EMnet Setup: EAS Message Reception (Broadcast Stations)

1. EMnet Setup: EAS Message Reception (Broadcast Stations)

2. EMnet and EAS Communications Laboratories’ EMnet system is fully compatible with the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The Federal Communications Commission established EAS in 1994 for:  • Presidential warnings to the public in the case of a national emergency • state and local warnings to the public regarding local emergency situations EMnet provides a user-friendly interface for composing, sending, receiving, and broadcasting EAS messages.

3. EAS Reception To bring up the EMnet EAS Reception dialog,right-click on the satellite icon,select Emergency Alert System, and then select Message Reception.

4. EAS Reception Logging into EAS RECEPTION will require a case-sensitive password.

5. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Configuring EAS Reception for a broadcast station is different from configuring it for an emergency management center. This module gives directions for a broadcast configuration.

6. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Connect your EMnet computer with your EAS decoder using a simple audio out. Depending on the type of decoder and the length of the cable run, you may need to install a distribution amplifier to add 6 db of gain prior to connection with the EAS decoder. NOTE: TFT EAS 911 decoders sometimes need amplification. SAGE ENDEC EAS units typically do not.

7. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Check the box to enable EAS reception

8. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Enter a set of call letters for your station.

9. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Make sure the Inhibit Multiple Activations box is checked. (This prevents you from receiving duplicate messages.)

10. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Click Audio Setup to set and test the volume levels to be broadcast over your EAS decoder.

11. EAS Configuration: Broadcast This will open the EMnet Audio Setup window. When you have connected your computer with your EAS decoder, use this screen to set the audio levels sent from EMnet to your decoder.

12. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Make sure the proper playback device is selected.

13. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Make sure the proper tones are selected

14. EAS Configuration: Broadcast If your station is utilizing Comlabs’ Remote Node Interface (a device that functions as a simple endec), then check Use DTMF Control Tones

15. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Select the desired Weather Warning Audio. Use Abbreviated Generic Weather Warning Audio means that when an EAS message arrives from the National Weather Service, EMnet’s Text-To-Speech algorithm will play a very short, generic version of the incoming weather messages for broadcast. Click to hear an example: Use Full NWS Text for Weather Warning Audio means that when an EAS message arrives from the National Weather Service, EMnet’s Text-To-Speech algorithm will play the full text of the NWS message. Click to hear an example:

16. EAS Configuration: Broadcast The top volume control affects the master output level - modify this level first, if modification is necessary.

17. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Listen to how the sound plays, and make sure the volume is similar to the other audio you broadcast. If necessary, adjust the volume level here. Click on the first Calibrate button to hear an example voice message.

18. EAS Configuration: Broadcast The audio level of a currently playing test sound will not immediately reflect changing audio levels. Press Calibrate again to hear each new level. Once the Master Output Level is set, calibrate the FSK tones in the same way. Make certain the FSK tones are being received by your EAS decoder. If the volume is insufficient to be received by your EAS decoder, you may need to amplify the line. TFT EAS 911 decoders typically need amplification.

19. EAS Configuration: Broadcast When you are satisfied with all audio levels, press Save. If necessary, calibrate the other tones in the same way.

20. EAS Configuration: Broadcast The next step is to select the FIPS codes and event codes you want your EMnet computer to receive.

21. EAS Configuration: Broadcast First, determine how your station will be attended. EMnet will allow you to create different activation settings for each instance.

22. EAS Configuration: Broadcast If you select Sometimes Attended, press When to specify times.

23. EAS Configuration: Broadcast This will bring up the attendance window. Type in the hours when the station will be attended on each day, in 24-hour format. Then hit OK.

24. EAS Configuration: Broadcast If you selected Always attended 24/7, specify FIPS codes and event codes for the While Attended segment. If you selected Sometimes Attended, specify FIPS codes and event codes for both areas. If you selected Never Attended, specify FIPS codes and event codes for the While Unattended segment.

25. EAS Configuration: Broadcast To specify FIPS codes (geographic regions), click the Modify List button on the left. This will bring up the Specify FIPS Codes dialog box.

26. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Click the arrow to open the Show FIPS codes for which state dropdown menu. Select your state from the list. This will create a list of counties in your area.

27. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Select your county from the list,

28. EAS Configuration: Broadcast and then Add the county to the box on the right

29. EAS Configuration: Broadcast NOTE: You are not limited to a single state. If your operating area includes counties in another state, you may select another state from the dropdown menu, and add counties from that state to your list. You may select any other counties served by your station and add them to the list, also. You will want to include all of the counties you've programmed your EAS decoder to rebroadcast

30. EAS Configuration: Broadcast NOTE concerning the All [State] FIPS code: If you select the All [State] FIPS code, you will receive every alert issued to any county within that state. Select All [State]only if you want to receive *all* alerts issued within your state. If you are subscribed to *any* county within a state, you will also automatically receive messages directed at the All [State] FIPS code, even if you are not formally subscribed to the All[State] FIPS.

31. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Press OK when you are finished setting up your list.

32. EAS Configuration: Broadcast The counties you selected should now appear in this list.

33. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Next, click the Modify List button on the right to specify event codes This will bring up the Specify Event Codes dialog box.

34. EAS Configuration: Broadcast We recommend that you click Add All to add all event codes

35. EAS Configuration: Broadcast NOTE: Some event codes may not be applicable to your area. However, in the unlikely event that such an event code should arrive for your region, it is a good idea to allow EMnet to receive the message.

36. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Make sure that the Alert box is checked for each event code. The ALERT box causes an Emergency Message Alert to appear on your screen when an EAS message is received. If you do NOT wish to hit Acknowledge on incoming messages, uncheck the Alert checkbox next to the event type you do not wish to acknowledge. Messages of that type will be received by EMnet, and will be stored in your Message Manager, but will not pop an alert up on the screen to be acknowledged.

37. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Make sure the Activate box is checked for any event that you want sent to your EAS decoder as an FSK SAME string for broadcast. To cause your EAS decoder to activate, the EAS decoder itself must also be configured to activate for the event codes and FIPS codes specified. Remember that if your station is Sometimes Attended, your While Attended activation settings may be different from your While Unattended activation settings

38. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Press OK when you are finished setting up your list.

39. EAS Configuration: Broadcast The event codes and specified checkmarks should now appear in this list.

40. EAS Configuration: Broadcast If Sometimes Attended was selected, or if you want to manually shift between Always Attended and Never Attended, make sure code sets are selected for both the Always Attended segment and the Never Attended segment.

41. EAS Configuration: Broadcast For television stations: If desired, EMnet can send the text of EAS messages to a Chyron CODI Character Generator, to create a text crawl or other text effect.

42. EAS Configuration: Broadcast To send the text of EAS messages to the Chyron CODI Character Generator connected to your system, select Enable character generator.

43. EAS Configuration: Broadcast Check the CharGen checkbox next to any event that you would like to be sent to the Character Generator.

44. EAS Configuration: Broadcast You may always return to the EAS Reception dialog to alter FIPS codes or event preferences in the future. Click OK when you are finished.

45. EAS Configuration: Broadcast You have now configured your Emergency Management Center’s EMnet station for EAS reception.

46. Character Generator If you selected the Send text to character generator option,right-click on the satellite icon, select Emergency Alert System, and then select Character Generator.

47. Character Generator Logging into EAS CHARACTER GENERATOR will require a case-sensitive password.

48. Character Generator This will bring up the Character Generator Setup dialog.

49. Character Generator These are the default commands that will run when an EAS message is received. These commands will initiate a text crawl. See your Chyron CODI Character Generator documentation for commands to alter the crawl, or generate other text effects.

50. Character Generator Select Device Setup to make sure the connection information is correct. This will bring up the Device Setup dialog.