[EAS] Single point entry of CAP messages

[Tom Spencer]

Compare and contrasting what has and hasn't worked in the past - and why 
- might just yield insights into what a new system might need to avoid 
the pitfalls of the previous ones.

Example -

It should be clear that regardless of what data signals are employed, 
there needs to be instant or nearly so connection from originator to 
distributor - whether that's a "smart highway" sign or KKKK AM & FM.

And all end distributors should have the information as nearly 
simultaneous as possible.  The legacy EAS system does this about as fast 
as its software allows...

The ideal system would be the local mayor / police chief / sheriff / 
whoever - or their designated representative - effectively placing a 
conference call to every single station, cable operator, etc., in the 
area. 

Absent that, the system needs to be rugged enough to allow partial 
failures - again a designed-in feature of legacy EAS (although sometimes 
lacking in implementation)  The so-called "daisy chain" actually has at 
least two paths from any given originator to the final broadcast point; 
everything I've seen about CAP says it's all on the internet.  Single 
point failure waiting to happen, even without considering stations that 
don't have and can't get a decent full-time internet connection. 

The CAP server itself is another single-point failure mode, our good 
friend Chris' datacenter notwithstanding... no slam or slur intended, 
Chris - but how many of these servers realistically will be in a 
well-run center such as yours?  I can see someone implementing it on an 
old P3 machine running Windows 98SE.... <wink>

Just a few of the possible points that need to be addressed.

Where's the server our Washington State friends located?  The PacNW 
seems to be getting a jump on this; perhaps they should be writing the 
Task and Standard for implementing CAP EAS?

David Ostmo wrote:
> There is a huge difference between complaining and problem solving.  
> What are the real issues?  What ideas can we offer for solutions? 
>
> Rehashing Conelrad and EBS is complaining.  Complaining is like a 
> rocking chair, it keeps you busy but you don't get anywhere.
>
> David Ostmo
>
> On 5/19/2011 1:20 PM, Alex Hartman wrote:
>   
>> Complaining about the inevitable is how the inevitable changes,
>> inevitably. If nobody complained, there would be no ideas on
>> improvement. :) So no, this thread is not a waste of time.
>>