Emergency Alert Radio System
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This is the Emergency Alert Radio System (EARS) as used by the District 13, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).
This is a radio which receives a special 45 Second broadcast of emergency information. The idea is to have a radio that will monitor the 145.11 MHz system full time using a special 71.9 Hz CTCSS tone to open only during an emergency announcement. This way the radio remains quiet all the time until such a time that an emergency broadcast is sent. It opens with three alarms sounds followed by a short announcement. The volume can be left high so that it can be heard house wide. ARES tests the system monthly just before their net at around 6:55 PM on the first Wednesday of the month. After the 45 second announcement, the 71.9 Hz CTCSS ends and the receiver goes back into its quiet mode. Note, the EARS system will only work from the Dayton 145.11 system and not the Dayton 224.16 nor Columbus 145.11 systems.
Setting up a radio for this is not too hard. Choosing a cheap Baofeng may not be the best choice for a radio as it has been found that the radio often faults and opens squelch briefly even when 71.9 CTCSS is not being transmitted. Using a more expensive Wouxun radio powered with a battery eliminator and a 12 Volt, 10400 mAh, un-interruptible power supply (UPS) is suggested. This way the radio can be ready even when there is no 110 VAC power. The setup allows for a week of back-up power. These UPS units can be found for less than $45 on Amazon and other places. However, one word of caution, the 12 Volt UPC may cause RFI, depending on brand, as they use switching regulators, so keep a handful of snap-on toriods around for your project. A remoted attic antenna would help as well if you are distant from the repeater.
Below is a picture of a typical setup:
We encourage you to set up your own EARS radio so you can stay informed in times of emergency.