[EAS] Precautionary Info - checking for bogus EANs in the DASDEC/OneNet, and simple removal.

[Ed Czarnecki]

Folks - in an abundance of caution, we are issuing the following information so users can check whether an EAN alert might be stuck in queue, and very simply cancel a queued alert.  This primarily applies to those users that are running v2.5 or earlier, AND were monitoring a source with that syndicated programming that had the bogus EAN.

 

In short, log in to the DASDEC with an account with  "Admin" user rights, then Go to Decoder > All Alerts. If you happen to see a Nov 9th EAN still in the log, then just click the "Cancel" button on the second entry to remove the event that would be forwarded.  That bogus EAN is now removed, if it was there at all.

 

This Field Service Bulletin is available at http://www.digitalalertsystems.com/pdf/DAS%20FSB-103014R1.0.pdf, and text below.

 

* * * IMPORTANT ADVISORY * * *  Cancelling Unauthorized EAN Queued Event  

 

This Field Service Bulletin provides important guidance on how to remove an unauthorized national EAN alert from the DASDEC alert queue.  If this spurious EAN message was received by a DASDEC, it may remain in the device queue pending automatic transmission on November 9, 2014.  This bulletin provides simple steps for the user to cancel any pending alert.

 

BACKGROUND

On October 24, 2014, there was an unauthorized playing of the national emergency alert notification (EAN) tones during a syndicated radio broadcast.  These tones were a retransmission from the original EAN test conducted on Nov 9, 2011.  

 

If a DASDEC is operating with version 2.5 or earlier, AND if in any area where this syndicated programming was broadcast on your EAS monitoring source/station, there is a possibility the DASDEC has stored this EAN for automatic transmission on 9 November 2014.

 

*** In an abundance of caution, we strongly advise DASDEC users to examine the ALL ALERTS queue for pending alerts to verify if the false EAN is present.  If an unauthorized EAN is present in the queue, you may follow the following simple steps to remove that EAN from forwarding.  It will remain in the event log as a received EAS, however it will NO LONGER automatically transmit if you follow these steps.

 

CANCELLING A QUEUED EVENT

1.            Log in to the DASDEC using the standard web browser. Use an account with  "Admin" user rights. 

2.            Go to Decoder > All Alerts. If the device received the unauthorized EAN transmission, you will see the EAN in the log.

3.            There should be two entries in this log - the top is the decoded event and the second is the forwarded event queued for transmission. 

4.            Click the "Cancel" button on that second entry to remove the event that would be forwarded. 

5.            The screen will refresh with the forwarded event now removed.

6.            Changes are effective immediately and the alert is removed.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at support at digitalalertsystems.com.

 

We remain committed to working with FEMA and the FCC to recommend improvements to EAS message security and authentication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edward Czarnecki, PhD 
Senior Director - Strategic Development & Global Government Affairs

585-765-2254 ext. 122 | fax 585-765-9330
100 Housel Ave. | Lyndonville | NY | 14098