***reward***

[triryche]

Hope I got your attention with that Title

OK, who wants to call the US Coast Guard in Milwaukee and ask them what the hell that humming has been on all of thier base channel transmitters for the past 5 months and why they don't fix it??

The 2 primary scanners I use have the temporary lockout feature so each time I power down the units, the temps are unlocked again so I'm pretty sure I have locked 1 or all of the USCG channels out at least once every day since May. It's been found to be happening at all the CG transmiters originating in Milwaukee as folks from Kenosha to Marinette hear it and boats on the pond are getting tired of it too. One guy I know called and reported about it and they basically told him he was an idiot and didn't know what he was talking about and it must be his scanner. He is electrical engineer and an IT guy with 18 years of ham radio experience!

 

[RevGary]

If I remember correctly, wasn't member "ctadam12" employed at that USCG dispatch center? Perhaps if he's still around, he might know what's going on...

 

[triryche]

That's actually what I was hoping would happen.. that someone from or close to the CG would inquire and hopefully find something out. Many times the "grapevine" can solve a lot of problems like this.

 

[triryche]

Upon further investigation, it appears that this issue is affecting USCG transmitters in the enitre great lakes region and not just Milwaukee!! The reason is unknown and is under investigation with the FCC. VERY strange..

 

[SLWilson]

Why?

Hope I got your attention with that Title

OK, who wants to call the US Coast Guard in Milwaukee and ask them what the hell that humming has been on all of thier base channel transmitters for the past 5 months and why they don't fix it??

Why would they WAIT five months to "check it out" or try to figure out the cause?

Steve/KB8FAR

 

[triryche]

I have the feeling they have been working on it for a while and just havent spoken too much about it. I've been hearing it since June so you have a valid point.. 5 months to solve something of this magnitude does seem a bit insane..

 

[ecps92]

Fix the Phone Lines...

Same thing happens at Sector Boston and Northern New England
when the Phone Lines to the Remote Sites get Crappy.

Upon further investigation, it appears that this issue is affecting USCG transmitters in the enitre great lakes region and not just Milwaukee!! The reason is unknown and is under investigation with the FCC. VERY strange..

 

[CapnJon]

It's the phone lines going to all the high level sites.

 

[SLWilson]

Phone circuits...

Same thing happens at Sector Boston and Northern New England
when the Phone Lines to the Remote Sites get Crappy.

If our phone circuits sound like that, WE CALL the phone company. Right away !!!!

Setting in a quiet dispatch only to have a phone line humming on your radio console makes for a VERY LONG night !!!!

Steve/KB8FAR

 

[OpSec]

Sounds like they were acting up again earlier.

 

[triryche]

yep.. seems to pop up at least 1 or 2 times daily still; sometimes more. I have noticed it happen during voice radio traffic and the CG bases will cover the buzz and be heard but marine units or helos get drowned out by it..at least from a scanner listener standpoint anyway. Unsure what the CG must hear on their end but I would suspect the same..

 

[triryche]

Perhaps this problem has now been taken care of. I have not heard it for better than a week now anywhere in the eastern half or WI or in Upper Michigan. Hooray!!!