[BC] Re:EAS vs. EBS

[WFIFeng@aol.com]

In a message dated 02/25/2006 4:54:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
harold at hallikainen.com writes:

> > Thanks! Did the FCC seem to like it? Can I forward your post to the group?
>  
>  I don't recall if it was FCC approved or not.  Here's the link to it:
>  
>  http://www.mts-comm.com/encoder2/index.html
>  
>  Sure, you can forward to thje group.
>  

WOW! Almost $800 for just software!? Cha-Ching!! May as well buy a hardware 
EAS box! 

As for making use of the old EBS boxes, as long as they have been modified to 
respond to the 8 second tone, you can use them to relay the monthly tests and 
actual alerts to your listeners. One plus here is that you won't even know 
about the weekly tests, only the monthly... the big minus is that the unit will 
require a manual reset after any alert or monthly test!

The EAS is a much more advanced system, as others have explained. It uses 
digital data to generate a printed log and to allow you to program the unit to 
respond differently to various alerts or warnings. (For example, at WFIF, I have 
"Tornado Warning" set to immediately forward. We almost never get them, but 
when we do, I don't want that message delayed!)

Another thing EAS does, is digitally records the incoming message, allowing 
you to decide if you want to forward it or not, or if so-programmed, the unit 
will automatically forward it for you. With an old EBS box, everything would 
either trigger the live rebroadcast, or do nothing. It also would require a 
manual reset after an alert, or you'd need to use some kind of timer.

To sum it all up- there's not very much you can do with old EBS units these 
days. Using one to listen for the attention signal on a given radio station is 
not a bad idea, though.

Willie...