[BC] EAS

[Bill Croghan]

Jerry,
>>>>>>>>>>>>snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>
>>	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".

Jerry, No argument from me on that.  But of course the public did pay for
it, since as free enterprise we pass our costs on to the customer.
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>snip<<<<<<<<<<<
>>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?


Again as you just stated, most people don't want to be bothered.  Seat belts
save lives, but it took mandatory laws to increase significantly there use.
How many people have a fire extinguisher in their car? Or home for that
matter.  Safety is a hard sell.
>
>>>>>>>>>snip<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>	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
>>>>>>>>>snip<<<<<<<<<<
>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.


	Earlier you wanted there to be some method whereby the public could
be alerted even if their radios were off or on Alert status.  Now you want
to eliminate the digital duck farts that can make that possible.  I have a
full TFT system at my house, monitoring 6 sources, but I still have a little
ASI unit that tunes to any AM or FM station and alerts on receipt of the
Duck Farts.  That's what you wanted, now you want to eliminate that
possibility?  Everyone at home can't get the LP and NWS stations but most
can get some form of terrestrial radio.
	The system isn't perfect.  There are solutions out there, but as
Clay F. and others have pointed out, it takes work, time and dedication.
Over the last 25 years I've served as EAS or EBS chair for two operational
areas and am now co-chair of my biggest yet here in Las Vegas.  If you don't
serve on a local or state EAS committee then you are part of the problem,
not part of the solution.
 
Bill

Bill Croghan CPBE WB?KSW
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