[grc] EAS Receiver options

[Rip Robbins]

 A lot of influence on the decision is also based on the location of the receiver and the antenna for getting the signal.  In our building, we have terrible reception, and cannot even get our own signal without an external antenna involving a long cable run.  We can't hide our equipment because it needs to be accessible for some purposes, but we have very strict prohibition on any one touching the racked equipment, and for several years we aimed a security camera at the rack, but fortunately those days are past and we have a very responsible group now and have not had any problem.  Years ago, before KSVR got "rich" with our CPB grant and did upgrade our equipment, we used an old car radio to get the primary EBS signal from a nearby AM station -- what works better for AM than a car radio from the early 1970s, with a whip antenna side-mounted on our STL tower just outside our building?  Our engineer modified to get a line out, and it worked well for about 10 years. With our newer version EAS machines, and a different primary to monitor, we use a rack mounted Burk RX-4 that we bought on Ebay for $135 including shipping.  It has capability to monitor 4 frequencies (including NWS). It also has the proper outputs making connection to Sage very easy.
Rip

-----Original Message-----
From: grc-bounces at maillist.peak.org [mailto:grc-bounces at maillist.peak.org] On Behalf Of pete tridish
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 2:19 PM
To: Stubblefield
Cc: david beaton; GRC List
Subject: Re: [grc] [Stubblefield] EAS Receiver options

Well, your EAS equipment should not be where people are monkeying around with it anyway. it should be in a closet or a rack that is out of the way.  As i described, a UPS is generally sufficient to make sure that the power on the receivers does not go off and you don't have that problem.

As I said, to spend $400 more for these little things that only really save a bit of time to  the engineer doing the installation seems foolish considering the start up budget of many of these LPFMs. the days of federally subsidized equipment for radio  are over, and the overpriced products ( $400 radio receivers)  that emerged to cater to that market of " not really my money, so who cares how much it costs" are numbered.  
there can be good reasons for a fancy receiver, like monitoring for a translator.  but old stereo receivers have no moving parts, and are generally ridiculously  reliable for their current thrift store price. 
I'd say,  spend your money where it matters every day, like on the console.

petri



juice at whidbey.com wrote:
> I have seen many stations attempting to use used consumer grade FM-AM 
> receivers for EAS monitor inputs.
> The problem I see is consumer receivers can get unnoticed knocked off 
> your monitor channel far to easily with someone inadvertently rubbing 
> up agents the wrong channel button or the channel selector knob. After 
> a power failure some receivers will not come back to the original set 
> monitor frequency. If discovered by a FCC inspection, its a potential 
> large fine.
> Tom Voorhees
>
>

>

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Pe'tre Dish (n):  A squat, cylindrical article of laboratory glassware, useful in observing resistant strains in aetherial media.

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