Emergency Alert Radio - About the MTS EAR

About the MTS EAR

The MTS EAR (Emergency Alert Radio) is available in two models: one receives standard FM broadcast stations, the other receives NOAA weather radio in the 162.400 - 162.550 MHz band. The two models are identical except for the frequencies covered.

EAR's radio receiver is very sensitive and completely stable. It is tuned by a digital synthesizer which is totally immune to the frequency 'drift' which plagues many other weather radios on the market.

EAR has just one button and one indicator lamp, making it impossible for the end user to inadvertently change the programming of the unit. The button toggles the speaker on and off. The indicator is green while idle and red when an alert is received.

MTS will program the radio prior to shipment at no additional charge. We also offer the configuration software as a free Internet download. The configuration software can be purchased on CD ROM at nominal cost.

EAR's backup battery power lasts more than 24 hours on 3 AA cells.

EAR has automatic changeover from primary to backup frequency in the event of loss of signal from the primary transmitter. All SAME data messages are converted to a standard serial data stream (2400-8-N-1 format) for connection to a printer (for logging) or to any communications terminal.

EAR includes features unavailable in any other product, including the ability to filter received messages by both FIPS code AND event code. EAR responds to as many as four FIPS codes and 80 event codes. When both FIPS and event codes match those programmed into the radio, the internal speaker is activated for the duration of the SAME message.

Some SAME receivers can filter messages by FIPS code, but activate for every event. Most of the weather radios we have seen do not even filter by FIPS code --- they activate on the 1050 Hz public alarm tone, which is sent with every warning, watch, and test.

FIPS and event codes are programmed with a Windows program which communicates with the EAR by a serial port. Once programmed, EAR is disconnected from the Windows computer. The EAR memory is not affected by power failure, so programming the unit is usually a one-time operation.

During reception of a pre-selected FIPS and event code, EAR activates a control output which may be used to control a tape recorder, activate a warning alarm such as a flashing strobe light or a bed shaker, etc.

EAR retails for $149.95. Quantity discounts are available.

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