Iroquois Lock - Ship to Lock communications

[Noseybody]

I live in South Dundas Ontario and frequent the Iroquois Lock. Since the beginning of this 2026 season for the Seaway, they have been mostly operating the lock and communicating to the ships at the lock from St Lambert QC instead of all done at Iroquois Lock as they have done in the past.
I always hear both sides of communications from home (spliced into my TV antenna) and while on the road in the area, while at the lock using my little stubby antenna. I switch from my mag mount antenna (that just sits in the back seat) to my stubby when no antenna at all attached on my BC 125AT.
This suggests to me that both the signal from the ship and from the Seaway are strong. But since the start of this season, quite often the Seaway can't hear the ship, and the ship can't hear them. I hear them both clearly under various conditions mentioned above..

I have noticed up at the lock, I can be in one spot and hear nothing on my BCD436HP from FleetNet, but move a couple of parking spots over, it comes alive. Moving back to the previous spot and it goes dead again.
My past experience using two-way radios in fleets was you could be sitting beside another vehicle and they can't hear me, and I cant hear them. Move a few feet and you can clearly communicate with each other.

I am just curious as to what is happening, and possible reasons why the Seaway not been able to correct this as it is quite serious at times?
Thanks

 

[gary123]

Sounds like a bad antenna or a nearby obstruction. Could also be a blown transmitter final and they are TXing at 200mw and not the 25 w they should be

 

[Aviator747]

I haven't tuned in, in a bit. But I used to hear Iroquois from here.

 

[Noseybody]

I haven't tuned in, in a bit. But I used to hear Iroquois from here.

Maybe depends on the weather? I sometimes hear Seaway Eisenhower and their lock from here, but not always. Seems better this year than the past years, not sure if they upgraded thing or just the way the wind blows