Model WX-268 - UUser ser ser’’s Manual P ublic Aler AlerttTM Radio
TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS ------------------------------------------------- 3 CARE AND MAINTENANCE -------------------------------------------------- 4 FCC NOTICE TO USERS ----------------------------------------------------- 5 INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------- 6 MAIN FEATURES ---------------------------------------------------------------- 7 LOCATION OF CONTROLS -------------------------------------------------- 8 DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS -----------
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS When using electrical appliances, the following basic safety precautions should always be followed. CAUTION! The Manufacturer does not represent this unit to be waterproof. To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, or damage to the unit, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture or immerse in water. CAUTION! This product has the capability to operate with five (5) 1.
CAUTION! You should understand the danger of lightning striking an external antenna and make appropriate measures to protect yourself from injury and fire hazard resulted from a lightning strike on an external antenna. - When an external antenna is used, make sure that there is sufficient lightning protection on the antenna and its cable feed. Make sure all the ground connections are sound and fit. Do not get close to the unit when it is operating during a thunderstorm.
FCC NOTICE TO USERS The system may cause interference to a TV or radio even when it is operating properly. To determine whether the system is causing the interference, turn it off. If the interference goes away, the system is causing the interference. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the First Alert® brand Public AlertTM Radio, Model WX-268. This product complies with the exacting standards for CEA-2009 Public AlertTM devices, and will provide reliability, long life and outstanding performance. The WX-268 receives digitally encoded civil and weather emergency alert messages transmitted from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio (NWR) broadcast towers.
The main features of the WX-268 Public Alert Radio include: NOAA/EAS Alert Function Your Public AlertTM Radio will automatically sound an alert tone siren and flash the corresponding LED color indicator when it receives a weather or civil emergency broadcast from NOAA (Weather Band) or EAS (AM/FM Bands). Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) Allows you to store up to 20 different location codes into memory. Each code identifies a specific geographic area, typically a county as defined by NOAA and EAS.
LOCATION OF CONTROLS 1 WX-268 2 3 7 6 5 4 8 9 10 12 11 24 23 22 13 21 14 16 15 25 17 19 18 20 LCD Screen 1 4 3 2 5 1. IntegratedTelescopic Antenna 2. Remote Alert Jack (3.5 mm) 3. Alert Audio Out Jack (6.2 mm) 4. External Antenna Jack (F Connector) 5. DC Power Jack 6. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 7. Warning Indicator (red) LED 8. Watch Indicator (orange) LED 9. Advisory Indicator (yellow) LED 10. Power Indicator (green) LED 11. Function Knob 12. ALERT Volume/OFF Switch 13.
Description of controls and functions 1. Integrated Telescopic Antenna – Fully extend the antenna and orient it for best reception. 2. Remote Alert (3.5 mm Jack) – Provides contact closure to activate external devices. 3. Alert Audio Out (6.2 mm Jack) – Mono jack allows connection to a Public Address system. 4. External Antenna (F Connector) – F connector allows you to connect to optional external antenna (not included) for weather band only. 5.
Battery Installation The WX-268 uses 5 AA batteries for back-up power. It can run on non-rechargeable alkaline, or rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cad) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. Use the slide switch located inside the battery compartment (Fig. 1) to select the battery type. To select “Alkaline” when alkaline batteries are installed, push the switch to the right. To select “Ni-Cad” when using rechargeable batteries, push the switch to the left. (See Fig. 1).
Chapter 1 - Basic Operation Setting up your Public AlertTM radio 1. Choosing a place for your radio Your WX-268 is designed for desktop or wall mount installation. Place the unit where it can receive an emergency alert signal broadcast and where you can hear its alert tone or see the message indicator lights. The best location to install the WX-268 is: - Clear of any obstructions. - Near windows or large openings.
3. Set-up and Language Selection When the radio is powered up: the LCD screen will illuminate, the four lights located above it will light up for 3 seconds and it will beep 3 times. Note: The radio will prompt you to select a language the first time you program it. You will not have to do so when programming the radio at other times. 1. When powered up, the radio will prompt HOLD PROGRAM TO SETUP RADIO you to HOLD PROGRAM TO SETUP RADIO in English then in Spanish.
7. DAY SAVING will be displayed on the screen. Turn the FUNCTION knob clockwise to select either Daylight Savings ON or OFF. Note: When set to ON, The NIST DAY SAVING - ON clock automatically adjusts for daylight savings time. When set to OFF, it will stay on standard time. Press the NEXT (>) key. CLOCK - 12 HOUR 8. CLOCK will be displayed on the screen. Turn the FUNCTION knob clockwise to select between the 12hour or 24-hour clock systems. Press the NEXT (>) key. TURN KNOB TO SET TIME 9.
Selecting the WB channel for your listening area: 1. Press the radio ON button to hear the voice broadcast. Adjust the volume knob as needed. 2. Press and hold the PROGRAM key for 3 seconds. SET DATE/TIME 3. SET DATE/TIME is displayed on the screen. 4. Turn the FUNCTION knob clockwise until SET WB SET WB CHANNEL CHANNEL is displayed on the screen. Press the NEXT (>) key to enter the WB Channel menu. WB CHANNEL 1 5.
3. SET LOCATION 01 will be displayed on the screen. Press the NEXT (>) key. 4. SELECT STATE will be displayed on the screen.Turn the FUNCTION knob clockwise until you locate the desired state. Press the NEXT(>) key. 5. SELECT COUNTY will be displayed on the screen. Turn the FUNCTION knob until you locate the desired county. Press the NEXT (>) key. 6. SELECT SUBDIVISION will be displayed on the screen. Turn the FUNCTION knob to scroll through the subdivisions within a county. For ex.
2. Selecting the Source for Emergency Alert System (EAS) Alerts In 1994, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) replaced the Emergency Broadcast System with EAS. EAS provides not only the President, but national, state and local authorities with the ability to give emergency information to the general public via broadcast stations, cable and wireless cable systems. Broadcasters and cable operators can send warning messages almost immediately to their audiences.
After programming your WX-268, you are ready to use it . Place the radio where it gets the best reception. To listen to the weather channel press the Radio ON button. To Turn off the weather channel press the Radio OFF button. To turn the siren or voice off when an alert is received, press the OFF button. Setting the AM /FM channel 1. To select an AM or FM station, press the Radio On button. 2. Press the BAND button to select the desired radio band.
Auto-set Atomic (NIST) Clock The WX-268 continuously monitors the broadcast of the atomic clock signal on WWVB from the NIST laboratories in Colorado. NIST continuously broadcasts the time signal on WWVB (60 KHz) which can be received anywhere in the continental United States where long range AM radio reception is possible. Due to the nature of the earth’s atmosphere, your location and seasonal weather conditions, daytime reception can be limited.
Chapter 3 - Advanced Programming Options 1. Selecting Between Alerting Options The WX-268 offers four different alerting options for you to select from. Each choice will make the WX-268 respond differently when an alert is received. Your radio is set at the factory to Option 1 - Voice/Message. The four alert options are: 1. VOICE/MESSAGE: Sound the alert siren for 5 seconds then switch to the voice broadcast for the duration of the message. (About 60 sec. to 3 minutes.) 2.
WX-268 Menu Tree PROGRAM (hold for 3 seconds) Language Selection - English/Spanish (first time only) Turn FUNCTION Knob to advance between menus Ö SET DATE/TIME Set Year Set Month Set Day Time Zone Day Saving 12/24 Hr.
Appendix A - Notes and Tips Setting Daylight Savings Time- In order for the WX-268 to automatically adjust for daylight savings time, you must select the ON option in the Daylight Savings Time menu. See Setting the Clock and Calendar on pages 11 and 12 to do so. Self Test : The WX-268 will automatically notify you if it has not received a test message in the previous 10 days, by lighting all four LED indicators and displaying “10 DAY ALERT SENTRY” on the LCD screen.
Handicapped Accessories - Appendix B The WX-268 Public Alert radio is equipped to connect a variety of special needs accessory devices including strobe lights, pillow vibration modules and remote sirens. Once connected, these devices will automatically be activated when the radio receives an advisory, watch or warning for the duration of the radio siren or until you press the Radio OFF button. To connect a special needs accessory, Fig.
Alert Description Table: The table below lists the alerts broadcast by NOAA and EAS. At the factory, your radio has been programmed with some alerts Blocked (B) as noted below. In addition, some NOAA alerts are Unblockable (UB) as noted below. To block additional events, see the Event Blocking instructions on page 19.
Trouble Shooting Problem POWER light does not come on Possible Cause and Solution AC power may not be connected. Make sure AC adaptser is properly plugged into the radio and the wall outlet. POWER light is blinking AC power has been removed. Unit is running on backup battery power. Check AC adapter connections to restore power. Text is in the wrong language Language selection is incorrect. To reset language selection, follow instructions on page 12 Siren does not sound 1.
Trouble Shooting Problem Possible cause and Solution My clock doesn’t auto-set. If the radio is being powered by batteries only, check them and replace if necessary. Poor reception of the NIST signal. The NIST antenna is located inside the radio. If your radio is being used on a desk or table top, try rotating it 90 degrees. If your is mounted to the wall, try mounting it on a wall perpendicular to the one it is currently on (e.g. if it is on a north-south wall try an east-west wall).
Trouble Shooting Possible Cause and Solution Problem We switched to Daylight Saving Time, and my clock didn’t change My clock switched to Daylight Saving Time, but we don’t observe DST where I live Make sure that Daylight Saving is set to ON. See pages 12-13 for instructions This is probably due to a reception problem. Your radio hasn’t received the signal recently, so it didn’t know about the time change.
SERVICE PROCEDURE You may be asked to send your unit in for service.It will be necessary to furnish the following in order to have the product serviced and returned. 1. For Warranty Repair, include some form of proof-of-purchase. 2. You must include the Public Alert System Receiver unit and power adapter. 3. Enclose a description of the problem with the unit. Include a typed or clearly printed name, address, and phone number where you can be contacted. 4. Pack the unit securely to prevent damage in transit.
90-Day Limited Warranty Sima Products Corp. (“Company”) warrants that if the accompanying product proves to be defective to the original purchaser in material or workmanship within 90 days from the original retail purchase, the Company will, at the Company’s option, either repair or replace same without charge (but no cash refund will be made). Conditions 1.