Originally Posted by
fantom
Well, well.
I had no idea (why were we not told?) and I am very sorry to hear this news.
Sympathy aside, I have a technical Q.
These days of CPDLC and ADS, we don't use HF much except to check in and get our selcal. When we do, our ears are subject to the special 'white noise' which we have come to expect and enjoy.
What do the radio controllers hear? It cannot, surely be that same noise we hear.
Cummon, I want to know.
At Gander the Radio Operators DO hear the "white noise" constantly. There is an ability to squelch it out, but the guys there prefer not use the squelch as they claim it limits their ability to hear weak signals.
As an aside, at least as far as Shanwick and Gander are concerned, HF comms is still the responsibility of Radio Operators. The then input the reports/requests into a computer sytem, the controllers will then read the messages and issue clearances into the computer which goes back to the RO for transmission.
In Gander the controllers and RO's are in the same building, for Shanwick the RO's are in Eire, the controllers in Prestwick!!
ex-egll