ATC RPTR AT MWH STATES THAT THE LASER BEAM CEILOMETER HAS BEEN OTS SINCE JAN 96. ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE WRONG LANDLINES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TWICE.

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MWH IS A LIMITED AVIATION WX RPTING STATION (LAWRS). THE LASER BEAM CEILOMETER HAS BEEN OTS SINCE JAN/96. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE EQUIP. THE PROB LIES WITH THE TELEPHONE LINE THAT FEEDS INFO FROM THE SENSOR TO THE GIFFT RECORDER. WHEN THE FAA CHANGED OVER TO LINCS DEDICATED PHONE LINES; THE LINES USED DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE DATA AS DATA ONLY; AS EXCESS NOISE ON THE LINE. SUBSEQUENTLY; A NEW LINE WAS INSTALLED; EXCEPT IT WAS A 2 PAIR LINE AND 4 PAIR IS NECESSARY. HAD THE APPROPRIATE TECHNICIANS THAT MAINTAIN THE EQUIP BEEN CONSULTED THIS PROB WOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED. THE PROB NOW IS WE ARE APCHING WINTER AND IFR WX WITH NO MEANS OTHER THAN A GUESS OR PIREP TO DETERMINE CLOUD/CEILING HT. TO FIX THE PROB IMMEDIATELY INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TELEPHONE LINE AFTER FIRST CONSULTING WITH THE LCL TECHNICIAN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH FACILITY REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ATTEMPTED TO CALL RPTR BUT HE WAS UNAVAILABLE. A CALL TO THE FACILITY CONFIRMED THAT THE LASER BEAM CEILOMETER IS STILL OTS. A SUPVR STATED THAT THE HEAT HAD BEEN TURNED UP BY THE FACILITY TO RESTORE THE LASER BEAM CEILOMETER; BUT NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE REPAIR.