[BC] EAS

[Jerry Mathis]

My replies embedded below.



Jerry Mathis
Clear Channel Radio, Tupelo & Meridian MS





>From: "Bill Croghan" <loteng at lvradio.com>
>Reply-To: Broadcast Radio Mailing List <broadcast at radiolists.net>
>To: "'Broadcast Radio Mailing List'" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
>Subject: RE: [BC] EAS
>Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 16:24:21 -0700
>>
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>snip<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> >EAS is, basically, a warning system. A data stream, maybe coupled with
> >tones, that is designed to ACTIVATE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND/OR SET OFF 
>AN
> >ALARM, and give a basic description of what the emergency is. There are
> >then provisions, within the EAS system, for a minute or two's worth of
> >information. THAT'S ALL EAS DOES.
>
>
>	That's all it was intended to do.


Thank you for verifying that bit of information.


> >
> >What I'm saying is that Broadcast stations are not the most efficient
> >method of conveying this warning. Because a piece of equipment has to be
>tuned to
> >that station, and it must be turned on in order to be monitoring. People
> >don't listen to their radio or watch their TV 24/7. There are no
> >mass-produced radios or TV's that I'm aware of, other than NOAA weather
> >radios, designed to sit quietly until an EAS alert is received, and then
> >turn on and activate.
>
>
>	Correct, but any other method was a matter of requiring the public
>to buy something to make the system work (sound like IBOC???)  The current
>system was designed to get to the most people with the existing billions of
>radios.

That was the infamous "unfunded government mandate" that made the broadcast 
industry pay for the system, and not the government or the "public".

>We could always dream up systems that would do everything for
>everyone and hardly anyone would buy them.
>	I recently bought one of the few available consumer radios with EAS
>activation on E-BAY, like new in the box, I was the only bidder and got it
>for 9.99 plus shipping.  I believe that the unit, when it was made went for
>over $100.  No-one else gave a damn.
>	Even amongst this august group, how many people do you know that
>have NWS all hazard radios in their homes, cars and work places?  Safety is
>the hardest sell.  I have an NWS at home, one in my office, and could dial
>it up on my Yaesu VX2 on my hip if I so chose, but I'm an EAS geek.  Most
>people don't want to be bothered.  Unlike the Satellite radio stuff, there
>is no incentive for the radio makers or car companies to make such radios.

And that's a big part of the problem right there. "Most people don't want to 
be bothered". EAS has been mandated now for how long? Going on 2 decades I 
think. And nobody wants to be bothered. Most people still had to listen to 
radio or TV for entertainment way back when EAS was first mandated. Now they 
have literally dozens of options for entertainment, and radio isn't one of 
the major sources. So why is the major focus still on the broadcast model? 
That's what I'm questioning. They buy gadgets by the score to be 
entertained. Why can't they buy one to be SAFE?


> >The second part of what I didn't say is that stations like yours do NOT
> >need
> >EAS to convey your fast-breaking facts and information. You've described
> >your station's response to local emergencies and weather information in
> >previous posts, and it sounds like you're doing a heckuva job. But what
> >does
> >EAS add to what you're doing, other than playing the duck farts for your
> >audience to hear? At best it's an attention-getter. And surely you 
>realize
> >that even EAS activation in 3 in the morning is only heard by the few who
> >happen to be awake and have their radio on (and are tuned to your 
>station).
>
>	One of the biggest purposes of the system is to get the DJ's
>attention (or automations systems attention).  When they are doing a heavy
>show, busy running around, etc. they may not have any other method of being
>alerted to the fact that an event is occurring.  I haven't heard a model 15
>bell on an AP machine in 20 years.  The Duck Farts certainly get my
>attention when I have the radio low or am not really paying much attention.
>	Don't try to make something out of the existing system that it was
>never intended to do.

A-HA! That's something I've been waiting to hear for years. The main purpose 
of the duck farts is to alert the DJ at the monitoring station. Of course, 
it follows that, if the station isn't manned at that time, the EAS equipment 
is alerted, and an automatic, pre-planned event occurs.

Having admitted to that, please tell me why the myriad, majority of stations 
at the END of the EAS daisy chain, are required to re-broadcast EAS tones, 
duck farts, and test messages? They serve NO purpose to anyone, because 
there is no equipment out there anywhere to decode them. Why not stop the 
signals AT THE MONITORING STATIONS and be done with it? Only the CPCS, LP1 
and LP2, and Relay stations should have to transmit the tones. Let the 
monitoring stations log the test(s) received to be sure that the integrity 
of the chain is maintained, but stop requiring the transmission of the 
tones/farts where it serves no purpose.


>
>Bill
>
>Bill Croghan CPBE WBØKSW
>Chief Engineer,
>KOMP/KXPT/KENO/KBAD
>Lotus Broadcasting
>Las Vegas, NV
>Email to loteng (at) lvradio.com
>Phone 702-315-3030
>Fax      702-876-6685
>
>
>
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