[EAS] Alerting options

[Tom Spencer]

Interspersed and below...

Clay Freinwald wrote:
> Another factor that we much consider that that Radio and TV are not the only
> parties
> Involved these days.   A zillion wireless devices are now, rightfully,
> involved.
Which is riding on a very *fragile* infrastructure.....

> Everyone on the planning side would be
> Railroaded out of town if we did not use the Internet for this purpose, at
> this time.
> Today the Internet can distribute more information to more places faster and
> Better than all the other previous, low and slow systems ..period.
No, not period... provided its backbone and last-mile distribution and transport system remains reasonably intact; not likely in the early stages of a disaster.  Earthquake = backhoe fade writ large;  hurricane  = pole fade writ large, see also loss of power.

> Time to be thinking about, perhaps, retrofitting some of these existing
> wireless
> Systems so they can distribute CAP? 

That might be a good idea, except trying to pry any of that 
"squatted-on" spectrum loose from its current holder(s)...

And no, I'm *not* referring to broadcast spectrum, nor to BAS spectrum.  
But I'm not holding my breath just yet.

And there's more spectrum available than just the former TV channels 
52-69.  Not counting the VHF TV bands, there are several former "public 
safety" bands, especially at the bottom of the VHF band - 30 - 50 MHz - 
that could be repurposed.

Nice thing is,, it wouldn't even have to be re-engineered or re-licensed 
in many cases; start with the State Police channels that have been 
relegated to backup use if they've not been entirely abandoned.

(Indiana State Police has more or less abandoned their VHF-Lo channels - 
42.12, 42.16, 42.40, and 42.42 MHz - at least, the troopers' cars no 
longer sport the big whip.  Some have a loaded whip on the trunk, but I 
suspect that's their 11-meter CB antenna...; the Indiana State Highway 
department has returned their licenses - 47.28 thru 47.40 MHz.  The ULS 
database also has the ISP with three VHF-HI channels; 155.3700, 155.445, 
and 155.475 MHz)

-- 
Tom Spencer