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The Telecom Digest for November 1, 2011
Volume 30 : Issue 278 : "text" Format
====== 30 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======
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Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:34:47 +0000 (UTC)
From: wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman)
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: A national test of the Emergency Alert System
Message-ID: <j8l1g7$23hq$1@grapevine.csail.mit.edu>
In article <p06240896cad36a0d7274@[10.0.1.9]>,
Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> wrote:
>The first national test of the U.S.A.'s Emergency Alert System is
>scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 and all participants of the system
>are required to participate.
The test will be transmitted as an EAN -- "Emergency Alert, National".
While most parts of the EAS are tested regularly, the EAN function --
which is designed to allow the executive authorities in Washington to
take control of all broadcast facilities in the country
simultaneously[1] -- has never been intentionally tested. I say
"intentionally" because there have been a few occasions in the past
where an EAN was mistakenly sent out by an authority that is
authorized to originate other kinds of alerts.
The test is scheduled for midday because the standard for EAN requires
EAS endecs (which are positioned late in a station's air chain) to
seize the audio input until they receive a message termination code
from the source of the alert. If for some reason the end-of-message
isn't properly decoded, a station will need to hard power-cycle the
endec in order to return to normal programming, so all stations will
need to have staff on site.
-GAWollman
[1] It is thought that the only purpose of this function is for the
President to announce that everyone on earth will die in six minutes
when World War III is fought, and many broadcasters believe that in a
post-Cold War world there is no reason for this function to be
maintained. This does account for the lack of testing.
--
Garrett A. Wollman | What intellectual phenomenon can be older, or more oft
wollman@bimajority.org| repeated, than the story of a large research program
Opinions not shared by| that impaled itself upon a false central assumption
my employers. | accepted by all practitioners? - S.J. Gould, 1993
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:45:56 +1100
From: David Clayton <dcstarbox-usenet@yahoo.com.au>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: A national test of the Emergency Alert System
Message-ID: <pan.2011.10.31.09.45.55.219364@yahoo.com.au>
On Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:34:47 +0000, Garrett Wollman wrote:
........
> [1] It is thought that the only purpose of this function is for the
> President to announce that everyone on earth will die in six minutes when
> World War III is fought, and many broadcasters believe that in a post-Cold
> War world there is no reason for this function to be maintained. This
> does account for the lack of testing.
"The end of the world" will probably not be televised now, but it may
well be on Twitter - for just a few minutes, of course......
--
Regards, David.
David Clayton
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Knowledge is a measure of how many answers you have, intelligence is a
measure of how many questions you have.
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:56:08 -0400
From: Ron <ron@see.below>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: A national test of the Emergency Alert System
Message-ID: <c8kua7hb4cmd6r8euv20iuam8guh4reajb@4ax.com>
wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman) wrote:
> the EAN function --
>which is designed to allow the executive authorities in Washington to
>take control of all broadcast facilities in the country
>simultaneously[1]
Am I the only one who thought [1] would refer to ECOMCON from
"Seven Days in May"?
--
Ron
(user telnom.for.plume
in domain antichef.com)
** Moderator Note:
ECOMCON was loosely based on actual CONELRAD facilities and capbilities.
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:59:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Wes Leatherock <wleathus@yahoo.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: 60 hz as a time standard
Message-ID: <1320069561.37163.YahooMailClassic@web111705.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
--- On Sun, 10/30/11, Martin Bose <martyb@sonic.net> wrote:
> ... The mechanism had two clock drives, the pendulum one and an electric
> one driven by the power station generator output, and the big hand kept
> track of how far the frequency from the generator had drifted. I never
> saw it read anything other than zero, but it wasn't hard to imagine that
> in the manually controlled days a glance at that clock might have resulted
> in a phone call to the plant operator to get the frequency back on track.
>
> Marty
I once did a story on the power dispatchers for Oklahoma Gas & Electric
Company, the electric company that serves much of Oklahoma and western
Arkansas. This was probably in the 19550s.
They had two clocks, one showing the grid frequency and the other the
local frequency of their power plants. The also had a pen register
showing frequencies of the grid, and showed me where earlier that day
the frequency on the grid slipped below 60 Hz, a signal for all the other
operators to add to their share of the load to bring the frequency back up.
They told me that there was a fire at a generating plant in Cleveland
which caused them to drop their load and the frequency to drop until
other plants across the country could pick up the load, and the frequency
on the grid was back up to 60 Hz within a few minutes. As I recall, the
frequency went above 60 HZ briefly to bring the clocks back to standard time.
I read in the evening paper (remember those?) a story about the fire in
Cleveland. The drop in frequency drop was only to 59.9 or something like
that.
Wes Leatherock
wleathus@yahoo.com
wesrock@aol.com
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:24:16 +0000 (UTC)
From: wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman)
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: 60 hz as a time standard
Message-ID: <j8mp4g$2jkf$1@grapevine.csail.mit.edu>
In article <1320069561.37163.YahooMailClassic@web111705.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>,
Wes Leatherock <wleathus@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I read in the evening paper (remember those?) a story about the fire in
>Cleveland. The drop in frequency drop was only to 59.9 or something like
>that.
Tom Van Baak, amateur metrologist, made measurements of his local
utility power and found that (over the course of the two months he
studied) the frequency varied from 59.950 Hz to 60.050 Hz. See
http://leapsecond.com/pages/mains/
.
-GAWollman
--
Garrett A. Wollman | What intellectual phenomenon can be older, or more oft
wollman@bimajority.org| repeated, than the story of a large research program
Opinions not shared by| that impaled itself upon a false central assumption
my employers. | accepted by all practitioners? - S.J. Gould, 1993
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:01:52 -0700
From: "Jon Danniken" <jonSPAMMENOTdanniken@yahSPAMhoo.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: 60 hz as a time standard
Message-ID: <j8n2c0$vgc$1@speranza.aioe.org>
Garrett Wollman wrote:
> Wes Leatherock wrote:
>
>> I read in the evening paper (remember those?) a story about the
>> fire in Cleveland. The drop in frequency drop was only to 59.9 or
>> something like that.
>
> Tom Van Baak, amateur metrologist, made measurements of his local
> utility power and found that (over the course of the two months he
> studied) the frequency varied from 59.950 Hz to 60.050 Hz. See
>
> http://leapsecond.com/pages/mains/
> .
ISTR reading about a plan at one time to alter the line frequency as a
method of sending an alert for emergencies, similar to the EBS now in place.
Anyone remember anything about this?
Jon
** Moderator Note:
This strikes me as 'unlikely', to put it charitably.
It would either have to be an alert for a -large- part of the country -- the
entire area served by one of the less-than-half-dozen utility 'grids', with
precise coordination among all the electric generation facilities therein,
OR each electic utility in the affected area would have to _disconnect_
from the 'grid', adjust their generator frequency to generate the trigger
signal, then re-phase with the 'grid' and reconnect to the grid. One does
not -- one cannot -- make an abrupt change to the frequency on an A.C.
power distribution system. Every motor, generator, alternator, and ferro-
resonant transformer on that distribution system will resist the change.
This puts a non-trivial lower limit on the time it takes to send a signal
by this method.
Second, to detect the change in the power-line frequency, you have to have
a 'more stable' reference to compare against.
Third, there is the 'minor matter' of who would/could _require_ all the
various electric utilities to install, maintain, and operate the additional
gear required to make this work. Electric utilities are not licensed and
regulated to anywhere near the degree that RF transmitters are. There is
little Federal oversight -- most regulation is at the level of state Public
Utilities Commissions, an/or local 'franchise' oversight.
The FCC, by virtue of setting terms for license issuance, can require any/all
transmitter operators to a)maintain emergency signal receivers, b) broadcast
emergency signals, and even to c) shut down on government command (a la the
old CONELRAD).
I don't know of any agency with similar authority over electrical generation
and distribution facilities. The 'grid' is, to the best of my knowledge,
effectively unregulated being simply a co-operative venture of the
participating electric utilities, in their own self-interest.
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:45:06 +0000 (UTC)
From: wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman)
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: 60 hz as a time standard
Message-ID: <j8n8di$2oik$1@grapevine.csail.mit.edu>
In article <j8n2c0$vgc$1@speranza.aioe.org>,
Jon Danniken <jonSPAMMENOTdanniken@yahSPAMhoo.com> wrote:
>ISTR reading about a plan at one time to alter the line frequency as a
>method of sending an alert for emergencies, similar to the EBS now in place.
>
>Anyone remember anything about this?
You probably saw an episode of the PBS series "History Detectives".
The plan was not to alter the power line frequency, but to superimpose
an RF signal on the line that would activate an alarm that was plugged
into a household outlet. The device worked, but the plan did not, as
the alert carried no information about what to do when the alarm went
off.
-GAWollman
--
Garrett A. Wollman | What intellectual phenomenon can be older, or more oft
wollman@bimajority.org| repeated, than the story of a large research program
Opinions not shared by| that impaled itself upon a false central assumption
my employers. | accepted by all practitioners? - S.J. Gould, 1993
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:36:16 +0000 (UTC)
From: danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: 60 hz as a time standard
Message-ID: <j8nbdg$jhq$1@reader1.panix.com>
In <j8n8di$2oik$1@grapevine.csail.mit.edu> wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman) writes:
[snippeth]
>>ISTR reading about a plan at one time to alter the line frequency as a
>>method of sending an alert for emergencies, similar to the EBS now in place.
>>
>>Anyone remember anything about this?
>You probably saw an episode of the PBS series "History Detectives".
>The plan was not to alter the power line frequency, but to superimpose
>an RF signal on the line that would activate an alarm that was plugged
>into a household outlet. The device worked, but the plan did not, as
>the alert carried no information about what to do when the alarm went
>off.
These were also planned for specialized local use, such as around
the (NYC suburban) Indian Point nuclear power plant. These would
have alerted people to basically turn on their radios...
- which, since this would be the electrical company sending
out the warning, would kind of work.
I remember seeing stories about them. Don't know if any
were actually put into use.
--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 01:38:34 +0000 (UTC)
From: moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com (Michael Moroney)
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: DC vs. AC grids in NYC, was: Edison's power network (Was Re: Telegraph turns 150
Message-ID: <j8niiq$v7q$1@pcls6.std.com>
danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> writes:
>Parts of NYC continued getting DC feeds until about
>a decade ago. No new customers since 1965 or so, but
>legacy folk were grandfathered in.
>These lines were used for elevator motors (perhaps some
>other commercial ones, too), as well as some of the
>lighting equipment on Broadway.
Parts of Buffalo and Niagara Falls NY had 25 Hz power for a while. The
area didn't get 60 Hz power until 1930, and 60 Hz power consumption didn't
exceed 25 Hz consumption until 1952. The power company wouldn't sign up
any new 25 Hz customers after 1947.
25 Hz power came from Canada after the last US 25 Hz generators were
retired (or destroyed in the Schoellkopf collapse?). Some of the 25 Hz
customers used it just for elevators, apparently upgrading them to 60 Hz
power required bringing the elevators up to current standards. Finally a
date was set where the 25 Hz power would be terminated on a certain date
in 2007. However, an October Surprise snowstorm in October 2006 destroyed
the power lines, and it was deemed not economical to repair them since it
was already decided service was to be terminated in about a year.
There were just 5 customers left at the time.
-Mike (dealing with our own October Surprise Storm)
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 05:45:57 +0000 (UTC)
From: wollman@bimajority.org (Garrett Wollman)
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: DC vs. AC grids in NYC, was: Edison's power network (Was Re: Telegraph turns 150
Message-ID: <j8o12l$312v$1@grapevine.csail.mit.edu>
In article <j8niiq$v7q$1@pcls6.std.com>,
Michael Moroney <moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com> wrote:
>Parts of Buffalo and Niagara Falls NY had 25 Hz power for a while. The
>area didn't get 60 Hz power until 1930, and 60 Hz power consumption didn't
>exceed 25 Hz consumption until 1952. The power company wouldn't sign up
>any new 25 Hz customers after 1947.
Safe Harbor Dam near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, still generates 25 Hz
for the southern parts of the Amtrak (ex-PRR) northeast corridor
electrification system. Amtrak uses static converters and a few
remaining motor-generator sets to supply the rest of the 25 Hz load.
(North of New York City, the NEC uses standard 60 Hz power, 12 kV to
New Haven and thence 25 kV to Boston.
-GAWollman
--
Garrett A. Wollman | What intellectual phenomenon can be older, or more oft
wollman@bimajority.org| repeated, than the story of a large research program
Opinions not shared by| that impaled itself upon a false central assumption
my employers. | accepted by all practitioners? - S.J. Gould, 1993
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:07:54 -0700
From: Thad Floryan <thad@thadlabs.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Samsung blows past Apple and Nokia, becomes No. 1 smartphone vendor
Message-ID: <4EAF8CBA.4050407@thadlabs.com>
HTC takes top smartphone spot in U.S. according to Q3 data from Canalys
http://www.bgr.com/2011/10/31/htc-takes-top-smartphone-spot-in-u-s-according-to-q3-data-from-canalys/
> "Samsung blew past Apple and Nokia in the third quarter to become the
> No. 1 smartphone vendor in the world, but another emerging smartphone
> vendor stole the top spot in the U.S. according to a new report.
> Market research firm Canalys on Monday released country-level
> smartphone shipment estimates and according to its figures, HTC
> shipped 5.7 million own-brand smartphones and another 700,000
> T-Mobile-branded handsets in the U.S. last quarter to take the top
> spot with 6.4 million total devices shipped. Samsung shipped 4.9
> million smartphones in the U.S. last quarter according to Canalys, and
> Apple shipped 4.6 million iPhones to slide to the No. 3 spot. "However
> you count it, HTC has become a deserved leader in the US smart phone
> market," said Canalys analyst Chris Jones in a statement. "This is an
> awesome achievement for HTC, which has built a premium brand in a
> highly competitive market in just a few short years. It now has a
> strong range of 4G Android products, with devices ranged by each of
> the major carriers, and offers some of the most compelling and
> differentiated products found on the platform today."
The remainder of the article at the above URL is the full press release
from Canalys.
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:11:58 -0700
From: Thad Floryan <thad@thadlabs.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: UK Met police using surveillance system to monitor mobile phones
Message-ID: <4EAF8DAE.1020500@thadlabs.com>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/30/metropolitan-police-mobile-phone-surveillance
Civil liberties group raises concerns over Met police purchase of
technology to track public handsets over a targeted area
Britain's largest police force is operating covert surveillance
technology that can masquerade as a mobile phone network, transmitting
a signal that allows authorities to shut off phones remotely,
intercept communications and gather data about thousands of users in a
targeted area.
The surveillance system has been procured by the Metropolitan police
from Leeds-based company Datong plc, which counts the US Secret
Service, the Ministry of Defence and regimes in the Middle East among
its customers. Strictly classified under government protocol as
"Listed X", it can emit a signal over an area of up to an estimated 10
sq km, forcing hundreds of mobile phones per minute to release their
unique IMSI and IMEI identity codes, which can be used to track a
person's movements in real time.
The disclosure has caused concern among lawyers and privacy groups
that large numbers of innocent people could be unwittingly implicated
in covert intelligence gathering. The Met has refused to confirm
whether the system is used in public order situations, such as during
large protests or demonstrations.
Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties campaign group
Big Brother Watch, warned the technology could give police the ability
to conduct "blanket and indiscriminate" monitoring: "It raises a
number of serious civil liberties concerns and clarification is
urgently needed on when and where this technology has been deployed,
and what data has been gathered," he said. "Such invasive surveillance
must be tightly regulated, authorised at the highest level and only
used in the most serious of investigations. It should be absolutely
clear that only data directly relating to targets of investigations is
monitored or stored," he said.
Datong's website says its products are designed to provide law
enforcement, military, security agencies and special forces with the
means to "gather early intelligence in order to identify and
anticipate threat and illegal activity before it can be deployed".
{ the long article continues at the above URL }
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