Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Procedure
The RADAR Controller observed numerous false targets throughout the airspace. These false targets contained beacon codes and altitude read outs. It was determined soon after that switching from FSL to ESL the false targets were eliminated. PVD initiated an ATC Alert due to automation trigger and continued to work in STARS ESL mode. Tech Ops disabled the feeds from adjacent RADAR sites (BDL and QVH) and the false target issue was resolved. PVD canceled the ATC Alert and normal FSL operations continued. After discussion with the Tech Ops personnel; it was apparent that while BDL and QVH RADAR maintenance was being conducted; it affected PVD RADAR processing. Luckily; the traffic at this time was considerably light and not complex. If it had been at a busier time and/or during the summer busy traffic months a much larger issue could have taken place. With more traffic; it would have been extremely difficult to determine what targets were actually there and which targets were false. Working in ESL also caused a considerably higher workload and co-ordination; as every aircraft needed to be manually handed off through our every sector and to adjacent facilities. Ensure that when maintenance is being conducted; it will not affect (or at least minimally affect) 'live' traffic.
PVD Controller observed numerous false targets when maintenance was being conducted on one of the RADAR sites. The reporter indicating ATC must be assured prior to any release that maintenance activities will not interfere with RADAR returns.