Data FM | Emergency Radio Broadcasting

ABOUT US

The purpose of dataFM is to notify the public in the event of an emergency utilizing the most effective form of communication - FM radio

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HISTORY OF DATA FM

The first emergency warning radios, using the DATA FM emergency notification, and selective multi-point messaging radios were created in the late 1990s out of a need to provide demographic and geographic notifications in the event of weather disasters such as tornadoes, tsunamis, and hurricanes.

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ANTIGUA

The first system was built on the Nation Island of Antigua in the Caribbean. (click for map) During an earthquake on Antigua, the Data FM system was the only communication system working on the island for many hours. It was very helpful during this emergency.

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ATLANTA

The second system was for the city of Atlanta School System. Receivers were installed in every public school in the city of Atlanta. Access to the system was provided for the Emergency Management director for the Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. On the 12th day of March in 2005, a shooting occurred at the Fulton County Courthouse killing several people. The shooter escaped and his whereabouts were unknown. The message was immediately communicated to the schools directly from the emergency management director, Jim Cook, to lock down the schools. This was done within a matter of a few minutes to all the selected schools in the Fulton County School system.

Read Story Here

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GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The next system was a statewide system for the Georgia Department of Public Health, which provided coverage using all signals of the Georgia Public Broadcasting System. We also utilized a dozen other stations throughout the state for the first full wireless coverage for all the state of Georgia. Receivers were installed in all 159 county Health Departments, District Offices, and Hospital Emergency Rooms throughout the state.

Today there is no wireless system capable of sending data other than FM that provides complete coverage for the geographical area for the state of Georgia.

RDS2 VS OTHER WIRELESS SYSTEMS

The emergency notification systems comprise equipment to be installed at the existing radio station transmitter site.

For example, with an RDS2 system, it is not necessary to build cell towers, buy transmitter equipment, obtain a broadcasting license, maintain broadcasting towers or equipment, etc. This system not only saves money, but time and maintenance as well.

The RDS2 system can be owned by Emergency Management. Emergency Management relies on the good will of cell phone system owners.

RDS: OUR FIRST SYSTEM UTILIZED RDS

The Radio Data System (RDS) is a protocol for the distribution of data. RDS allows FM radio broadcasters to send additional information along with the typical stereo audio signal.

RDS2: OUR SECOND SYSTEM UTILIZED RDS2

Most recently, we have added two other technologies to our basic Data FM system.

The first feature is RDS2, which is a high-speed delivery system using additional subcarriers on the FM broadcasting signal.

The RDS2 system can download to multiple points, a large amount of data (text and graphics) in a matter of seconds. RDS2 is fully compatible with RDS.

The second feature is the ability for each receiver to report back to the sender, to confirm the message was received.

CAPABILITIES COMPARISON

Data FM can communicate to selective groups both demographically and geographically.
The Data FM system is not limited to one sender, nor is it restricted to only one group of recipients. This system is capable of scalability, which means that an infinite number of senders and an infinite number of recipients may utilize the system.
The system has interoperability. It is capable of being utilized by any or all governmental agencies and private enterprises at the same time.
The Data FM software and data management capabilities are tailored for Emergency Management.
It is capable of selective encryption, which means any number of recipients may choose encrypted messages, while others would not receive these encrypted messages at the same time. It is the only system with the ability to send messages to any number of people and each message could be different. It has a unique testing capability, as it can be silently tested daily to confirm each receiver is operating. For example, a unit installed within a school could receive a test message daily and it will report back, via the internet, to the sender to confirm that the unit is operating.
Another important aspect of these receivers is that they can incorporate and act with existing reception devices, such as cell phones and police and fire wireless systems by sending their information over the Data FM system. In the event of a lost transmitter signal, the receiving system can move from one station to another, automatically. This feature can be crucial in the event of an emergency if a tower has quit broadcasting.

Graph Definitions:

Always On: it is surprising how few receivers and delivery systems are always on. It the receiver or system is not on it will not be able to deliver or receive warnings and messages.
Redundant: There are 16,180 if you add in low-power FMs; and 22,262 if you count FM translators and boosters. Since the DataFM system can scan the dial to receive information it provides for redundancy in any market. Also the Data FM system may be programmed per station with the frequencies of the neighbouring stations to allow a very fast switch over from station to station.
Single point: The ability to contact only one group or even one person can be an important capability.
Backup Power: All DataFM systems are installed in radio stations that provide backup generator power. This is why the first thing that people turn to when the power is out is their transistor or carradio since most FM radio stations have backup power.
Addressability: The DataFM system has the ability to address individually, geographically, and demographically.
Multipoint system: The ability to address many people at once is important in an emergency. Individuals cannot be called and told when thousands need to be reached immediately. Just like the crack of the bat can be heard by all listeners in a ball game when listening to the radio the same application applies with the DataFM warnings can work the same way giving infinite scalability.
Interoperability: The ability of computer systems or software to exchange data and make use of information between devices made by different manufacturers.
Infinite scalability: There is no limit to the number of individuals or groups to receive information on the DataFM system.
More than one use: The DataFM and FM radio system has more than one use. The receivers can receive regular FM entertainment and other broadcast programming. This is unlike the weather radio which is generally placed in a closet after a few days since emergency information is not constantly being broadcast. Having more than one use makes the radio more useful and less likely to be stored away from use.
Wireless addressability: each receiver has its own registration number and can be programmed wireless from the system operator to add addresses from whom the receiver should receive information.
Existing infrastructure: There are over 22,262 FM stations available in the United States which provides ample infrastructure to implement the system in any part of the United States.
Covers the United States: FM and AM stations are the only wireless systems that cover both rural and metropolitan areas of the United States.
Universal selective access to the system: The DataFM system has applications beyond emergency warning and can be used by private enterprise and individuals for private and commercial purposes (e.g. radio advertising with text and graphics).
Geographically addressable: The DataFM system is capable of communicating to a specific geographical area as small a city block to an entire city or state.
Demographically addressable: The DataFM system is capable of addressing specific demographic groups regardless of geographical location of its members.
The owner can choose from whom they wish to receive information: The receiver can be programmed by the owner of the receiver/ select from whom he desires to receive information by inputting the wireless addresses for the senders.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVERS

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The Data FM system has scalability in pricing. There are individual receivers that can be installed in existing PCs, tablets, laptops or other computer devices at pricing below a standalone receiver. Standalone receivers are also available.

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We have receivers that function for the disabled. For the deaf it has a strobe light and for the blind it converts text to speech.

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These systems are both wireless and wired. Wireless can communicate from either point to point or point to multipoint by way of the broadcast signal and the wired can respond from each receiver to the sender point to point.

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The receivers can also create contact closures for the remote operation equipment using RS232 or WiFi connections.

The Data FM system has a multitude of advantages over cell phones.

Data FM uses a standard broadcast system, so it can be immediately implemented in any existing market without obtaining licenses from the FCC.
Another important point is that you will need quite a large number of transmitters to get the same area coverage as FM because of the much higher frequency that is used for cell phone systems (GHz instead of MHz). This easily quadruples the number of repeaters required to reach the same area coverage. The cost of a cell phone repeater tower is much higher than the cost of an FM repeater point.

The FM radio is not a subscriber supported technology. The service is supported by advertising. Once the modest cost of the receiver is paid there is no additional cost to the owner of the receiver.
The Data FM system uses existing technology that is mature and very inexpensive in comparison with other wireless systems.
The RDS2 system can download a large amount of data to any number of receivers, in a matter of seconds. For example, the data that is in the newspaper is several pages and can be downloaded to over a million people in less just a few minutes.
It has the capability of downloading pictures, maps, and diagrams within seconds to millions of people at one time. Whereas all other systems require the recipient to actively go to a website and download text, documents, or images. If one million people logged onto a website to download a particular document at one time, the system would crash. This makes the Data FM system infinite in scale.
Cell phone systems are point to point connections and there is always a limit to the number of points at the sender site; the Data FM system uses a point to multipoint technology which does not have any limitation to the number of simultaneous receivers.
The Data FM system can communicate with cell phones by sending information to the emergency management interface internet system which allows emergency management to send information over a cell phone service.
A cell phone system does not have scalability, making the cell phone network less efficient than the Data FM system

HOW IT WORKS

The system works as follows:
A sender communicates over the internet, through police push to talk two-way radio or satellite to any number of FM transmitters. The FM transmitters broadcast to FM receivers that decode the data in the signal and display text and images on displays in the receivers. Once a receiver receives the message it reports back via an internet connection to the sender to confirm that the particular receiver received the message. This process can be done silently daily to confirm that all receivers are functional without human interaction. Thereby providing and confirming a reliable delivery of messages in the event of an emergency.