Originally Posted by
mozak
Just a few questions regarding VOR voice characteristics.
I have read in several sources that VORs may have an accompanying voice identification in addition to the Morse code identification. Flying around I have never heard this. I was wondering if anyone here has, and if possible, could list some VORs that currently have this.
I've heard VOR's setup as relay transmitters for FSS, etc but I don't recall one ever identifying itself by name. But there's no reason they couldn't.
Originally Posted by
mozak
I've also read that VORs may transmit "test" (or "TST") in Morse code in lieu of their 3-letter identification during maintenance. Again, I've never heard this. Typically whenever a VOR has been NOTAM'ed temporarily out of service I've just seen no signal on the air and didn't hear anything.
If it fails completely, it obviously goes off the air.
If it fails such that it provides inaccurate nav data, they will turn it off until it can be repaired (so as not to confuse people who don't check NOTAMs).
When technicians attempt to repair a navaid, that's when you might see a test signal, which might provide nav data of unkown accuracy. So I think you'd only hear the TST code while they are actually repairing, calibrating, or testing the navaid.
Originally Posted by
mozak
Lastly, whenever there is an AWOS or ASOS broadcast over a VOR, is it simply overlaid on top of the identification like HIWAS, or is it timed, i.e. the identification only takes place between transmissions?
Thanks
IIRC, it's just overlaid. They have to keep the standard interval between ID signals, otherwise pilots might think the navaid is OOS.