Mentor
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42 Messages
How to turn off or at least mute those horrible severe weather alerts?
There has to be a way to turn these things off!
Tonight I've run into both of the fundamental flaws in this system. Earlier tonight, I saw an alert pop up and I scrambled for the remote knowing that if I didn't exit it fast I was going to have some upset dogs and got blasted with the way out of proportion alert tone. I never even got to read the alert, because I was so focused on exiting it quickly.
Then a few minutes ago, as I was drifting off to sleep with the TV on sleep timer, I got blasted awake by a Flash Flood alert that kept getting louder and louder until I finally founf the remote and made it stop.
Somebody please tell me how to turn these off. They are utterly pointless and far more trouble than they are worth.
Thanks
t1n0m3n
Teacher
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14 Messages
10 years ago
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oufanindallas
ACE - Master
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6.9K Messages
10 years ago
Multiple threads from about 6 people. I'm sorry, living in an area where thunderstorms can cause almost as much damage as a tornado doesn't bother me in the least. Last week straight line winds from the thunderstorms reached 80MPH, today's thunderstorms in DFW weren't that severe, but the wind was strong enough to snap 6 trees in front of our office, blow down power lines and topple a traffic light. So to say that they are useless is just asinine.
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robb0995
Mentor
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42 Messages
10 years ago
This thread was a request for information how to turn them off, not an invitation to tell people their preferences are wrong.
I want you to have all the alerts your heart desires (and more), while those of us who hate them get to turn them off. See how freedom of choice works without everybody having to choose the same things you do? It's kind of a cool concept.
Sent from my iPhone
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oufanindallas
ACE - Master
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6.9K Messages
10 years ago
In Texas anyway, it is a requirement that any cable provider with more than 5000 subscribers broadcast the alerts for the following: severe weather and natural situations such as:
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dhascall
Master
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9.8K Messages
10 years ago
Oh, eau contraire, dear OUFan. There is a way of turning them off, Disconnect the U-Verse system (or any cable system) completely. Turn off any TV connected via antenna, so you would not hear alerts coming from the station. Turn off all radios. Put ear plugs in your ear holes, so you will not hear the sirens. AND if thunderstorms aren't that serious, go play a round of golf with metal clubs only and always keep one above your head. I guess I digressed a bit, huh?
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oufanindallas
ACE - Master
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6.9K Messages
10 years ago
@dhascall
Well, a bit extreme, but yes you could do all that.
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dhascall
Master
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9.8K Messages
10 years ago
And if one does that, @oufanindallas , I hope that they are in a cellar, lol.
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jamesteixeira
Teacher
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21 Messages
10 years ago
So it may be a law that TV providers have to provide an alert. Maybe nothing can be done there. But certainly AT&T and other providers can choose the manner in which they broadcast the alert and allow user alterable settings such as volume control for the alerts.
I had dish network for years, in Texas, and don't remember any extremely loud alert broadcasts like AT&T. They can control the method of broadcast and thusly control the volume.
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americangame
Professor
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1.3K Messages
10 years ago
I could also set fire to my house, but then the severe alert may come on for my neighbors.
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MonkeyPete
Tutor
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10 Messages
10 years ago
I just wanted to join the OP in stating that the way it is currently implemented is outlandish.
Yes it serves a vital service, yes some of it is required by law. However the volume on these things in no way compares to any other EBS announcement I've ever heard anywhere in the country. When I had cable they weren't handled that way, nor when I had a sat dish in the same market. I even worked for both area cable companies (city & county) for years, including the master feed or "head-end" -- and we were never mandated to blast people's speakers away. If this is required, why don't you see it from local cable, DishNet, or any other major carrier?
To max out the volume setting for monthly tests or real alers is insane, and no doubt it's doing some people harm by heightening anxiety levels needlessly - especially when there's no actual threat.
What are they testing so repeatedly, twice a week in some cases? I've never seen a system test so often and active on any other platform. And no other platform tries to shock it's viewers into capitulation. That's the problem and that part is NOT mandated by any state or federal law. OP isn't saying abandom the EBS, just control the implementation in reasonably pragmatic ways.
It's so bad that it actually backfires - I don't think I've ever once read one of the actual alerts because the emergency in my house at the time is clearing it from the screen, all to silence a completely unneccessary bombardment of audio. I know I'm not alone in that, that's how crazy intrusive it is.
Of course it's a good system to have - but if its needlessly causing real trouble for people, they should at least examine alternative solutions. After all, people have had heart attacks from far less.
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