[BC] The real answer for EAS

[Warren Shulz]

RDS requires a stable backbone for distribution.  FM Alerts sells that
as a new alert and warning  product. But when you look behind the
curtain it is not survivable or very robust.

Actually the best and paid for product is NOAA weather radio.  With some
improvements it could be the nation's alert channel.  Already in place
it has some 1,000 transmitters.  If NWS moved to linking via satellite
and harden the transmitter locations weather radio would be the wireless
solution for alerts and warnings.  Best part it is already paid for and
for the most part in place and linked to every broadcaster
radio/TV/Cable system.  It gets rid of the daisy chain and has been
extensively tested 1,000's of times. Even consumers can buy into the
channel at any Wal*Mart store.  DHS sent 180,000 NOAA radios to every
K-12 school in CONUS.  Maybe they figured it out already!  

After DTV transition TV is a dead end for follow up alerts.  Once the
power goes down its going to be difficult to power up your 600-watt 50
inch plasma TV.  Haven't seen much in portable DTV.  Just a simple area
blackout knocks down the DSL internet service.

Warren Shulz
IL SECC



-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Barry Mishkind
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 10:46 AM
To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
Subject: [BC] The real answer for EAS


         I don't remember exactly when it was available,
         but the solution for this has been around for
         over 20 years in Europe. When there is a
         local emergency, the local signal will capture
         every radio for the announcement and then
         return it to the program it was listening to.

         Can you image how many of the problems
         that exist in the current EAS system would
         go away (INCLUDING testing) if one simple
         change were made? Proven technology.

         It's called RDS.

At 05:36 AM 10/9/2009, Mike McCarthy wrote:
>While I agree that stations {{{should}}} relay call to action messages
>(Tornado, Flash FLood, and Tsumami, Evacuation), there is a point of
>diminishing returns and/or excessive congestion. Our stations only
relay
>TOR and FFR for the county in which the CoL is located and select
adjacent
>counties. But for the really wide coverage stations, it doesn't make
sense
>except for their home county and may first adjacent counties.

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