Danagger Audio Works released its first product for broadcasters, the Plan B Silence Eliminator. As its name suggests, the Plan B protects stations from losses due to unplanned outages and equipment failures by providing an alternate source of continuous backup programming. Designed to protect automation systems, satellite receivers or even entire airchains, the Plan B represents a substantial improvement over older systems assembled from separate components. Despite the Plan B's sophisticated capabilities, its basic installation is straightforward enough to be easily performed by non-technical personnel.The Plan B is a digital/analog silence sensor with a built-in MP3 compatible CD player, an autodialler and a voice-based remote control system. It can detect silence or excessive noise on either analog program lines or AES3 digital program lines up to 96kHz with the flip of a switch, making it an ideal solution for a station that has either made or is planning to make a move to an all-digital air chain.Like a conventional silence sensor, the Plan B alerts local personnel to a dead air situation with an attention-getting audible alarm and flashing lights. However, the device takes it a step further by automatically dialing up to three phone numbers in sequence until the alarm condition has been acknowledged. Once the remote user has been informed of system status by a pre-recorded voice, they can choose to listen to the program line or the backup audio over the phone, or control the Plan B itself using the telephone's keypad.Perhaps the most powerful feature of the Plan B is its ability to remotely monitor and control external equipment via three status inputs and three auxiliary relays. For the many stations operating unattended overnights, this simple remote control system can eliminate a lot of late-night panic runs to the studio just to reset a server or turn on a satellite dish heater. And because the Plan B can play several hours of non-repeating programming from a single disc, some equipment problems could conceivably be left until the next morning.