Poor Harry the Magic/Dothan IT guy

[Stewy]

Just heard the 95.5 promo saying, "Had a bad day? We just blame Harry the IT guy". Well I guess Harry's going to get blamed for the EAS system not tripping on 95.5, WTVY, 106.7 WKMX, 103.9 WJRL, 100.5 WLDA and 93.1 WBBK. There was a sever thunderstorm warning issued by the NWS at 4:20 something for Coffee County which was immediately followed by a Tornado Warning for Battens Cross Roads (southern edge of Enterprise) and it then proceeded to extend east with the warning moving with the storm. 96.9 WDJR had it all on timely, 99.7 WOOF was all over it, the automated system at WVVL 101.1 in Enterprise tripped and issued the warning.

Nothing on the Magic stations. KMX sounded like a live DJ was there but made no mention of it, he did mention the relif efforts they'd assisted in for Enterprise from the March tornado. If the shows's recorded he did a very good job of it but it's hard to foretell severe weather so I guess he'll need to connect with their psychics on Thurs morning (bridging2worlds.com?) before he records next weekend. Wonder if they can predict FCC fines?

95.5 did mention weather in a promo when they talked that "they're on top of severe weather...always live" but that was the extent of their weather coverage. Poor Harry, if the FCC still fines stations for these types of failures I guess Harry the IT guy's going to be working a very long time for free to pay the fine....especially if he gets the same pay scale of the DJ's.

I don't think the fines are bad(?) if no one was actually injured from the storm but then again I really don't know much as too_long pointed out, all I do well is count Uh's.

Someone please correct me and post that they heard the automatic EAS warnings on any of the Magic stations.

 

[govols]

My son and husband were leaving Enterprise this afternoon when the bad weather hit and they were listening to TVwhy? and heard no warnings etc......they called to let me know that they were on their way home, trying to beat the weather but there was no warning at all on the magical mystery tour.

 

[jusel70]

I run for rescue in Barbour County and during a run I heard 2 weather warnings in a 15 to 20 minute span on 95.5 around 2:30 or 3:00. Not to be taking up for them but there were several warnings broadcasted through Tallahassee weather.

 

[morecowbell]

I think EAS is hit or miss at Magic. They definitely have problems.
jusel70 probably did hear earlier warnings. But I don't think the later tornado warnings ran.
Or at least not at the time they were issued.
Hit or miss, like I said.
The part that hurts your listenership is promoing to death how great your weather
coverage is and failing to deliver because of an intermittent and inconsistent system.
It may take awhile, but inconsistency while promoting consistency will bite you
on the a$$.

 

[jusel70]

Morecowbell I believe 95.5 is danged if they do and danged if they don't with you--the updates posted at the time of the bad weather. You are intitled to your opinion as is everyone else and it sounds like you just fine fault in everything even in other people's post--

 

[govols]

Whoa, down girl................You said yourself that you heard 2 weather warnings around 2:30 or 3:00. Fair enough but the sirens didn't start going off until around 4:30. That's when my husband called me and said that they were running right ahead of tornado's that were getting ready to hit Enterprise. He said that they had been listening to 95.5 and had heard no warnings what so ever. So NO the updates did not run on air when the weather got so bad. Sorry, not taking up for the cow but I know this to be true because my family was scared and trying to get Eastbound when the sirens started going off.

 

[jusel70]

I answered the question plan and simple so do not bash me for having an opinion as you have an opinion.

 

[morecowbell]

Morecowbell I believe 95.5 is danged if they do and danged if they don't with you--the updates posted at the time of the bad weather. You are intitled to your opinion as is everyone else and it sounds like you just fine fault in everything even in other people's post--

Sure I am a critic. But not just of 95.5. Of all stations in the area. With hopes that my
criticism will spur improvement to Dothan broadcasting as a whole.

I didn't find fault in your post. Nor was it an attack on what you had to say.
I was just using it to differentiate when the system was working and not working.

I am glad you post here.

 

[jusel70]

Morecowbell, I understand your concern but also, I not only a driver for rescue but I also work for a 911/police dispatch center and with the direction of EMA and Birmingham weather we activate the weather sirens in our county. I am not judging or criticising 95.5 or any radio station but I do not know if I would put my trust or my families lives solely in the hands of the radio stations weather updates. For one, they give the updates as a courtesy and two, you never know when the system can fail especially if there is not a live person on scene. Our department, because of 95.5's coverage, will at times tune in to their radio station because they are pretty much right on the money with their warnings. My department is in the northern part of the wiregrass so we depend on Bham weather as our weather source where Dothan is in the southern part of the wiregrass and they depend on Tallahassee and Mobile as their weather source. On this particular day in question it is possible that the other stations use Mobile weather service where 95.5 uses Tallahassee weather service and that would cause a delay in response. 95.5 or any other station is not the initiator of the weather alerts it is the EMA's that issue these alerts. The weather services are the one's that interrupt your radio station service not the radio stations. I would like to suggest that for the comfort and piece of mind for your family that you invest in a weather radio that gives you these same weather alerts that your local police deparments and radio stations receive and also call your local EMA and police department to better understand how the weather system works if you are not already familiar. I just think you are unjustly pointing fingers when maybe you do not understand the system. And remember, some times equipment fails---

 

[jusel70]

Ok, just wanted everyone to know that I called the source and found out what the situation was with the weather updates. At the time of the weather alerts 95.5's EAS system was down so the DJ was giving the live updates. Once the DJ confirmed that the weather alerts had been terminated he left for the day. The Enterprise alert came after the DJ left and with the EAS system being down, the weather alerts would not have been given. So I did hear live updates but the DJ was reading reports sent to him by Tallahassee weather service. I would like to add that one bad day does not a failure make! Systems fail and clearance for the counties was given so the DJ did not just abandon his duties.

 

[jobhunter]

I feel ya "Harry the Magic IT Guy"

EAS is a bitch. I use ENDEC-SET, it's a free program from Harris. Just install it on a laptop and plug into the front using an null modem cable. You can set every setting imaginable with a happy GUI interface. If you want you can download it here: http://www.wdjr.com/setup-endecset.zip

I had Larry Wilkins come down for our 3 year inspection a few months back and he helped me get everything straight.

You should be monitoring three sources:

1. APT-TV via off-air or cable demod (a VCR is what we use)
2. Any Auburn Network Affiliate (I was using WLDA, however I don't know if they are still an Auburn Network Affiliate since the format flip...)
3. NOAA weather radio, just split off one of your Marti antennas since NOAA is on 162Mhz

You should also contact Harris about getting the latest firmware. I believe its free? I can't remember, since the last update I received was after Amber Alert was instated. (which never works BTW)

As far as the "they monitor Tallahassee"...we all do, it's the regional NWS Office.

If you need any help Harry, give me a buzz...us engineers have to stick together!

714-6556

-Frog Man
Chief Engineer
The Radio People