Products & Newsletters
EAS Equipment Update for 2011 National EAS Test
Washington - Sep 1, 2011 - FEMA held a webinar on Sept. 1 to cover equipment operation for the national EAS test on Nov. 9, 2011. One common question relates to CAP and the national test. As it was previously announced, the national EAS test will not carry a CAP message. The message will use only the existing EAS. The message will take the following path:
White House → FEMA → PEP Stations → EAS Stations
The test will use the Washington, DC, FIPS code (11001) because there is no official "all U.S." FIPS code. There are plans to add a 000000 FIPS code for this purpose, but it cannot be implemented now.
Questions have been raised if the alert will be forwarded by existing EAS equipment with the DC FIPS code. The manufacturers on the webinar provided the following replies:
The audio from the EAN will propagate like the audio in a required monthly test (RMT). The message will likely expire after 30 minutes.
Audio will start as a live audio message at the White House. It will not be the president. The audio message will last approximately 2.5 minutes. While a real message could be any length, FEMA wasnts to get a feel for the amount of audio memory. FEMA also wants get an idea of what the station-to-station delay may be. The goal is to have all stations airing the message at the same time.
Stations were cautioned to ensure that their audio memory buffers can store a full 2.5-minute message.
One point that was stressed: Stations should not follow their state or local operating handbooks. It was noted that many handbooks are potentially inaccurate and/or out of date. Stations should follow the specific instructions from FEMA for this test, which will include a checklist that will be released Oct. 3, 2011.
In the Puerto Rico test last week the text rolls ran across TV screens only once. There was a discussion of character generator behavior vs EAS encoder/decoder behavior. Many encoder/decoders send the text message once to the character generator and rely on the character generator to handle repeats, color, position and other parameters. Some EAS encoder/decoders (Sage, for example), repeat the message but the character generator handles everything else.
Because the Nov. 9 test will be a live code EAS test, the text crawl will not show that this will be a test. Only the audio message will say that this will be a test. The organizers are trying to work on visual elements that will offset the "live code" message that will be in the crawl, for example on cable systems.
NOAA/NWR will not carry the EAN. It will go to PEP stations only. FEMA is working with NPR station to be an optional source.
On the webinar, manufacturers were asked what information they will have available for users of their devices.
According to FEMA tests from its labs, there are no foreseen problems with these devices. FEMA is testing with Hollyanne and Burk and will provide details later.
The next FEMA EAS webinars will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 13.
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Today in Radio History
Milestones From Radio's Past
The history of radio broadcasting extends beyond the work of a few famous inventors.
Digital Edition
Each Issue as a Digital Edition
Read each issue online in our Digital Edition Format in your Web browser.
EAS Information More on EAS
NWS XML/Atom Feed for CAP Messages
The feed provides feeds for all US states and territories.
Wallpaper Calendar
Radio 2013 Calendar Wallpaper
Need a calendar for your computer desktop? Use one of ours.
The Wire
A virtual press conference
Information from manufacturers and associations about industry news, products, technology and business announcements.
Current Issue
Noise Elimination at WKSU's Akron News Bureau
This high-visibility and high-traffic area got the full acoustic treatment.
Browse Back Issues
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Also in the May Issue
Sections
