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Why buy a new Digital EAS unit?

C

ChiefEngineer

Many State associations now relay CAP IPAWS alerts to all stations in a State. The State uses a compliant EAS Encoder Decoder to relay messages. This provides a full time connection to the CAP IPAWS server that is connected full time to the older EAS units via an analog streaming feed broadband. Essentially the streaming receiver becomes an intermediate device.

The FCC in it's voluminous Rules allows stations to request a waiver, or, use any device they devise, as an intermediate device. Why would the full tie connected device and the associated streaming receiver not serve the purpose as noted? I have looked at each Rule subsection and think most people haven't. I was surprised that a station can invent it's own intermediate device.

It appears this complies with each Rule and allows for a full time connection to the CAP IPAWS Server. This would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for existing broadcasters, non coms, etc.
 
You are dealing with box-checkers when you are dealing with FCC "compliance specialists."

1. "Where is your public file?" --There--OK CHECK!
2. "Where is your ARN?--Oh-I see it--OK CHECK!
3. "Where is your CAP-Compliant EAS Decoder?"...............................????......WELL?
 
I could put a new engine in my 20 year old truck, but it will still be a 20 year old truck.

We got a great deal through our state Broadcasters Association so we got them for $500 each. But never having to deal with tiny spools of paper is also a nice feature!
 
Both the Sage and the Monroe Dasdec keep a log of incoming and outgoing alerts that can be easily pulled up and printed. I can also pull the audio for aired alerts from my Sage. Also option to have alerts e-mailed.

The Sage log is easily tossed into a folder for that inevitable FCC review.
 
One State nearby, Kentucky, had a program to provide the EAS units free but didn't allow all State Broadcasters to participate. When anyone not in the group asked to join they refused contact until they ended the program. This group is an elite club. Indiana didn't invest in a program for broadcasters.

With commercial stations it is nice to have the funds available to invest in a second EAS unit. Ours is only 10 years old and still works well, 2 batteries later.

We ahve a volunteer who keeps the logs together and we have had a few inspections.
 
Plan on seeing FCC inspectors about a year /18 months from the June 30 deadline. Happened the last time there was a major EAS change. They will primarily be looking to see if you have the new box, but will look deeper into other things if you don't.
 
I know of 3 reasons to buy a new box: No more supermarket receipt logs, the ability to do tests remotely and the ability to stream the test or even your own station's audio back from any computer. That little Easter Egg in the SAGE unit is great when there's a network of stations and the T1 or satellite feed goes down and I can verify that there is something on the air.

Being able to print a coherent EAS log from any web connected computer is also a huge plus. Makes it easier for me, and easier for any potential inspector to look through it. Each month gets printed and goes in its own folder.
 
Depending on the state/locality, the new EAS boxes with CAP capability, text to speech etc. will be head and shoulders above the old boxes. I have Sages in all six of my stations and my work week is shortened and reliability of logging is vastly improved. The CAP protocol also allows more than one text to speech message that can be selectivly converted to speech so my two Hispanic stations can relay the alerts in Spanish while the 4 Anglo station relay the same alert in English IF the peoople inputing the message input it accordingly. . With 25% Hispanic population that is important here in NV. The 2 Burks, and 4 TFT boxes I had were getting pretty long in the tooth and were a constant maintenance issue with no support from Burk at all. Thank God I don't have to worry about the cash register receipts any more.
 
I'm awaiting for SAGE to integrate a calendar interface that provides weekly and monthly EAS log sheets..... 8)
 
???

I just pull up the Sage on the network, & select a reasonable chunk of the log for the month depending on activity (no weather alerts=two, three weeks; lots of weather=one week).
Pop up print preview to make sure the entire page fits, if not, adjust chunk of the calendar as needed. Then print that page.

Some months take two or three pages, some just two pages. Slap on a cover sheet, and it goes in the file.
 
In Pennsylvania we have EmNet. I have been told by the statewide EAS people that we do not need a new EAS unit, as our EmNet coupled with our Sage meets all the new requirements. The Philadelphia EAS Chariman also verified this.
 
Yes. Double??

Sounds like the Pennsylvania the statewide EAS people are clueless. You are required to have a CAP capable box by the end of the month. Or, at least an order confirmation.
 
Make it a Triple???

The Penn EAS folks would have to actively receive, convert, and re-transmit every single CAP message for then entire state. That would defeat the entire point of the CAP system. I think the EAS director is confused.
 
Incidentally, while solving a problem with getting CAP messages, accidentally got the FEMA message on-air. (The problem: No filter called "RWT"--it logs regular weekly tests from NWS and our state daisy chain without it, but not the CAP messages.)

The computer-generated voice out of the Sage is quite pleasant, better than "perfect Paul" by a mile.
 
It is true Emnet will work as a CAP/IPAWS converter. Emnet is a computer sitting in every radio station, tv station, and cable system in PA. Paid for by PEMA, it's been in use here over 10 years now to distribute messages from PEMA, State Police and local Emergency Mgt. agencies. The terminals receive a KU satellite data feed, and are also connected via the internet. Each terminial is addressable and returns conformations for every message received. So CAP messages can be as specfic as they wish with EMnet and delivered to as many or as few terminals as they wish. EMnet decodes and coverts CAP/IPAWS messages and feeds them to the audio card in a format that is able to be decoded by legacy EAS equipment.

HOWEVER turns out there is a programming error in the EMnet firmware that is causing a character legnth mismatch of the identifier, which in turn is causing SAGE Endecs to ignore CAP messages! So right now it dosent work, and Comlabs won't give anyone an answer on how long its going to take to fix it. It does show up on the EMnet terminal, but that dosen't do much good if there isn't anyone in the building.
 
If a station is inspected, the "compliance specialists" will want to see a log showing the station is receiving CAP messages from FEMA. So PA stations should have a working CAP capable box fed by the internet as well as this EMnet gadget.
 
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