As another one of the ATCOs who works 118.82 (and the even more frantic 119.77) I can only say that at times it is just as frustrating for us when the R/T is really going. All of us working those sectors are aware that aircraft are waiting to check in, and often are waiting for you to do so, but we are keen to "keep control of the R/T". The trouble with this is that, as mentioned previously, we end up with a backlog of aircraft waiting to check in, which means that as soon as there is a suitable gap in transmissions three or four different aircraft try to transmit at once! This means that we then take over the R/T again by saying "Three at once there, was one the BAW***?" Once that crew have responded we are likely to say "Was the other RYR***?" They respond and off we go again doing what is needed with those aircraft. The trouble now is that another two or three aircraft come on freq, and cannot get in on the R/T and so the cycle continues!
How we can solve this problem is difficult to answer at the moment, as sectors will always be split as far as traffic dictates, subject to the appropiate number of staff being available. In the meantime stick with us, and keep the R/T standard!
