[EAS] NPT via PEP to the whole state?

[Sean Donelan]

On Fri, 30 Aug 2019, Barry Mishkind wrote:
> A question has come up.  How many states have checked to know if the NPT (or an RMT) actually percolated though the entire state? In other words, did the daisy chain - or what's left of it - work?

Alabama SECC collects EAS performance data automatically from its LP 
stations.

I thought I saw a one or two other state associations announce a survey of 
their members, but now I can't find them with google.

> There are two observations that occur to me, as I talk to people about 
> the test(s).
>
> 1. Does the more recent LP1/LP2 setup tend to "break" more easily than 
> a plan that links stations with more useful signals?   (There have been 
> - are - places where one or more of the assigned monitored stations are 
> just not receivable, especially at night.)

The entire system plan could use an updated, modern analysis.  It's not 
1960 anymore. Without reducing system survivability, whats the appropriate 
mix of satellite, AM, FM, microwave, wireline, etc.

FEMA has no money, so probably won't happen.

> 2. Would the PEP be improved by having an immediate relay to at least 
> one FM station? (The storms that disrupted the NPT due to reception 
> issues might be mitigated with one or more FM's in the chain?)

A few years ago, I went through the published state plans and a majority 
if local EAS operational areas had switched to using FM stations as their 
Local Primary.  Of course, nearly all PEP stations are AM.  I believe 
there are 3 PEP stations on FM.

Since most of the PEP stations also co-own FM stations, depending on 
wiring and physical setup, the PEP encoder at the AM station could be 
hardwired to the FM encoder.  Wouldn't work everywhere, but could improve 
the audio.

WFED (AM), the local PEP station in Washington DC, isn't even in the local 
DC National Capital Region EAS monitoring plan since WTOP changed to FM. I 
have no idea what WFED's role as a PEP station is anymore.