Alarm sirens

Wow morrow in full form
Now we are travelling in Europe, aren't we ?
Thanks morrow

"Gregory Morrow" a écrit
dans le message de news:
et...

stanislas de kertanguy wrote:

It's the first Wednesday of the month and it's noon, so as always, the
French alarm sirens have resounded for a few minutes. From Paris to the
tiny villages, these sirens sound monthly. The system is quite old, I
think it is now 50 years old, but the sound is still very powerful, and
very chilling!


In the US many sirens have largely been replaced by this; there are still
weather sirens that are activated in case of tornadoes, etc.:


http://www.fcc.gov/eb/easfact.html

"FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

FACT SHEET


THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS)

"This is a test of the Emergency Alert System -- this is only a test...."

This is the new test script that you will occasionally hear on your
favorite
broadcast station or your local cable system. We say that the test script
may only be heard occasionally because the new EAS weekly test does not
require a test script. Instead the new weekly test consists of an
eight-second digital data signal. The signal contains the information
necessary to test the EAS. There is also a monthly test that has a test
script. The monthly test script is developed locally and usually contains
information that is relevant to the local area.

Since January 1, 1997, all AM, FM and TV broadcast stations have been
using
the above test procedures. Also, since December 31, 1998, cable systems
that
have 10,000 or more subscribers are part of the EAS. They are doing the
above tests and have the capability to transmit emergency messages on all
of
their video channels.

There are other important changes as well. The EAS uses digital technology
to distribute messages. This allows for a lot of improvements in providing
emergency information to the public. The new system provides state and
local
officials with a new method to quickly send out important local emergency
information targeted to a specific area. The information can be sent out
through a broadcast station and cable system even if those facilities are
unattended. Also, the EAS digital signal is the same signal that the
National Weather Service (NWS) uses on NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). This
allows
NWR signals to be decoded by the EAS equipment at broadcast stations and
cable systems. Broadcasters and cable operators can then retransmit NWS
weather warning messages almost immediately to their audiences.

Also, specially equipped consumer products, such as televisions, radios,
pagers and other devices, can decode EAS messages. The consumer can
program
these products to "turn themselves on" for the messages they want to
receive.

WHY HAVE AN EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM?

The EAS is designed to provide the President with a means to address the
American people in the event of a national emergency. Through the EAS, the
President would have access to thousands of broadcast stations, cable
systems and participating satellite programmers to transmit a message to
the
public. The EAS and its predecessors, CONELRAD and the Emergency Broadcast
System (EBS), have never been activated for this purpose. But beginning in
1963, the President permitted state and local level emergency information
to
be transmitted using the EBS.

WHAT DOES THE NEW EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM MEAN FOR YOU?

Automatic Operation. The EAS digital system architecture allows broadcast
stations, cable systems, participating satellite companies, and other
services to send and receive emergency information quickly and
automatically
even if those facilities are unattended.
Redundancy. The EAS requires monitoring of at least two independent
sources
for emergency information. This insures that emergency information is
received and delivered to viewers and listeners.
Less Intrusive. EAS tests are shorter and less obtrusive to viewers and
listeners. Therefore, when people do hear or see the EAS messages, they
will
take them more seriously.
Second Language. Do you or someone you know watch Spanish-language
programming? EAS digital messages can be automatically converted into any
language used by the broadcast station or cable system.
WHO MAKES THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM WORK?

The FCC designed the new EAS, working in a cooperative arrangement with
the
broadcast, cable, emergency management, alerting equipment industry, the
National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management
Administration.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF EACH OF THESE AGENCIES?

FCC. The FCC provides information to broadcasters, cable system operators,
and other participants in the EAS regarding the requirements of this
emergency system. Additionally, the FCC will ensure that EAS state and
local
plans developed by industry conform to the FCC EAS rules and regulations
and
enhance the national level EAS structure.

NWS. NWS provides emergency weather information used to alert the public
of
dangerous conditions. Over seventy percent of all EAS and EBS activations
were a result of natural disasters and were weather related. Linking NOAA
Weather Radio digital signaling with the EAS digital signaling will help
NWS
save lives by reaching more people with timely, site-specific weather
warnings.

FEMA. FEMA provides direction for state and local emergency planning
officials to plan and implement their roles in the EAS.

WHERE CAN YOU GET MORE INFORMATION?

Consumers, broadcasters, organizations, or other service providers who
want
to understand the new EAS can contact:

FCC. The FCC provides a toll-free number that provides information on a
wide
variety of subjects, including the EAS. The number is 1-888-CALL FCC
[1-888-225-5322]. The toll-free TTY number is 1-888-TELL FCC
[1-888-835-5322].

-FCC-

/

Air gRunge wrote:

Wow morrow in full form
Now we are travelling in Europe, aren't we ?
Thanks morrow


"Air gRunge Airlines - by Bradley Montag
5 July 2006

I flew AG from LHR-KRK (737-400) and WAW-FRA (737-500) in late April. I
must say AG must be the worst airline I have ever travelled on. Their
aircraft were tired and dull and the flight crew were rude and
extremely unwilling to help. I don't believe shouting at passengers to
sit in their seat (the seat belt sign was not on) is a way to win over
customers. I had ordered the Kosher meal on the flights and these meals
more resembled a low grade cat food. On both flights I did not eat.
Although the flights were relatively short I could not wait to get off
the aircraft. There was no entertainment on the flights either. On the
LHR-KRK flight I was put in the so called "Business Class" it was
exactly the same as economy class in every way except for the fact that
on the head rest it said Business Class, there was also a curtain
between the two cabins. Overall I'd rate AG staff 1/5, the meals 0/5
and overall experience would be 1/5!"


"Gregory Morrow" a écrit
dans le message de news:
et...

stanislas de kertanguy wrote:

It's the first Wednesday of the month and it's noon, so as always, the
French alarm sirens have resounded for a few minutes. From Paris to the
tiny villages, these sirens sound monthly. The system is quite old, I
think it is now 50 years old, but the sound is still very powerful, and
very chilling!


In the US many sirens have largely been replaced by this; there are still
weather sirens that are activated in case of tornadoes, etc.:


http://www.fcc.gov/eb/easfact.html

The Reid wrote:

Following up to stanislas de kertanguy

Is there a similar "exercise" for the alarm systems in other countries?

My mistake, during the monthly exercises, there is only ONE signal (1
minute), not three!

i dont think so in UK.

A couple of cars in my otherwise quiet neighbourhood seem to have
problems with their alarm systems. Is it really necessary for the system
to beep loudly whenever the owner disables it? There's a bit of a 'dawn
chorus' of them here every weekday morning.

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org

Stanislas de Kertanguy wrote:

Gregory Morrow wrote:

As part of the system it was obligatory for
all radios sold after 1953 to have the CONELRAD frequencies 640/1240 kHz
marked with small triangles on the dial.

That must be nice! European radios of the same era also show marks of
history: the stations are labeled with their name (Braunschweig,
Dresden, Luxembourg, Europe, Bruxelles, Lugano, etc...)



Some higher - end late 30's - early 40's US radios IIRC have station marks
on the dial, e.g. WOR, WCBS, KNBC, etc...if these incorporate shortwave
bands they show the station markings just like European sets once did.

--
Best
Greg

The Reid wrote:

Following up to Alan


If they are being lured out by sirens, I hope they don't end up
drinking "on the rocks".


probably not there is no seaside in austria


well, they have see side I suppose, I had another answer but it
would have invoked Godwin.

IIRC, the Rhine had its sirens, too! (Schumann wrote a song
about them, and I think Wagner's Rheinmädchen fulfilled the
same function.)

stanislas de kertanguy wrote:

It's the first Wednesday of the month and it's noon, so as always, the
French alarm sirens have resounded for a few minutes. From Paris to the
tiny villages, these sirens sound monthly. The system is quite old, I
think it is now 50 years old, but the sound is still very powerful, and
very chilling!

Is there a similar "exercise" for the alarm systems in other countries?

In Denmark as well. Now it is some sort electronic siren system that
is tested once a year - first wednesday in May. The 'old' sirens
would sound off every Wednesday at 12 for testing.
--
Kristian

Following up to David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of
besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h offy

A couple of cars in my otherwise quiet neighbourhood seem to have
problems with their alarm systems. Is it really necessary for the system
to beep loudly whenever the owner disables it?

they seem to be supplied like that as standard, I had to get BMW
to mute it when in for service.
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

Following up to The Reid

they seem to be supplied like that as standard, I had to get BMW
to mute it when in for service.

but how annoying is it compared to house/car alarms going off for
hours, people playing loud music, aeroplanes flying over, yobs
shouting etc etc etc. As alarm noise is probably useless anyway,
it might be better to make them purely visual, perhaps with a
sound function in the house or carried by the car owner, although
i'm not sure its a good idea to surprise car thieves?
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

The Reid wrote:

Following up to David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of
besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h offy

A couple of cars in my otherwise quiet neighbourhood seem to have
problems with their alarm systems. Is it really necessary for the system
to beep loudly whenever the owner disables it?

they seem to be supplied like that as standard, I had to get BMW
to mute it when in for service.

Annoying isn't it? I might blow a trumpet outside the door next time I
leave the house at 5am...

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org

The Reid wrote:

Following up to The Reid

they seem to be supplied like that as standard, I had to get BMW
to mute it when in for service.

but how annoying is it compared to house/car alarms going off for
hours, people playing loud music, aeroplanes flying over, yobs
shouting etc etc etc.

It's annoying. When I'm annoyed by something like that, I don't
generally think "oh well, it's not as annoying as X"

However, I don't live in an area where people play loud music etc.-
that's why I chose to live here.

As alarm noise is probably useless anyway,
it might be better to make them purely visual,

I think it's more to make the owner think "hey, I've got a cool alarm."

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org