[EAS] configuring new sage box

[Tom Taggart]

Well, not really.  The geeks may get it instantly, but for
us luddites there's a learning curve. You will quickly find
that you will want to do all the set-up over your local
network. First thing to do is --on the front panel of the
Sage, go down to network and write down the IP address (the
password is 1-1-1-1). Then in the same area find the command
to turn network server on so you can communicate with the
box. 

Using your browser, enter the IP address you just wrote
down, i.e http://198.82.50.1 (I just made this up). The user
name and password is "admin" and  "admin"  (you can change
this later in the set-up process). You should see the home
page of the Sage box. You can sign off for the moment.

Now go to the ENDECset software you just downloaded from
Sagealertingsystems.com.

First thing to do is click on the Local Area tab>"add local
area" which brings up a selection of states.  You can click
on one of the states which then brings up another selection
box with counties.  You can set more than one county, and,
if your are in a border area like I am, repeat with another
state and county.

Now move on to the filters. Will come up on EAN, you can
leave this one alone.
Change the filter box to RMT--probably will want to leave
originators alone, in events box leave RMT alone, then enter
in the locations in that box.  If your local area is all in
one state you can leave that alone, if you have two states
in your local area you will want to remove local area and
just enter in "All of [your state]so you don't get two
different RMT's each month. Once these entries are complete
click "save this filter" Note that they've set the RMT for
timed relay and a 5 minute hold time--you can increase this
if you want.

Now go back and click on "Add New Filter."  I set up three
different categories, one named "immediate" one "timed" and
one "log". OK give your filter a name, we will set up the
ones that get sent through immediately. Now go to
originators--just list "all", then to events. Click on add
events and you will have a list of various alerts.  Scroll
down the list and select one at a time the events you want
to be relayed immediately, e.g. tornado warning, blizzard
warning, etc. You'll notice some are irrelevant for your
area--we don't have any volcanoes in our area, as well as
some things you will not want to be relayed, such as
"administrative messages".

After you make your list of events, go to
"locations"--"local area" should suffice. Then go to
"settings"--set for automatic relay, probably can leave
priority alone (higher number prevails over lower) & no hold
time.

Now repeat for events you may want to relay, but delay. If
you have a live show at least part of the time, you'll want
to use this for such things as severe thunderstorm warnings.
If you are live, you can delay this 15 minutes, & the air
talent can kill the message and read it live (rather than
use the bad NWS audio). In Settings set for timed relay, and
set the hold time where you want it.

I use the "Log" filter for those oddball things in the list
such a tsunami warnings (if the station is in Nebraska) and
administrative messages. In settings use "log only"  That
way, if your PEP actually does send a tsunami warning you'll
have it logged so you can call them up and rag on them.

OK moving on. A couple of other things--In the config box
you can go to auto mode and set for manual (all live
operation--you have control over timed events, but they will
run when the delay time expires) auto (no warm bodies--timed
events run through immediately) or timed (mix mode) where
you tell the box to be manual during certain hours, (e.g.
morning drive). The only other thing you probably need to
enter in the Config page is call sign, which will print on
logs. They allow 8 characters.

Next: RWT tab.  Here you can either set a specific time for
the RWT to run automatically (I use 12:05 Sunday on one
station), allow the box to generate random times to run each
week, or leave at "off" and have talent run one each week. 

Next:Network.  This allows you to set passwords and user ID
for network access.
I use ADMIN and a password & AIR and a password; and set a
shortcut on a control room computer for the AIR talent. You
can then run the RWT from the network as well as abort timed
relay messages where you want to  be able to dump NWS and
just read their alert (at one station we have the Weather
Channel up on a flat screen in the control room--they'll get
the weather statements just as fast that way).

Also, you may want to set up a fixed (static) IP address. 
If the Sage looses power it will go find a different
address, which is a nuisance since you will find it much
easier just to have it on the network (like a printer) &
work with it that way. 

Now go to Monitor, that is where you specify which source
gets NWS, and how many inputs to scan. 

Now go to Levels. You will want to lower the playback level
and Record 1 level to somewhere midscale. If these are too
high you will get the output feeding back into the input
creating an "echoing" message.

Other tabs: CAP is for setting the parameters for reaching
the CAP servers we don't have yet.  E-mail allows you to set
up the box to send you e-mail messages. I got this to work,
then they stopped--suspect it is my e-mail provider, they've
done this before on anything they think is spam.

A lot of the other stuff I don't understand, but apparently
I don't need...

Oh, RELAY--most stations can just run the audio through the
box and be done with it.  At my one studio I use one box for
two stations with several Broadcast Tool switchers. The ATTN
relay comes on when the message starts and stays on until
the EOM. If you set one of the other relays for End Pulse
Post (and give it a second or two on time) this can be your
EOM relay if you are using external switchers for your
program line(s).

Now "save as" the settings file (I use the call sign as file
name). Remember where you put it (documents is a good
place).  Bring up the Sage box on the network. Don't
remember exact language, but you are looking to download
settings or something like that. Brings up a browse
box--find the file and tell it to load it.  Now the box has
all your settings.