Can’t reach FSS in air

Ben2k9

Ben2k9

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Ben2k9
newly minted PPL here. On a couple recent flights I was trying to reach FSS while in flight for weather info (122.2 and such) and could not reach them on either attempt. Tried a few frequencies supplied by ATC but got nowhere. Why could this be, does my radio suck or something?
 
Who calls FSS?

It’s been years since I did that.
 
Have you checked NOTAMs? Possible that the FSS outlet is out of service by you.
 
Ryanb said:
Have you checked NOTAMs? Possible that the FSS outlet is out of service by you.
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On the flight today I pulled out the squelch and I could hear someone talking TO FSS, and a faint notion of FSS talking back.
 
What was your altitude (AGL)? Try a closer RCO?
 
Ben2k9 said:
Mere mortal here
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Wasn’t trying to come across like that, just curious what you’re calling them for.

Flight plans are much easier online

PIREPS through approach
 
Ben2k9 said:
On the flight today I pulled out the squelch and I could hear someone talking TO FSS, and a faint notion of FSS talking back.
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I bet you’re trying to use 122.2 as a receiving and broadcasting frequency. Typically, 122.2 is a broadcasting only frequency and you’ll use another frequency to receive them on, usually a VOR. Not always, but a lot of times.

If you provide a little more detail as to your whereabouts and altitude, I’ll try to give you some pointers.
 
Ryanb said:
I bet you’re trying to use 122.2 as a receiving and broadcasting frequency. Typically, 122.2 is a broadcasting only frequency and you’ll use another frequency to receive them on, usually a VOR.
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I think you’re thinking of 122.1 mhz. (duplex) with receiving on the navaid.

122.2 is two-way (simplex).

122.2 nearly always works for me if I’m high enough - mainly for pireps and ELT’s or to check the status of an MOA.
 
Always announce where you are when attempting to use the shared FSS frequencies. They’re often listening to multiple sites and transmitting back on them randomly to “find” you takes forever.
 
FastEddieB said:
I think you’re thinking of 122.1 mhz. (duplex) with receiving on the navaid.

122.2 is two-way (simplex).

122.2 nearly always works for me if I’m high enough - mainly for pireps and ELT’s or to check the status of an MOA.
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Oops, I am, I didn’t catch that. Disregard.

Nonetheless, if OP provides a little more detail, I (we) could better provide a solution and/or advice.
 
James331 said:
Wasn’t trying to come across like that, just curious what you’re calling them for.

Flight plans are much easier online

PIREPS through approach
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In flight weather briefing
 
Ryanb said:
I bet you’re trying to use 122.2 as a receiving and broadcasting frequency. Typically, 122.2 is a broadcasting only frequency and you’ll use another frequency to receive them on, usually a VOR. Not always, but a lot of times.

If you provide a little more detail as to your whereabouts and altitude, I’ll try to give you some pointers.
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This is what the FCC regs say: 122.0 MHz: Air carrier and private aircraft enroute flight advisory service provided by FAA.

It is the FSS common frequency....check any sectional.

Bob
 
can't help as I never called FSS, but didn't they change the frequency or shut it down or something like that not too long ago?
 
Ben2k9 said:
That’s what I thought. Bob is your info current?
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Absolutely. I subscribe to Summit Aviation's Aviation Reference Library and get quarterly updates. I'm sure that you can google www.fcc.gov and search for Aviation Services/frequencies.

Flight Watch is indeed dead, but the frequency reverted to general FSS use. The frequency spectrum is so crowded that the luxury of just letting one go silent simply does not exist.

Once upon a time there was a position at Flight Service Stations dedicated to weather; the briefer assigned to that position did not do flight plans, did not answer general questions, did not do anything but weather. That position was called Flight Watch, and it had its own frequency. And it was successful.

But then technology intervened, and pilots suddenly had a multitude of choices when looking for weather information. The folks in the ivory tower decided that it was wasteful to have a briefer assigned full-time to weather when pilot requests for weather were declining....so they told the briefer "When you come to work tomorrow you are no longer Flight Watch, you are back in the herd as a general purpose briefer; remove that "Flight Watch" label from your switch panel next to 122.0."

And it was good. Thus endeth the sermon.

Bob
 
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denverpilot said:
Always announce where you are when attempting to use the shared FSS frequencies. They’re often listening to multiple sites and transmitting back on them randomly to “find” you takes forever.
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Yup..."Big City Radio, Bugsmasher 4 Bravo Sierra on 122.2 over Nowhere VOR" is a good way to start. They're listening to them all, but generally only transmitting over the RCOs where the airplanes with which they're communicating are located.
 
bobmrg said:
Absolutely. I subscribe to Summit Aviation's Aviation Reference Library and get quarterly updates. I'm sure that you can google www.fcc.gov and search for Aviation Services/frequencies.

Flight Watch is indeed dead, but the frequency reverted to general FSS use. The frequency spectrum is so crowded that the luxury of just letting one go silent simply does not exist.

Once upon a time there was a position at Flight Service Stations dedicated to weather; the briefer assigned to that position did not do flight plans, did not answer general questions, did not do anything but weather. That position was called Flight Watch, and it had its own frequency. And it was successful.

But then technology intervened, and pilots suddenly had a multitude of choices when looking for weather information. The folks in the ivory tower decided that it was wasteful to have a briefer assigned full-time to weather when pilot requests for weather were declining....so they told the briefer "When you come to work tomorrow you are no longer Flight Watch, you are back in the herd as a general purpose briefer; remove that "Flight Watch" label from your switch panel next to 122.0."

And it was good. Thus endeth the sermon.

Bob
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So, you used to call "FLIGHT WATCH, CeZZna 1234!" Do you universally just call FSS "Podunk Radio, this is CeZZna 1234?" with the added choice of 122.0
 
James331 said:
Were you already on flight following / IFR?
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IFR, yep.

Center was crazy busy with all the re-routes so we called up FSS on com 2 and got a good idea of where the nasty stuff was and helped us formulate a game plan. After that, we called center and requested a diversion. We probably could have done it on our own, but having that extra resource helping make that decision added a certain piece of mind.
 
FlySince9 said:
So, you used to call "FLIGHT WATCH, CeZZna 1234!" Do you universally just call FSS "Podunk Radio, this is CeZZna 1234?" with the added choice of 122.0
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Absolutely. Look at the legend on any sectional under Communications Boxes and you will find: "Heavy line box indicates Flight Service Station (FSS) frequencies 121.5, 122.2, 243.0 and 255.4....all other frequencies are shown." IOW, the existence of a heavy line box means that you will not find 122.0 listed separately.

Bob
 
Shepherd said:
FSS response is spotty, at best. At least it is in my area.
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This has been my experience as well (all 30 post-checkride hours).

A couple of weeks ago I flew 06C-KIKK-06C, and just for practice experience, I filed a flight plan for the first leg. Once I cleared the pattern at 06C, I contacted IKK radio over the DPA VOR, and opened my flight plan. Very helpful briefer on the radio, by the way. Then I called Chicago Approach for flight following and I was eventually handed off to Chicago center.

When I got near KIKK and the center terminated flight following, I tried calling IKK radio over their very own VOR, to close the flight plan and got no response. I closed the flight plan from my phone using the 1800WXBRIEF website, but it would have fun to get IKK radio on the IKK VOR while approaching KIKK for landing.
 
I call often..... PIREPS occasionally, but mostly to open/close DFVR flight plans. I don't need a fighter escort in or out of the country. My call goes something like.....

"Nassau Radio, Nassau Radio, Piper Lance November 123 Charlie Tango, transmitting 128.0, listening 128.0 over Marsh Harbour Island, over." I also call 800WXbrief as well. Sure, I get my Foreflight briefing, but I find the human conversation much more informative over all.
 
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