[EAS] Ira's comment

[Lowell Kiesow]

When emergencies hit a widespread area, it is possible that boxes 
using CAP converters will choke on the sheer volume of messages, 
unless the converter does its own message filtering.  If it doesn't, 
the system will be tied up while the converter "plays out" the alert 
audio for everything it gets from the server.  If a bunch of alerts 
fly all at once, it may take the converter too long to play all of 
them out.  By contrast, when CAP is built into the box, it can 
quickly examine an alert, and ignore it if doesn't fit the watch 
list, and then go on to the next message.  Of course, there will be 
those stations who only care about meeting the absolute minimum of 
part 11, and a converter will probably do that.

If nothing else, in many places, CAP will cause more simple minded 
boxes to burn through paper tape by the yard.  Boxes that rely on 
paper for logging may cause more than a little frustration, 
especially if it logs everything it hears.  Here in Washington, we 
have 39 counties, and a bunch more cities, that all send tests on a 
regular basis (training is good).  Thankfully, there are units 
available that can filter out test messages that I don't want without 
also filtering out alerts that I do want for those areas.

         Lowell Kiesow, Chief Engineer
         KPLU 88.5, KVIX 89.3, KPLI 90.1
         www.kplu.org  www.jazz24.org