[EAS] Strict Time

[Ed Czarnecki]

Most EAS vendors use absolute time.

Good old DTG is one method, as is usage of a standards based method ISO
8601.  Example (of several methods) 2014-11-11T12:45:00Z.  Gets to the same
place as DTG.  However, even though ISO 8601 came out in the (late) 1980s,
it was not incorporated into the EAS protocol.  Major oversight, IMHO.

A practical issue here is that any change to EAS headers could *severely*
challenge other existing systems - like the myriad of internal systems
already deployed in NOAA, not to mention NOAA weather radios.  I have been
informed repeatedly that NOAA just does not have the funding or resources to
handle change on this level.

Basic policy choices:
1. Do nothing, find a minimalist "fix"
2. Change EAS headers, and remove NWS/NWR from any EAS role (monitoring
assignment, etc.). 
3. Change EAS headers, and hope Congress issues funding to NWS sufficient to
update and maintain systems.  I'm still chuckling as I write that line.

But, if we do have the opportunity to modify EAS headers, there are other
adds we have in mind that could further enhance security and help
synchronize CAP and EAS...

Ed

Edward Czarnecki, PhD 
Senior Director – Strategic Development & Global Government Affairs
Monroe Electronics /

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On
Behalf Of ray at electronicstheory.com

Moving forward -
It is clear that the system is broken.
It is clear that not enough forward thinking was involved in the creation of
the system.  It is also clear that we do not learn from history.