Loudoun Emergency Warning Sirens
| Loudoun Emergency Warning Sirens
Loudoun Master Blaster | |
 A Model ES-2000, located in Reynolds, GA. | |
| Company | Loudoun Communications |
|---|---|
| Produced | ≥1978?-present |
| Type | Directional Electronic |
| Sound output | 115 dB @ 100 ft (Model ES-4000) |
| Wattage | 375-500 W (CJ-46 siren)
1200 W (Model ES-2000 onwards) |
| Voltage | 12 V DC (controller, Model ES-2000)
120 V AC (amplifier, Model ES-2000)
24 V DC (Model ES-4000 onwards) |
| Documentation | Product sheet |
Emergency Warning Sirens (formerly marketed as Master Blaster, MasterBlaster or Masterblaster) are a "specialty equipment" line of omnidirectional electronic sirens made by Loudoun Communications, a Douglasville, GA-based business specializing in radios and related equipment. Loudoun sirens can primarily be found in the state of Georgia and compete regionally with Federal Signal and Whelen Engineering.
History
Before Loudoun finalized the designs for their sirens, they sold a siren which utilized Atlas Sound Model CJ-46 paging horns and lacks a known model name. These are often referred to as "black array Loudouns" or "Model ES-1000" sirens (the latter being derived from pure speculation and having no evidence supporting its existence, though supposed documents detailing a FEMA grant to Newton County, GA make mention of the aforementioned name as well as a "Model ES-3000"). Although little to nothing is known about these, they were most likely a product of Loudoun, as they utilize controllers shared with later examples of Loudoun sirens. Loudoun themselves claim that they either never produced these sirens or do not remember making them. These do not exist outside of Georgia, suggesting that they were most likely produced post-1978, when Loudoun relocated their operations to Douglasville; Pole tags suggest that most of these sirens were produced between the late 1970s and mid 1980s. The Model ES-2000, introduced sometime either in the late 1990s or early 2000s, would set the standard for Loudoun sirens going forward and would right many of the CJ-46 siren's wrongs. The Model ES-2000, compared to its predecessor, sold many more units, with Newton County and the aforementioned Henry County being a few examples of communities utilizing a large system of them among others. It is unknown when the Model ES-2000 ended production; it is not mentioned on the small amount of WayBack Machine archives of Loudoun's website before the late 2010s, and the potential of the Model "ES-3000" existing only adds to the confusion. According to an alleged document detailing a FEMA grant awarded to Newton County, GA, at least a handful of these supposed models were installed alongside a Model "ES-1000" example in Covington, GA. The source for this comes from a Facebook comment under a discussion about a theorized Model "ES-1000" in Newton County. The poster has been contacted and is in the process of trying to find the document; until it's found, the Model "ES-3000" remains unconfirmed. Absolutely nothing is known about these, and there is very little evidence to support their existence apart from the supposed FEMA document, aside from the jump from "2000" to "4000" being slightly unusual otherwise. At the very latest, discrediting the Model "ES-3000", it was sold up no later than 2008, which marked the first mention of the Model ES-4000 on Loudoun's website. The Model ES-4000 enjoyed the most successful run out of all of Loudoun's previous sirens despite its discontinuation in 2013.
Design
Model CJ-46 siren (Model "ES-1000")
All of the Model "ES-1000" sirens share the same basic and relatively unprofessional setup, consisting of 3 or 4 speaker drivers of varying manufacturer (which are unprotected from the elements) attached to Atlas Sound Model CJ-46 paging horns mounted to a pole via simple swivels, sometimes at a slightly skewed angle. Some examples have been documented with Model DR-72 horns, which would later be carried over to the Model ES-2000. Proper brackets for these sirens were not supplied, leading to varying irregular mounting configurations. The sirens are hooked up to a basic early 12 V DC (assuming that these run on the same controllers as the Model ES-2000) analog controller, which is able to perform the standard Steady and Up/Down tones. The siren uses a Crown Audio Model CE 1000 amplifier which runs on 120 V AC, making the siren unit incapable of running solely on batteries. The controls used on these units seem to be similar to those used on Model ES-2000 sirens, although there are slight differences in terms of the enclosures and the pitch on the Model CJ-46 sirens peaks higher compared to later models. These sirens are commonly described as exceptionally quiet, though this may simply be due to the controllers wearing out; one particular unit in rural Covington, GA was reported to the Newton County EMA for this suspected issue and was described as considerably louder in a recording following its repair[1], although what exactly this repair consisted of and what the problem was to begin with was unclear. These sirens are often confused with Model WS-1000 sirens for their similar appearance at first glance—Model "ES-1000" sirens lack covers for the speaker drivers, only came in a configuration of 4 speakers, and have vertically positioned swivels with no central pivot bracket. Model WS-1000 sirens have covers for the speaker drivers, came in a configuration of 4 (no genuine examples with a 4-speaker configuration exist) or 8 speakers, and have horizontally positioned swivels that attach to a central pivot bracket.
Model ES-2000
The Model ES-2000 utilizes 8 100 W speaker drivers (with 2 drivers sharing a throat for each horn coupled by a Y-adapter), pushing the total wattage up to 800 W. The drivers are enclosed in an octagonal enclosure made of fiberglass which improves their longevity. A service door is built into the side, providing relatively easy maintenance to the drivers. An eyebolt tops the enclosure for ease of installation. The exact proportions of the octagon shape are irregular and can vary by unit, evident by the siren's horns appearing closer or farther apart depending on the size of the enclosure. The Model CJ-46 horns used on the previous Loudoun siren would be swapped out with larger circular Model DR-72 horns with a 65º dispersion pattern for the Model ES-2000, likely boosting its output and range. These horns are very unidirectional and form a clover-shaped area of coverage that results in off-axis gaps in areas between each horn. All Model ES-2000 sirens have an Atlas Soundolier sticker on the tip of the horn throats. The entire assembly is mounted to a pole by 4 ¼ inch thick L-brackets connected to the base of the driver housing. The Model ES-2000 utilizes the same analog controller seen on the Model CJ-46 sirens, with little to no differences observed between the 2. The Model ES-2000 cabinets are prone to rusting, which in some cases results in issues with the siren itself, as has been documented in Henry County, GA. Like its predecessor, while the controller runs on 12 V DC, the amplifier (a Crown Model CE 2000) runs on 120 V AC, also making it incapable of running solely on batteries. The pitch on the Model ES-2000 sirens peaks lower compared to earlier models.
Model ES-4000
The Model ES-4000 utilizes 8 100 W Atlas Sound Model SD-370A/Sanming Sound SD-210R speaker drivers (with 2 drivers sharing a throat for each horn coupled by a Y-adapter), pushing the total wattage up to 800 W. The drivers are enclosed in an octagonal enclosure made of fiberglass which improves their longevity. A service door is built into the side, providing relatively easy maintenance to the drivers. An eyebolt tops the enclosure for ease of installation. The exact proportions of the octagon shape are irregular and can vary by unit, evident by the siren's horns appearing closer or farther apart depending on the size of the enclosure. The siren utilizes large circular Model DR-72 horns with a 65º dispersion pattern, although they are very unidirectional and form a clover-shaped area of coverage that results in off-axis gaps in areas between each horn. Older Model ES-4000 horns have an Atlas Soundolier sticker on the tip of the throats, while newer ones simply have an AtlasIED "A" sticker. The entire assembly is mounted to a pole by 4 ¼ inch thick L-brackets connected to the base of the driver housing. The differences between the Model ES-4000 and its predecessor lie within the controllers; most of the exact components the Model ES-4000 utilizes are unknown, aside from the fact that they are analog, and newer examples use AC QSC amplifiers. Model ES-4000 controllers are stainless steel, cubical, and have 2 support beams which are bolted to the pole and extend to the base of the enclosure—some examples have decals reading "MASTER BLASTER ES4000" and have the phone number of Loudoun Communications placed near the bottom of the cabinet door. Select Model ES-4000 sirens installed by J&N Electronics (a partner of Loudoun Communications) have slightly altered decals reading "MASTER BLASTER ES4000 J&N ELECTRONICS" alongside the phone number of J&N Electronics and unit number. Loudoun/J&N is responsible for all of the decal work in-house prior to shipment and the decals are customized for the contractor/customer upon request. This practice seemed to have ceased by the introduction of the Model ES-5000DC. The new Model ES-4000 controllers began to circulate by 2010 and superseded an earlier iteration that shared the same enclosure as the Model ES-2000 controller.
Model ES-5000DC
WIP
