2-251.fm Page 1 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Cat. No. 12-251 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
12-251.fm Page 2 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or shock hazard, do not expose this product to rain or moisture. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN. ! CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
12-251.fm Page 3 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM FCC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
12-251.fm Page 4 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
12-251.fm Page 5 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM FEATURES Your RadioShack Weatheradio with Alert is the next generation of weather alert technology. Your Weatheradio uses SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) circuitry to provide more complete information about weather conditions in your immediate area, letting you avoid hearing alerts for geographical areas that do not interest you.
12-251.fm Page 6 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Alert Indicator Lights — the Weatheradio’s display clearly shows whether a received alert is a statement, watch, warning, or emergency. Battery Backup — the Weatheradio uses a 9-volt battery (not supplied) for backup power if AC power fails or is temporarily disconnected. Alert Volume Control — lets you adjust the volume of the siren so you will be sure to hear it. We recommend you record your Weatheradio’s serial number here.
12-251.fm Page 7 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM CONTENTS How Your Radio Works ....................................... 8 When a Weather Alert Occurs ....................... 9 Understanding FIPS Codes ........................... 9 Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s) .... 11 Preparation ........................................................ Powering the Weatheradio ........................... Connecting AC Power .......................... Installing the Backup Battery ................
12-251.fm Page 8 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM HOW YOUR RADIO WORKS Traditional weather radios simply receive NOAA’s weather broadcast (usually within a 50-mile radius) then sound an alarm if any emergency code was transmitted along with the broadcast. This means that people who live outside an affected area are often alerted even when their area is not affected, causing many of them to ignore potentially real weather warnings that can save lives.
12-251.fm Page 9 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM WHEN A WEATHER ALERT OCCURS When the Weatheradio receives a weather alert: • it sounds the built-in siren • an indicator on the front of the Weatheradio lights Warning: The NWS uses sophisticated weather models to determine an alert’s effective time. However, the end of an alert does not necessarily mean that the related weather emergency is over.
12-251.fm Page 10 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM The first digit in a FIPS code identifies the county subdivision, the next two digits identify the state, and the last three digits identify the county or parish. State 048439 County/ Parish County Subdivision Note: Most FIPS codes begin with 0, which means the code represents an entire county. The NWS, however, plans to eventually subdivide some large counties.
12-251.fm Page 11 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s) To obtain the FIPS code for the location where you installed your Weatheradio, contact your local RadioShack store or call the NWS toll free at 1-888NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263). If you call the NWS, follow the instructions you hear. Note: If you are close to a county or parish line, you might want to obtain the codes for the nearby counties or parishes.
-251.fm Page 12 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM PREPARATION POWERING THE WEATHERADIO Your Weatheradio uses standard AC power for normal operation and requires one 9-volt battery (not supplied) for backup power when AC power fails or is temporarily disconnected. For the best performance and longest life, we recommend a RadioShack alkaline battery. Cautions: • Use only a fresh battery of the required size and recommended type. • Do not use a rechargeable battery in your Weatheradio.
12-251.fm Page 13 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Caution: Your Weatheradio’s power cord has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). If you have difficulty inserting the plug into the outlet, do not force it! Turn the plug over and try again. Installing the Backup Battery 1. If the Weatheradio’s display is on, rotate VOLUME toward OFF until it clicks to turn off the Weatheradio. 2. Press the tab on the battery compartment cover, then lift up the cover to remove it. 3.
12-251.fm Page 14 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Warning: Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them. Caution: If you do not plan to use the Weatheradio for several months, remove the battery. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic parts. Note: The Weatheradio maintains all settings for up to (please add) minutes if the battery is removed or dead and AC power is disconnected. If power is removed for a longer period of time, you must re-enter all settings.
12-251.fm Page 15 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM CHOOSING A LOCATION FOR THE WEATHERADIO You can set your Weatheradio on a flat surface (such as a shelf or counter top). For the best reception, place your Weatheradio where: • it can receive alert signals (see “When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs” on Page 26) • you can hear its alert tone (see “Setting the Alert Volume” on Page 24) Once you determine a location that meets these two conditions, leave the Weatheradio there for the best protection.
12-251.fm Page 16 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM PROGRAMMING THE WEATHERADIO Your Weatheradio is preprogrammed to receive broadcasts for all FIPS codes, and is preprogrammed with the seven national NOAA broadcast frequencies (Channels 1–7). The first time you use your Weatheradio, it is automatically set to use the NOAA weather broadcast frequency 162.400 MHz (Channel 1) and receive all SAME alert signals broadcast within a 50-mile radius of where you installed it.
12-251.fm Page 17 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Selecting a Broadcast Frequency 1. To turn on the Weatheradio, turn VOLUME to the right until it clicks. 2. Set PROGRAM/OPERATE to PROGRAM. C and the current radio channel setting flash. 3. Repeatedly press SCROLL to select the channel you want, then rotate VOLUME as needed so you can hear the current weather broadcast as you make your selections. As you press SCROLL, the currently selected weather broadcast channel (1 through 7) lights.
12-251.fm Page 18 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Channel Frequency (MHz) 3 162.450 4 162.475 5 162.500 6 162.525 7 162.550 Note: If you receive a NOAA broadcast on more than one channel, the one with the best reception might not be the one broadcasting information for your location. Contact your local RadioShack store or the NWS to find out which frequency NOAA is using to broadcast from the station nearest your location, then select that channel. 4.
12-251.fm Page 19 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Storing/Changing FIPS Codes You can store or change FIPS codes in the Weatheradio’s memory (to narrow the area for which you receive SAME alerts). Your Weatheradio has two memory locations for FIPS codes. 1. Follow Steps 1–4 under “Selecting a Broadcast Frequency” on Page 17. 2. To change the FIPS code in the first memory location, press SCROLL. The first digit of the first FIPS code stored in the Weatheradio appears.
12-251.fm Page 20 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM 4. Repeat Step 3 to change each digit of the FIPS code. When you have entered the last digit of the FIPS code, the Weatheradio sounds a confirmation tone and saves the new FIPS code. 5. If you just saved the FIPS code in the first memory location, L, 2, –, and the FIPS code stored in the second memory location flash. If necessary, repeat Steps 2–4 to enter a FIPS code in the second memory location. 6.
12-251.fm Page 21 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM TESTING THE WEATHERADIO For your Weatheradio to be effective, you must place it where it can receive an emergency alert broadcast and where you can hear its alert tone. In the United States, the NWS broadcasts a test alert every week on Wednesday between 11 AM and 1 PM. To find out the specific test schedule in your area, contact your local NOAA or NWS office.
12-251.fm Page 22 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM OPERATION To turn on the Weatheradio, turn VOLUME to the right until it clicks. Note: VOLUME also controls the Weatheradio’s audio broadcast volume. To set the alert volume, see “Setting the Alert Volume” on Page 24. To listen to a weather broadcast, see “Listening to a Weather Broadcast.” To adjust the tone you hear when the Weatheradio sounds an alert, see “Setting the Alert Volume” on Page 24.
12-251.fm Page 23 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM low the steps in “Selecting a Broadcast Frequency” on Page 17. To listen to a weather broadcast, make sure PROGRAM/OPERATE is set to OPERATE, press WEATHER, then adjust VOLUME to the desired listening level. To turn off the weather broadcast, press WEATHER again.
12-251.fm Page 24 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Setting the Alert Volume To set your Weatheradio’s alert volume, rotate TONE toward HIGH to increase the volume or toward LOW to decrease it. We recommend you set the alert volume to the highest volume setting, then decrease it as needed. Changing/Checking the Alert Pattern You can set TONE/VOICE (on the back) to have the Weatheradio respond to an NWS alert broadcast in one of two ways.
12-251.fm Page 25 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM TONE — the Weatheradio sounds an alert. To turn off the alert and turn on the NWS broadcast, press WEATHER. Notes: • The STATEMENT, WATCH, or WARNING indicators on the front of the Weatheradio light in either alert pattern setting. • See “Setting the Alert Volume” on Page 24 for more information about adjusting the Weatheradio’s alert tone.
12-251.fm Page 26 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM gram those codes into the first and second memory locations (see “Storing/Changing FIPS Codes” on Page 19). When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs The NWS sends out weekly test signals you can use to confirm that your Weatheradio is working properly. To find out the specific test schedule in your area, contact your local NOAA or NWS office. Those offices are usually listed in the telephone book under US Government, Department of Commerce.
12-251.fm Page 27 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM If your Weatheradio is turned on and properly set but it does not respond to a test broadcast, see “Troubleshooting” on Page 28.
12-251.fm Page 28 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM TROUBLESHOOTING If your Weatheradio is not working as it should, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If the Weatheradio still does not operate properly, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. Problems Suggestions No power. Make sure the Weatheradio is connected to AC power and (if AC power has failed) a backup battery is installed. See “Powering the Weatheradio” on Page 12. No sound. Adjust VOLUME or TONE.
12-251.fm Page 29 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Problems Suggestions The radio is not responding properly to NWS weather alert broadcasts. Make sure you programmed the correct FIPS code(s) into the Weatheradio’s memory. See “Programming the Weatheradio” on Page 16. Make sure PROGRAM/OPERATE is set to OPERATE. No weather broadcast when you press WEATHER. Make sure the telescoping antenna is fully extended. See “Using the Built-In Antenna” on Page 14.
12-251.fm Page 30 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Problems C-OP (check operation) appears. Suggestions The Weatheradio has not received any type of SAME alert signal (including test or demo signals) for about 192 hours. Make sure the FIPS code(s) stored in memory are correct. See “Programming the Weatheradio” on Page 16. Make sure the telescoping antenna is fully extended. See “Using the Built-In Antenna” on Page 14.
12-251.fm Page 31 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM CARE To enjoy your Weatheradio for a long time: • Keep the Weatheradio dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. • Use and store the Weatheradio only in normal temperature environments. • Handle the Weatheradio gently and carefully. Don’t drop it. • Keep the Weatheradio away from dust and dirt. • Wipe the Weatheradio with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new.
12-251.fm Page 32 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Coverage (MHz): Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Channel 4 Channel 5 Channel 6 Channel 7 .............................................162.400 ............................................ 162.425 ............................................ 162.450 ............................................ 162.475 ............................................ 162.500 ............................................ 162.525 .............................
12-251.fm Page 33 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and improvement without notice.
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12-251.fm Page 36 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Limited Ninety-Day Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers.
