For several years, REC had used a master application table (MAT) which was used to combine applications from CDBS, LMS and various internal databases such as the Radio History Project. This single database table has become very big and bulky over the years.
In Thursday's and Friday's heavy maintenance, REC completely rebuilt the system that processes the data received daily from the FCC on the LMS batch raw data file download.
The new methods are done in a manner that substantially reduces the amount of load on the database during the morning updates by only updating the changed and new items as opposed to a complete build of the LMS database.
From 11/24~11/27, REC will be conducting maintenance with the LMS database facility. This maintenance will be done to address system response, especially during periods of the morning update as well as repairing the raw data received from the FCC which is corrupted by wild line feeds.
REC has deployed a second Twitter broadcast service, @EASSoCal.
This Twitter service is similar to that currently provided by @DelmarvaEAS and includes all EAS and non-EAS alerts for the following counties in California:
The service is run once per minute, 24 hours a day during our normal CAP polling routine.
ISSUE
Client advises that their registered station is not coming up in the test.
CAUSE
When generating the SI file, the system was writing ampersands directly to the XML file instead of using an escape code.
RESOLUTION
XML requires certain characters (&, <, >, single quotes and double quotes) to be "escaped" and not written directly.
Prior to this change, FCC.today was displaying all alerts that came in on the IPAWS OPEN EAS feed. This included Required Weekly Tests (RWT) and Required Monthly Tests (RMT) issued by state and local authorities.
Based on user feedback, we have implemented new functionality in FCC.today which allows users to indicate which states they wish to view alerts from.
REC Networks is a developer that has been approved by and has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to access and disseminate emergency alert information from the Integrated Public Alert Warning System Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS OPEN, or just IPAWS). REC has no capability to originate new alerts into IPAWS, only to receive them.
During this weekend, we will be making some adjustments to the presentation of data that was previously changed as a part of the System Makeover Project based on user feedback. During this time, you may experience error messages, unusual displays, live testing of different concepts for text display, etc.
During this period of time, if text displays strangely, you may want to hold down the [ctrl] key and press the [refresh] on the browser to assure that the most current style sheet is loaded in the browser.
As part of the ongoing Site Makeover Project (SMP) to improve the FCCdata.org experience, we have taken this three-day holiday weekend to make some substantial changes to the site.
FCCdata is built on "modules". We are in the process of changing one module at a time. The modules we are working with this weekend include those associated with FCC broadcast facility data for FM, AM, TV and HF. During the transition of modules, some portions of the system will appear in their pre-SMP version while transitioned modules will appear with the new post-SMP style.
New SMP modules were released on 11/13/22 at 3PM ET.
This holiday weekend from November 10 through 13, 2022, REC will be performing scheduled maintenance throughout our systems which will mainly impact FCCdata and the J1 mobile app.
REC has installed functionality that will perform a scan of all broadcast stations to check for RadioDNS connectivity. This information will be used for driving the new logo functionality on the FCCdata US dialscape service as well as the new service provider toybox application.
Due to the delays getting FEMA approval for production access to IPAWS-OPEN, we have moved our EAS/alerting functionality originally scheduled for v3.1 to v3.2 and we have moved up the flagship v3.2 project (RadioDNS) to v3.1.
RadioDNS allows compatible receivers to be able to tune in to a broadcast station's live stream once they leave the listening area. RadioDNS also permits stations to have logos and basic station metadata such as station name, description and website links display on compatible consumer receivers.
The REC Toybox is a group of tools that are intended to help broadcasters and hobbyists to enhance the radio experience.
REC has added two new tools to the Toybox:
This tool is a stand-alone version of the connectivity check we will be offering in myLPFM v3.1 as well as the methods used on FCCdata in order to display RadioDNS information.
REC has released a reimaged version of the dialscape page for FCC records. The dialscape is the page that is accessed when a city and state are entered into FCCdata or on mobile browsers, when the "Stations near me" link is clicked.
The new presentation uses larger fonts and larger areas to be able to click or tap to obtain individial station information.
The new page also displays RadioDNS station names and logos for participating stations as well as ownership information for FM, AM and TV facilities.
ISSUE
Warning messages and no valid data for KFIS. Also reported on other stations owned by Salem.
ROOT CAUSE
SI file has one service. FCCdata did not handle it right.
RESOLUTION
Modified code that parses <service> section to handle situations where only one service is encountered.
TOK 11-1 04:23AM ET.
Tested other Salem stations. All seem to test OK.
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