First Alert SFA150 User Manual

AM/FM Weather Band Clock Radio with

Weather Alert

USER MANUAL
SFA150

PLEASE READ THIS USER MANUAL COMPLETELY BEFORE OPERATING

THIS UNIT AND RETAIN THIS BOOKLET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

WARNING

TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT USE THIS PLUG WITH AN
EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES
CAN BE
OR SHOCK

FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE. TO PREVENT FIRE

HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

The Caution Marking is located at the back enclosure of the apparatus.
The Rating plate is located at the bottom enclosure of the apparatus

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Inst all in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
other apparatus (including amplifiers) that pro duc t he at.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized
plug has two blades with one wider tha n the other. A grounding type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided fo r
your safety. If the provided plug doe s not fit into your outlet, consult an electricia n fo r
replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they ex it from the appa ratus.

11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

12. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended
by the manufacturer, or sold with the prod uct. When a cart is used,
use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid
injury from tip-over.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightnin g storms or when unused fo r
a long periods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has
been dropped.

15. This appliance shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing water and that no object
filled with liquids such as vases shall be placed on the apparatus.

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16. Do not overload wall outlet. Use only power source as indicated.

17. Use replacement part as specified by the manufacturer.

18. Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician
to perform safety checks.

19. Power Sources - This product should be operated only from the type of power
source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply
to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company. For products
intended to operate from battery power, or other sources, refer to the operating
instruction.

20. Object and Liquid Entry - Never push objects of any kind into this product through
openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could
result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

21. Damage Requiring Service - Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer
servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

a) When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged,
b) If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product,
c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water,
d) If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions.

Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions as an
improper adjustment of other controls may resul t in damage and will often require
extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal

operation.
e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way, and
f) When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance - this indicates a need

for service.

22. Main plug is used as dis connect device and it s hould remai n readily operable durin g
intended use. In order to disconnect the appara tus from the mains completely, the
mains plug should be disconnected from the mains socket outlet complete ly.

23. The battery (battery or batteries or battery pack) shall not be exposed to excessive
heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.

24. Excessive sound pressure from earphones and headphone can cause hearing loss.

This sym bol i ndica tes that this product i nco rpora tes

us

er

between hazardous mains voltage and

accessible parts.

doub

le

insulation

CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE
BLADE OF AC PLUG TO WIDE SLOT. FULLY INSERT.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

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COMPLIANCE WITH FCC REGULATIONS

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.
NOTE : 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.
This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in 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. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, 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 connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.

PROTECT YOUR FURNITURE

This system is equipped with non-skid rubber ‘feet’ to prevent the product from
moving when
rubber material specially
furniture. However certain types of oil based
cleaning sprays may cause the rubber ‘feet’ to soften, and
residue on the
To prevent any damage to your furniture we strongly recommend that you purchase
small
centers everywhere,
you place the product on fine

self-

you

operate the controls. These ‘feet’ are made from non-migrating

formulated

furniture.

adhesive felt pads, available at hardware stores and home improvement

and

apply these pads to the bottom of the rubber ‘feet’ before

wooden furniture.

to avoid leaving any marks or stains on your

furniture

polishes, wood preservatives, or

leave

marks or a rubber

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DEAR FIRST ALERT® CUSTOMER

Selecting fine audio equipment such as the unit you've just purchased is only the
start of
fun and excitement
Indust ries A ssoci at i on 's
your equipment by playing it at a safe level.
loud and clear without annoying blaring or distortion and,
affecting your sensit ive h earing. Sound can b e d eceiving. Over t ime
"comfort level" adapts to higher volumes of sound. So what sounds "normal" can
actually
equipment at a safe

To

• Start your volume control at a low

• Slowly i ncrease th e sound unt il you can hear it comfortab ly and clearl y, an d without

distortion.

• Once you have

there.
Taking a minute to do this now will help to prevent hearing damage or loss in the
future.

We Want You

Used wisely, your new sound equipment will provide a lifetime
and enjoyment. Since hearing damage from loud noise
is
and
Electronics Group
exposure to excessive

Customer's Record:

The se rial n umber of th is p rodu ct is fou nd on its bot tom co ver. You s hould n ote the
serial
purch ase t o aid in id ent ificat ion

Model Number : SFA150 Serial Number :

your

musica l enjoyment. Now it's time to con sider how you can maximize the

your

equipm ent offers. Thi s m anufact u rer an d the E lectron ic

Consumer

be loud and harmful to your hearing. Guard against this by setting your

level

BEFORE your hearing

establish

After

often undetectable until it is too late, this manufacturer

the Electronic Industries Association's Consumer

number

a safe level:

established a comfortable sound level :

all, we want you listening for a

Listening

recommend you avoid prolonged

of th is un it in the sp ace pr ovided as a perman ent record of your

For a Lifetim

noise.

Elect ron i cs G roup want you to get the m ost out of

One

that lets the sound come through

setting.

in the

adapts.

lifetime.

e

event of theft of

loss.

most

importantly, without

your

hearing

Set th e dial and leave it

of

fun

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LOCATION OF CONTROLS

1 TIME/M+ 10 FM INDICATOR
2 MIN/DOWN/DIM 11 AM INDICATOR
3 HOUR/UP 12 ALARM 1 INDICATOR
4 SNOOZE/SLEEP 13 ALARM 2 INDICATOR
5 VOL-/AL1 14 PM INDICATOR
6 VOL+/AL2 15 BATTERY DOOR
7
8 ALERT INDICATOR 17 ANTENNA
9 WB INDICATOR

/MODE



16 AC POWER CORD

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

POWER SOURCE

AC POWER CONNECTION

This product operates on 120V ~60Hz AC power supply. Plug the AC power cord (#16)
into a household outlet AC source.

INSTALLING THE BACK-UP BATTERY
This unit is equipped with a battery back-up system, it requires
batteries (not included)
power outage.

1. Remove the battery door (#15).

2. Install a two pieces AA size batteries into the battery compartment following the

polarity diagram inside. Use only the specified size and type of batteries.

3. Replace the battery door (#15).
Note: The unit will operate without a battery installed but your time & alarm setting will

be lost and will have to be reset in the event of power interruption or failure.
IMPORTANT:

Be sure that the batteries are installed correctly. Wrong polarity may damage the unit
and void the warranty. For best performance and longer operating time, we recommend
the use of good quality alkaline battery.

BATTERY WARNING

1. Be sure that the batteries are installed correctly. Wrong polarity may damage the unit

2. Use only the size and type of batteries specified.

3. If the unit is not to be used for an extended period of time, remove the batteries.

Old or leaking batteries can cause damage to the unit and may void the warranty.

4. Do not try to recharge batteries not intended to be recharged; they can overheat

and rupture. (Follow battery manufacturer’s directions)

5. Do not dispose of batteries in fire, batteries may leak or explode

to maintain the time settings and radio presets during an AC

POWER ON/STANDBY

1. In standby mode, press and hold the

2. Press and hold the

/MODE BUTTON (#7) again to return the unit to standby mode.

/MODE BUTTON (#7) to turn on the unit.

3V 2 x AA (UM-3)

TIME SETTING

1. At Standby mode, press

2.

Press MIN/DOWN/DIM (#2) or HOUR/UP BUTTON (# 3) repeatedly to select 12 or
24 hour display mode.

3. Press TIME/M+ button (#1) to confirm, the time will flash on the display.

4. Press the HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) repeatedly to set the hour, press the

MIN/DOWN/DIMBUTTON (#2) repeat edl y to set the minut e.

Note:

If the PM Indicator (#14) is not showing in 12 hour mode, the time
displayed is AM.

It will auto confirm after it flashes 4 times. Once the time stop flashing, you can

repeat step 1 to step 4 to reset t he ti me.

CLOCK OPERATION

Time/M+ button (#1), 12 or 24 Hr will flash on the display.

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ALARM SETTING

1. At Standby mode, press the VOL-/AL 1 BUTTON (#5) to enter into the AL1 mode.

The ALARM 1 INDICATOR (#12) will turn on and the time will flash on the dis play.

2. Press the HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) to sel ect your desired ho ur, press the

MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2) to select your desired minute.

3. Press the VOL-/AL1 BUTTON (#5) again, the display will show “buZ” or “rAd” or

“OFF” and flash.

4. Press the MIN/DOWN/DI M BUTT ON (# 2) o r HOU R/U P B UT TON (# 3) re peat edl y

to select wake to buzzer “buZ” or wake to radio “rAd” or turn off the al arm 1 “OFF”.

5.

To turn off Radio or Buzzer alarm after it sounds by pressing the /MODE BUTTON
(#7)

.

The Alarm or Radio will sound for 30 minutes if the /MODE BUTTON (#7) was not

6.

pressed. It will stop automatically and wait for same alarm time on next day

7.

Alarm 2 setting is same as Alarm.

Note : You should tune to your desired radio station first before starting to set the alarm
time and choosing the radio alarm mode.

SNOOZE FUNCTION

When the alarm sounds, press the SNOOZE/SLEEP BUTTON (#4) to suspend the
alarm and activate the snooze function, alarm will stop & will sound again 9 minutes
later. If you press SNOOZE/SLEEP BUTTON (#4)again, the alarm will stop momentarily
and sound again in 9 minutes and so on.
NOTE:

• The Snooze interval time is fixed at 9 minutes.

• To turn the Snooze function OFF, press the

/MODE BUTTON (#7) once.

LISTENING TO THE RADIO

1. Press and hold

Press the

2.

(FM/AM/WB).
The selected frequency band indicator will light up.

3.

MANUAL SEARCH FOR RADIO STATIONS

Tap the HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) or MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2) repeatedly to
choose your desired radio station.

AUTOMATIC SEARCH FOR RADIO STATIONS (AM/FM BAND)
To automatically search for stations with strong signals, press and hold the
BUTTON (#3) or MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2)
display begins to scan and then release the button. The tuner will stop on the first strong
station it finds.
Press the VOL-/AL1/ VOL+/AL2 BUTTONS (#5/#6) to adjust the volume level.

Notes:

• The automatic search function is not available in Weather mode. One of the 7

available channels must be selected manually.

/MODE BUTTON (#7) to turn on the SFA150.

/MODE BUTTON (#7)

to switch to your desired frequency band

until the frequency readout on the

HOUR/UP

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• Use manual tuning to select weaker stations that might be skipped during automatic

tuning.

• If the automatic tuning does not stop on the exact frequency of the station, for

example, it stops on 88.9 MHz instead of 88.8 MHz, use the manual tuning method
to “fine tune” to the exact frequency of the desired station.

HINTS FOR BEST RECEPTION:
To insure maximum FM tuner reception, unwrap and fully extend the ANTENNA (#17)
for best FM radio reception.

TO SET THE RADIO PRESETS (AM/FM BAND)

1. Press and hold the

2. Tap the

(#11 /10) will light up.

3.

Tap the HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) or MIN/DOWN/ DIM BUTTON (#2) repeatedly to
choose your desired radio station

4. Press hold the TIME/M+/BUTTON (#1), the preset location will blink on the LED

display.

5. Use

desired preset number (P01-P30).

6. Press the TIME/M+/BUTTON (#1)) again to confirm the preset.

7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 to preset up to 60 stations (30 AM and 30FM stations).

To recall one of the preset stations

1. Press and hold the

2. Tap the

3. Press the TIME/M+/BUTTON (#1), the preset location will light up on the LED display.

4.

Tap the HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) or MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2) repeatedly
until you reach the desired preset num ber/ra dio stati on.

SLEEP TIMER

1.

Press and hold the SNOOZE/SLEEP BUTTON (#4), the display will show 120
minutes. Repeatedly tap the SNOOZE/SLEEP BUTTON (#4) to select the sleep
timer 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, OFF (in minutes).
play for the selected length of time then turn off automatically.

2.

Repeat step 1 to change or cancel the sleep timer

3. To turn the unit “Off” before the selected length of time, press the /MODE

BUTTON (#7) at any time.

/MODE BUTTON (#7)

HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) or MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2

/MODE BUTTON (#7)

/MODE BUTTON (#7) to turn on the SFA150.

to select AM/FM band. The AM/FM INDICATOR

.

OFF

/MODE BUTTON (#7) to turn on the SFA150.

to select AM/FM band.

) to select the

The unit will

LISTENING TO A WEATHER CHANNEL

1. Press and hold the

2. Tap the

3.

Tap the HOUR/UP BUTTON (#3) or MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2)
weather band channel for your area.

4. Press the VOLUME +/AL 2 BUTTON (#6) OR VOLUME -/AL1 BUTTON (#5) to

obtain the desired sound level.

5. To turn the radio off, press and hold the

/MODE BUTTON (#7)

/MODE BUTTON (#7) to turn on the SFA150.

to select WB band, WB INDICATOR will turn on

/MODE BUTTON (#7).

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.

to select the

Weather Band Channel Frequency Table

CHANNEL Frequency (MHZ)
Ch1 162.400
Ch2 162.425
Ch3 162.450
CH4 162.475
CH5 162.500
CH6 162.525
CH7 162.550

Note:

With regard to the NOAA Weather Band: You need to identify which channel receives
your local weather report. When you change locations either to another city or state,
you may need to choose a different band to get the local report in that location.

HINTS FOR BEST RECEPTION:

- To insure maximum weather band reception, the ANTENNA (#17) should be fully

extended to obtain the best possible station reception.

RECEIVING AN EMERGENCY WEATHER ALERT

In both On and Off modes, the SFA150 will receive emergency broadcast alerts, and
sound an alarm warning if there is a severe weather emergency in your area.

1. The SFA150 will turn on automatically, activate the alarm and turn on the pre-

selected WB channel. The ALERT INDICATOR (#8) flashes. The alarm will stay on
for the duration of the alert broadcast.

2. The ALERT INDICATOR (#8) will not stop flashing until you press SNOOZE/SLEEP

BUTTON (#4) or

Note:

1. The radio will continue to drain the battery even it's left in Standby Mode, so it is

highly recommended that you connect the SFA150 to AC power to prevent the
battery from completely draining and turning the radio off while in use.

2. NOAA Weather band is a service broadcast of the U.S. Government and available in

all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

3. The NOAA Weather Service broadcasts a test alert every Wednesday between 11

am and Noon. To receive the broadcasts, the radio must be within the range of the
local broadcast site, 10 - 40 miles, depending on terrain and obstructions.

To learn more:

Or find the weather band channel for your area, go to: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ for
NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) and http://www.ec.gc.ca/ for
Environment Canada.

/MODE BUTTON (#7) to turn it off.

DIMMER OPERATION

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In standby mode, press the
the two brightness settings (high or low).

MIN/DOWN/DIM BUTTON (#2

) repeatedly to select one of

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

• Children should be supervised when using this appliance.

• Never wrap the AC POWER CORD around any animal or person. Special care

should be taken with long wire.

• Avoid operating your unit under direct sunlight or in hot, humid or dusty places.

• Keep your unit away from heating appliances and sources of electrical noise such as

fluorescent lamps or motors.

• Unplug the unit from the electrical power outlet immediately in case of malfunction.
CLEANING THE UNIT

• To prevent fire or shock hazard, disconnect your unit from the AC power source when

cleaning.

• The finish on the unit may be cleaned with a dust cloth and cared for as other

furniture, Use caution when cleaning and wiping the plastic parts.

• If the cabinet becomes dusty wipe it with a soft dry dust cloth. Do not use any wax or

polish sprays on the cabinet.

• If the front panel becomes dirty or smudged with fingerprints it may be cleaned with a

soft cloth slightly dampened with a mild soap and water solution. Never use abrasive
cloths or polishes as these will damage the finish of your unit.

CAUTION: Never allow any water or other liquids to get inside the unit while cleaning.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

If you experience difficulties in the use of this music system, please check the following
or call 1-800-777-5331 for Customer Service.

SYMPTOM POSSIBLE CAUSE POSSIBLE SOLUTION

Power does not come on. AC line cord not plugged in. Insert plug firmly into AC

outlet.

The AC outlet has not

power

No sound. Unit is of Turn on the unit.

VOLUME control at
minimum position.

Noise or sound distorted
FM
AM

RESETTING

If the system does not respond or exhibits erratic or intermittent operation, you may have
experienced an electrostatic discharge (ESD) or a power surge that triggered the internal
microcontroller to shut down automatically. If this occurs, simply disconnect the ac power

- Station not tuned properly

- Antenna is not extended

- AM reception is weak

Try the unit on another
outlet

Increase Volume

- Retune Broadcast station

- Fully extend the antenna

- Relocate the position of
the unit

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cord and remove the system backup battery, wait for at least 3 minutes and then setup
the unit again as if it is a brand new unit.

SPECIFICATION

Power source: 120V~, 60Hz
Power Consumption: 3W
Back-up source: 3V 2 x AA (UM-3) batteries (not included)
Frequency Range: FM: 87.5-108 MHz

AM: 520-1710 kHz
WB:162.400MHz-162.550MHz;

Speaker Output power: 1×150mW RMS

SPECTRA GREEN NOTICE

At Spectra, environmental and social
responsibility is a core value of our business.
We are dedicated to continuous implementation
of responsible initiatives with an aim to
conserve and maintain the environment through
responsible recycling.

Please visit us at
http://www.spectraintl.com/green.htm for more information on Spectra’s green
initiatives or to find a recycler in your area.

First Alert® is a registered trademark of the First Alert Trust used under license from
BRK Brands, Inc.

1 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY AND SERVICE

VALID IN THE U.S.A ONLY

This product is manufactured, distributed or sold by SPECTRA MERCHANDISING
INTERNATIONAL, INC., official licensee for this product. All right, title and interest to
use the “First Alert” logo trademarks and the “First Alert” trade dress are exclusively
licensed by BRK Brands, Inc. and are used under license from BRK Brands, Inc.. Please
contact SPECTRA’s Service Department for questions/comments, warranty, support, or
service related to this product.

SPECTRA MERCHANDISING INTERNATIONAL, INC. warrants that this product 1) is
free from defects in materials and workmanship and 2) conforms to its specifications for
a period of 1 year from the date of original customer purchase and provided the product
is utilized within the U.S.A. This warranty is not assignable or transferable. Our
obligation under this warranty is the repair or replacement of the defective unit or any
part thereof, except batteries, when it is returned to the SPECTRA Service Department,
accompanied by proof of the date of original consumer purchase, such as a duplicated
copy of a sales receipt.

You must pay all shipping charges required to ship the product to SPECTRA for
warranty service. If the product is repaired or replaced under warranty, the return

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charges will be at SPECTRA’s expense. There are no other express warranties other
than those stated herein.
This warranty is valid only in accordance with the conditions set forth below:

1. The warranty applies to the SPECTRA product only while:

a. It remains in the possession of the original purchaser and proof of purchase is

demonstrated

b. It has not been subjected to accident, misuse, abuse, improper service, usage

outside the descriptions and warnings covered within the owner’s manual or non­SPECTRA approved modifications

c. Claims are made within the warranty period

2. This warranty does not cover damage or equipment failure caused by electrical

wiring not in compliance with electrical codes or SPECTRA owner’s manual
specifications, or failure to provide

reasonable care and necessary maintenance as

outlined in the owner’s manual.

3. Warranty of all SPECTRA products applies to residential use only and is void when

products are used in a nonresidential environment or installed outside the United
States.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which
vary from state to state. TO OBTAIN SERVICE please remove all batteries (if any) and
pack the unit carefully and send it prepaid by insured parcel post or UPS to SPECTRA at
the address shown below. IF THE UNIT IS RETURNED WITHIN THE WARRANTY
PERIOD shown above, please include a proof of purchase (dated cash register receipt)
so that we may establish your eligibility for warranty service and repair of the unit without
cost. Also include a note with a description explaining how the unit is defective. A
customer service representative may need to contact you regarding

the status of your
repair, so include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to speed the
process.
IF THE UNIT IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD, please include a check for
$12.00 to cover the cost of repair, handling and return postage. All out of warranty
returns must be sent prepaid.

It is recommended that you contact SPECTRA first at 1-800-777-5331 or by e-mail at

[e-mail] for updated information on the unit requiring service. In some

cases the model you have may be discontinued and SPECTRA reserves the right to
offer alternative options for repair or replacement.

SPECTRA MERCHANDISING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
4230 North Normandy Avenue,
Chicago, IL60634, USA.
1-800-777-5331

To register your product, visit the link below on the website to enter your information.

http://www.spectraintl.com/wform.htm

anihC ni detnirP

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