Radio Shack Pocket Weatheradio 12-257 User manual

© 2001 RadioShack Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack and RadioShack.com
are trademarks used
by RadioShack Corporation.
OWNER’S MANUAL — Please read before using this equipment.
Pocket Weatheradio

with Tone and Vibrating Alert
Your RadioShack Pocket Weatheradio is designed to
receive National Weather Service (NWS) broadcasts,
which provide information about weather conditions and
forecasts 24 hours a day.
Your Weatheradio searches for the strongest signal
among the 7 weather channels (WX) and tunes to the
strongest channel. The Weatheradio receives these
transmissions from up to 40 miles away.
The Weatheradio sounds an alarm or vibrates when a
weather station broadcasts a special alert signal indicat-
ing a weather emergency, keeping you up to date on
your local weather situation.
Next Button — lets you choose the channel and check
the alert tone or vibrator.
Battery-Saving Circuit — minimizes power consump-
tion in the alert mode.

2
FCC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules
. Op-
eration 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.
The FCC Wants You to Know
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 interfer-
ence in a residential installation. This equipment gener-
ates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and,
if not installed and used in accordance with the instruc-
tions, may cause harmful interference to radio commu-
nications.
Product: Pocket Weatheradio
Model: 12-257
Responsible
Party: RadioShack 100 Throckmorton
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: [phone]

3
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television recep-
tion, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment
and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit
different from that to which the receiver is con-
nected.
• Consult your local RadioShack store or an experi-
enced radio/TV technician for help.
• If you cannot eliminate the interference, the FCC
requires that you stop using your Weatheradio.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
RadioShack may cause interference and void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

4
INSTALLING BATTERIES
Your radio uses three AAA batteries for power. For the
best performance and the longest life, we recommend
RadioShack alkaline batteries.
Note: Do not use a rechargeable battery in your Weath-
eradio.
1. Press down on the battery compartment cover and
slide it off.
2. Install three AAA batteries as indicated by the
polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside the com-
partment.
3. Replace the cover.
If reception becomes weak or the sound becomes dis-
torted, replace the battery.
If your radio’s batteries become weak, your radio might
not sound a tone when an emergency or test alert is
broadcast. Test your radio’s reception periodically (see
“Testing Alert Reception” on Page 9).
Caution: If you do not plan to use the radio for several
weeks, remove the batteries. Batteries can leak chemi-
cals that can destroy electronic parts.

5
Power Indicator
When the Weatheradio is on and
the batteries have full power, the
POWER indicator flashes green.
When the Weatheradio is on and
the batteries are low, the POWER
indicator flashes red.
When the Weatheradio is on but
no radio signal is detected, the
POWER indicator flashes orange.
TESTING ALERT OPERATION
Follow these steps to test the Weatheradio’s tone and
vibration. This does not test the radio’s reception or
guarantee you will receive an emergency alert. (See
“Testing Alert Reception” on Page 9.)
1. Set ALERT/WEATHER to ALERT and TONE/VIBRA-
TOR to TONE or VIBRATOR.
2. While holding down NEXT, rotate VOLUME/OFF
counterclockwise until it clicks. Continue holding
down NEXT for about 4 seconds until the radio
vibrates, the POWER indicator lights orange, the
NEXT
TONE/
VIBRATOR
POWER
Indicator

6
radio sounds a tone, and the POWER indicator
lights green.
3. To turn off the tone or vibration alert, turn the radio
off.
LISTENING TO THE RADIO
1. Set ALERT/WEATHER to
WEATHER.
2. Hold the Weatheradio so the
antenna is vertical.
3. Rotate VOLUME/OFF counter-
clockwise until it clicks and wait
several seconds while the
Weatheradio searches for the
strongest channel. Adjust the
sound to the desired level.
Notes:
• The radio does not monitor weather alerts while
it is receiving a weather broadcast.
•If
ALERT/WEATHER is set to WEATHER when you
turn on the radio, and there is no channel avail-
able, the radio tunes to Channel 1.
VOLUME
ALERT/
WEATHER

7
•If
ALERT/WEATHER is set to WEATHER when the
current channel becomes unavailable, the radio
does not switch channels.
•If
ALERT/WEATHER is set to WEATHER and no
channels are available, a short tone sounds
every 30 second and the POWER indicator
flashes orange.
• After you turn on the radio, if the switch is
changed from ALERT to WEATHER, you hear the
broadcast on the current alert channel. If there is
no channel available, the radio tunes to channel
1.
4. When the Weatheradio tunes in the strongest chan-
nel, you can press NEXT to move to the next chan-
nel. If the strongest channel is Channel 2, press
NEXT to turn to channel 3.
5. If the signal strength becomes weak, hold down
NEXT for one second to search for the strongest
channel again. A short tone sounds.
USING THE ALERT ALARM
You can set the radio to alert you when it detects a
weather emergency, so you do not have to continuously
listen to the National Weather Service broadcasts. If se-

8
vere weather threatens, do not wait for an alert tone;
turn on your Weatheradio and monitor the latest weath-
er information.
1. Set ALERT/WEATHER to ALERT and TONE/VIBRA-
TOR to TONE or VIBRATOR.
2. Rotate VOLUME/OFF counterclockwise until it clicks
and wait several seconds for the Weatheradio to
select the strongest channel.
In an emergency, your Weatheradio receives the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
(NOAA’s) 1050 Hz weather signal and automatically
sounds an alert tone or vibrates for 10 seconds.
Then it sounds a short tone every 30 seconds (in
tone mode) or vibrates for about a second every 30
seconds (in vibration mode). Press any button to
cancel the alert reminder. If there is no channel
found, the Weatheradio continues scanning. The
POWER indicator flashes orange and a short tone
sounds (in tone mode) or the radio vibrates for
about a second (in vibration mode) every 30 sec-
onds until a channel is found.
Notes:
• The alert is broadcast for 10 seconds. If you set
ALERT/WEATHER to WEATHER immediately after

9
the tone starts, you hear the broadcast tone for
the remainder of the 10 seconds, then the emer-
gency information.
• The radio sounds the alert tone at full power,
regardless of the volume setting.
3. When the Weatheradio sounds an alert tone or
vibrates, slide ALERT/WEATHER to WEATHER to
hear the emergency information and adjust VOL-
UME/OFF to a comfortable listening level.
4. Set ALERT/WEATHER to ALERT, to monitor the radio
for further emergency broadcasts.
TESTING ALERT RECEPTION
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, con-
tact your local NOAA or NWS office. These offices are
usually listed in the telephone book under
US Govern-
ment, Department of Commerce.

10
Important: Clear reception of a weather broadcast sig-
nal does
not
guarantee that an emergency alert broad-
cast will trigger your Weatheradio’s alert function. Be
sure you choose the proper location for the Weatheradio
and regularly check the Weatheradio to be sure it is op-
erating properly.
CARE
Keep the Weatheradio dry. Use and store the Weath-
eradio only in normal temperature environments. Han-
dle the Weatheradio carefully; do not drop it. Keep the
Weatheradio away from dust and dirt, and wipe it with a
damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new.
Modifying or tampering with the Weatheradio’s internal
components can cause a malfunction and might invali-
date its warranty and void your FCC authorization to op-
erate it. If your Weatheradio is not performing as it
should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assis-
tance.