ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-8. TARGET COASTING.

Narrative

IN THE LAST MONTH; EQUIP AT TPA HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF 'QUESTIONABLE RELIABILITY.' UCR'S ARE BEING FILED AND THE RESPONSES ARE AS TO BE EXPECTED. THERE IS A CONTINUAL LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR EQUIP; I.E.; BEACON; RVR'S; RADIOS; AND THE PLACEMENT OF AN ASR-9 ANTENNA RIGHT BESIDE OUR ASR-8 THAT BLOCKS OUR RADAR COVERAGE TO THE W. ON 2/XX/94; WHILE WORKING THE 'N' POS; I NOTED 8 ACFT WENT INTO COAST OUT OF 8 ACFT WORKED. ALTS WERE NOT A FACTOR NOR WAS THEIR POS. AFTER CHANGING TO ANOTHER CHANNEL; THE COASTING IMPROVED SOMEWHAT; BUT 6 ACFT OUT OF 10 WERE NOT GOING INTO COAST. THE SUPVR WAS INFORMED AND THE INCIDENTS WERE LOGGED. ON 2/XX/94; THE SRQ BEACON AGAIN EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROB. WHEN THE SUPVR NOTIFIED SRQ; IT SEEMED TO IMPROVE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS; AT LEAST HALF OF THE TARGETS COAST AND SEEM TO ALTERNATE. THIS DOES NOT GO ON CONTINUOUSLY BUT DOES HAPPEN TOO OFTEN (ABOUT TWICE A WK). IF THIS OCCURS AT A BUSY TIME; IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO THE FLYING PUBLIC. THIS SIT IS GETTING WORSE AND ITS BEEN KNOWN TO MGMNT FOR MONTHS.