VERY POOR COVERAGE OF TORNADIC STORMS OVER INDIANA FRIDAY EVENING ON WHAS

[Bengalsfan]

But they COULD take the audio output of the EAS box and feed it back to one of the extra monitor inputs of the console so that what they were monitoring was AFTER the EAS encoder. Then they would know when it goes off because THEY COULD HEAR IT.

And they could also run it through an old processor so it sounds normal to the jocks. Mine are that way. Maybe they have it that way too, but from listening to them it doesn't seem so.

Or they could have the box close a relay and turn on a light to signal the board op it's going off. I have that at a couple of my stations. I'm sure however, with only two engineers for the whole place, they have bigger fish to fry than fooling with an EAS box.

 

[WildcatGuy]

But they COULD take the audio output of the EAS box and feed it back to one of the extra monitor inputs of the console so that what they were monitoring was AFTER the EAS encoder. Then they would know when it goes off because THEY COULD HEAR IT.

And they could also run it through an old processor so it sounds normal to the jocks. Mine are that way. Maybe they have it that way too, but from listening to them it doesn't seem so.

Don't News/Talk stations operate with a profanity delay in the line nearly all the time? That would make monitoring off the EAS Endec impossible.

 

[greg.hahn]

But they COULD take the audio output of the EAS box and feed it back to one of the extra monitor inputs of the console so that what they were monitoring was AFTER the EAS encoder. Then they would know when it goes off because THEY COULD HEAR IT.

And they could also run it through an old processor so it sounds normal to the jocks. Mine are that way. Maybe they have it that way too, but from listening to them it doesn't seem so.

Don't News/Talk stations operate with a profanity delay in the line nearly all the time? That would make monitoring off the EAS Endec impossible.

Not if the EAS codec was inline before the delay. Just take your monitor feed after the EAS and before the delay.

 

[WildcatGuy]

Not if the EAS codec was inline before the delay. Just take your monitor feed after the EAS and before the delay.

But legally, isn't the EAS unit supposed to be the last item in the program line before audio goes to the transmitter?

 

[Bengalsfan]

Not if the EAS codec was inline before the delay. Just take your monitor feed after the EAS and before the delay.

But legally, isn't the EAS unit supposed to be the last item in the program line before audio goes to the transmitter?

Legally? no. Technically? yes. You want it between the console and transmitter so it can take control of the station audio. Ideally, you want it after the processor so it won't modify the tones, but that's a bit difficult if your processor is at the transmitter. Anyway, I have never had any problems reported with the EAS box going through the processor.

 

[WildcatGuy]

Legally? no. Technically? yes. You want it between the console and transmitter so it can take control of the station audio. Ideally, you want it after the processor so it won't modify the tones, but that's a bit difficult if your processor is at the transmitter. Anyway, I have never had any problems reported with the EAS box going through the processor.

Just to play devil's advocate, what happens if the profanity delay is ramping up or ramping down at the same time as an EAS alert comes across? Wouldn't the time shifting disrupt the EAS digital data burst?

I had always heard the EAS unit was supposed to come last in the chain to prevent any other equipment from inducing artifacts which would interfere with its proper operation.

 

[greg.hahn]

Legally? no. Technically? yes. You want it between the console and transmitter so it can take control of the station audio. Ideally, you want it after the processor so it won't modify the tones, but that's a bit difficult if your processor is at the transmitter. Anyway, I have never had any problems reported with the EAS box going through the processor.

Just to play devil's advocate, what happens if the profanity delay is ramping up or ramping down at the same time as an EAS alert comes across? Wouldn't the time shifting disrupt the EAS digital data burst?

I had always heard the EAS unit was supposed to come last in the chain to prevent any other equipment from inducing artifacts which would interfere with its proper operation.

I'm betting that wouldn't be a problem. I'm sure the disruption would be less than that which occurs naturally when there's a lightning flash- which practically always happens when the EAS encoder is going off. That's usually why it's going off!

I agree with Bengalsfan- the rules don't specifically define at what point in the chain the encoders are located. It does specify the minimum modulation, which is the reason that it is said that the best place for them is after the processor.

And if you really want to get technical about being legal about it, Required Weekly Tests are supposed to be done at random days and times, not every Monday at 2:12 and 2:15 AM, which has been Clear Channel Louisville's practice for years. But they'd rather be consistent about running them every week than obeying that technicality, and I'm glad they do.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Just to play devil's advocate, what happens if the profanity delay is ramping up or ramping down at the same time as an EAS alert comes across? Wouldn't the time shifting disrupt the EAS digital data burst?

Like Greg said, it would probably not effect it. It's a moot point with HAS since they have the delay on all the time now, even during syndicated shows. However, the ramp up is so minimal it probably wouldn't have any effect on the tones.

I had always heard the EAS unit was supposed to come last in the chain to prevent any other equipment from inducing artifacts which would interfere with its proper operation.

In an ideal world, yes that's true. However I doubt they want to run out to Eastwood in order to check the box or run a test.

And like Greg pointed out, it's supposed to be random times they run the test. However knowing it's coming down at a specific time helps a great deal. Now if we can just get the NWS from testing their EAS three and four times at a pop I'd be happy.

Let's look at the "big picture" for a moment. What really is the EAS good for anymore. Weather alerts. Think back to 9/11. Did the EAS go off then? No, didn't need it. Every station who was serious about news was already on the story by the time the second plane hit. In our present world of 24/7 information from every portal you can think of, the EAS is antiquated except in weather emergencies. The sooner the FCC realizes this, the better off we'll all be.

 

[Kent]

Legally? no. Technically? yes. You want it between the console and transmitter so it can take control of the station audio. Ideally, you want it after the processor so it won't modify the tones, but that's a bit difficult if your processor is at the transmitter. Anyway, I have never had any problems reported with the EAS box going through the processor.

One of the LP-1's I've worked at sourced the EAS box off the board! I know several of them that did that at one time. Of course, you can't run the station unattended if you source it off the board, but, in some state EAS plans, the LP-1 is still required to be attended 24/7 anyway. As you mentioned, there's no legal requirement to how the interruption in programming for EAS is handled so long as the programming can be interrupted at any given time in some way!

 

[KyDXIn]

Though it didn't happen during a severe weather period, it shows the problems with an unattended board. Last night I got in the car and attempted listening to the Jim Strader show. I heard 2 Jim Strader voices. At first I thought it was reverb from the phoned-in guest, but it ended up being 2 seperate shows being played at the same time. I tried calling the station but got a busy signal. Finally about quarter after 6, the problem was corrected.

 

[radioville]

Though it didn't happen during a severe weather period, it shows the problems with an unattended board. Last night I got in the car and attempted listening to the Jim Strader show. I heard 2 Jim Strader voices. At first I thought it was reverb from the phoned-in guest, but it ended up being 2 seperate shows being played at the same time. I tried calling the station but got a busy signal. Finally about quarter after 6, the problem was corrected.

I heard this too and couldn't stop laughing.

 

[greg.hahn]

Though it didn't happen during a severe weather period, it shows the problems with an unattended board. Last night I got in the car and attempted listening to the Jim Strader show. I heard 2 Jim Strader voices. At first I thought it was reverb from the phoned-in guest, but it ended up being 2 seperate shows being played at the same time. I tried calling the station but got a busy signal. Finally about quarter after 6, the problem was corrected.

Even better than that was a couple of years ago when WAMZ accidentally played the urban "Keith Sweat Hotel" and apparently didn't realize it for TEN MINUTES.

Here is an edited clip of the audio with beginning and end-

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/myqjlndxjs--WAMZ-accidently-goes-URBAN


LOL.

 

[radioville]

Though it didn't happen during a severe weather period, it shows the problems with an unattended board. Last night I got in the car and attempted listening to the Jim Strader show. I heard 2 Jim Strader voices. At first I thought it was reverb from the phoned-in guest, but it ended up being 2 seperate shows being played at the same time. I tried calling the station but got a busy signal. Finally about quarter after 6, the problem was corrected.

Even better than that was a couple of years ago when WAMZ accidentally played the urban "Keith Sweat Hotel" and apparently didn't realize it for TEN MINUTES.

Here is an edited clip of the audio with beginning and end-

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/myqjlndxjs--WAMZ-accidently-goes-URBAN


LOL.

TOO FUNNY!

 

[radiorob2.0]

Though it didn't happen during a severe weather period, it shows the problems with an unattended board. Last night I got in the car and attempted listening to the Jim Strader show. I heard 2 Jim Strader voices. At first I thought it was reverb from the phoned-in guest, but it ended up being 2 seperate shows being played at the same time. I tried calling the station but got a busy signal. Finally about quarter after 6, the problem was corrected.

Even better than that was a couple of years ago when WAMZ accidentally played the urban "Keith Sweat Hotel" and apparently didn't realize it for TEN MINUTES.

Here is an edited clip of the audio with beginning and end-

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/myqjlndxjs--WAMZ-accidently-goes-URBAN


LOL.

Down the road in Lexington, circa early 90', K-93 replaced the Harris System 90 automation with a digital system. The commercials were on hard drive while the music source were consumer Pioneer CD changers. The CD changers were controlled through an 1/8 connector on the back of the unit. On occasion the controller would have a moment of cerebral flatulence and default the CD to cut one. The TM Century Hit Disc would have all formats on one disc and cut one was always CHR/Urban, hilarity ensued.

 

[Dan76]

WHAS would never handle a tornado outbreak like they used too. Here's a good example of good coverage from them.

http://lkyradio.com/WHASairchecks.htm#tornado

 

[secondchoice]

WHAS would never handle a tornado outbreak like they used too. Here's a good example of good coverage from them.

http://lkyradio.com/WHASairchecks.htm#tornado

I started radio (with a break for military service)in the late 1960’s, pre 80-90, so I can tell you a 250 watt day timer, with a teenager doing rip and read, any where in the USA had more flexibility than 99% of the stations have now. Silicon chips work cheaper. Who cares about the listeners? As an industry we have forgotten the “human”. This is not only happening in radio but in just about any other industry you can think of. There is a move to place “RF” tags in food packaging and your credit / ATM card. Some day you will go to a grocery store pick you groceries and walk out. The groceries are scanned and your credit card or ATM card is charged as you walk out. No humans required.

 

[KR4BD]

I couldn't say it better. I remember "rip and read" radio, as well, when there was always a LIVE BODY there to keep you updated with information from law enforcement agencies and listeners in the heart of the storm activity. I can not believe that all these stations are so broke they can not afford to keep a live body on board at all hours. Quite honestly, I would rather listen to a pimply-faced teenager whose voice has not yet changed than to all the robots we now have that call themselves "full service radio" stations. The personal touch with listeners is gone.

I call all this automation the game of: "Lets see how we can fool our listeners today" .....