[EAS] LPFMs and EAN

[Mulford, David]

Tom Said:
>I haven't seen any of the "decoder only" EAS boxes, so I
>don't know if they have provisions for a program interrupt.
>One would assume they would, but... Still, I assume the
>decoder-only units would also have some sort of logging
>provision would would indicate whether the EAN/test was
>received.

Tom,

Our LPFM College station is required to have a decoder only unit and monitor LP1 and LP2 stations, as well as relay any messages with FIPS codes that match our listening area - out to our fringe areas.  The decoders DO have a program interrupt - they're just slightly crippled (and significantly less expensive) versions their more capable brethren.

Our original receive only box was a TFT-911D unit which performed very well and printed out miles of tape for us. The 911D is just like the 911R4/R6 for the most part, but doesn't have the programing to encode and transmit a locally produced (station produced) EAS alert. The 911D does all the same things the 911R4/R6 does in terms of receiving and re-transmitting EAS messages that are received per FIPS codes. The 911D has the same relays and RS-232 outputs to drive external displays, switch airchains from music to EAS message transmittal, etc.

Being just 100W ERP we just relay all local city and county EAS messages pertaining to about 3 FIPS codes for our county, city and adjoining city. Our LP1 station covers quite a bit larger area than normal (WSLQ is one of a few grandfathered class C's at 200 KW) so we end up filtering out quite a few FIPS codes (usually WX messages) that don't pertain to our immediate listening area.

We recently upgraded our station EAS capabilities with a DASCEC IILCR, which is a receive only unit as well (via 2 or 3 radios and an ethernet/Internet RJ45) - but has the additional CAP/IPAWS capabilities soon to be required by the FCC/FEMA and the added benefit of being networkable with no paper tapes to collect :)

So long story short - us LPFM'ers do try and do what we need to do in our small stations for the most part.
We just speak a bit more softly and carry a small stick :)

- David

David Mulford - KI4UVC
Chief Engineer, Cook, and Dishwasher.
WRKE-LP Roanoke College
Salem, VA