[EAS] Severe weather drills

[Dale Lamm]

[quote]

RMT's and other tests are only -partial - tests ...Leaving out A
significant part of the message distribution system.    Even the PEP's
don't send any periodic tests to make sure that those systems
down-stream from Them work.

...

It's vital that the distribution systems and circuits be tested
periodically and routinely ...The event code used is not the major
issue.   I have a lot of Faith that all the EAS Boxes out there can and
will respond to the 'real -McCoy'  (EAN etc) Where our problems have
been is with such antiquated Message distribution systems as the
'Daisy-Chain'.

[end]

To add some constructive comments...

Ohio's 2014 schedule includes a PEP station as the injection point for a
new statewide RMT in August. Ohio EMA is still the originator, but they
are using a PEP station as the entry point instead of an LP station in
the capitol. The year's test schedule is posted on the SBE chapter 70
web site.

I also had lots of faith that a nationwide EAN would be relayed by all
participants. During the 2011 test, one station in our area failed to
retransmit. Their incoming filter was set to "Emergency Action Network".
The filter should have also included "Primary Entry Point" as an
originator, because that's where the message started. This station
enjoys superior over-the-air reception from our LP station, but the
problem had nothing to do with signal flow, rather information
filtering.

There are advantages to live event testing (with after-the-event
analysis), as the 2011 national test demonstrated.

Dale Lamm
WHBC AM-FM