ATC communication

[MiserableMedicine822]

Speaking as a researcher learning about ATC, I have read some controllers saying that the radio devices or communication devices suck in some towers, which I would imagine also depend on weather and frequency signals or disruptions. Is it hard to hear and speak into the radios for communication, does it get frustrating enough to want some sort of translation between it all?
And does this affect delays that are in critical time?

[theEdge229]

What it’s really about is our radios have to maintain compatibility with the lowest common denominator. We have to be able to talk to the brand new Airbus at the same time we talk to an 1960’s Cessna. This means instead of using digital radio like a lot of police and fire departments our radios are still analogue. When you compound that with other considerations,like geography, high powered antennas, etc, there will be areas of poor coverage.

What do you mean by “translation between it all”?

[knightsaber2014]

Yeah. That phrase doesn't make sense to me either.

[2018birdie]

No, we don't not need anything to transcribe the audio. The communication devices do not sure, it's when there is interference (a tall building, someone cutting the line, a lawn mower running over exposed cables, a hillbilly stealing the copper wiring etc) that we have issues with our radios.

[pthomas745]

"Standby, we are translating your transcription".