Sage 3644 User manual

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Model 3644
E
mergency
A
lert
S
ystem
Encoder/Decoder
Quick Start Guide
Version 2.0
For use with software version 95
SAGE DIGITAL ENDEC

Copyright 2019, Sage Alerting Systems, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
FCC Information:
FCC ID V2W3644
The Sage Digital ENDEC is fully compliant with FCC Part 11.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device
must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at their own expense.

Sage EAS ENDEC - Contents i
Sage Digital ENDEC Quick Start Rev 2.0
1. About this Document 1
2. Installing Your ENDEC 1
3. Bench Testing 3
4. Connecting your ENDEC to the LAN 3
5. Configuring Your ENDEC 5
5.1 ENDEC Task Sheets 5
5.2 Preparing to configure your ENDEC’s settings 5
5.3 Edit Your Settings 5
5.4 Passwords 6
5.4.1 Front Panel 6
5.4.2 Web Access 6
6. Is the ENDEC Set Up Correctly? 7
7. About the Emergency Alert System 7
7.1 Over the Air 8
7.2 Common Alerting Protocol 8
8. Meeting FCC Requirements 9
8.1 EAS Rules 9
8.2 FCC Testing: On the Air 10
9. EAS/CAP Message Processing 10
10. Hardware Connectors and Indicators 11
10.1 Front Panel 11
10.2 ENDEC Back Panel 12
11. Powering Up the ENDEC 14
12. ENDEC Audio 14
12.1 Analog Audio 14
12.2 Digital Audio 14
12.2.1 Digital Audio Input, Output, and Pass-through 14
12.2.2 Digital Audio Clock 15
12.2.3 Digital Audio Levels 15
12.2.4 Digital Audio Menu Items 15
12.2.4.1 Enable Digital Audio 15
12.2.4.2 Relay Always On 16
12.2.4.3 Pass Through 16
12.2.4.4 Simulcast 16
12.2.4.5 External Clock 16
12.2.4.6 Clock Rate 16
13. Network 16
13.1 ENDEC network use notes 16
13.2 Network Settings 18
13.2.1 Time (NTP) Servers 18
13.2.2 CAP servers 19
13.2.3 Network Printer 19
13.3 Email/FTP settings 19
13.3.1 Email SMTP Server 20
13.3.2 Email Address Lists 20
13.3.3 FTP Server 20

Sage EAS ENDEC - Contents ii
Sage Digital ENDEC Manual Rev 2.0
14. Connectors 21
14.1 Serial Port Pin Out 21
14.2 Connecting a PC to an ENDEC serial (com) port 21
14.3 Audio XLR 21
14.4 Accessory Power 21
14.4.1 Enabling ACC Power Pins 22
14.5 Public Safety: Connecting a Microphone 22
15. Supported Web Browsers 23
16. Post-installation Customizing the ENDEC 23
16.1 Customizing by Web Browser 23
16.1.1 Finding the IP Address 23
16.2 Customizing by Using an ENDECSETD Serial Connection 24
17. Troubleshooting 25
17.1 Blink Errors 25
17.1.1 Incoming Alert (IN) LED Only 25
17.1.2 Outgoing Alert (OUT) LED Only 25
17.1.3 Automatic (AUTO) LED Only 25
17.1.4 Automatic (AUTO) and Incoming Alert (IN) LEDs 25
17.1.5 All LEDs Blinking (except digital lock) 26
17.2 Common Problems 26
17.3 Resetting the passwords 26
17.4 Resetting parameters to factory defaults 27
17.5 Self Test 27
18. Warranty 28

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Sage Digital ENDEC Quick Start Rev 2.0
1. About this Document
This Digital ENDEC Quick Start Guide provides these basics:
•Install the ENDEC hardware
•Set up the ENDEC software options
•Set up Network Security
The manual is primarily for broadcasters; the concepts are the same for all users.
This document provides some background for new users of the ENDEC. We’ve placed most of this
background into separate sections. You should review this entire manual, especially if you aren’t familiar
with the Emergency Alert System.
The early portion of this document contains step by step instructions for the barebones connection of your
ENDEC to your station, and setting the common settings to meet the FCC’s requirements. You will most
likely want to add additional settings to trigger your ENDEC through automation systems or push buttons
at the operating position. You may also want to carry some of the voluntary alerts, such as tornado
warnings and Amber alerts.
For more step by step instructions, go to our web site and read the task sheets on the FAQ page:
https://www.sagealertingsystems.com/faq.htm
The complete manual is on the manuals page:
https://www.sagealertingsystems.com/support-manuals.htm
Check to see if new software has been released:
https://www.sagealertingsystems.com/support-firmware-new.htm
2. Installing Your ENDEC
Here are the basic steps:
1) Learn about the audio connections – see Hardware Connectors and Indicators on page 11, and ENDEC
Audio on page 14
2) Learn about Network Security – see Network on page 16
3) Connect power on the back panel. Use the supplied 18-19V 3A power cube. DO NOT USE THE
POWER SUPPLY FROM THE ORIGINAL GRAY BOX ENDEC.
4) Connect your monitor audio sources to the ENDEC monitor inputs, not to exceed 2Vrms. Connect as
many audio sources as you have monitoring requirements to the monitor input terminals on the back
panel of the ENDEC (one source per input terminal). Addition information on adjusting the levels is
provided at https://www.sagealertingsystems.com/SB_001c.pdf, Service Bulletin #1, Audio Levels.
5) Follow the steps to connect your ENDEC to the network – see Connecting your ENDEC to the LAN
on page 3
6) Change your passwords.
7) Download the settings file from your ENDEC. This file will include the network settings you made
from the front panel. See Configuring Your ENDEC on page 5.

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Sage Digital ENDEC Manual Rev 2.0
8) Use ENDECSetD to configure your ENDEC with:
•Call sign – config tab
•Local Area – local area tab
•UTC Offset – config tag
•NTP (time) servers – network tab
•Filters for the types of messages you want to relay – incoming filter tab
9) Determine how you will receive CAP messages This is usually the Internet, but can also be a multicast
satellite receiver, or a VPN. Always use a firewall and additional access controls when connecting
your ENDEC to the Internet.
10) Connect the ENDEC to your air chain. We suggest that you don’t do this right away, get your setup
right, check the input levels, practice sending RWTs to the front panel speaker, etc.
Since an EAS alert can air automatically and unattended, the ENDEC needs to be able to switch out
your program audio and switch in its alert audio. You can pass through audio through the ENDEC
and use the ENDEC’s internal switching:
•Main Audio IN and Main Audio Out XLR connectors. This is the easiest way to switch out the
program audio and switch in the alert audio. Use connectors on the back of the ENDEC to
place the ENDEC between the console and other station audio sources and the transmitter (or
STL). The ENDEC is usually placed before any audio processing. See Figure 2-1.
•Digital Audio AES/EBU Connectors. When you use the digital audio IN and OUT ports, the
ENDEC automatically interrupts digital audio. If you use an external switch, you can use the
digital audio OUT port to provide digital audio to the switcher. In either case, the ENDEC
provides its own clock or it can derive clock from the digital audio IN port.
You can also use an external switcher. Connect the ENDEC’s digital output or analog output to the
alternate input on your switch, and trigger the switch from one of the ENDEC’s dry contract closures,
use a relay assigned to PTT.
EAS alert data usually pass through audio processing. If you place the ENDEC in front of profanity
or program delay equipment, be aware that these devices will stretch audio when they rebuild their
buffer. They keep pitch while slowing time – this process will corrupt EAS data making alerts you
relay not decodable. The FCC has certain minimum modulation levels in Part 11.
In a TV station:
a. place the character generator in the video chain and
b. connect the ENDEC to the CGEN with a serial cable. Select the type of character generator on
the DEVICE tab. Many character generator manufacturers provide an interface for Sage
systems that use the serial port and an audio input port to handle both audio and video in the
same box.
11) Connect any other options, such as remote controllers, multi-station relay panels, external switcher or
LED signs.
12) Enable logging. The ENDEC can log to any combination of:
•An attached USB printer
•a LAN-connected network printer
•a list of email addresses
•an FTP server
The ENDEC will always log to its internal FLASH memory.

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13) You will need to monitor the operation of the ENDEC. You must make sure that you continue to send
weekly tests if your license class is required to do so. LP radio and TV may not be required to send the
data tone, however, if you have an ENDEC, there is no reason not to. You must make sure that you
receive, and in some cases relay, other types of required tests. Your monitored audio sources may
degrade due to outside antennas, local environment RF noises, and other reasons. Your Internet
connection may change IP address, gateway, DNS, your local firewall, other IT changes. Security
certificates change from time to time. You will need to occasionally install updates and make other
changes. Your first hint that you have a problem will be a missed reception of a required weekly test.
3. Bench Testing
The ENDEC includes an internal speaker. To hear alert audio from this speaker, a jumper wire must be in
place between the Speaker Out and Speaker In terminals. One is installed when you receive a new
ENDEC.
If you send an alert, you’ll hear it through the internal speaker. You can bench test all of the ENDEC
functions, except for relay of a pending message. If you have two ENDECs, you can use one to send a
message to the other in a bench test by wiring the Speaker Line Out of one ENDEC to the Monitor 1 In of
the other ENDEC, and a second wire from any GND pin on one ENDEC to any GND pin on the other
ENDEC.
4. Connecting your ENDEC to the LAN
Short version:
Use the front panel Network menu to select the type of address you need, DHCP or Static with Network
Addr Type. If static, set your IP address, DNS and Gateway as needed. Then use the Web Server menu to
turn on web access by selecting Yes.
Long version with step by step key presses:
It should only take you a minute or two to make these changes. If you spend more than 10 minutes in this
menu, the ENDEC will assume that something has gone wrong and reboot. If this happens, simply start
over at the last step you performed.
Tell the ENDEC whether it will have a static or dynamic IP address and activate the built-in web server.
Each of these steps will take place at the front panel of the ENDEC. If at any time the ENDEC display
Console
Receiver
ENDEC
Processing
Audio
Transmitter
Video
Video
Transmitter
CGEN
Figure 2-1. Typical ENDEC Placement

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Sage Digital ENDEC Manual Rev 2.0
prompts you for the admin password, use the default value of 1111 - simply push the far-left button four
times. Step 1. Determine whether you will use a dynamic address (DHCP) or a static address. The correct
answer depends on how your network is configured, and can be had by asking your IT person. Note
also that DHCP provides netmask, gateway and DNS details automatically. If you choose to use a
static address, you will need to enter these details manually. Netmask, gateway and DNS values are
also network-dependent.
Important! By default, the ENDEC will attempt to obtain an address using DHCP. If you need to
change from a static address to DHCP, proceed to step 2a. If you will be using a static address,
proceed to step 2b. Step 2a and Step 2b are EXCLUSIVE of each other.
Step 2a. Configure the ENDEC to use a dynamic IP address.
1. At the ENDEC's front panel, push the Enter button (the first button on the left).
2. Push the down arrow button to move down the list until the arrow on the screen is pointing at
the Network option, then push the Enter button.
3. Push the down arrow button until the arrow on the screen is pointing at Network Addr Type,
then push the Enter button.
4. Push the Enter button again to select DHCP. The display will return to the Network menu.
5. Push the up arrow button to move up the list until Show IP Addr is selected.
6. Push the Enter button, and then write down the IP address shown on the display.
Step 2b. Or, configure the ENDEC to use a static IP address. Configure gateway and DNS settings.
1. At the ENDEC's front panel, push the Enter button (the first button on the left).
2. Push the down arrow button to move down the list until the arrow on the screen is pointing at
the Network option.
3. Push the Enter button, then push the down arrow button until the arrow on the screen is
pointing at Network Addr Type.
4. Push the Enter button, and then push the up arrow button to select STATIC. The display will
return to the Network menu.
5. Push the down arrow button to move up the list until IP Address is selected, then push the
Enter button.
6. Set the ENDEC's IP address. Push the up arrow to increment the value above the cursor, the
down arrow to decrement, and the unlabeled button (second from the left) to move the cursor
to the next position. When you have finished, push the Enter button.
7. Do not be alarmed if the ENDEC displays a warning that the gateway is not on the current
network.
8. The display will return to the Network menu. Push the Down button until the Netmask option
is selected.
9. Using the buttons in the same fashion as when setting the IP address, set the Netmask value,
and then push the Enter button.
10. The display will return to the Network menu. Push the Down button until the Gateway option
is selected.
11. Using the buttons in the same fashion as when setting the IP address, set the Gateway address,
and then push the Enter button.
12. The display will return to the Network menu. Push the Down button until DNS1 is selected.
13. Set the addresses for DNS1 and DNS2, using the buttons in the same way as when setting the
ENDEC's IP address.
Step 3. Turn on the ENDEC's built-in web server.
From the Network menu, use the Up and Down buttons to select the Web Server option, then
push the Enter button. The display will ask whether Web Server should be Yes or No. Push the
Enter button to choose Yes.

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5. Configuring Your ENDEC
Configuring your ENDEC requires three main actions
1) Get the ENDEC connected to your local area network (LAN) so you can access it.
2) Change your access passwords – don’t use the defaults, and never connect your ENDEC directly to
the Internet until you have changed the passwords. Use HTTPS to protect your passwords as you
enter them.
3) All other settings. These include your audio connections, levels, and incoming alert filters that tell
your ENDEC which alerts you want to put on the air.
Step by step instructions on configuring your ENDEC are provided in our Task Sheets, available on our
website as discussed below.
5.1 ENDEC Task Sheets
The Sage web site contains several sets of step by step instructions for initial setup of your ENDEC. If you
haven’t done this before, go and read those documents. This manual gives an outline of what you need to
do, the web Task Sheets documents will provide up to date details and pointers to the location of the latest
ENDECSetD as well as any recent firmware updates.
The task sheets are at:
www.sagealertingsystems.com/faq.htm
5.2 Preparing to configure your ENDEC’s settings
You will need to download and install the ENDECSetD settings file editor.
1) Open your web browser, and go to this address: http://sagealertingsystems.com/support-
firmware.htm You will need to use a modern browser, see Supported Web Browsers on page 23.
2) Create a folder on your desktop. For convenience, simply call it “sage”.
3) If the firmware update page has a newer version than what is on your ENDEC, you still install the
new update. Read the release notes for the update and follow their instructions to make sure you
need to install it. From the firmware update page you opened in 1), click the link for the firmware
file. When prompted to run or save the file, choose to save it in the folder you created in 2). The
filename will contain the firmware version and have an .x extension, e.g. 95-1.x.
4) Download the ENDECSetD software. From the firmware update page that should be open in your
browser in 1), download the ENDECSetD utility. When prompted to run or save the file, choose to
save it in the folder you created in 2). Once the download process has completed, open the folder
and double-click the EndecSetD.msi file. Answer all questions in the affirmative, stepping through
the installation process just as you would when installing any program.
5.3 Edit Your Settings
Quick changes to basic settings can be made at the ENDEC's front panel, but more involved procedures
(incoming alert filters, for example) are best handled using the ENDECSetD utility. This section provides
the basic steps to retrieve your ENDEC's settings, edit them on your computer, and then upload your
changes back into the ENDEC. You will also need a folder to store the ENDEC settings file - the Sage
folder you created above is a good place for this purpose, and we'll refer to it here as your Sage folder.
1) Open your web browser to the ENDEC's built-in web page. Open your web browser. In the address
bar, type in the IP address of the ENDEC, then hit Enter. The ENDEC's built-in web page will
appear in your browser.

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2) Get the current settings from the ENDEC. From the menu down the left-hand side of the screen,
click the Retrieve Settings button. Once the Retrieve Settings form appears on the right-hand side,
click the gray Retrieve Settings button in the form. When prompted to open or save, choose to save
the file, following the prompts to browse and select your Sage folder. The file will have an
extension of ES2.
3) Launch the ENDECSetD utility. Open your Sage folder and double-click the ES2 file that's in
there. ENDECSetD should automatically open, populated with all of your ENDEC's current
settings. If ENDECSetD does not open when you double-click the ES2 file, you can launch the
ENDECSetD utility manually, and then open the ES2 file for editing. If you don't have a
ENDECSetD shortcut already on your desktop, you can find ENDECSetD in your Program Files
folder. It will be inside of a subfolder called "Sage Alerting Systems." You might consider placing
a shortcut on your desktop.
4) Edit your ENDEC's configuration settings as desired. All operational parameters, including alert
handling, UTC offset and DST, relay programming, incoming alert filters, and basic callsign and
station group identification, can be set within the ENDECSetD utility.
5) When you are finished, save your changes. Simply click the little floppy disc button, located near
the upper left of the ENDECSetD window.
6) Update the ENDEC with your new settings. Open your web browser to the ENDEC's built-in web
page, once again. From the menu down the left-hand side, click the Restore Settings button. The
Restore Settings File form will appear on the right. From that form, click the Browse button, and
navigate to the ES2 file in your Sage folder. Click it once to select it, then click the Open button at
the lower right of the file selection window. Once the window goes away, click the Upload button
on the Upload Settings File form. A message will be displayed, indicating that the update is
underway, and that you must not disturb the ENDEC until the update process has completed. After
the ENDEC completes its update and reboot process, it will return to the operational state, with
your new settings in effect.
5.4 Passwords
There are two types of user access passwords: front panel, and web access.
5.4.1 Front Panel
•user: a user level password. The user password allows you to originate or relay an alert.
•admin. The admin password allows you to configure or reconfigure the ENDEC.
The passwords that control access to the front panel can be entered from the front panel, or using
ENDECSetD. A password is from 0 to 8 digits long; the digits are 1, 2, 3, or 4. At the prompt, “enter
password” or “enter admin” press the numbered key(s) to enter the password. The password provides
access to the appropriate levels of the menu. Access remains open until you exit the menus and go back to
the default screen
The default front panel password for both user and admin is 1111.
5.4.2 Web Access
Your account names must be 20 characters or less. Select appropriately complex passwords for web page
access. Do not use your station’s call letters or anything else you periodically mention on the air. Your
password:
•Cannot be “admin” or “user”, or contain the user name.
•Passwords must be at least 8 to 20 characters long.
•Each account can have different roles assigned to perform different tasks.

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6. Is the ENDEC Set Up Correctly?
Correctly is a combination of your settings and filters, all the hardware connections, and access to your
LAN. These seems complicated, but the ENDEC is accepting alert messages from other local stations via
audio inputs, as well as using the Internet to find alerts and download audio. The ENDEC needs to check
any alerts it finds against your list of optional alerts, as well as the FCC’s list of required alerts. It interacts
with other equipment at your station to get the alert on the air.
You need to check to see if all this has the desired result, and you need to check it periodically to make sure
it is still working as expected.
Here is a typical checklist.
1) Are alerts getting on the air? Even if you hear the alerts on the ENDEC’s front panel speaker, you
need to check to see if they actually get on the air –can you hear the data tones? You can send a
weekly test any time you like. You must send a weekly test each week unless you relayed another
alert in that week.
2) Is the ENDEC receiving alerts and relaying them correctly? Are you monitoring the sources
required by your State EAS Plan. You must relay the Required Monthly Test. These tests are
almost always scheduled in advance on a State or local level. Find out when they occur in your
area.
3) You must relay the National Periodic Test. This has occurred yearly since 2016, but might not
happen every year. The FCC announces the test two months in advance.
Alerts should appear in your log. The ENDEC should receive a weekly test or any other alert from each of
your monitor assignments once a week. If an alert is missed, you need to find out why. It might be that
one wasn’t sent, or that it was and you didn’t receive it.
The ENDEC can email log reports, but the ENDEC also keeps an internal log of each received alert.
Access this from the ENDEC’s web page, click the “logs” button. It will show you each alert sent, and
each alert you receive from an analog monitor source. Audio alerts that don’t match your filters will show
up with a type of “ignored”. Alerts from CAP are logged only if they are specifically selected by a filter.
FEMA sends a Required Weekly Test each Monday, usually at 11:00am local time for your state.
FCC rules require that you maintain a log of EAS activities, review it regularly, noting missed alerts and
why they were missed.
The ENDEC’s home page will also give you an indication of problems. The top status line should always
show “CAP: OK”. If not, you need to find out why – use the displays on the Tools page to help.
The dashboard on the right side of the main page will also show if there are any error conditions such as
self test failure, the last alert sent and received, the local and UTC time at the ENDEC, and other items.
7. About the Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) allows the President of the United States to automatically access the
nation’s broadcast outlets and directly speak to the country in times of national disaster. Other originators
are:
•the National Weather Service and
•State and Local officials to disseminate other types of emergency information.
Your EAS encoder/decoder (ENDEC) receives alerts from:
•Over the air directly from the source of the emergency information, or from other broadcasters in
your area that relay information from the primary source
•At least one Common Alerting Protocol alert server
FCC licensed EAS Participants are required to monitor and process alerts from both input types.

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7.1 Over the Air
Your ENDEC receives alerts via the analog audio inputs on the back of the unit. Your state’s EAS plan
will define what your monitor assignments are. The audio relay of alerts is an important backup capability
to CAP delivered messages, and is a critical part of FEMA’s mandate to provide the President with
communications capability to address the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency
Some messages are not originated as CAP messages and always only use the audio relay method of
dissemination.
7.2 Common Alerting Protocol
The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is an international standard for sending alert information. The CAP
allows a consistent alert message to be disseminated simultaneously over many different communications
systems. A CAP message is not sent on the main audio output of a broadcaster like an EAS alert. CAP
delivery varies from state to state, but typically includes one or more of:
•over the Internet from FEMA’s IPAWS system,
•over the Internet from a state or local alert originator via a 3rd party alert aggregator,
•via an IP data stream from satellite.
In any case, the last hop is via the LAN connector on the ENDEC.
It is important to note, however, that a CAP message is always converted to an EAS message before it is
broadcast by an EAS participant.
There are a few major differences between a CAP message and an EAS message:
•CAP contains free-form text. For example, rather than a simple “Child Abduction Warning issued
for Allegheny County”, the alert contains specific information. If a missing child, the text could
include a description of the child, last known location, what type of car is involved, and other
important information. This information is available to any of the text outputs of the ENDEC,
such as printer, email, LED sign, video crawl, HD radio, etc. The additional text information is lost
when the alert is turned into EAS for relay, but stations that receive the CAP message can make use
of the text.
•CAP contains digital audio. This is usually in the form of a pointer to an audio file on a web
server. The ENDEC can then fetch the audio and use it when sending the alert. In most cases, the
quality of audio in the digital file will be better than the quality of audio that is received from an
over-the-air source and relayed.
•In some cases, if the CAP alert does not contain audio from the originator, the ENDEC can provide
audio by converting the CAP text to speech.
As with EAS messages, the ENDEC uses the filter information you provide to decide what types of CAP
alerts to put on the air. The ENDEC automatically converts a CAP message into an EAS message for
broadcast.
To read more about CAP, see also:
•the Sage web site (www.sagealertingsystems.com)
•the FEMA web site: https://www.fema.gov/common-alerting-protocol.

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8. Meeting FCC Requirements
This section describes the Emergency Alert System (EAS) as mandated by the FCC rules, Part 11. You
should review Part 11 and any updates.
You can find Part 11 in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations here, at
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=pt47.1.11&rgn=div5
This section discusses the EAS rules and testing.
8.1 EAS Rules
Note: This manual, and other documentation from Sage, is not legal advice.
The broadcaster is ultimately responsible for complying with the FCC rules. Staying within the rules is a
combination of the EAS hardware and software, other hardware and software at your facility, and the
various procedures for use of the hardware and software. You need to continue to monitor the proper
operation of your EAS equipment by verifying that the weekly tests go on the air as expected, and that you
receive weekly tests from your monitored stations, and that you relay the Required Monthly Tests and the
National Periodic test. The FCC changes the rules from time to time through its Report and Order process.
Check the Sage web site at www.sagealertingsystems.com periodically to check for software updates.
You are responsible for meeting FCC requirements as defined for your type of EAS Participant. The rules
for LP radio and TV are slightly different that other types of radio and TV.
The FCC provides a handbook that gives guidance for the various types of EAS Participants. It can be
found at https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system#eas-operating-handbook, referenced by the
main EAS page at https://www.fcc.gov/general/emergency-alert-system-eas-0
To meet the requirements of CFR 47 Part 11, do at least the following:
1) Place the ENDEC (directly or via an audio switch) in the audio chain. TV stations also need to have a
character generator in the video chain. Many character generator manufacturers provide an interface
for Sage systems that use the serial port and an audio input port to handle both audio and video in the
same box.
2) Hook up receivers to the ENDEC monitor inputs.
3) Connect your ENDEC’s LAN connector to your source for CAP messages. This is usually the
Internet, but can also be a multicast satellite receiver, or a VPN. Always use a firewall and additional
access controls when connecting your ENDEC to the Internet.
4) Configure your ENDEC with
•Call sign
•Local Area
•UTC Offset
•Time of Day (or provide a list of NTP servers accessible from the ENDEC)
•Filters for the types of messages you want to relay
5) Monitor the operation of the ENDEC. You must make sure that you continue to send weekly tests if
your operation class is required to do so. You must make sure that you receive, and in some cases
relay, other types of required tests. Your monitored audio sources may degrade due to outside
antennas, local environment RF noises, and other reasons. Your Internet connection may change IP
address, gateway, DNS, your local firewall, other IT changes. Security certificates change from time
to time. You will need to occasionally install updates and make other changes. Your first hint that you
have a problem will be a missed reception of a required weekly test.

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8.2 FCC Testing: On the Air
Test the equipment on the air as follows.
Weekly
at a random time and day of your choice each week. Send the weekly test from the
ENDEC’s web page or front panel.
Monthly
relay the required monthly test once a month, probably issued by one of the primary
emergency sources in your area.
as needed
automatically relay any Presidential messages or the National Periodic test messages.
You can also configure the ENDEC to relay other types of EAS messages, such as
tornado warnings and civil emergency messages.
9. EAS/CAP Message Processing
The ENDEC processes all EAS messages as follows:
1. Detects an EAS message and records the audio portion if received from an analog audio source, or
downloads the audio using information in the CAP message.
2. Decides whether to put it on the air. The ENDEC may do this automatically or it may wait for operator
input, depending on the options you’ve selected.
3. Puts the alert on the air. To do this, the ENDEC:
a. regenerates the EAS digital codes and the two-tone Attention Signal,
b. relays the recorded audio
c. sends the end of alert digital codes.

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Sage Digital ENDEC Quick Start Rev 2.0
10. Hardware Connectors and Indicators
This section describes the front and back panels.
10.1 Front Panel
This section describes the front panel of the ENDEC.
Item Name Description
1 Mic Jack For public safety applications, a connector for a microphone.
For low level input (15mv - 150mv). See Public Safety:
Connecting a Microphone on page 22
2 Enter Button Selects a menu item or a soft key.
3 Soft Key Soft key button. It goes up one level in the menu.
4 Up Button Soft key. Scrolls up in a menu.
5 Down Button Soft key. Scrolls down in a menu.
6 4 line by 20
character back lit
LCD display
Allows you to program the ENDEC and to read the contents of
alert messages. The contrast can be adjusted using MENU.LCD
CONTRAST.
7 LEDs •Incoming Alert. On when an incoming alert is detected.
Stays on if that alert is selected for relay until the alert is
relayed or deleted.
•Outgoing Alert. On when an alert is being sent.
•Attention Tone. On when an Attention signal is received.
•Automatic. On when the ENDEC is in automatic mode.
•Digital Audio Lock. On when the ENDEC is receiving
digital bit clock from the AES/EBU digital input.
8 Serial Port The Computer port, which you can assign to any device. See
14.1 Serial Port Pin Out on page 21. This port is on the front for
convenient access if the ENDEC is rack mounted.
01/28/08 10:53:23
MENU WEEK PEND MSG
Sage Digital ENDEC
Computer
Enter
Incoming
Alert Outgoing
Alert Attention Tone Automatic Digital
Audio Lock Mic
1
2
6
73 4 5 8
9
Figure 10-1. ENDEC Front Panel.

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Sage Digital ENDEC Manual Rev 2.0
Item Name Description
9 Internal Speaker The internal speaker carries alert audio. You can use it to
monitor any of the incoming audio channels. It is fed from the
back panel Spkr In terminal, which is usually jumpered to the
Spkr Out terminal. You can also route it through an external
relay to allow muting.
10.2 ENDEC Back Panel
Item Name Description
1
Terminal Strip The terminal strips are removable. The signals are listed below.
Rly 4 A relay that opens and closes according to an assigned program.
D in 2 through 5 A digital input that the ENDEC reads as open (floating) or closed (ground).
Used for various options such as alert hold off or sending a Weekly Test.
Attn Rly A relay that opens and closes according to an assigned program. By default,
the relay closes when it receives an Attention Signal. When closed, these two
terminals are shorted together. In the User’s Guide, see also the sections on
Relays and Relay Programming.
Enc Rly A relay that opens and closes according to an assigned program. By default,
the relay closes when an alert is being sent. When closed, these two terminals
are shorted together.
In the User’s Guide, see also the sections on Relays and Relay Programming.
Dec Rly A relay that opens and closes according to an assigned program. By default,
the relay closes when it receives an alert or is pending. When closed, these
two terminals are shorted together. In the User’s Guide, see also the sections
on Relays and Relay Programming.
LAN
10/100
Com 5
Com 6
Com 3
Com 4
Attn Rly
Attn Rly
Enc Rly
Enc Rly
Dec Rly
Dec Rly
Gnd
Mon 1 in Mon 2 in
Mon 3 in
Mon 4 in Mon 5 in
Mon 6 in Gnd
Gnd
Enc in
D in 1
Line Out
Spkr Out
Spkr In
.
Gnd
USB 1
USB 2Com 2
Digital Audio
In Out
Main Audio In Main/Alert Audio Out
L R L R
Rly 4
Rly 4
D in 2
D in 3
D in 4 D in 5
On/Off
PWR
Figure 10-2. ENDEC Back Panel
1
2
3
4
5
6

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Sage Digital ENDEC Quick Start Rev 2.0
Item Name Description
Gnd Grounds for the various unbalanced audio inputs.
Mon nIn (1 – 6) Unbalanced 600 ohm inputs for alert audio sources, .75Vrms typical, do not
exceed 2Vrms.
Enc In A high-level audio input for locally originated audio.
D in 1 (previously
called Manual
Override)
A digital input that the ENDEC reads as open (floating) or closed (ground).
Used for various options such as alert hold off or sending a Weekly Test.
Line Out Unbalanced 600 ohm output for alert audio or monitoring the inputs.
Spkr Out Separate unbalanced 600 ohm output, can be used for an external speaker or to
feed the internal speaker through Spkr In.
Spkr In The internal speaker, usually fed from Spkr Out. The path is made available
on the back panel to allow routing through a console for muting.
2 XLR In and Out Stereo input and output connectors for station audio. The ENDEC normally
passes this through on a hard relay (no audio processing). During an alert, the
output is switched to the ENDEC’s internal sources.
3 Serial Ports
Five serial ports, COM2 through COM5, that you can assign to any device.
See section 14.1 Serial Port Pin Out on page 21.
4 Power
Power input and power switch. Use the power cube supplied with the
ENDEC, 19v, 2A. Do not use the power cube from the original “gray box”
ENDEC.
5 Digital Audio AES/EBU digital input and output.
6 LAN 10/100 LAN connection.
USB 1 and 2 USB connection, used for flash drive, printer, etc.

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11. Powering Up the ENDEC
When you power up the ENDEC:
•The red LED labeled Automatic on the front panel flashes. This indicates that at least one error
message is in the message buffer. The error message for first time power up is “Local Area not
defined”. To define a local area, use the Local Area tab in ENDECSetD.
•The ENDEC performs a self-test. If there are any errors, the Incoming Alert LED will blink. Use
the MSG soft key to read the errors (scroll the messages with the up and down keys).
12. ENDEC Audio
12.1 Analog Audio
The Mon1 through 6 inputs are used to send audio alerts to the ENDEC. These are typically connected to
radio receivers, although they will sometimes be TV or Cable receivers, satellite audio channels, or any
other analog source. The Mon in and Enc in inputs are limited to 2Vrms. Exceeding the 2Vrms level
will result in poor audio, exceeding 4Vrms will damage the ENDEC.
The front panel microphone input level can be as low as 16mv for high settings of MENU.LEVEL.MIC or as
high as 170mv for low settings of MENU.LEVEL.MIC.See Public Safety: Connecting a Microphone on page
22 for a description of the connector.
12.2 Digital Audio
12.2.1 Digital Audio Input, Output, and Pass-through
The Digital ENDEC has a single AES/EBU in and out. The input is used to accept station audio. The
ENDEC can be configured to actively or passively copy this data to the output. The ENDEC will also send
an alert to the output. The output clock can be generated internally, or derived from the input data stream.
The ENDEC always sends the alert in two channel format.
Use the MENU.DIGITAL front panel or ENDECSetD Digital Audio tab to control how and if the ENDEC
performs digital audio pass-through. Following are descriptions of how the various settings can be used to
implement several pass-through types.
1) Active Digital Pass-through. In this mode, the ENDEC acts as an audio switch. The station audio is
connected to ENDEC Digital Audio In, and the ENDEC copies the bit stream to Digital Audio Out.
When an alert is sent, the station audio is replaced by the alert audio on a bit boundary, causing a
minimal frame sync loss. The ENDEC’s mechanical relay is ON all the time, meaning when the
ENDEC is powered, it is performing the active copy function, but as a failsafe, the ENDEC is a
hardwire pass-through when power is removed.
Settings:
Enable Digital Audio: Yes
Pass Through: Yes
Relay always on: Yes
Clock: External
2) Mechanically switched pass-through. In this mode, the ENDEC's mechanical relay is OFF (hardwire
pass-through) unless an alert is being sent. This causes a larger break in the digital audio stream at
the start and the end of an alert. This can cause an audio glitch in the output, but the ENDEC is not
inline unless an alert is in progress.
Settings:
Enable Digital Audio: Yes

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Pass Through: No
Relay always on: No
Clock: External or internal
3) Alert generation only. In this mode, a downstream external switcher places the ENDEC's digital
audio into the station's digital signal. Switching occurs as a result of the ENDEC closing one of the
four contact closures (the Push To Talk function). The ENDEC will generate digital data only when
an alert is in progress. An input signal to the ENDEC is not needed, but if the downstream switch
wants to see the ENDEC clock synchronized with house clock, then an input audio stream must be
provided to the ENDEC’s Digital In.
Settings:
Enable Digital Audio: Yes
Pass Through: No
Relay always on: No
Clock: External or internal
4) Alert generation with idle. This mode is the same as "Alert generation only" except that the ENDEC
will always output a digital signal, sending silence when an alert is not in progress. This mode is
used if the downstream switcher wants to see signal at all times. An input signal to the ENDEC is
not needed, but if the downstream switch wants to see the ENDEC clock synchronized with house
clock, an input signal must be provided.
Settings:
Enable Digital Audio: Yes
Pass Through: No
Relay always on: Yes
Clock: External or internal
Each digital control setting is described in detail below.
12.2.2 Digital Audio Clock
The ENDEC can derive digital audio clock from the input audio stream, or it can provide its own clock.
Important! Even if you set the ENDEC for external clock, you must still set the ENDEC Clock Rate
parameter. The rate setting also controls the conversion of the various audio sources, both analog (from the
monitor inputs) and digital (from CAP messages), to the proper digital speed. Failure to set the rate
correctly will result in either a playback that is fast and high pitched, or that sounds like HAL on the last
verse of Bicycle Built for Two.
12.2.3 Digital Audio Levels
The MENU.DIGITAL LEVELS menu or the ENDECSetD Digital Audio tab can be used to set the levels of
the various tones, similar to the setting of the analog audio levels in the MENU.LEVELS or Levels tab.
12.2.4 Digital Audio Menu Items
The following items are available on the ENDECSetD Digital Audio tab, or on the front panel
MENU.DIGITAL AUDIO menu.
12.2.4.1 Enable Digital Audio
If enabled, the ENDEC will send alerts to the digital output and will light the front panel Lock LED if a
digital input is present.

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12.2.4.2 Relay Always On
If enabled, the ENDEC digital relay is always on, meaning the ENDEC’s digital audio transmitter is always
driving the Digital Audio Out signal. “Always” means after the ENDEC is turned on and starts up. When
the ENDEC is off, and for a short time after it is turned on, the ENDEC relay is OFF, meaning the ENDEC
digital transmitter is bypassed, and Digital Audio In is hardwired to Digital Audio Out.
12.2.4.3 Pass Through
When enabled, the ENDEC copies the Digital Audio In bit stream to the Digital Audio Out bit stream,
except when it is sending an alert.
12.2.4.4 Simulcast
When enabled, the ENDEC will always send an alert on the Digital Audio output at the same time that it
sends an alert on the analog outputs. If Simulcast is not enabled, the digital output can be sent
independently of the analog alert. The digital output is then treated as if it were station 4 on a multi-station
relay panel
12.2.4.5 External Clock
When External Clock is enabled, the ENDEC uses the input stream to derive its digital bit clock, otherwise
it will generate its own clock based on the Clock Rate setting. Note: even if External Clock is enabled,
Clock Rate must also be set to the correct rate.
12.2.4.6 Clock Rate
The ENDEC supports sample rates of 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and 48 kHz.
13. Network
While we provided tools to help keep the ENDEC secure, security is ultimately the responsibility of the
user.
The ENDEC is not a security device – if you plan to make the ENDEC available on the Internet, you must
also use a firewall to provide the necessary protection. You also need a firewall if your internal network is
shared with other users not associated with your station, particularly in a university or large corporate
setting.
This section discusses using the Sage Digital ENDEC on a LAN. Read and understand this section on
network security below before using the LAN with your ENDEC.
Important. Use a firewall to protect the ENDEC from unauthorized access.
13.1 ENDEC network use notes
•If the DCHP address type is selected, the ENDEC always attempts to get an IP address. If you do
not want the ENDEC on the LAN, do not connect a cable to the RJ-45 LAN port on the back of the
ENDEC (labeled LAN 10/100).
•NTP (Network Time Protocol) is enabled. The ENDEC does not allow remote control of the NTP
settings via the NTP protocol. It does allow you to specify a list of servers via ENDECSETD.
Time (NTP) Servers. See section 13.2.1, Time (NTP) Servers.
•By default, all control functions that would generate EAS alerts using the LAN are disabled. This
includes the Web server, the automation interface, and the ENDEC PRO/DJ LAN interface. To