Date: 201507
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: BUF.TRACON, NY
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Corporate
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class C BUF
ATC / advisory: TRACON BUF
Second aircraft: Small Aircraft
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Departure
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Primary problem: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings

Narrative: Aircraft Y departed; stopped at 4;000 feet for VFR air work traffic. Aircraft Y was assigned a southbound heading. Aircraft X departed next; traffic was not stopped by the tower; but I stopped it at 4;000 feet as not to hit the VFR aircraft at 4;500 feet VFR. I told [Aircraft X] to turn left direct ART; approx. a 070 heading; out of the way of Aircraft Y. The pilot questioned what I had said; by this time he was getting close to Aircraft Y; I then told him turn left heading 100. This still; in my good judgement; was a safe heading away from [Aircraft Y]. At no point of the operation did the Conflict Alert (CA); conflict warning; sound. It appeared to me that there was legal separation at the time. I suspected no error; so I did not report it. I was made aware of it today. I have filed a report before; and complained to management and union reps; many; many times about the poor performance of the new digital frequencies. Every day; by all controllers at BUF; our transmissions are completely lost in space; or go out broken over the frequencies. I feel this is the main reason why the aircraft got too close. I spoke clearly; but the pilot had trouble hearing me. This happens all the time. Many times we must repeat ourselves 2 or 3 times before the pilot even hears us. I just get the feeling nobody cares. The CA did not sound either; which happens a lot too. Or; if it does go off; it's between two VFR with 1;000 feet or more; or two targets after they have passed. These problems have started at the same time the new fused mode and new com systems have been installed. Prior to this; by record had been flawless. Our com systems do not work as they should. The old land line systems where very clear and crisp. I've voiced my concerns many times; to no avail. My recommendation is to fix the com systems; or use the old land lines until they are fixed. Also; there is regular feedback over the frequencies that happen nightly. It lasts for about an hour.




Synopsis: BUF TRACON Controller reports of a communication problem that he is associating with the radios at the facility. Transmissions are made and not heard at times; making the controller repeat them. Controller describes a situation where there was an airborne conflict and he had to repeat transmissions and is not sure if there was a loss of separation due to the radios.