[EAS] Was NPR Cue Channel Distorted?

[Larry Wood]

I recorded the EAN audio coming into KQED from our two primary sources. Our LP1 is KCBS-AM, but we also monitor NPR via the squawk channel.
The audio from NPR was louder than expected, but the clicks and pops did not correspond with peaks in the spoken audio. The audio does not sound distorted and in fact sounds very clear, much better than the audio from our LP1. One of the problems with the NPR audio is that it is either not limited at all or not limited enough. This makes level setting almost impossible. All of my other sources have very consistent levels.

One of our two Sage 3644s muted the audio after the first few seconds of the text. This was the unit that received the NPR audio before it heard its LP1 KFBK-AM. The repeated data was clear enough to fool the Sage into thinking a 2nd EAN was coming in thus causing the audio to mute. (Current theory) The audio from all of our sources had the same repeating audio error.  

Cheers,

Larry Wood CPBE
KQED & KQEI FM

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Skinner, Jim

Greetings EAS List:
 
Here in Nebraska our SP and SR system is totally reliant on the NPR Cue Channel (AKA: Squawk Channel).   Weekly tests from NPR are received consistently with usable audio. 
 
On November 9 the EAN data bursts came into and out of the Sage 1822 ENDEC just fine.  However, the audio showed an over modulation warning on the front panel.  The audio distortion was off the scale.  Absolutely zero intelligibility, not even close to the audio posted by some. At least we did not have a problem with responding to secondary data bursts like some places, to much distortion. 
 
MY_QUESTION.__Was_the_NPR_Squawk_Channel_audio_usable?__NPR_tells_us_it_was_sent_at_a_very_high_level.__But_did_some_places_have_a_different_audio_level_setting_somehow_or_audio_processing_in_line_so_the_message_was_at_least_understandable?_
 
On line I believe there are examples of usable audio from NPR and totally distorted audio from NPR.  Can anyone shed some light on this question?   Is there only one NPR channel used?
 
Primarily if installing an audio processor could help in the future, I need some ammunition. 
 
BTW, new CAP equipment is ready to be installed but the SP/SR chose to do the national test with known equipment that had performed successful RMTs for years. 
 
JES
 
  --
Jim Skinner CPBE CBNT
NE EAS SECC Chair
www.NE-EAS.org