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A RadioSAFE
Wide Area Emergency Radio Broadcast System is a
community’s safety net – a key resiliency asset that can
be called up during a major incident to direct citizens
in evacuation, preservation of life and property and/or
disaster recovery.
The service is licensable by any government entity in
the United States and is permitted to transmit any
emergency information that local authorities deem
necessary to mitigate harm. Are you prepared to use
available broadcast channels to directly inform and
instruct the public in your county during incidents when
other communication and power sources are rendered
inoperable? If not, make your community RadioSAFE.
RadioSAFE
is available in two formats, detailed below.-
Maximum Range
RadioSAFE
RSF:500.10X is a special radio station that typically
operates at 10 watts for enhanced 7-10 mile range – until required to ramp up in an
emergency. With the substitution of its high power
transmitter, the system is capable of signal coverage
that blankets an entire county or major city. A signal
radius of 20 miles or more is possible. An emergency
Special Temporary Authority (STA) must be granted by
the Federal Communications Commission to permit
initiation of the RadioSAFE service at
enhanced power – which may be hundreds of watts.
See map, right.
See technical specifications.
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Enhanced Range RadioSAFE
RSF:10X operates at 10 watts and
with expanded field intensity limits (per waiver) to
produce a much larger coverage pattern – 7-10-mile
radius – than normally
permitted by FCC rules.
See technical
specifications.
We provide the application
documentation for emergency STAs, waivers and
other licensing services required.
Frequencies that are adequate for RadioSAFE operation
are not available universally.
Check with us regarding availability in your area.
RadioSAFE Broadcast Systems operate on
AM channels because of their nearly universal
availability and because AM signals travel a much
greater distance than FM signals at a given wattage. AM
radio signals have long wavelengths that are less likely
to be blocked by terrain and tall buildings. And more
importantly, AM antennas can be installed at relatively
low profiles (50’), making them relatively inexpensive
to install and dramatically less vulnerable in high wind
or geophysical events that can render tower-based
communications inoperable.
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Communication Strategy |
During a disaster in which grid power is severed
and mobile devices are not functional, a RadioSAFE
Broadcast System might be the only means of reliably
getting critical information to members of the public, who are
likely to have functioning battery-powered radio
receivers in their vehicles.
RadioSAFE Broadcast Systems have the
capability of staging hundreds of preplanned broadcast
messages that can be selected locally or remotely and
updated at any time via network. An optional hybrid
package adds USB / flash drive redundancy and live /
feed multi-channel operation capability as well.
Emergency officials can employ conventional methods of
promotion, such as websites, media articles, commercial
posters and local signage, on a day-to-day basis to
provide visibility for the service so local populations
have residual awareness of the special emergency
frequency in their specific area. If possible, we
recommend that a RadioSAFE
station operate at 10-watt power 24/7 and that the
public be encouraged to identify it in advance to “set a
button” on vehicle radios so they can quickly find the
channel when needed.
During emergencies,
officials typically alert citizens to the availability
of the RadioSAFE
service via electronic notification / social media,
Portable Changeable Message Signs (PCMS) or flashing
beacon / LED signage installed along highly traveled
roadways. The higher the public’s awareness of the
emergency frequency’s presence, the more likely
word-of-mouth will become a powerful ally when its
content is critical. |
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Standard Package |
All RadioSAFE
systems include . . .
- Broadcast transmitter(s).
- Network-based
broadcast
message
control
interface
with local
controls and
SD card
backup in
the event of
network
loss.
- Recording software, headphones and mic.
- High performance
AM radio antenna system
with transformer, arrestor/bus, insulators,
mounts and feedline and preassembled
standard flexibility groundplane.
- Broadcast quality
audio processor
for best audio
quality.
- Uninterruptible
power supply and AC
surge arrestor.
- Diagnostic
metering and test
equipment.
- Hardware,
cables, power
supplies and
illustrated manuals.
- System
engineering and
planning.
- Remote tech support for the life of the
product.
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Options |
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RadioSAFE system options include
various audio management methods and redundancies, antenna
grounding and supports, associated signage and installation
services. The broadcast program can be linked to
IPAWS (architecture that unifies the United States' Emergency
Alert System, National Warning System, Wireless
Emergency Alerts, and NOAA Weather Radio, under a
single platform)
and/or your
Emergency Notification System and can also
stream to
your website to be monitored on PCs and portable devices.
The broadcast antenna is generally installed in a fixed format,
though portable antenna systems are possible on a custom basis.
Inquire. |
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Upgrades |
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Many current Information Radio operators may be able to
upgrade an existing station to RadioSAFE
status. It may also be possible for certain communities to begin
with a more modest RadioSAFE system and upgrade
the coverage at a later date. It all depends on your geography
and the local frequencies available.
Inquire. |
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Technical Services |
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As you would expect,
we provide a
full menu of technical
services to help you put
and keep your RadioSAFE
system on the air, including
24/7 remote technical support for the life of the product. We are here to
help even with
professionally
recorded audio messages, so your
broadcasts are ready to
air as soon as your station is turned
on. |
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Planning |
It is important to obtain an initial frequency
search before undertaking a RadioSAFE project,
since adequate frequencies are not universally available.
Contact Bill Baker for
planning assistance and help determining if a frequency is available and the best
configuration for your particular application.
Note: Because FCC processing time is unpredictable, we
recommend you
request
licensing and other FCC documentation services from us as
soon as you know for sure you will have a station – definitely
no later than when you place your radio equipment order.
A waiver is required for a
licensee to exceed the 2.0 mV/m signal level at 0.93 mile on a
daily basis. And the use of more than 10 watts requires a waiver
and an emergency Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC.
The engineering and filing of these documents is
a service
available from us.
For more info, see also
Planning a RadioSAFE
System. |
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Pricing |
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We can provide a quote, based on a recommended
configuration for your application. See
Purchasing Methods. |
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Application Examples |
- Evacuations.
- Incident responses / recoveries.
- Infrastructure failures.
- Loss of power / communications due to
natural or human-initiated disasters.
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Above, RadioSAFE (RSF:500.10X)
signal
coverage of up to 20-mile radius is possible with an emergency
authorization from the FCC.
Variables that
affect coverage are authorized power level,
terrain, ground conductivity and frequency.
Predicted coverage is part of the RadioSAFE
engineering documentation package. |
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