[EAS] Spending other folk's money...

[Tom Taggart]

Disagree with premise that we should all buy new CAP enabled
equipment rather than adapters.  The Gorman-Redlich adapter
would take the traffic from the internet, and, as I
understand it, translate it into audio (including the
fsk)that an existing EAS decoder could understand, including
voice-synthesis of the text part of the message.

In the past year, at least 95% or better of the actual
emergency alerts we carried originated from NWS. Either
directly off NWS radio, or via one of the FM relays we
monitor. Dick's article seems to indicate that there are no
concrete plans (at present) to integrate NWS into the
inter-net based CAP alert system. So the only particular
reasons to have a new CAP capable system (besides keeping
the FCC happy by being able to receive test messages) would
be for the yet-to-be created "Governor's priority" message
system. 

But the "Governor's priority" traffic could be handled
through the existing EAS system by simply creating a new
alert code.  This new code could then be added by a software
upgrade to existing EAS decoders. Then such messages could
be distributed both by internet (through add-on CAP boxes)
and existing daisy-chain or direct links. 

CAP adapters now on the market cost a third to a half of
what a complete new encoder/decoder/CAP decoder would cost.
A difference of, say, $1,200 for the adapter, or $2,500 to
$4,000 for a complete new unit. In my case I would need two
units, so that's a big difference in capital outlay for a
new box that really would do very little. Especially since I
just bought a new Gorman-Redlich last year for the new
station we acquired. (They were in a JSA and shared a system
owned by the landlord). 

I pay enough out in regulatory fees each year, I don't need
to waste more money on redundant equipment.