Radio Shack Weatheradio User manual

Cat. No. 12-251
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
Weatheradio®
with Alert
12-251.fm Page 1 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

2
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-SERVICE-
ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING
TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
This symbol is intended to alert
you to the presence of uninsu-
lated dangerous voltage within
the product’s enclosure that might
be of sufficient magnitude to con-
stitute a risk of electric shock. Do
not open the product’s case.
This symbol is intended to inform
you that important operating and
maintenance instructions are
included in the literature accom-
panying this product.
The graphical symbols with supplemental mark-
ings are located on the bottom of the product.
!
!
©1999 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack and Weatheradio are registered trademarks
used by Tandy Corporation.
12-251.fm Page 2 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

3
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 re-
ceived, including interference that may cause un-
desired operation.
THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW
This equipment has been tested and found to com-
ply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursu-
ant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules
. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
Product: Weatheradio with Alert
Model: 12-251
Responsible Party: RadioShack
100 Throckmorton
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: [phone]
12-251.fm Page 3 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

4
accordance with the instructions, may cause harm-
ful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. If this equip-
ment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encour-
aged 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 cir-
cuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult your local RadioShack store or an
experienced radio/TV technician for help.
• If you cannot eliminate the interference, the
FCC requires that you stop using your Weath-
eradio.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved
by RadioShack may cause interference and void the
user’s authority to operate the equipment.
12-251.fm Page 4 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

5
FEATURES
Your RadioShack Weatheradio with Alert is the next
generation of weather alert technology. Your Weath-
eradio uses SAME (Specific Area Message Encod-
ing) circuitry to provide more complete information
about weather conditions in your immediate area,
letting you avoid hearing alerts for geographical ar-
eas that do not interest you.
Your Weatheradio’s features include:
SAME Operation — lets you program as many as
two different geographical codes into the Weathera-
dio’s memory, so the Weatheradio sounds an alert
only when a weather emergency is declared in any
of those locations.
Audible Alert — the Weatheradio sounds a built-in
siren when it detects emergency weather situations.
7 Weather Channels — let you select the frequen-
cy for your local National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) weather broadcasts.
Selectable Alert Function — lets you set the
Weatheradio so it sounds an alert then automatical-
ly sounds the accompanying NOAA broadcast when
it receives a weather emergency broadcast. You
can also set the Weatheradio so it sounds only the
alert, letting you manually tune the NOAA broad-
cast.
12-251.fm Page 5 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

6
Alert Indicator Lights — the Weatheradio’s display
clearly shows whether a received alert is a state-
ment, 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 seri-
al number here. The number is on the bottom of the
radio.
Serial Number:
12-251.fm Page 6 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

7
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 ........................................................ 12
Powering the Weatheradio ........................... 12
Connecting AC Power .......................... 12
Installing the Backup Battery ................ 13
Using the Built-In Antenna ........................... 14
Choosing a Location for the Weatheradio ... 15
Programming the Weatheradio .................... 16
Selecting a Broadcast Frequency ........ 17
Storing/Changing FIPS Codes ............. 19
Testing the Weatheradio .............................. 21
Operation ........................................................... 22
Listening to a Weather Broadcast ............... 22
Using the Alert Function .............................. 23
Setting the Alert Volume ....................... 24
Changing/Checking the Alert Pattern ... 24
Using the Weatheradio’s
‘All Signals’ Code ................................. 25
When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs ...... 26
Troubleshooting ................................................ 28
Care .................................................................... 31
Specifications ................................................... 32
12-251.fm Page 7 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

8
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 of-
ten alerted even when their area is not affected,
causing many of them to ignore potentially real
weather warnings that can save lives.
In 1994, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration (NOAA) began broadcasting coded sig-
nals called FIPS (Federal Information Processing
System) codes along with their standard weather
broadcasts from stations in your area. These codes
identify the type of emergency and the specific geo-
graphic area (such as a county) affected by the
emergency. Your Weatheradio receives, interprets,
and displays information about the codes so you
can determine if the emergency might affect your ar-
ea. Only SAME-compatible weather radios (such
as this Weatheradio) are able to take advantage
of this new technology.
Each FIPS code identifies a specific geographic
area (defined by the National Weather Service), so
your Weatheradio sounds an alert only when a
weather emergency is declared in that area. This
helps you more efficiently track the weather condi-
tions in and around your area.
12-251.fm Page 8 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

9
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. How-
ever, the end of an alert does not necessarily mean
that the related weather emergency is over.
UNDERSTANDING FIPS CODES
For the purpose of broadcasting weather informa-
tion, the NWS has divided the United States into re-
gions by state and county (or parish, where
applicable) then assigned a 6-digit FIPS code to
identify each county or parish. For example, the
code for Tarrant County, Texas, is 048439.
12-251.fm Page 9 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

10
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.
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. When that happens, each subdivision will
be assigned a digit from 1–9, resulting in codes
such as 148439, 248439, and so on.
Your Weatheradio can receive all SAME alert sig-
nals broadcast within about a 50-mile radius of
where you installed it. To receive SAME alerts and
broadcasts about weather occurring only in particu-
lar counties within that area, you can program up to
two FIPS codes into the Weatheradio’s memory. For
example, this lets you avoid hearing an alert that ap-
plies to an area within a 50-mile radius but not nec-
essarily to your county or parish.
048439
State
County Subdivision
County/
Parish
12-251.fm Page 10 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

11
Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s)
To obtain the FIPS code for the location where you
installed your Weatheradio, contact your local Ra-
dioShack store or call the NWS toll free at 1-888-
NWR-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 coun-
ties or parishes.
Hint: Since you can program up to two FIPS codes
into the Weatheradio’s memory, you might want to
obtain the code for another local area that you fre-
quently travel through (as long as both areas are
within a 50 mile radius of your location and within an
area covered by your local NWS broadcast station).
That way, you can program the code into the
Weatheradio and receive broadcasts covering that
location, too.
12-251.fm Page 11 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

12
PREPARATION
POWERING THE WEATHERADIO
Your Weatheradio uses standard AC power for nor-
mal operation and requires one 9-volt battery (not
supplied) for backup power when AC power fails or
is temporarily disconnected. For the best perfor-
mance and longest life, we recommend a Ra-
dioShack alkaline battery.
Cautions:
• Use only a fresh battery of the required size
and recommended type.
• Do not use a rechargeable battery in your
Weatheradio.
Connecting AC Power
If the Weatheradio’s display is on, rotate VOLUME
toward OFF until it clicks to turn off the Weatheradio.
Then plug the Weatheradio’s power cord into a stan-
dard AC outlet.
12-251.fm Page 12 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

13
Caution: Your Weatheradio’s power cord has a po-
larized 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 VOL-
UME 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. Snap a 9V battery onto the battery terminals
inside the compartment, then place the battery
inside.
4. Replace the cover.
When the LOW BATT indicator on the front of the
Weatheradio lights, replace the battery.
12-251.fm Page 13 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

14
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 re-
moved for a longer period of time, you must re-enter
all settings.
USING THE BUILT-IN ANTENNA
The Weatheradio’s built-in telescoping antenna lets
you receive strong local signals. To use the built-in
antenna, lift it up so it is vertical, then fully extend it.
12-251.fm Page 14 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

15
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.
Note: Make sure the Weatheradio is away from ob-
structions such as metal cabinets or bookshelves.
(Higher frequencies are noticeably affected by ob-
structions.) Do not place the Weatheradio near any
metal surface such as a refrigerator, a metal door or
wall, or a water pipe hidden behind a wall. This
greatly reduces the Weatheradio’s ability to receive
signals.
12-251.fm Page 15 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

16
PROGRAMMING THE
WEATHERADIO
Your Weatheradio is preprogrammed to receive
broadcasts for all FIPS codes, and is prepro-
grammed with the seven national NOAA broadcast
frequencies (Channels 1–7).
The first time you use your Weatheradio, it is auto-
matically set to use the NOAA weather broadcast
frequency 162.400 MHz (Channel 1) and receive all
SAME alert signals broadcast within a 50-mile radi-
us of where you installed it.
Depending on your location, you might need to se-
lect a different channel and enter one or two FIPS
codes into the Weatheradio.
Notes:
• To stop programming the Weatheradio at any
time during the steps described in this section,
set PROGRAM/OPERATE to OPERATE. The
Weatheradio saves any valid entries you made.
• The Weatheradio will not receive a weather
alert while you program it.
12-251.fm Page 16 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

17
Selecting a Broadcast Frequency
1. To turn on the Weatheradio, turn VOLUME to the
right until it clicks.
2. Set PROGRAM/OPERATE to PROGRAM. Cand
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 broad-
cast channel (1through 7) lights.
Repeat this step until you find the channel
broadcasting in your area..
Channel Frequency
(MHz)
1 162.400
2 162.425
12-251.fm Page 17 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

18
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. When you hear the channel you want, press
CONFIRM. The weather broadcast stops, the
Weatheradio beeps, and L, 1, –, and the FIPS
code stored in the first memory location flash.
5. Set PROGRAM/OPERATE to OPERATE.
Note: If you do not press a button for 45 sec-
onds, the Weatheradio automatically switches
to operate mode. Set PROGRAM/OPERATE
back to OPERATE and start over at Step 2.
3 162.450
4 162.475
5 162.500
6 162.525
7 162.550
Channel Frequency
(MHz)
12-251.fm Page 18 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

19
Storing/Changing FIPS Codes
You can store or change FIPS codes in the Weath-
eradio’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.
Or, hold down CONFIRM for about 2 seconds to
skip the FIPS code in the first memory location,
then skip to Step 5.
3. Repeatedly press or hold down SCROLL until
the first digit of the FIPS code changes to the
one you want, then press CONFIRM. A dash (–)
appears.
If you enter the wrong digit, press CLEAR to
clear it.
12-251.fm Page 19 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM

20
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 con-
firmation tone and saves the new FIPS code.
5. If you just saved the FIPS code in the first mem-
ory location, L, 2, –, and the FIPS code stored
in the second memory location flash. If neces-
sary, repeat Steps 2–4 to enter a FIPS code in
the second memory location.
6. When you have stored both FIPS codes, the
Weatheradio sounds a confirmation tone. Then,
codes appear that confirm the Weatheradio’s
current settings.
For example, if you previously set the Weath-
eradio to use Channel 4 and stored a FIPS
code of 413540 in the first memory location and
a FIPS code of 425763 in the second memory
location, the following characters appear in
sequence:
C 4 L 1 –4 1 3 5 4 0 L 2 –4 2 5 7 6 3
When you finish, set PROGRAM/OPERATE to
OPERATE.
12-251.fm Page 20 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM