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The ATI HPSS is an electronic outdoor warning siren manufactured by Acoustic Technology, Inc (ATI) that is used to alert the surrounding populace of [[tornadoes]], [[hurricanes]], [[severe thunderstorms]], fires and so on. It superseded an earlier rotating siren that ATI designed. The introduction date is unknown, but thought to be around 1980. It consists of 4 speakers on the HPSS16 model, and 8 on the HPSS32 model. Like other electronic outdoor warning systems (such as the [[Federal Signal Modulator]], for example), they can also be used as Public Announcement (PA) systems.
{{Short description|Electronic outdoor warning siren}}[[File:1 Tsunamiwarnsystem in Dili.jpg|thumb|ATI in service]]
In [[civil defense siren]]s, the ATI '''High-Power Speaker Station''' (<!--"Soundblaster"-->'''HPSS'''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=High Powered Speaker Station |url=https://www.atisystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Spec-HPSS.pdf |website=www.atisystems.com}}</ref> is an electronic outdoor warning [[siren (alarm)|siren]] manufactured by Acoustic Technology, Inc (ATI) that is used to alert citizens of [[airstrike|air raid]]s and [[natural disaster]]s.


==Problems and criticism==
==Systems==
The sirens have drawn sharp criticism from civil defense aficionados for several reasons.
HPSS systems use high-powered electronic speakers, which can be independently arranged to provide directional, omnidirectional, and formerly rotational coverage. The HPSS16 has four speakers, while the HPSS32 has eight speakers. The HPSS16R and HPSS32R are former rotational models that were discontinued. They can be used as public address ([[PA system|PA]]) systems and can play programmed tones. Options include solar-powered operation and pre-recorded voice messages. 
[[File:HPSS16 at 3rd and Harrison streets in San Francisco.jpg|thumb|ATI HPSS16]]


*Tone - ATI sirens, with the exception of the most recent models (and the ATI systems used in [[San Francisco, California]]), used a 1000 Hz [[Sine wave|Sine]] wave, that creates a high pitched tone. Some allege that this is much too high to be distinctly audible against a noisy background, or over acceptable distances. More recent ATI units use a improved, lower-pitched tone, which has given adequate results.
==Customers==
* [[San Francisco, California]] - Features the sound of the decommissioned [[Federal Signal]] STL-10 sirens that it replaced
* [[Casitas Dam]], [[Ventura, California]] - Looks like Federal Signal Directional Speaker Array (DSA) sirens, but can have 7–8 speakers per stack, and gray caps on the speaker cones.
* [[Indian Point Energy Center]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
* [[Israel]] has 300 HPSS systems as a part of its warning system.
* [[Sedgwick County, Kansas]] and the City of Wichita use 27 ATI HPSS32 units.
* [[Forsyth County, Georgia]] has mostly ATI HPSS16R and ATI HPSS32 systems.
* [[Allen, Texas]] has 26 ATI HPSS32 units.
* [[Fort Riley, Kansas]] has 2 ATI HPSS16 units.
* [[Del City, Oklahoma]] has 8 ATI HPSS16 units.
* [[Malmstrom AFB, MT]] has 6 ATI HPSS16 units.
* [[Pasig]], [[Philippines]] has 3 ATI HPSS32 units.
* [[Davao City|Davao City, Philippines]] has at least 11 ATI HPSS32 units.
* [[Battle Creek, Michigan]] has four rotating ATI HPSS16R units.
* [[Menominee, Michigan]] has three early rotating ATI HPSS16R units
* [[Pensacola NAS]], [[Florida]], ATI HPSS16s mostly used for tornado warnings and play the colors
* [[University of West Florida]] In [[Pensacola, Florida]], ATI HPSS16 sirens here are used for chemical spills, weather warnings, lock downs, and they play the [[Westminster Quarters|Westminster Chimes]].
* [[Arnold, Missouri]] 7 ATI HPSS32 units.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YAnYjdAmq8 |title=Arnold, MO ATI Tornado Siren Test |date=2008-10-26 |last=CrazySirenBoy |access-date=2025-07-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* [[Ketchikan, Alaska]] maintains a system of 3 ATI HPSS32 units.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.krbd.org/2015/08/26/third-siren-added-to-citys-hazard-warning-system/|title=Third siren added to city's hazard warning system|date=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/greaterketchikanarealepc/all-hazard-siren-information|title = Google Sites|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=July 2026|fix-attempted=yes}}
* [[Hudson County, New Jersey]] has an unknown number of HPSS sirens.
* [[Antofagasta|Chile, Antofagasta]] has an unknown number of HPSS32 sirens.
* [[Sarnia, Ontario]] and the surrounding communities use a system of 22 ATI HPSS32 units.
* [[Bandon, Oregon]] use 4 ATI HPSS32's.
* [[Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station]], [[Wintersburg, Arizona]] use over 70 HPSS32 sirens.
* [[Cannon Beach, Oregon]] [[Arch Cape, Oregon]] has 6 HPSS32 sirens


*Speakers - In San Francisco, many of their ATIs have the tone of an old [[Federal Signal]] STL-10, which has caused reliability problems as the programmed tones are far too low-pitched for the speakers to handle. As few speakers can tolerate such low-pitched sounds at high volume, this may not necessarily be the fault of the speakers used.
==References==
[[Category:Sirens]]
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[https://www.atisystems.com Corporate web page]
 
{{Civil defense sirens}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ati Hpss}}
[[Category:Sirens (alarms)]]
[[Category:Civil defense]]
[[Category:Emergency population warning systems]]

Latest revision as of 21:51, 2 October 2026

Template:Short description

ATI in service

In civil defense sirens, the ATI High-Power Speaker Station (HPSS),[1] is an electronic outdoor warning siren manufactured by Acoustic Technology, Inc (ATI) that is used to alert citizens of air raids and natural disasters.

Systems

HPSS systems use high-powered electronic speakers, which can be independently arranged to provide directional, omnidirectional, and formerly rotational coverage. The HPSS16 has four speakers, while the HPSS32 has eight speakers. The HPSS16R and HPSS32R are former rotational models that were discontinued. They can be used as public address (PA) systems and can play programmed tones. Options include solar-powered operation and pre-recorded voice messages.

ATI HPSS16

Customers

References

  1. ↑ "High Powered Speaker Station". https://www.atisystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Spec-HPSS.pdf. 
  2. ↑ Template:Cite AV media
  3. ↑ "Third siren added to city's hazard warning system". 26 August 2015. https://www.krbd.org/2015/08/26/third-siren-added-to-citys-hazard-warning-system/. 
  4. ↑ "Google Sites". https://sites.google.com/site/greaterketchikanarealepc/all-hazard-siren-information. 

Template:Civil defense sirens

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