National EAS Test ... Maybe Not So Great ...

Epic Fail In Some Places

Don't be surprised if the parties behind YESTERDAY's National EAS Test revisit their conclusion that the test was a success. Although it is by no means a definitive sample, anecdotal comments to ALL ACCESS indicate that there were plenty of problems all across the country.

Judging by the responses -- and taking into account that those who heard no problems are far less likely to comment -- it seems that the majority of complaints were coming from rural areas and the Great Plains, although there were problem noticed in BOSTON and NEW YORK.

Here is some audio of the EAS test heard on SIRIUS XM that gives an example of one such misfire.

The most common complaint was that while the tones were heard, but the audio was garbled beyond comprehension. Commenters below cited this problem in WISCONSIN, VIRGINIA, EAST TEXAS, NEBRASKA, certain parts of NEW MEXICO and ARKANSAS. The biggest metro experiencing this problem, according to feedback to ALL ACCESS, was SAN FRANCISCO.

Then there was a potential loop problem in BOSTON. "I listened to three stations; flipping from each to next, WBZ-A, WTKK and WRKO-A," BRIAN HENCHEY noted. "All three got the tones and played the message, then after a delay, the tones and verbal message repeated.  Then after a delay, everything repeated yet AGAIN!"

Not even hearing tones -- or anything, for that matter -- were common comments from those listening in WEST VIRGINIA (outside of CHARLESTON), DENVER, PORTLAND, throughout NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA. IDAHO, ALBUQUERQUE and other parts of NEW MEXICO, and EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

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