2010, 09:40:16 PM »
That would be wonderful if it happened here; easier on the listener and me. At night when  sectors combine I plug in the other frequencies and lock them out in the morning. There have been times when I don't know what other frequencies they are combined with.

Offline PIT

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2010, 10:26:05 AM »
I asked a friend of mine who is a controller and he said they are using "cross coupling" at some sectors to allow pilots to hear other frequencies when a controller is working combined sectors. He says this is a nice thing since pilots won't be talking over other frequencies.

Offline JetScan1

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Re: US ARTCC frequency relay system ?
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2010, 11:36:51 AM »
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they are using "cross coupling" at some sectors to allow pilots to hear other frequencies when a controller is working combined sectors.

"Cross-coupling". Thanks, I didn't know the technical term for it. Hopefully it will become more common at more US facilities.