[EAS] IPAWS RWTs

[Guentz, Tim]

I can look at a radio transmitter's power output. For me to assume the audio is ok from this one parameter is foolhardy. The IPAW display may "OK" but how do we know it will really work when needed if it is never tested. We all heard what happened with the EAS National Test. For years it was assumed that it would work. When actually tested it did not work very well at all (yes, most Endecs fired, but the human message was lost in the noise--it failed). Not wanting to have a regular test of IPAW smacks of laziness. Is this going to be a real emergency system or not? Come on FEMA!


On Jul 1, 2012, at 10:37 AM, "Barry Mishkind" <barry at oldradio.com> wrote:

> The *very* latest (as of Sunday the 1st of July):
> 
>        As you can imagine, this, like many things with
>        the federal bureaucracy, are in flux.
> 
>        We spoke with the FEMA last week. 
>        At that time, there were some pressures
>        from inside the FEMA and/or the FCC to
>        end the RWTs completely as of 6/30/12. 
>        Nevertheless, I was told that the current 
>        "plan" was to run them for the next 
>        few Mondays, and then phase them out.
> 
>        The theory is that since the new boxes all
>        say "Connected" or "OK" or something like
>        that, there is no question that the boxes
>        are on line.
> 
>        Therefore, you can expect the CAP RWT's
>        on Monday at 11 AM DST (for states with
>        multiple time zones or that do not observe
>        DST it is different!) during July. Period.
> 
>        However, as broadcasters, we typically 
>        *want to see* an occasional test of all 
>        sources ... just to be sure. This "need" was
>        probably not immediately considered - just like
>        the manufacturers "forgot" to provide us
>        an instant display of receiver operations
>        that users should be getting without the
>        need to drill down in a browser.
> 
>        Also, with 1000 boxes still on backorder,
>        a lot of folks will still want assurance their
>        filters are set right.
> 
>        My request - and I'm sure that of many 
>        others - is for the FEMA to run something
>        periodically ... even monthly, so stations
>        can be "sure" all is right.
> 
>        This only seems reasonable.
> 
>        At this point, though, all we can do is wait and 
>        see what gets decided. 
> 
> - - 
> 
> Barry Mishkind - Tucson, AZ 
> 
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