ATI HPSS: Difference between revisions
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The sirens have met with sharp criticism from civil defense aficionados for a variety of reasons. | The sirens have met with sharp criticism from civil defense aficionados for a variety of reasons. | ||
*Tone - ATI sirens, with the exception of the most recent models, used a 1000hz [[Sine wave|Sine]] wave, that creates a high pitched tone | *Tone - ATI sirens, with the exception of the most recent models, used a 1000hz [[Sine wave|Sine]] wave, that creates a high pitched tone. More recent ATI units use a improved, lower-pitched tone, which has given adequate results. | ||
*Speakers - | *Speakers - In [[San Francisco, California]], 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, this may not necessarily be the fault of the speakers used. | ||
[[Category:Sirens]] | [[Category:Sirens]] | ||
Revision as of 05:13, 16 February 2010
The ATI HPSS is an electronic outdoor warning siren manufactured by Acoustic Technology, Inc (ATI) that is used to alert people of Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Severe thunderstorms, fires and so on. It superseded an earlier rotating siren that ATI built. 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.
Problems and criticism
The sirens have met with sharp criticism from civil defense aficionados for a variety of reasons.
- Tone - ATI sirens, with the exception of the most recent models, used a 1000hz Sine wave, that creates a high pitched tone. More recent ATI units use a improved, lower-pitched tone, which has given adequate results.
- Speakers - In San Francisco, California, 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, this may not necessarily be the fault of the speakers used.