 |
TechTalk with Tom
Coviak
Planning & Controlling ALERT AM
Broadcasts with the "Legacy" IP8 Digital Message Player |
|
The
ALERT AM System’s legacy IP8 Digital Message Recorder has a capacity for creating and organizing 250 messages in 20 different playlists. In a voice-prompt programming environment via cell/telephone, you tell the
system exactly what you want your broadcasts to say and when to say it. With ALERT AM, a variety of playlist-triggering methods are possible:
toggle switch, wireless siren, pager, encoded NOAA alerts, alarm and system-default programming. This much flexibility (and potential) can, at first, seem daunting, when you try to plan broadcasts. Below is “organizing logic” to get you started thinking about possibilities for broadcast control. Ultimately, you will want to tailor the programming to your own application, based on triggering methods available to you and what types of emergencies you encounter. Below are these tips for preparing your broadcasts:
- Summary
guidelines for creating messages and playlists.
- An overview
chart to help you visualize how messages can be organized and
controlled.
- Instructions detailing the organizing logic.
|
|
1 Summary Guidelines
Create anticipated emergency scenarios
by categorizing into a few groups the types of emergencies you
think will most likely occur in your area, e.g., chemical
spill, tornado.
Create playlists of recordings, as
described below, for each of those anticipated emergency scenarios.
Some playlists may require only a single message and your
station’s identification. Others may require playing more than one
recording in sequence. Two playlist slots will remain open for
unforeseen circumstances: live recording and Playlist 2.
Record single-purpose messages for these
topic-oriented playlists. Each message should have a unique
identification number to assign in playlists for anticipated
emergency scenarios. If you place a message in more than one
playlist, you only have to update it once to change it in all. To
update or change a message, simply record using the same message
number; i.e., replace existing messages with updated messages by
recording over them. Message 1, for example, could be your station
identification (4-letter call sign, number and the operating
agency’s name), which, according to Federal Communications
Commission rules, must be broadcasted every half hour, i.e.,
Message 1 will go in every playlist.
Establish playlists according to their
urgency. Playlists with lower numbers override those with
higher numbers; for example, Playlist 6 overrides 7 and 8. “Live”
broadcasting overrides all playlists. Playlist 2 overrides all
other playlists; it should probably be reserved for unforeseen
situations in which you might need to quickly create recordings.
Keep a broadcast reference log
with message numbers and playlist arrangements. You might want
this reference log to be digital (e.g., MSWord document)
for easy searching and updating. You might also want to print it
to use away from the office to record new emergency broadcasts or
to use if the digital version becomes inaccessible during power
outages. System voice prompts and playbacks offer a measure of
broadcast control as well.
|
2 Overview Chart
This chart can serve as a template for helping you organize
priorities, playlists and activation methods. Although the content in
the columns may vary, the illustrations highlighted in yellow denote
standard programming choices. The information that follows the chart
explains control methods and organizing
logic for planning broadcasts in more
depth. |
|
Broadcast Priority
Ranking |
Broadcast Name
Example |
Triggering
Control & Emergency Scenario Example |
|
Control
Input 1
|
Live
Cut-In
Overrides Playlists 2-8 |
On-Site
Toggle Switch Activation
Urgent Unforeseen Circumstance, e.g., Terrorist Attack |
|
Control
Input 2 |
Playlist 2
Emergency Override
Playlist |
Command-Driven Cell or Telephone Activation
Unforeseen
Circumstance for which Specific, Newly Recorded Emergency Messages are
Needed |
|
Control
Input 3 |
Playlist 3 |
Wireless
Siren System Control Automatic or Alarm Activation (With Dry-Contact
Pair)
Tornado or Fire |
|
Control
Input 4 |
Playlist 4 |
Toggle
Switch
Activation (Often Used to Quickly Change Playlists)
Traffic Update |
|
Control
Input 5 |
Playlist 5 |
Pager
Activation
Rescue
Operation |
|
Control
Input 6 |
Playlist 6
Encoded for the Alerts
and Counties You Target; Can Be Used in Conjunction with Your
Introductory Recordings |
Automatic
NOAA Emergency
Alert System/Weather Radio Activation
Approaching Hurricane or AMBER Alert for Child Abduction
|
|
Control
Input 7 |
Playlist 7
Special Events |
Toggle
Switch
Activation
Town Celebration, Road Construction |
|
Control
Input 8 |
Playlist 8
General
Playlist |
Program
Default
Non-Emergency
Information, e.g., Tourist Info, Community Bulletin, Emergency Preparedness Training |
3
Detailed Instructions
The IP8 Digital
Message Recorder can be controlled remotely by telephone dial-up or locally by a phone plugged directly into the unit. Twenty playlists and 250 message numbers are available for recording within the system. Most playlists consist of just a few messages. Eight control inputs can be triggered variously by external devices to change playlists. Whether a playlist broadcasts depends on where it sits in the broadcast hierarchy. Control Input 8 and Playlist 8 have the lowest priority. Most often they are used as the default broadcast, during non-emergency times, to convey visitor/community information. Playlist 2 — the Emergency Override Playlist — has the second-highest priority after live cut-ins. Operators can trigger it via telephone. Emergency Alert System and National Weather Service
alerts from NOAA trigger Playlist 6. Playlists 3, 4, 5 and 7 can be triggered a number of different ways, reflected in the Overview Chart.
Control Input 1: Live Microphone or Cell/Telephone
Highest Priority
Selecting this function causes all other programming functions to cease, while the closure is maintained. Live programming always takes precedence over recorded programming, including automatic EAS/Weather
Radio alerts.
Making the closure between Control Input 1 and the “C” contact will open a live channel from the microphone or an outside audio feed from a telephone coupler or sound system, as long as the closure is maintained. The required closure may be provided by a
toggle switch on your EOC control console or by a telephone coupler on a special “live-only” telephone line installed in the ALERT AM cabinet.
Programming
Enter * 10 # and set to 1 # for MICROPHONE to cause the microphone to be live. The microphone must be plugged into the mic jack on the rear of the programmer. Enter * 10 # and set to 2 # for AUX to make an audio feed live. The input audio must appear on the AUX terminals at the rear of the programmer.
Control Input 2: Emergency Override
Second Highest Priority
Selecting this function overrides all other recorded playlists, while the closure is maintained.
Reserve for the most critical recorded messages. A closure between Control Input 2 and the “C” contact will cause Playlist 2 to broadcast. Entering the necessary code controls this closure either remotely or locally.
Programming
Enter * 1 # to record the emergency message. Create the Emergency Override Playlist by entering * 41 # 2 # Emergency Message Number # Call Sign Message Number #. Enter * 62 # 2009 # to broadcast Playlist 2. Enter * 62 # 2008 # to take Playlist 2 off the air.
Control Inputs 3, 4, 5 and 7: External Control Contacts
Priority
Playlist 3, 4 and 5 take priority over 6, 7 and 8.
Making the closure between Control Inputs 3, 4, 5, 7 and the “C” contact will cause the playlist of the same number to be immediately on the air, while the closure is maintained. Set up Playlists 3, 4, 5 or 7 to be triggered by the siren system, alarm closure or
toggle switch such that the content of the playlist correlates specifically to the condition existing, when it is triggered.
For example, if Control Input 3 is to be used in the event of a tornado warning, the messages on Playlist 3 should be about tornado precautions, and the siren system tone receiver or
toggle switch closure should ground the contact only when a tornado warning is issued.
Programming
Press * 41 # to enter the playlist-creation mode. Enter 3 #, 4 #, 5# or 7 # to select the playlist you will create. Next, enter the correlating message numbers you want.
Control Input 6: NOAA EAS/Weather Radio Alert Playlist
Priority
Interrupts Playlists 7 and 8.
When the Emergency Alert System and National Weather Service receiver in the ALERT AM cabinet receives a type of alert you have specified (most request all alerts) for a county you have designated (programmed into the system), this contact is triggered and Playlist 6 is put on the air. On this playlist should be the station ID, slots for specific emergency messages and, of course, the EAS/Weather Radio audio message.
Programming
Press * 41 # to enter the playlist-creation mode. Enter 6 # to select Playlist 6. Next, enter 10,000 + the amount of time in seconds that you wish the EAS/Weather Radio alert to broadcast, followed by any specific messages relating to the alert. In Example * 41 # 6 # 1 # 10600 #, Playlist 6 would play Message 1, followed by 600 seconds of alert, then repeat.
Control Input 8: General Playlist
Priority
The General Playlist will broadcast ONLY if all other inputs are not being used. This is your non-emergency playlist.
This is the default playlist that will be on the air during times when watches, warnings and emergencies are not occurring. This playlist typically contains community information, such as, upcoming events, traffic/construction information, general public information.
Programming
Press * 41 # 8 #. Then, enter the message numbers that correspond to that playlist. Use Playlist 8 to hold other playlists. This provides versatility and ease when making changes to your general non-emergency content. You can create Playlists 9, 10, 11, 12 . . . 20 and enter into Playlist 8 the one(s) specific to your situation/needs. For example: Use Playlist 9 within Playlist 8 to inform motorists of parking for an upcoming event. Entering * 41 # 9 # MessageNumber [e.g., 90] # MessageNumber [e.g., 91] # MessageNumber [e.g., 92] creates Playlist 9 with Messages 90, 91, 92. Entering * 41 # 8 # 1009 places Playlist 9 inside Playlist 8. Change the content of Playlist 8 by swapping Playlist 9 with 10, 11, 12 . . . 20 [e.g., *41 # 8 # 1010 # places Playlist 10 in Playlist 8.]
|
|
®