Radio Shack 12-521 User manual

Thank you for purchasing your All-Hazards Desktop Weather Alert Radio from
RadioShack. It receives seven NOAA weather channels and notifies you of
weather information broadcast on these channels. Please read this user’s guide
before installing, setting up and using your new radio.
User’s Guide
12-521
www.RadioShack.com
Weather Alert Radio
AC Adapter
User’s Guide
Quick Start Guide
All-Hazards Desktop Weather Alert Radio
What’s Included
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2
C ontents
3
Setup....................................................................................................... 4
Features ............................................................................................................................ 4
Powering Your Weather Alert Radio ............................................................................. 5
Settings ................................................................................................... 6
Setting Channels ............................................................................................................. 6
Setting the Alert Mode....................................................................................................6
Setting the Missed Alert Reminder...............................................................................7
Setting the Signal Loss Reminder ................................................................................7
Setting the Menu Language...........................................................................................7
Setting Daytime and Nighttime Alert Volume.............................................................8
Setting the Backlight ...................................................................................................... 8
Setting the Clock and Alarm.......................................................................................... 8
Programming............................................................................................ 9
Programming Locations and SAME Codes.................................................................. 9
Programming Alerts......................................................................................................10
Restoring Factory Default Settings .............................................................................10
Using Your Radio .................................................................................... 10
Viewing Alerts ................................................................................................................10
Connecting to an External System..............................................................................11
Turning Audible Alerts On or Off..................................................................................11
Using the Alarm and Snooze .......................................................................................11
NWS Alert Descriptions ................................................................................................12
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ) ............................................................. 14
What are FIPS codes?...................................................................................................14
What is an alert? ...........................................................................................................14
What are undened or unrecognized alerts?............................................................14
How do I test my radio?................................................................................................15
Multiple FIPS codes are stored, but why does the radio only
respond to alerts for one area?...................................................................................15
Why is there no weather broadcast when I press WEATHER/SNOOZE?...............15
What is the difference between a watch and a warning?.......................................15
How can I adapt my weather alert radio for special needs? ..................................15
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2
3
Contents
Why wouldn’t I receive the test signal from NOAA?.................................................16
Should the radio pick up a weather broadcast all of the time?.............................16
What does 0H29M (or similar) on the display mean?.............................................16
What does CHECK OP on the display mean?............................................................16
Additional Information............................................................................ 17
Specications.................................................................................................................17
Care .................................................................................................................................17
Service and Repair ........................................................................................................17
FCC Notice ......................................................................................................................18
Limited Warranty...........................................................................................................19
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4
Setup
5
Setup
Features
MENU and , , , 
Navigate and adjust
menu items.
SELECT
Confirm settings.
or
Adjust the volume
during broadcasting.
CLOCK
• Press and hold to
start setting the
clock.
• Press to toggle
between clock
and alarm time.
When alarm time
shows, press
and hold to start
setting the alarm. WEATHER/SNOOZE
Press to listen to the
broadcasts, stop
the alarm, or enable
snooze when the alarm
sounds.
Alert Indicators
Red – WARNING, Orange – WATCH,
Yellow – ADVISORY, Green – READY.
When an alert is in effect, the corresponding
alert indicator flashes for 60 seconds and then
lights for the duration the alert is in effect.
Antenna
Fully extend to
receive weather
broadcasts.
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4
5
Setup
EXT ANT
For better reception, connect an
external antenna using an optional
adapter cable with a phono plug
(not included).
ALERT OUT
Connect to a
compatible external
alerting device with a
3.5mm phono plug.
DC 9V
Insert the
AC adapter.
ALERT ON/OFF
Turn audible
alerts on or off..
ALARM SNOOZE/OFF/ON
Turn the alarm on or off,
or the alarm snooze on.
Powering Your Weather Alert Radio
Insert the AC adapter to the DC 9V jack to
power your radio.
Install 6 AA batteries (not included) for backup
power. Insert batteries as indicated by the
polarity symbols (+ and –) inside.
n Battery Notes:
• When flashes, replace the batteries.
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size
and type.
• Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard,
alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities.
• If you do not plan to use your radio for a long period, remove the battery.
Batteries can leak chemicals that may damage electronic parts.
n Note: The power source must supply 9V DC and deliver at least 300mA.
Its center tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit the DC 9V jack. Using
an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the radio or
adapter.
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6
Settings
7
Settings
Setting Channels
1. Press MENU. SELECT CH appears.
2. Press SELECT and then or to select AUTO (default) or CHANNEL X (where
Xis the channel number 1-7).
3. When CHANNEL and a channel number (1-7)
appear, press SELECT to set that channel.
When AUTO appears, press SELECT again to
automatically set to a channel. For auto setting:
• SEARCHING CHANNEL displays during a search, followed by the channel
number (1-7).
• WEATHER CHANNEL X AVAILABLE displays when channel X(1-7) is detected.
• NO CHANNEL AVAILABLE BACK TO CHANNEL X displays when no channel is
detected and the previously selected channel number Xdisplays.
4. Press MENU to exit.
n Note: If you receive NOAA broadcasts on more than one channel, the one
with the best reception may not be the best one for your location. Contact
your local RadioShack store or the NWS for information regarding broadcast
locations.
Setting the Alert Mode
1. Press MENU and then or to select
ALERT MODE.
2. Press SELECT and then or to select either:
• VOICE – An alert tone sounds for 10 seconds, then a vocal weather broadcast
turns on for 5 minutes with the alert description and duration displaying.
• TONE – An alert tone sounds for 5 minutes.
The alert description and duration appear on
the display. To silence the alert tone, press
WEATHER/SNOOZE.
3. Press SELECT again to confirm.
4. Press MENU to exit.
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6
7
Settings
Setting the Missed Alert Reminder
1. Press MENU and then or to select ALT REMINDER.
2. Press or to select either:
• – missed alert reminder enabled
• – missed alert reminder disabled
3. Press MENU to exit.
n Notes:
• In tone mode, the radio beeps every 30 seconds after an alert broadcast ends
until the alert effective time expires.
• In voice mode, a voice alert broadcasts for up to 5 minutes, then the radio
beeps every 30 seconds until the alert effective time expires.
• Press any button to mute the reminder.
Setting the Signal Loss Reminder
1. Press MENU and then or to select SIG REMINDER.
2. Press or to select either:
• – signal loss reminder enabled
• – signal loss reminder disabled
3. Press MENU to exit.
n Notes:
• If a signal is lost, then SIGNAL LOSS appears and
Ê
flashes on. The
WARNING and ADVISORY alert indicators flash alternatively, and the
WATCH indicator lights.
• Press any button to mute the reminder. If a signal is detected but is lost within
10 minutes, then reminder will not sound.
Setting the Menu Language
1. Press MENU and then or to select SET LANGUAGE.
2. Press SELECT and then or to select either ENGLISH or SPANISH.
3. Press SELECT again to confirm.
4. Press MENU to exit.
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8
Settings
9
Setting Daytime and Nighttime Alert Volume
The daytime volume setting is effective from 6:00AM to 10:00PM, while the
nighttime volume setting is effective from 10:00PM to 6:00AM.
1. Press MENU and then or to select
ALT VOL—DAY or ALT VOL—NIGH.
2. Press or to adjust volume levels from 1 to 16.
3. Press MENU to exit.
n Note: Ensure that any volume you choose below the out-of-box specification
is a level that will provide adequate warning for the alerts.
Setting the Backlight
1. Press MENU and then or to select
BACKLIGHT?.
2. Press SELECT and then or to select:
• AUTO – Backlight turns on for 10 seconds when a button is pressed, an
alert is received, or the AC adapter is plugged in.
• ON – Backlight is always on.
• OFF – Backlight does not turn on at all.
3. Press SELECT again to confirm.
4. Press MENU to exit.
Setting the Clock and Alarm
1. To set the clock, press and hold the CLOCK
button until the hour digits flash.
To set the alarm, press CLOCK. Éflashes. Then
press and hold CLOCK until the hour digits flash.
2. Use , , , to set the hour and minute.
3. After setting, press CLOCK or SELECT to confirm and exit.
n Note: After setting the alarm, slide ALARM SNOOZE/OFF/ON to SNOOZE
or ON to activate the alarm.
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9
Programming
Programming
Programming Locations and SAME Codes
Your radio is pre-programmed with seven weather broadcast frequencies
(channels 1-7). When you use the radio for the first time, it automatically scans
for the strongest channel and receives all SAME alert signals broadcast within a
radius of up to 50-mile (80-km).
1. Press MENU and then or to select SAME CODE.
2. Press SELECT and then or to select:
• ALL – Receives all SAME alert signals
broadcast within a 50-mile radius.
• MULTIPLE – Receives a SAME alert signal
only for the preprogrammed locations (up to 9).
• SINGLE – Receives a SAME alert signal for only one programmed location.
3. In ALL mode, press SELECT and then MENU to exit.
In MULTIPLE mode, press SELECT to select memory location 1. (In SINGLE
mode only one memory location can be selected and edited.)
4. Press SELECT again and then or to select:
• EDIT BY NAME – Press SELECT to confirm
selections and or to select the state
and county.
• EDIT BY FIPS – Press SELECT to confirm selections and edits and press
, , , to edit the FIPS code if your state or county is not listed. See
“What are FIPS Codes?” on page 14 for more information.
• DELETE? – Press SELECT to confirm deleting the current memory location.
w WARNING! Your radio comes preset with FIPS codes for your state and
county. Only change a FIPS code after you have verified with the NWS website
that the code is correct.
5. Press or to select another memory location to edit.
6. Press MENU to exit.
n Notes:
• The radio may miss alert signals while it is being programmed.
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10
Using Your Radio
11
• The radio updates the location based on the FIPS code programmed and
shows the location name. If the new FIPS code does not match any county, NOT
FOUND displays followed by the code programmed instead of a county name.
Programming Alerts
Your radio has a large number of alerts turned on by default. For a full list of NWS
alerts and default settings, see page 12.
To change alert settings:
1. Press MENU and then or to select
SET ALERTS?.
2. Press SELECT and then or to select an alert.
3. Press SELECT again and then or to select
ALERT ON or ALERT OFF.
4. Press SELECT to confirm the selection.
5. Press MENU to exit.
Restoring Factory Default Settings
1. Unplug the AC adapter and remove the batteries.
2. Press and hold WEATHER/SNOOZE, and at the
same time plug the AC adapter in or install the
batteries. When USER SETUP displays, release WEATHER/SNOOZE.
3. Press MENU to clear the memory and restore factory settings. DEFAULT
displays. Wait 5 to 10 seconds until USER SETUP displays again.
4. Unplug and then plug the AC adapter (or remove the batteries and then
install them). Your radio is restored to factory default settings.
Using Your Radio
Viewing Alerts
When an alert is received, the alert description displays. If multiple alerts are
received, press to view them in the order they were received. The description
of a newly received alert displays immediately. Your radio can memorize up to
four different alerts for you to cycle through. For example, if three alerts are
received, they display in turn in this way:
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