ALERT AM Technical Specifications

ALERT AM Technical Specifications *

Compliance

Requires FCC license granted to local government or health agency (FCC Rules Part 90.242) or by NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) for federal government agency, or by US Military.

Components

Transmitter (TR.6000 HQ 5.0)

FCC certified for Travelers' Information (TIS) radio applications (Certification B7MTR-6000TIS-WB).
Manufactured in the USA.
0-10 watt operation, Class D, duel output devices.
Approved for military and federal agencies use on 510-530 kHz, 1610-1710 kHz - Certification J/F 12/07677.
Synthesized frequency selection.
Frequency stability +/-20 Hz.
Frequency range: 530 to 1710 kHz AM.
5000 Hz audio bandwidth with limiting.
Power and audio control relays.
Internal monitor speaker with volume control.
24V DC; power consumption 36 watts.
19” rack mount, 1 RU.

NOAA Weather Radio Receiver (Model WX.6001)

Receives all 7 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) weather frequencies. (162.400 MHz-162.550 MHz).
19" rack mount.
Activates audio output upon receipt of National Weather Service 1050 MHz alert tone.
Receiver sensitivity: 0.4μV for 12 dB SINAD.
Stores most recent alert message (up to 4 minutes) in flash memory for local speaker replay.
600-ohm output, manual and auto-scan tuning; integral speaker / volume control.
External antenna, cut for the EAS/NWS weather radio frequencies and mount with threaded UHF connector, balun and weatherproof gasket.

Wattmeter (SX.200)

See TechTalk's "Troubleshooting with a Wattmeter" article.

Analog.
Design: passive, inline.
Insertion loss: 0.15 dB maximum.
Switch between forward and reflected power measurements.
Metering: 5, 20 and 200 watt scales.
Peak envelope power and average power displays.
UHF/SO239 connectors for antenna and transmitter coax.
50-ohm impedance.

AM Radio Antenna (ANXX)

See TechTalk article "Radio Antenna Siting."

Frequency range: 530-1710 kHz.
Center-loaded, vertical, whip.
Vertically polarized.
Omni directional (0-360).
Anodized aluminum finish.
Adjustable tip for precise tuning.
Power: up 100 Watts Carrier (1700 kHz) with 100% modulation. Less at lower frequencies and for modulation types that exceed 100% positive.
Radiation efficiency: 24 mV/m/km; Ref 1KW: (530 kHz) to 110 mV/m/km (1700 kHz). 30' tip height above ground on a 20’ metal support pole or tower with 32-element groundplane.
Bandwidth (3:1 SWR): 530 kHz: 5 kHz; 1710 kHz: 10.4 kHz.
Temperature endurance: -40°C. to 85°C.
Wind endurance: 80 miles per hour with ¼” of ice.
Overall assembled length: varies with frequency, i.e., 297” for 530 kHz, 129” for 1700 kHz.
Split-type mounts with stainless-steel hardware kit; masts, stands; lightning arrestors; enclosures.
RF exposure separation: 1-meter minimum recommended.

FlexPlane Preassembled Groundplane

See TechTalk article "Underground Power: Why Antenna Grounding Is Important, How It Works and Is Installed."

Radial elements: 32.
Element lengths: 10' and 25'.
Radial wires: 14 AWG, stranded copper (19-27 AWG strands per wire), insulated (black).
Pigtail: 4 AWG; high flexibility stranded copper (374-30 AWG strands), 5' length, insulated (black) with bare, soldered termination.
Deployment factory assembled. May be surface deployed or buried.

AC Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) - 2 Hours

750VA 600W battery backup.
6 outlets.
Interactive UPS offers voltage regulation and battery support plus complete AC surge suppression.
2U rack mount.
Max load of 750VA for 4 minutes and a half-load of 375VA for 11 minutes.
Full-time pure sine wave output.
Maintains regulated 120V nominal output during brownouts and overvoltages from 83 to 147V.
Includes 6 UPS supported outlets.
Multi-function audible alarms and set of 5 front panel LEDs.

High capacity telephone line surge arrestor.

Digital Audio Management System (TMS.020)

Browser-based (LAN/WAN) or local control program control.
Local message selection via front panel control.
File format: MP3, WAV, FLAAC, OGG; (64-128 kbps recommended).
network (RJ-45 Port).
Memory format: nonvolatile - no battery backup required.
Currently playing message displayed on front panel LCD.
Message loading via network upload or removable SD card.
Memory storage size 32GB minimum.
Message lengths: variable. Message playlists may be created and stored.
Message order: continuous sequential message play-out based on user-determined order.
Messages and playlists may also be triggered by HTML CGI commands.
Audio inputs and outputs: 600 ohms; RCA jacks; unbalanced.
Power: 120VAC/12VDC (2 watts); 150 ma @ 12VDC.
19” rack mount format; 1 RU. Dimensions: 19” W X 1.75” H X 10” D.

Audio Recording Software

Adobe Audition

Broadcast Quality Audio Processor (HQ 5.2)

Front panel menu with job-wheel setup.
Performs AGC, 3-band compression, peak control and output filtering. Has user adjustments for compression, EQ, limiting and program density.
DSP limiting offers tight peak control without clipping.
USB connector enables fast firmware updates in the field.
Distortion: less than 0.02% THD (proof mode).
Noise: better than 72dB below the limited ceiling level measured through the appropriate de-emphasis network.
Program lines: input – active-balanced XLR analog, -20dBu-+20dBu; output – ative-balanced XLR analog, -15dBu-+12dBu.
Latency: 3.5 ms – 4.5 ms.
Power requirement: 12VDC at 200 ma.
Size and weight: 1.6” ”H x 5.5”W x 5.5”D (1U); 4 lbs.
Rack space required: 1RU (1/3 space).

Indoor Security Enclosure

Durable black, textured power-coat finish.
Dimensions: 28.0" H x 22.5" W x 18.0" D.
Interior space for rack-mounted components: 21.0" H 15.0" D.
200-pound equipment weight capacity.
Rack-mount equipment mounting format – 12 rack spaces.
16-gauge steel construction with 1/8" thick laser-cut corner braces.
Tool-free quick-mount system for easy, one-person installation of the center section to the back pan on the job site.
Windowed front door provides access for control of electronics, key lockable.
Secondary service access door provides access to rear of electronic components and wiring. Service access door is key lock and padlock-able.
Seismic certified. EIA/TIA compliant.
UL listed in the US and Canada.

Associated Materials

All necessary wiring, cabling, connectors, mounts and hardware.
Illustrated instruction manual.
Test equipment: the above-listed wattmeter and a dummy load for antenna tuning and system diagnosis.

Commonly Selected Options

Additional UPS time to keep the system on air during power outages - 14 hour increments.

Hybrid Audio Management Package for Redundancy with a MGR.021 Voice Player and a DN.1201 Program Mixer (Compare audio control methods.)

Outdoor Electronics Enclosure for Isolated Settings

NEMA-3R grade, gasketed, with dual doors, aluminum frame and sheeting.
Removable rack cage.
Size: 66.5"H x 24.125"W x 33"D; 23" doors open 90￮, front and back. 332 / 334 signal cabinet style.
Dual internal locks and locking handles on dual doors.
Fan / vent / filter, thermostatically controlled.
AC power service panel and groundbus.
Cabinet lights activate / deactivate with door opening / closure.

Headphones and Microphone for Recording or Live Broadcasting

Microphone:

Style: dynamic, handheld .
Frequency response: 50-15,000 Hz.
Pickup pattern: cardiod.
Output connectors: mic = USB and XLR; headphones = 3.5 mm jack.
Inclusions: desk stand, audio output cables.
Switch: on/off slide switch.

Headphones:

Frequency response: 18-22,000 Hz.
Design: closed back, foldable.
Earcups: padded.
Output cable: 3 meters; ¼” stereo connector with 1/8” adapter.

Signal Measurement Receiver - See "How SMR Works."

AM Receive Band: 520-1710 kHz; 10 kHz per channel.
Signal Intensity Display: 2-digit 15-99 (dbu).
Tuning: Digital 10 khz LCD readout, lighted; auto/manual tuning; auto tuning storage.
Power: 3- AA batteries (included), 6 VDC input jack.
Audio Output: speaker, 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Dimensions: 5.3” X 3.4” X 1.0”.
Weight: 7.1 oz.
Instructions: manufacturer; ISS guidance sheets for the use of SMR Receiver for AM noise and signal monitoring.

Vertical Profile Antenna Support and Grounding System

Space requirement: less than 1 square foot.
RF exposure separation: 1 meter minimum recommended at fewer than 1000 watts - both occupational and controlled environments.
RF grounding element: 4-foot length; integral to support pole.
Lightning ground: 8-foot groundrod, copper clad.
Support pole composition: aluminum, 6" OD, .3125" wall thickness.
Support pole length: 24 feet.
Support pole finish: powder coat, silver/gray.
Support standing height: 18 feet above grade; 6 feet below grade.
Wind: hurricane rated. 1400-1700 kHz, support pole exceeds Florida Dade/Broward County windload requirements with attached antenna, greater than 146 MPH/3-second gusts. 530-1390 kHz, support pole meets and exceeds Florida windload requirements with attached antenna, 130 MPH/3-second gusts. (Florida Building Code – 2001).
Internal components: RF lightning arrestor and grounding enclosure, grounding bus, coaxial feedline:
- Provided in a weatherproof NEMA4 cabinet, arrestor bonded to an aluminum panel that supports the lightning grounding and groundplane connection clamps.
- Capacity of 50,000 amps surge.
- Clamping speed of less than 2.5 nS.
- 2 UHF connectors.
- Aluminum flange ground connection.
- External components: threaded attachment for antenna mount, weatherproof service hatch with tamperproof hardware. Crane hook.
  Frequencies: 530-1700 kHz.
- Compliant with ANSI/TIA-222-G-2005 standard (Class III, Category 4, Exposure D) 130 mph/3-second gust for frequencies 1400-1700 kHz when installed in soil types per Annex F of the standard.
- Maintains safe human RF exposure distance from the AM antenna, per FCC Guidelines (per ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992 standard).