Emergency Alert System Implementation for HITS2HOME Operators using DSR 410 or DSR 470 Receivers SEM

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Emergency Alert SystemImplementationfor
HITS2HOME Operators usingDSR 410 or DSR 470
ReceiversSEM-2001-033Rev AJuly 24, 2001
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Background

• EAS supercedes the old Emergency Broadcasting
  System
• Requirements documented in CFR Title 47 Part 11
• http//www.fcc.gov/cib/eas/47part11.htm
• Applies to AM, FM and TV Broadcast Stations and
  Cable Operators
• Operators with gt5000 subs must comply by 1/1/97
• Operators with lt5000 subs must comply by 10/1/02
• Law only requires support of National level EAN
  messages from the President or his designees
• Support for State, Regional, and Local level EAS
  messages is optional, except many municipalities
  require it as part of the operators franchise
  agreement

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Background

• Message Types
• From the President, National level,
• EAN, Emergency Action Notification
• Must Interrupt programming
• From NWS, or State, Regional or Local Authorities
• 26 message types, including Tornado Watch, Flash
  Flood Warning, Blizzard Warning, Immediate
  Evacuation Notice, etc.
• Message may be Ignored, may be overlaid on
  programming as a text crawl, or may interrupt
  programming at the discretion of the operator

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Background

• EAS Messages transmitted by Radio or TV signal or
  digital data link
• EAS Message totally contained in audio channel of
  Radio or TV signal and consists of
• EAS beginning Preamble, identifying message
  type, source, effected geographic area and valid
  time period
• Digital signal _at_ 520.83 bps, FSK per Part 11.31
• Two tone Attention Signal, 8 to 25 seconds
  duration
• Audio Message, (TV stations may add in a video
  portion)
• EAS Closing Preamble

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Background

• Many operators are upgrading the highly invasive
  program interruption implementation to a text
  crawl overlay approach for supported non-EAN
  messages

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EAS EQUIPMENT ARCHITECTURE
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DSR 410 and EAS

• No EAS support required for Satellite channels
• Part 11 states participation by DTH is optional,
  and does not address a Hybrid configuration
• 410 will pass EAS messages through to the TV when
  tuned to an analog channel
• Does this today if signal carries VH video sync,
  otherwise the 410 mutes both audio and video
• Three operators have complained that the 410
  doesnt pass the EAS messages, all three found to
  be using very old EBS equipment with inadequate
  sync signals
• Two use Idea Onics, 500 sync card fixes problem
• One uses obsolete CADCO equip which is no longer
  supported, users of this equip will have to
  upgrade their EAS equipment
• EAS Equipment has to supply VH sync

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DSR 470 and EAS

• 470 may be viewed as a classic cable
  application and therefore subject to part 11
  requirements
• Applicable to both digital and analog channels
• Solution
• Pass through on analog channels (same as 410)
• Support 2 operator selected options for Digital
  Channels
• 1) Analog EAS substitution or
• 2) Digital Drop and Retune to Analog EAS channel
• Neither option supports Crawl on digital
  channels-either total program override or Ignore
  EAS

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Analog EAS Substitution (Option 1)

• During EAS activation the digital QAM signal is
  replaced with an analog EAS signal on all digital
  EIA channels
• 470 analog tuner follows digital tuner when tuned
  to digital channel
• When digital signal is lost and analog is
  acquired the analog signal will be displayed with
  Program Preempted message overlayed
• PROs
• Clean, Reliable switchovers- No dead wait period,
  no false switchovers
• Compatible with RF substitution equip and IF
  substitution equip if using transmodulator with
  IF loop
• CONs
• Substantial cost if Upconverters are required (if
  using IF type EAS equip and Transmodulator w/o IF
  loop)

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Analog EAS Substitutionwith Transmodulator IF
loopIF substitution would be similar
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Analog EAS Substitutionwithout Transmodulator IF
input(adds upconverters and RF Switch)
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Digital Drop and Retune to Analog EAS
Channel(Option 2)

• During EAS activation the digital QAM signal is
  simply dropped
• 470 waits 5 to 7 seconds and then tunes analog
  tuner to Hidden EAS channel defined in analog
  map with Program Preempted message overlaid.
  Returns to digital channel when digital signal is
  reacquired
• PROs
• No additional cost
• CONs
• 7 Second Wait period, viewer will see Please
  Wait
• High potential for false switchovers, any loss of
  digital signal will be interpreted as an EAS
  condition

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Digital Drop and Retune to Analog EAS Channel
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DSR 470 EAS Behavior

• NOTE The following EAS Behavior has not been
  Implemented in the DSR470 at this date, It is
  planned to be downloaded over the Satellite Link
  well before the October 1, 2002 deadline
• The Analog tuner will follow the Digital tuner to
  the EIA channel frequency when a digital channel
  is selected
• The 470 will display analog A/V, with a
  Preempted message banner whenever tuned to a
  digital channel with no digital acquisition but
  has attained analog sync (Substitution Solution)
• When tuned to a digital channel and neither
  digital nor analog signal is acquired for 5 to 7
  seconds the IRD shall either
• 1) If an EAS channel is defined (by source
  ID911) in the analog channel map, render the A/V
  on that analog channel, including the Preempted
  overlay (Digital Drop and Retune Solution)
• 2) If an EAS channel is not defined in the analog
  channel map the normal Please Wait Processing
  Your Request message will be displayed
  (Substitution Solution with a digital signal loss
  other than EAS)

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DSR 470 EAS Behavior(cont)

• Channel changes are permitted during digital
  outage
• The 5 second timer will not be restarted by a
  channel change
• Once the 5 second timer has tripped the analog
  EAS channel, if defined, shall continue to be
  rendered through changes to digital channels
  until requisition of digital signal or the 470 is
  tuned to an analog channel
• Changes to analog channels shall be executed by
  the 470 at all times
• Upon digital reacquisition the digital service
  shall be rendered if the current channel is
  digital, the analog service shall continue to be
  rendered if the current channel is analog, the 5
  second timer will be reset

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EAS Equipment Suppliers

• Cadco 800 877-2288
• IdeaOnics 701 786-3904
• Mega Hertz 800 922-9200
• Trilithic 888 344-3406
• Vela/Frontline 800 231-1349

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Operator Responsibility

• The configurations depicted in this handout have
  purposely been kept generic in nature to convey
  the concepts as opposed to defining a specific
  hardware implementation
• The various EAS products have differing feature
  and interface options and the availability of the
  IF loop or IF substitution input varies depending
  on the transmodulator
• It is up to the Cable Operator to work with the
  EAS equipment providers and the Transmodulator
  manufactures to insure the desired EAS
  functionality is Attained