MODE C READOUT PROB.

Narrative

UNABLE TO RECEIVE FLT SVC OR ATC OR GND AT CGE. DECIDED TO DEPART VFR AND PICK UP IFR FLT PLAN AIRBORNE OVER CGE; IN HOLDING PATTERN. UPON CLBOUT TO 3000 FT MSL; ATC WAS VERY BUSY WITH MIL TRAINING ACFT AND TOLD TO STAND BY FOR CLRNC. WHILE CIRCLING AT 3000 FT MSL WE ASKED CTR IF WE WERE BELOW 3500 FT MSL; WOULD WE REMAIN CLR OF RESTR AREAS IN VICINITY. RESPONSE WAS AFFIRMATIVE. WE REMAINED AT 3000 FT MSL. AFTER 9 MINS OF CIRCLING; WE WERE ASSIGNED A SQUAWK CODE. AFTER RADAR IDENT; CTLR ADVISED US RADAR CONTACT AT 4000 FT MSL IN RESTR AREA (R4006) DSND AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT MSL HDG 270 DEGS. WE ADVISED HIM WE WERE PRESENTLY AT 3000 FT MSL AND TAKING UP A COURSE OF 270 DEGS. WE THEN OFFERED (AND THEN PERFORMED) A XPONDER RECYCLING. WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO A SECOND CTR FREQ CTLR 10 MINS LATER. SECOND CTLR ADVISED US HE DID NOT HAVE A MODE C READOUT AND ASKED US FOR OUR CLBOUT (PRESENT) ALT. AFTER RECYCLING XPONDER AGAIN; CTLR HAD A CORRECT MODE C READOUT. SUBSEQUENT CTLRS RPTED NO PROBS WITH OUR MODE C READOUT. FACTORS INVOLVED: 1) IN DSCNT INTO CGE; ZDC ADVISED US WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO RECEIVE ATC CLRNC VIA RADIO OR GND; DEPART VFR AND PICK UP IFR AIRBORNE. 2) AMBIGUITY OF LOW ALT MAP (L-30) COMMERCIAL PUB SHOWS R4006 S OF AREA AT CGE. COPY OF L-30 ENCLOSED (IT SHOWS RESTR AIRSPACE 3500 FT AND ABOVE). 3) MODE C XPONDER PROBS. NOTE: WITH ALL INFO AVAILABLE TO US; WE FEEL WE NEVER PENETRATED ANY RESTR AIRSPACE.