Timeline for Why doesn't ATC use a unified frequency for the same control area?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
11 events
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| Jul 15, 2021 at 4:55 | comment | added | atc_ceedee | "Coupling" frequencies isn't really what we do. You simply select multiple frequencies to broadcast on, if the airspace is combined. You're required to monitor the frequency normally assigned for any given sector you have control of, so the position where sectors are combined must be able to broadcast on all of their frequencies. "Coupling" frequencies (in an ARTCC) as a technical term, refers to pairing a UHF frequency with a VHF frequency at a given radio site, so that both are activated when the site is used. It's so the military can hear us when we clear civilian aircraft. | |
| Jul 13, 2021 at 19:57 | comment | added | pcfreakxx | @randomhead Exactly, that’s what frequency coupling means. We use this instead of changing our working frequency all the time 😉 It doesn’t matter which frequencies you use though, it could also be 134,710 and 126,265 or even a third or fourth one on top! | |
| Jul 13, 2021 at 17:41 | comment | added | randomhead | @pcfreak, when you say "coupled frequencies," are you talking about a rebroadcast system where, say, a pilot transmitting on 134.57 will also be heard by pilots listening on 135.02? To my knowledge we do not have that capability in the US. | |
| Jul 13, 2021 at 16:30 | comment | added | pcfreakxx | Yes I know all of what you mentioned (expect your local UK sectors and freqs ofc) however you didn’t answer my question. Can you couple frequencies or will you just use a single one? You were talking about changing the working frequency while still monitoring and broadcasting on the others. So what’s the whole points of that then when you could just keep all the aircraft on the usual frequency of the sector they enter first? | |
| Jul 13, 2021 at 16:06 | history | edited | atc_ceedee | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Jul 13, 2021 at 16:06 | comment | added | atc_ceedee | When the sectors are decombined (usually during a slow period before the early push comes through) it's a matter of assigning 134.57 to the wstbound aircraft that are in the BFF sector airspace. No need to change the eastbounds, which are flying into the TDD sector. | |
| Jul 13, 2021 at 16:00 | history | edited | atc_ceedee | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Jul 13, 2021 at 15:56 | comment | added | atc_ceedee | You only change the working frequency in regards to what you assign the pilot. You still monitor and broadcast on the others. For instance, with the BFF high sector, when it combines into the TDD (Thedford) high sector, the TDD sector has 134.7 selected, and broadcasts on it. The tricky part (it's part of the job) is to know if an aircraft is on 134.7 in a combined situation, and get them switched to 135.02, so they can hear other aircraft. | |
| Jul 13, 2021 at 15:52 | history | edited | atc_ceedee | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Jul 13, 2021 at 10:44 | comment | added | pcfreakxx | Isn’t it possible to couple several frequencies in the states? What you describe as a „matter of convenience“ sounds extremely inconvenient to me because you have to change working frequencies all the time. At our unit we just use all the normal frequencies with combined sectors as well which is in fact the most convenient way: less frequency changes, aircraft are on correct frequencies when opening sectors straight away, no necessity to tell adjacent units your new frequency… | |
| Jul 12, 2021 at 22:02 | history | answered | atc_ceedee | CC BY-SA 4.0 |