KWO35, the 162.55 MHz NOAA weather transmitter for New York City has been out of service for much of the summer, and it remains that way as of September 14. The reason given is that it was causing interference to USCG VHF Channel 16, the calling/ distress/ guard channel that all vessels are supposed to monitor while at sea.
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NOUS41 KOKX 061510
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CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-132100-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1110 AM EDT FRI SEP 06 2013
...NOAA WEATHER RADIO NEW YORK CITY REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE...
THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER THAT SERVES THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA HAS BEEN CAUSING RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE ON THE U.S. COAST GUARD CHANNEL 16 TRANSMITTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS...SAFETY AND CALLING SINCE LATE JULY.
THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSMITTER BROADCASTS ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.550 MHZ AND THE U.S.COAST GUARD TRANSMITTER BROADCASTS ON A FREQUENCY OF 156.800 MHZ. OTHER TRANSMITTERS...IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE NYC TRANSMITTER BROADCAST ON A FREQUENCY OF 168.3 MHZ.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS WORKING WITH SEVERAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ISOLATE AND RESOLVE THIS TECHNICAL PROBLEM. WE HAVE INSTALLED A FILTER ON THE NYC TRANSMITTER...WHICH REDUCED...BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. WE WORKED WITH ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY AND OVERSAW THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTHER FILTER...ON A TRANSMITTER BROADCASTING OVER 168.3 MHZ...WHICH DID NOT FURTHER REDUCE THE RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE U.S. COAST GUARD TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION OF OUR ROUTINE WEATHER BROADCASTS.
...NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL BE PLACED IN OPERATION TO BROADCAST SHORT FUSE LIFE THREATENING WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
NOTE THAT THE NYC TRANSMITTER WILL BE PLACED IN OPERATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SHORT FUSE LIFE THREATENING WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS...SUCH AS TORNADO...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS...TO ENSURE DISSEMINATION THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM...WHICH IS CARRIED BY THE BROADCAST MEDIA.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
WE WILL PERIODICALLY PROVIDE YOU WITH UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF THE NEW YORK CITY NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER VIA THESE PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS.
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GC
