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Orban Labs and Sage Alerting Systems — a U.S. manufacturer specializing in emergency alert system equipment for broadcasters — will demonstrate a virtualized emergency alert system workflow at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas.
According to the companies, the setup will show a complete transmission chain built around a pair of Optimod 5950 HD processors. The system will feed analog FM and HD Radio services — including HD-1, HD-2, HD-3 and HD-4 channels — through an exporter and exciter connected to a dummy load.
Orban says the demonstration highlights a minimal-hardware approach to EAS alerting. The Sage platform runs next-generation EAS software on an industrial PC roughly the size of a deck of cards, requiring only power and LAN connections.
The companies say that during the demonstration, normal program audio and EAS alerts will be carried through the chain using AES67 audio output and AAC-LC streams for live EAS audio input. The system also provides direct control of an SAS transmission router through Sage software, with live EAS alerts generated from the Sage booth during the show.
Mike Pappas, vice president of sales at Orban Labs, said broadcasters have been asking for a simpler way to integrate EAS alerts into broadcast audio chains.
“Customers have been asking for this type of technology for some time, with an easy way to integrate EAS alerts into the audio chain without lots of extra hardware and wiring,” Pappas said. “Although this technology has not yet received final approval for deployment, it’s well on its way. We think it’s an exciting development for broadcasters and are looking forward to demonstrating it at NAB.”
Orban Labs will demonstrate the Optimod 5950 HD and the virtualized EAS workflow at the 2026 NAB Show, which takes place in Las Vegas from April 19–22, at booth C1459.
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