Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) is a protocol used for framing and classification of broadcasting emergency warning messages. It was developed by the United States National Weather Service for use on its NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) network, and was later adopted by the Federal Communications Commission for the Emergency Alert System, then subsequently by Environment Canada for use on its Weatheradio Canada service. It is also used to set off receivers in Mexico City and surrounding areas as part of the Mexican Seismic Alert System (SASMEX).
From the 1960s to the 1980s, a special feature of the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) system was the transmission of a single attention tone prior to the broadcast of any message alerting the general public of significant weather events. This became known as the Warning Alarm Tone (WAT). Although it served NWR well, there were many drawbacks. Without staff at media facilities to manually evaluate the need to rebroadcast an NWR message using the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), automatic rebroadcasting of all messages preceded by just the WAT was unacceptable and impractical. Even if stations and others with the need were willing to allow for this type of automatic capture, assuming the events for activation were critical, there was no way for automated equipment at the station to know when the message was complete and restore it back to normal operation.
SAME had its beginnings in the early 1980s when NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) began experimenting with system using analog tones in a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) format to transmit data with radio broadcasts.[1] In 1985, the NWS forecast offices began experimenting with placing special digital codes at the beginning and end of every message concerning life- or property-threatening weather conditions targeting a specific area. The intent of what became SAME was to ultimately transmit a code with the initial broadcast of all NWR messages. However, the roll-out moved slowly until 1995, when the U.S. Government provided the budget needed to develop the SAME technology across the entire radio network. Nationwide implementation occurred in 1997, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted the SAME standard as part of its new Emergency Alert System (EAS).[2] In 2003, NOAA established a SAME technology standard for weather radio receivers.
The SAME technique was later adopted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1997[3] for use in the EAS as well as by Environment Canada[4] for its Weatheradio Canada service in 2004. Much like the original EBS dual-tone, this produces a distinct sound (the) which is easily recognized by most individuals due to its use in weekly and monthly broadcast tests, as well as weather alert messages. During the said events, viewers and/or listeners will hear these digital codes in the form of buzzes, chirps, and clicking sounds (colloquially known as "duck farts" by broadcast engineers)[5] just before the attention signal is sent out and at the conclusion of the voice message.[6]
In the SAME system, messages are constructed in four parts, the first and last of which are digital and the middle two are audio. The digital sections of a SAME message are AFSK data bursts, with individual bits lasting 1920 μs (1.92 ms) each, giving a bit rate of 520 bits per second. A mark bit is four complete cycles of a sine wave, translating to a mark frequency of 2083 Hz, and a space bit is three complete sine wave cycles, making the space frequency 1562.5 Hz.
The data is sent isochronously and encoded in 8-bit bytes with the most-significant bit of each ASCII byte set to zero. The least-significant bit of each byte is transmitted first, including the preamble. The data stream is bit and byte synchronized on the preamble.[7]
Since there is no error correction, the digital part of a SAME message is transmitted three times, so that decoders can pick "best two out of three" for each byte, thereby eliminating most errors which can cause an activation to fail.
The text of the header code is a fixed format:
amble>ZCZC-ORG-EEE-PSSCCC+TTTT-JJJHHMM-LLLLLLLL-
This is broken down as follows:
1. A preamble of binary 10101011 (0xAB in hex) repeated sixteen times, used for "receiver calibration" (i.e., [[Synchronization in telecommunications|clock synchronization]]), then the letters <code>ZCZC</code> as an attention to the decoder (a message activation method inherited from [[Navtex|NAVTEX]]).
2. ''ORG'' — Originator code; programmed per unit when put into operation<ref>47CFR11.31(d)</ref>
* PEP – National Public Warning System (Previously known as "Primary Entry Point System". It will be FEMA for National Tests through the Legacy format instead of IPAWS.)
** President or other authorized national officials
* CIV – Civil authorities
** i.e. Governor, state/local emergency management, local police/fire officials
* WXR – [[National Weather Service]] (or [[Environment Canada]].)
** Any weather-related alert
* EAS – EAS Participant (or Broadcast station or cable system)
** Broadcasters. Generally only used with test messages.
* EAN – Emergency Action Notification Network (No longer used after ~2010.)
** Used to send [[Emergency Action Notification]]s. (No longer used, replaced by PEP.)
3. ''EEE'' — Event code; programmed at time of event
4. ''PSSCCC'' — Location codes (up to 31 location codes per message), each beginning with a dash character; programmed at time of event
* In the United States, the first digit (''P'') is zero if the entire county or area is included in the warning, otherwise, it is a non-zero number depending on the [[cardinal point|cardinal]] location of the emergency within the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2010-title47-vol1/xml/CFR-2010-title47-vol1-sec11-31.xml|title = EAS protocol}}</ref> The remaining five digits are the [[FIPS state code|FIPS state]] (''SS'') and [[FIPS county code|county code]] (''CCC''). The entire state may be specified by using county code 000 (''three zeros'').
* In Canada, all six digits make up a Canadian Location Code, which corresponds to a specific [[forecast region]] as used by the [[Meteorological Service of Canada]]. All forecast region numbers are six digits with the first digit always zero.
5. ''TTTT'' — Purge time of the alert event (from exact time of issue)
* In the format ''hhmm'', using 15-minute increments up to one hour, using 30-minute increments up to six hours, and using hourly increments beyond six hours. Weekly and monthly tests sometimes have a 12-hour or greater purge time to assure users have an ample opportunity to verify reception of the test event messages; however; 15 minutes is more common, especially on [[NOAA Weather Radio]]'s tests.
* For short term events (like a tornado) this value could be set to 0000 (''four zeros''), which will purge the warning immediately after the message has been received. However, this is not typical, and FCC guidelines suggest a minimum of 15 minutes purge time.
* '''The purge time is not intended to coincide with the actual end of the event'''. Longer events that may not end for days (like hurricanes) may have a purge time of only a few hours. That an event message has been purged does not indicate or imply that the threat has passed.
The National Weather Service is changing the maximum purge time for alerts on NOAA Weather Radio from 6 hours to 99.5 hours by summer 2023 to address long duration events purging before the event begins. <ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2023 |title=Service Change Notice 23-03 |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/notification/pdf_2023_24/scn23-03_nwr_same_upper_limit_change.pdf}}</ref>
6. ''JJJHHMM'' — Exact time of issue, in [[UTC]], (''without [[time zone]] adjustments'').
* ''JJJ'' is the [[Ordinal date]] (''day'') of the year, with leading zeros
* ''HHMM'' is the hours and minutes (24-hour format), in [[UTC]], with leading zeros
7. ''LLLLLLLL'' — Eight-character station callsign identification, with "/" used instead of "–" (such as the first eight letters of a cable headend's location, <code>WABC/FM</code> for [[WABC-FM]], <code>KLOX/NWS</code> for a [[NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards|weather radio]] station programmed from Los Angeles, or <code>EC/GC/CA</code> for a [[Weatheradio Canada]] station).
Each field of the header code is terminated by a dash character, including the station ID at the end; individual ''PSSCCC'' location numbers are also separated by dashes, with a plus (+) separating the last location from the purge time that follows it.
==Full message format==
An EAS message contains these elements, in this transmitted sequence:
# '''Header.'''
# '''Attention signal''' — Sent if any message is included (normally sent with all messages except RWT on broadcast radio/TV); must be at least eight seconds long. (On weather radio in Canada the 1050 Hz tone is only used with three event codes: RMT, SVR & TOR{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}})
#* Single {{Audio|1050Hz Tone.ogg|1050 Hz}} audio tone used by [[NOAA Weather Radio]].
#* Combined {{Audio|Emergency Alert System Attention Signal 20s.ogg|853 and 960 Hz}} tones for broadcast radio/TV.
# '''Message''' — An audio message. The FCC permits encoded video or text in lieu of an audio message, but neither are implemented in practice.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/ECIG-CAP-to-EAS_Implementation_Guide-V1-0.pdf|edition=Version 1.0|title=ECIG Recommendations For a CAP EAS Implementation Guide|date=May 14, 2010|publication-date=May 17, 2010|access-date=October 11, 2022|pages=8–9|language=en-us|editor-last1=Wood|editor-first1=Tom|editor-last2=Price|editor-first2=Harold|publisher=EAS CAP Industry Group, EAS-CAP Implementation Guide Subcommittee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302125233im_/https://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/ECIG-CAP-to-EAS_Implementation_Guide-V1-0.pdf|archive-date=March 2, 2022|url-status=live|quote=The FCC specifies that the message portion may be audio, video, or text. In practice, neither text nor video is actually embedded into the audio signal. Video and text accompany video broadcasts of EAS alert audio, but these elements are not part of the audio encoding of EAS, and are not propagated through the “daisy chain” architecture of EAS decoding receivers.}}</ref>
# '''Tail''' — (Preamble) <code>NNNN</code> (EOM).
There is one second of blank audio between each section, and before and after each message. For those used to packet communications systems where each packet has a checksum, note that there is no checksum used in the message format. The header and EOM are transmitted 3 times,<ref>{{cite report |author=C. Hodan |date=October 3, 2011 |title=National Weather Service Instruction 10-1712 |url=https://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01017012curr.pdf |publisher=National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration |page=A-1 |access-date=August 11, 2021 }}</ref> and the receiver is obliged to implement columnar parity correction.
The combined tones date back to 1976{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}<!-- earlier edit said 1963 --> when they were made part of the [[Emergency Broadcast System]], the EAS' predecessor.
==Event codes==
There are roughly 80 different event codes that are used in EAS. These codes are defined federally by the FCC for use in the EAS system and publicly by the [[Consumer Electronics Association]] (CEA) standard<ref name="CEA">Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Technology Standard [http://www.ce.org/Standards/Standard-Listings/R3-Audio-Systems/CEA-2009-B-(ANSI).aspx "CEA-2009-B (ANSI)"], November 2010, accessed January 11, 2014.</ref> for SAME protocol weather radio receiver decoder units.
All but the first six of these used to be optional and could be programmed into encoder/decoder units at the request of the broadcaster. However, a July 12, 2007, memo by the FCC now requires mandatory participation in state and local level EAS by broadcasters. Furthermore, the creation and evolution of a voluntary standard by the CEA in December 2003 has provided participating manufacturers of weather radio receivers a single definitive reference to use when designing and programming receivers. In addition, some receiver manufacturers have added an additional layer as to whether or not an event code can be user-suppressed (e.g., a Hurricane Warning in a Midwest US State) or will never be allowed to be suppressed (e.g., Nuclear Power Plant Warning).
:'''Key for event code tables'''
:{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | USA type key
! colspan=2 | CAN/MEX type key
! colspan=2 | Event level key
|-
| M || Mandatory code
| AB || Administrative bulletin
| style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV || Advisory
|-
| O1 || Original optional code
| CI || Currently implemented
| style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH || Watch
|-
| O2 || 2002 optional code<ref name="FCC-02-64A1"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=75127c72007aa6a3f1ce8fda8cb814e2&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:1.0.1.1.11&idno=47#47:1.0.1.1.11.2.239.1 |title=Electronic Code of Federal Regulations |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-date=2011-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018151420/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=75127c72007aa6a3f1ce8fda8cb814e2&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:1.0.1.1.11&idno=47#47:1.0.1.1.11.2.239.1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| RT || Required test
| style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN || Warning
|-
| O3 || 2017 optional code<ref name="FCC-16-80A1">{{cite web | url=https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-16-80A1.pdf | title=Federal Communications Commission Report and Order | date=July 11, 2016 | access-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref>
| FI || For future implementation
| style="background-color: white;" | TEST || Test
|-
| NI || Not implemented
| NI || Not implemented
| ||
|-
| ||
| TS || Testing for Implementation
| ||
|}
:'''Event codes in use:'''
:The following event codes have been implemented by agencies in the United States and/or Canada, and CIRES A.C. in Mexico.
:{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! scope="col" width="40" | Event Code
! scope="col" width="40" | U.S. Type
! scope="col" width="40" | CAN. Type
! scope="col" width="40" | MEX. Type
! scope="col" width="400" | Event Description
! scope="col" width="50" | Event Level
|-
| ADR || O1 || AB || NI || Align="Left"| Administrative Message || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| AVA || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Avalanche]] Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| AVW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| Avalanche Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| BLU || O3 || NI || NI || Align="Left" | [[National Blue Alert Act of 2013|Blue Alert]]|| style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| BZW || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Blizzard warning|Blizzard Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| CAE || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[AMBER Alert|Child Abduction Emergency]] || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| CDW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Civil danger warning|Civil Danger Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| CEM || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Civil emergency message|Civil Emergency Message]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| CFA || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Coastal flood|Coastal Flood]] Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| CFW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Coastal flood warning|Coastal Flood Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| DMO || O1 || AB || NI || Align="Left"| Practice/Demo Warning || style="background-color: white;" | TEST
|-
| DSW || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Dust storm warning|Dust Storm Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| EAN || M || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[National Emergency Message]] (Formerly known as "[[Emergency Action Notification]]", and is a national-level EAS activation. If it's ever used, it will be seen on all broadcast stations at the same time across the country, to carry a live Presidential message.) || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| EAT || NI || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Emergency Action Termination]] (No longer used after 2012. It was NOT used to terminate the [[Emergency Action Notification]] test of 2011.) || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| EQW || O2 || FI || CI || Align="Left"| [[Earthquake warning|Earthquake Warning]]|| style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| EVI || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Evacuation immediate|Evacuation Immediate]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| EWW || O3 || NI || NI || Align="left"| [[Extreme wind warning|Extreme Wind Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| FFA || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Flash flood watch|Flash Flood Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| FFS || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Flash flood|Flash Flood]] Statement || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| FFW || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Flash flood warning|Flash Flood Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| FLA || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Flood watch|Flood Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| FLS || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Flood]] Statement || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| FLW || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Flood warning|Flood Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| FRW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Fire warning|Fire Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| FSW || NI || CI || NI || Align="Left"| Flash Freeze Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| FZW || NI || CI || NI || Align="Left"| Freeze Warning (also known as a "Frost Warning" in Canada.) || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| HLS || O1 || FI || TS|| Align="Left"| [[Hurricane]] Local Statement || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| HMW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Hazardous materials|Hazardous Materials]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| HUA || O1 || CI || TS || Align="Left"| [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches#Hurricane Watch|Hurricane Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| HUW || O1 || CI || TS || Align="Left"| [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches#Hurricane Warning|Hurricane Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| HWA || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[High wind watch|High Wind Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| HWW || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[High wind warning|High Wind Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| LAE || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Local area emergency|Local Area Emergency]] || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| LEW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Law enforcement warning|Law Enforcement Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| NAT || NI || AB || NI || Align="Left"| National Audible Test || style="background-color: white;" | TEST
|-
| NIC || M || AB || NI || Align="Left"| National Information Center (Never used, but assumed to be a [[National Emergency Message]] follow-up. This code was discontinued on December 12, 2023.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}) || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| NMN || O2 || AB || NI || Align="Left"| Network Notification Message || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| NPT || M || AB || NI || Align="Left"| Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System (formerly known as "National Periodic Test") || style="background-color: white;" | TEST
|-
| NST || NI || AB || NI || Align="Left"| National Silent Test || style="background-color: white;" | TEST
|-
| NUW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Nuclear power plant|Nuclear Power Plant]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| RHW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Radiological]] Hazard Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| RMT || M || RT || NI || Align="Left"| Required Monthly Test (These are required to contain headers, an attention signal, an audio message, and end of message tones.) || style="background-color: white;" | TEST
|-
| RWT || M || RT || CI || Align="Left"| Required Weekly Test (These only require headers and end of message tones, but an attention signal and/or audio message are optional except for NOAA Weather Radio stations.) || style="background-color: white;" | TEST
|-
| SMW || O2 || TS || NI || Align="Left"| [[Special marine warning|Special Marine Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| SPS || O1 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Special weather statement|Special Weather Statement]] || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| SPW || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Shelter in place|Shelter In-Place]] warning|| style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| SQW || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Snowsquall warning|Snow Squall Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| SSA || O3 || NI || NI || Align="left"| Storm Surge Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| SSW || O3 || NI || NI || Align="left"| Storm Surge Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| SVA || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Severe thunderstorm watch|Severe Thunderstorm Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| SVR || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Severe thunderstorm warning|Severe Thunderstorm Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| SVS || O1 || TS || NI || Align="Left"| Severe Weather Statement ([[Severe weather terminology (United States)|U.S.]], [[Severe weather terminology (Canada)|CAN]]) || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| TOA || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Tornado watch|Tornado Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| TOE || O2 || FI || NI || Align="Left"| [[9-1-1|911]] [[Network outage|Telephone Outage]] Emergency || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| TOR || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Tornado warning|Tornado Warning]]<ref>The National Weather Service additionally uses the TOR event code to refer to an [[Extreme Wind Warning]]. See http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/vtec/pdfs/EWWInstructions.pdf</ref> || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| TRA || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches|Tropical Storm Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| TRW || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches|Tropical Storm Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| TSA || O1 || TS || NI || Align="Left"| [[Tsunami]] Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| TSW || O1 || TS || NI || Align="Left"| [[Tsunami warning|Tsunami Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| VOW || O2 || FI || CI || Align="Left"| [[Volcano warning|Volcano Warning]]|| style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| WSA || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Winter storm watch|Winter Storm Watch]] || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| WSW || O1 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| [[Winter storm warning|Winter Storm Warning]]|| style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| ??A || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| Unrecognized Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| ??E || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| Unrecognized Emergency || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| ??S || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| Unrecognized Statement || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| ??W || O2 || CI || NI || Align="Left"| Unrecognized Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Unrecognized Alerts are only seen on [[NOAA Weather Radio]]s. This is typically due to poor reception, or for newly-implemented event codes, which an older radio may not recognize.
:'''**''' While the CEA standard<ref name="CEA" /> lists the FZW event code as "Freeze Warning", Environment Canada refers to it<ref name="EC">Environment Canada – Weather and Meteorology – [http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=1C86C296-1 "SAME Event Codes"]</ref> as a "Frost Warning". However, it will be displayed as a "Freeze Warning" on receivers that are compliant to the CEA standard.
:'''†''' Environment Canada additionally uses<ref name="EC" /> the WSW event code to refer to any of the following weather conditions: Blowing Snow Warning, Freezing Drizzle Warning, Freezing Rain Warning, Snowfall Warning, Snow Squall Warning
:'''***''' The EQW and VOW event codes are used in Mexico as part of the [[Mexican Seismic Alert System]] (also known as SASMEX). EQW is referred as "Alerta Sísmica", while VOW is referred to as "Alerta Volcánica".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/Ogv9gs6-asA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150602013617/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogv9gs6-asA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogv9gs6-asA| title = Como Funciona el SARMEX | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Other event codes are being tested, such as Hurricane Warning (HUW), Hurricane Watch (HUA) and Hurricane Statement (HLS). Required Weekly Tests (RWT) are conducted every three hours to make sure receivers are working properly.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/oG8ZEbU3WYE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150712074940/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG8ZEbU3WYE Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG8ZEbU3WYE| title = Alerta sismica en Puebla, frecuencia 162.475 | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
:'''****''' The FCC created the BLU code for Blue Alerts beginning on December 14, 2017.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/18/2018-00595/blue-alert-eas-event-code | title=Blue Alert EAS Event Code | date=January 18, 2018 | access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>
:'''*****'''The FCC in 2012 modified protocol for national EAS activations. Emergency Action Notifications are now treated as any other EAS alert (except that it is mandatory to air), eliminating the need for Emergency Action Terminations, so the FCC removed it from operation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 January 2012|title=Federal Communications Commission Fifth Report and Order|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-12-7A1.pdf|access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref>
:'''Internal use only:'''
:Receiver decoders that comply to the CEA standard<ref name="CEA" /> will neither display the messages below, nor activate a warning tone if applicable. While the message will be stored in memory, it will not be displayed to the user. The FCC has also designated<ref name="FCC-02-64A1" /> these event codes as being for "internal use only", and not for display. Environment Canada lists<ref name="EC" /> these messages as "Administrative Bulletins".
:{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! scope="col" width="40" | Event Code
! scope="col" width="40" | U.S. Type
! scope="col" width="40" | CAN. Type
! scope="col" width="400" | Event Description
! scope="col" width="50" | Event Level
|-
| TXB || O2 || AB || align="left"| Transmitter Backup On || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| TXF || O2 || AB || align="left"| Transmitter Carrier Off || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| TXO || O2 || AB || align="left"| Transmitter Carrier On || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| TXP || O2 || AB || align="left"| Transmitter Primary On || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|} The above events are only seen on [[NOAA Weather Radio]] if certain situations happen, such as a station losing power. In this case, the "TXB" or "Transmitter Backup On" code would be transmitted, following by beeping noises of multiple frequencies, finally followed by EOM tones. However, these tones are not typically transmitted over the air.
:'''Future implementation:'''
:The following codes are part of the CEA standard<ref name="CEA" /> for receiver decoders, but are not listed as being in use by any agencies in the United States. Environment Canada lists<ref name="EC" /> these codes as being "for future implementation". None of these event codes are being implemented in Mexico, as Mexico's network is for seismic and volcanic alerts at this time.
:{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! scope="col" width="40" | Event Code
! scope="col" width="40" | U.S. Type
! scope="col" width="40" | CAN. Type
! scope="col" width="400" | Event Description
! scope="col" width="50" | Event Level
|-
| BHW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Biological hazard|Biological Hazard]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| BWW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Boil water warning|Boil Water Warning]] || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| CHW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Chemical hazard|Chemical Hazard]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| CWW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Contaminated water|Contaminated Water]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| DBA || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Dam]] Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| DBW || NI || FI || align="left"|[[Dam break|Dam Break]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| DEW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Contagious disease|Contagious Disease]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| EVA || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Emergency evacuation|Evacuation]] Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| FCW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Food contamination|Food Contamination]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| IBW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Iceberg]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| IFW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Industrial fire|Industrial Fire]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| LSW || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Landslide]] Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|-
| POS || NI || FI || align="left"| Power Outage Advisory || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | ADV
|-
| WFA || NI || FI || align="left"| [[Wildfire|Wild Fire]] Watch || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | WCH
|-
| WFW || NI || FI || align="left"| Wild Fire Warning || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | WRN
|}
The FCC established naming conventions for EAS event codes. The third letter of the code must be one of the following.<ref name="NWS">National Weather Service [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/eas_codes.shtml], accessed September 22, 2012.</ref>
:{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! scope="col" width="100" | Third letter of event code
! scope="col" width="50" | Category
! scope="col" width="500" | Description
|-
| W || style="background-color: #FF9090;" | Warning || align="left"| An event that alone poses a significant threat to public safety and/or property, probability of occurrence and location is high, and the onset time is relatively short.
|-
| A || style="background-color: #FFFF90;" | Watch || align="left"| Meets the classification of a warning, but either the onset time, probability of occurrence, or location is uncertain.
|-
| E || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | Emergency || align="left"| An event that, by itself, would not kill, injure or do property damage, but indirectly may cause other things to happen that result in a hazard.
|-
| S || style="background-color: #90FF90;" | Statement || align="left"| A message containing follow up information to a warning, watch, or emergency.
|}
The exception to this convention is for "TOR" (tornado warning), "SVR" (severe thunderstorm warning), "EVI" (evacuation immediate), "EAN, EAT, NIC" (the EAS national activation codes), and "ADR" (administrative messages).<ref name="FCC-02-64A1">{{cite web | url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-64A1.pdf | title=Federal Communications Commission Report and Order | date=February 22, 2002 | access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>
==On weather radio receivers==
[[File:SAMEWXRadio.jpg|An example of a SAME alert weather radio receiver.|right|thumb|200px]]
There are many [[weather radio|weather/all-hazards radio]] receivers that are equipped with the SAME alert feature, which allows users to program SAME/[[FIPS county code|FIPS]]/[[Forecast region|CLC]] codes for their designated area or areas of their interest and/or concern rather than the entire broadcast area. (For example, a person living in [[Irving, Texas]], would program a FIPS code for [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]] County. However, if there is a need to know of severe weather from the west and northwest ahead of time, the user would program additional FIPS codes for [[Denton County, Texas|Denton]] and [[Tarrant County, Texas|Tarrant]] Counties.)
On a more specialized receiver, a user has the option to eliminate any SAME alert codes that may not apply to their area such as a "[[Special marine warning|Special Marine Warning]]" or a "[[Coastal flood warning|Coastal Flood Warning]]". Once the SAME header is sent by NOAA/NWS and if it matches the desired code(s), the receivers then decode the event, scroll it on their display screens, and sound an alarm.
Receivers receive on one of the following National Weather Service network frequencies (in MHz): 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550. The signals are typically receivable up to 40 miles (80 km) from the transmitters.<ref>''NWR Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME)'', https://www.weather.gov/nwr/nwrsame</ref>
==In popular culture==
* The [[Iowa State Cyclones football]] sports program uses a SAME tone at the end of the pregame video before the football team takes the field. The SAME message is followed by the following narration: "This is a Cyclone Weather Alert! Ladies and Gentlemen, radar has indicated a strong storm approaching [[Jack Trice Stadium]]. High winds and low visibility are expected. ''[The opposing team's]'' fans in the area should seek immediate cover...."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmET9EAfOE4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/FmET9EAfOE4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Cyclone Weather Alert for Texas Longhorns Fans |website=Youtube |language=en-GB |access-date=2020-01-08}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* The EOM (end of message) tone was heard in the [[movie trailer]] for ''[[Knowing (movie)|Knowing]]'' and in the series ''[[Jericho (2006 TV series)|Jericho]]'' in which its familiar emergency use and its increasing [[cadence (music)|cadence]] create a sense of [[foreshadowing|foreboding]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2330985241 |title=Knowing: Trailer #2 |website=IMDb |access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref>
* It was used in the movie trailers for ''[[Olympus Has Fallen]]'' and ''[[The Purge (film series)|The Purge]]''. The uses have since been heavily discouraged on air by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (outside [[public service announcement]]s demonstrating SAME and EAS technology), and stations and networks using them (for instance, [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]] and [[WNKY]] in [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]]) in advertising or promotions have been fined for doing so.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fcc.gov/document/mmk-license-llc-agrees-settle-eas-investigation |title=MMK License LLC Agrees to Settle EAS Investigation |date=2015-12-11 |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |language=en |access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/fcc-proposes-fining-tbs-25000-over-conan-promo-124291 |title=FCC Proposes Fining TBS $25,000 Over 'Conan' Promo |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=November 5, 2013 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=2020-01-08 |language=en-us}}</ref>
* The SAME tones can be briefly heard in the ''[[Impractical Jokers]]'' episode "Virtual Insanity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E26mM-wahFE|title=Impractical Jokers - Sal's Virtual Reality Hell (Punishment) | truTV|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
* SAME Tones are heard in the campaign of the popular video game [[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2]], prior to the mission “Of Their Own Accord”. Ironically, these tones are decoded down to an EAS Participant issuing a Required Weekly Test on station [[WLS-TV]].
* In the 2020 video game [[Black Mesa (video game)|Black Mesa]], entire emergency messages with SAME tones can be heard on radios as the player progresses, each describing the game's events with increasing urgency. In January 2015, prior to the game's release on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] as [[early access]], a [https://web.archive.org/web/20150115170714/http://www.bmrf.us:80/ website] was launched that played back one such message as a [[Teaser (trailer)|teaser]].
* SAME tones are used within a genre of videos on [[Online video platform|video sharing platform]] sites like [[YouTube]] known as "EAS scenarios," which depict fictional emergency situations through a series of fictional EAS broadcasts. The majority of SAME tones used within these videos are valid, though some creators choose to use customized tones (and on several occasions, a warning/[[disclaimer]]) to prevent unintentional activation of EAS equipment.
* In ''[[Leave the World Behind (film)|Leave The World Behind]]'', a conversation is interrupted with a SAME message suddenly emerging from the television, with it later revealing that an "Unrecognised Warning" ("??W") is being distributed over the network.
==See also==
* [[Common Alerting Protocol]] (CAP) – A SAME-compatible digital format for multi-system warning coordination.
* [[METAR]] – The international meteorological code for an aviation routine weather report.
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
* {{Citation
|last= National Weather Service
|title= NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) All Hazards Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME)
|url= http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01017012curr.pdf
|publisher= National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
|series= National Weather Service Instruction
|volume= 10-1712
|date= February 12, 2007
}}
==External links==
* [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/Maps/ NOAA Weatherradio SAME coverage maps]
* [http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=208b070ea2092734ded791d18197a4dc;rgn=div5;view=text;node=47%3A1.0.1.1.11;idno=47;cc=ecfr Title 47, Sec. 11.31 et seq., Code of Federal Regulations, EAS Protocol (implementing SAME)]
[[Category:Encodings]]
[[Category:Emergency Alert System]]
[[Category:NOAA Weather Radio]]
[[Category:1997 introductions]]
[[Category:1980s establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in the United States]]