| |
 |
 |
When seconds count, count on ALERT AM for . . .
- Weather
Warnings
- "All Hazard" Bulletins
- Evacuation Directions
- Amber, Hazmat, Medical Alerts
- Motorist Advisories
|
|
Advisory radio has changed dramatically in the past decade, and
Information Station Specialists has largely been the architect of
that transformation, especially within the realm of emergency
management.
Hundreds of communities across America now operate their own
Emergency Advisory Radio Stations
specifically to tell area motorists what to do during Amber alerts,
school incidents, flash floods, industrial accidents, terror
threats, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and other types of
emergencies. Through public-safety-managed radio broadcasts,
listeners can receive up-to-the-minute reports, alerts and
instructions with the level of timeliness and detail that make these
types of broadcasts invaluable, especially when disaster strikes.
Messages must be non-commercial. During non-emergency times,
communities may use the stations to inform motorists of street
repairs, traffic hazards, public notices, travel advisories, city
history and even visitor information.
Emergency managers trigger broadcast sequences (prerecorded for
anticipated emergency scenarios) via telephone, pushbutton, siren
system or other external control. Or they may record new messages
immediately, locally, via telephone/cell phone or computer
workstation. Up to three hours of audio and up to 1000 messages can
be recorded in ALERT AM's expansive audio memory
– the largest
of any station available to date. Moreover, they can broadcast live on a moment's notice,
as situations warrant.
Each standard ALERT AM station comes with an exclusive Specific Area
Message Encoding (SAME) system that not only recognizes all National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) event codes but has
the unique ability to immediately rebroadcast only those targeted to
certain counties, so extraneous NOAA broadcasts are excluded.
ALERT AM's exclusive
Vertical Profile
Antenna System option
simplifies the installation process. When the antenna is installed
in yard adjacent to a building, excavation for groundplanes and
chemical groundrods is unnecessary, saving time and cost. The
Vertical Profile Antenna System is the only antenna support of its
kind that is hurricane rated and ANSI/TIA compliant for safe
installation where failure is not an option. An optional four-day
battery backup keeps ALERT AM on the air during AC power outages.
The optional power loss notification module alerts operators if
power drops at the transmitter location. Strategically located
Flashing ALERT Signs, also from ISS, may be used to encourage
motorists to tune to the station. Each of these options is modular
and may be added to an ALERT AM system in future years (see more
about options below).
Such capabilities establish ALERT AM as a communication tool that
produces effective public response, 24/7. Download
here
or at the bottom of this webpage a complete ALERT AM overview with
planning steps, specs and pricing.
|
|
Who operates ALERT AM
Stations?
|
Frequency & Licensing
Considerations
|
-
Local
Governments: cities/counties and their departments of
emergency management, fire, law enforcement
and public works (many times in conjunction
with offices of public information, local
convention and visitors bureaus or chambers
of commerce). Frequently the systems are
used along with sirens to inform listeners
of the nature of emergencies. See
communities
across America who operate Radio Stations.
See also
Case Studies.
-
Transportation Agencies: airports, highway
departments, port authorities, ferry and train
terminals.
-
Military: for visitor and emergency information.
-
Industry: in conjunction with a local
governmental entity, industry can inform travelers,
visitors and motorists of directions, hazards and
travel advisories.
-
Points of Entry: US departments of immigration
and naturalization, customs, border patrols,
agriculture, state departments of tourism and law
enforcement.
-
Colleges and Universities: for emergencies as
well as visitor information.
|
The
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grants to
government entities licenses for open frequencies (530 to
1700 kHz AM ) on a first-come-first-served basis and
secondary to standard broadcast stations.
Broadcast content must be noncommercial voice information
relating to travel, services, weather, safety and points
of interest. See
FCC rules regarding Permitted broadcast content. ISS can help you find an available frequency and apply for a FCC
license. Just complete and return the downloadable License
Questionnaire
to get started.
See the ISS FCC Licensing Services webpage. Please
note: You must have a FCC license in hand to operate. Your
station must be on the air within 12 months of the license grant
date, or this authorization will expire. ISS
provides assistance with licensing and important FCC
notifications at minimal cost.
|
|
Standard Package
|
Options
|
|
Basic ALERT AM
emergency advisory radio stations include the following
(Technical specifications are linked at the bottom of this webpage.)
-
Local and telephone control interfaces (see
"Equipment Options" below for computer control methods). -
Voice-prompter-style
digital message player with up to
1,000 messages that may be arranged in 50 playlists (or message
sequences) — 3 hours of recording time. ALERT AM can
operate for days, even in the absence of AC power and telephone service.
Dubbed
NX8R,
ALERT AM's digital message player allows continued broadcast
updating even when cell/telephone systems go down. This phone-based audio control
system can serve as a backup for
computer-control options.
-
Two-way redundant control,
standard with each station, uses push-to-talk
style transceivers
(transceivers not included) and the same, familiar broadcasting
protocols and voice prompts as regular phones. -
Live broadcasting (with local microphone, real
time). -
External-control triggering via siren,
pushbutton or other alarm. -
External audio interface for streaming ALERT AM audio to a
website, or to override audio on a CATV access channel, or to
produce program audio from cable TV studio and override it
during emergencies.
-
Transmitter with synthesized frequency
system. Utilizes efficient Class D amplifier, comprised of
only two driver devices, for reliability. The only such unit
type-accepted by the FCC for TIS applications in the United
States. -
Antenna and groundplane system. -
Secure
cabinets – dual-door, rack-style.
-
National Weather Service
"all-hazards" capability that allows national warnings to
broadcast to targeted counties automatically.
Exclusive field-upgradeable receiver. -
Diagnostic metering and test equipment for system
setup and maintenance.
-
Mounts, connectors, cables, wiring, power supplies and lightning arrestors.
-
Illustrated instruction
manual. -
System
engineering and planning. -
ISS technical support via telephone or email at no
extra charge for the life of the product.
|
-
Four-day,
operational, rechargeable battery backup. -
Uninterruptible power supply
(recommended for systems without four-day battery backup).
-
Power
loss notification module (instantaneous to 24 hours; automatically
dials up to 4 telephone numbers including cell phones and pagers;
has 5 programmable notification delay periods and internal battery
backup).
-
Outdoor
cabinets for isolated antenna mounting style installations. These
NEMA3R rack-mount, aluminum enclosures
are designed for outdoor
and industrial applications with door-activated lights, a fan and
3-point locking doors.
-
Vertical Profile
Antenna Systems
— when space is at a premium and secure, aesthetically pleasing
antenna support is a priority, VP9000 is the solution.
-
Workstation Audio
Control — allows
convenient screen-based, drag-and-drop control of broadcast
messages from a single computer.
-
SignalcastIP
Broadcast Management Software Package
— for stand-alone or network-based operations, offers high
quality recording, processing and editing; message scheduling;
two-voice text-to-speech; message importing; drag-and-drop
message playlist and flashing sign control; 10-user license.
-
GPS Frequency Stabilization
— for multi-station setups if satellite stations are fewer than
15 miles apart. Prevents inter-station (heterodyne)
interference.
-
Flashing ALERT
Sign Systems —
strategically located Flashing ALERT Signs tell motorists to
tune to your station during emergencies.
|
|
Message Control, Transfer &
Protection
|
Broadcast Messages
|
|
Control broadcast
recordings locally by landline phone or cell phone. The
ALERT AM system transfers analog audio via telephone for
digital storage and replay. Especially useful: the
system has 3 hours of recording time
and up to 50 customized playlists, i.e.,
broadcasts are easy to assemble for anticipated emergency scenarios.
Broadcasts can be triggered by siren-system closures, toggle
switches or other external sources. This allows the radio station to
quickly switch from broadcasting general information to specific
emergency information, when disaster strikes. Automatic NOAA alerts
(EAS and weather) are integral; and an emergency message override
feature allows operators to manually supersede recorded or automatic
notifications to lock in critical, current recordings. Broadcasting
"live" also is easy with the push of a button. See
"SignalcastIP" and "Workstation Audio Control," bulleted in
OPTIONS, listed above right.) |
ALERT AM's digital
message player comes stocked with prerecorded emergency management
messages prepared by our professional announcers to illustrate
what's possible within the system. In addition, you
may take advantage of free or commissioned ISS
recording services
to create broadcasts.
See What May Be Broadcast. |
|
Installation Styles
|
Technical Services
|
|
When you are ready to
start planning
your emergency advisory radio station, know that location
is everything. Choose the antenna mounting style that fits your
situation. ALERT AM may be installed a variety of ways:
Yard
Style (recommended): Put the antenna in the yard of a building and the
equipment indoors. This style affords security and
convenience and can be used with the
Vertical Profile
Antenna System. Consider yard style for virtually any kind
of building with a large open yard that is immediately
adjacent.
Isolated Style: Put the entire radio station virtually anywhere.
This style affords maximum flexibility of location and can be used
with Vertical Profile Antennas. |
As you would expect, ISS
also provides
a full menu of services from which to choose
to help
you put your ALERT AM radio station on the air. This includes
installation
and training with online
technical updates to help keep your station "state of the art." ISS
also offers product-related technical support
for the life of the product, 24/7, via phone or email at no extra
charge! And ISS has a network of strategically located field
representatives across the country to visit your site and consult as
needed. |
|
Budget
|
|
Typically
one ALERT AM setup costs $24-30K for a single
station, including
licensing, installation and ground freight in the
contiguous United States. A lease-to-own option
is available. At
no charge,
Bill
Baker
(616.772.2300, extension 102) will
help you brainstorm ideas for your particular application and
provide a formal quote. See our
Funding Resources webpage
for grant possibilities.
Links below offer alternative emergency advisory radio
systems.
Portable stations, for example, have equal capability as ALERT AM with a few extra
options. Information Stations, commonly known as Travelers
Information Stations (TIS), are a lower cost alternative with many of the same messaging capabilities as
ALERT AM but without the specialized all-hazard
broadcast capability, four-day operational battery
backup and GPS Frequency Stabilization
options. Download a complete ALERT AM
overview with planning, pricing and specs immediately below. |
|
|
Related
Links
|
|
|
ALERT
AM Product Links
PDF
download.
Case studies -
weblinks.
Emergency
stations across America -
webpage.
Exclusive
ALERT AM features
-
webpage.
Sole source letter -
PDF download.
Technical
specifications -
webpage.
Why
IAEM says emergency managers
need advisory radio:
-- "Direct Connect to Those You
Protect" article -
PDF
download.
--
"Fill an Important
Communication Gap" article -
PDF download.
|
Technical Tips for Running a Station
Operator tips
-
webpage.
PowerPlane
installation tips -
webpage.
Sample
emergency broadcasts -
webpage.
What may be broadcast, according to the FCC -
webpage.
|
Alternative Products of
Interest
emergency advisory radio system products -
PDF download.
Information Stations -
webpage.
Ranger Receivers (windup/solar
power for in-home use) -
webpage.
|
|
|
| ISS products are listed in FEMA's
Responder's Knowledge Base (RKB). Just
key the term "ALERT AM" or "emergency advisory radio" in
the RKB's search field (upper right on the homepage).
|
|