First Alert WX-67 User Manual

MODEL WX-67 — User’s Manual

Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) Emergency Alert System

IMPORTANT!

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE UNIT.

WX-67 Large Manual 3/12/02 10:25 AM Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

CHOOSING A LOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

LOCATION OF CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

NOTICE TO USERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

WX-67 SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

SERVICE PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

WARRANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover

Contents in product package

In the Package, you will find:

• Emergency Alert Radio – WX-67

• One AC Power Adapter – 120VAC: 12VDC

• One User’s Manual (this document)

• One Wall Mounting Kit
Contact the store from which you purchased the product or

the Manufacturer’s Service Center if you find that any of
the above is missing.

WX-67 Large Manual 3/12/02 10:25 AM Page 2

Important Safeguards

When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions
should always be followed, including the following:

DANGER!

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.

DANGER!

This product has the capability to operate with an optional 9V
rechargeable nickel cadmium backup battery, which must be
recycled at the end of the life of the battery and must be dis­posed of properly. Do not incinerate or compost batteries, as
they will explode at high temperatures. Contact your local
authority for information concerning reclamation and disposal
of rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. Cadmium is a

chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.

DANGER!

This product has a built in circuit for charging an optional 9V
rechargeable nickel cadmium backup battery. When a regular
9V alkaline battery is used as a backup power source, turn the
battery selection switch on the back of the unit to “Non­rechargeable” (NB) position to switch off the internal charger.
CHARGING BATTERIES INCORRECTLY CAN CAUSE FIRE AND
EXPLOSION AND ENDANGER LIVES.

DANGER!

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this
product. Take it to qualified service personal when service of
repair work is required. Opening or removing cover may
expose you to dangerous voltages or other risks. This unit is
fully transistorized and does not contain any parts that can be
repaired by the user.

This product is designed to operate using the AC adapter (120V) sup­plied in a household application

.

- Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate
this product where persons walking on it could damage the
cord. Keep cord away from heated surfaces.

- The output terminal blocks for Remote Alert provides a floating
relay contact output to external warning devices. The contact
will close when an alert broadcast is being received. Do not
exceed the maximum current rating of the contacts (0.5A
@125VAC or 1A @ 30VDC). Consult a licensed electrician if you
want to connect other devices to the radio.

- To disconnect, grip the AC adapter and pull it from the wall out­let. Never yank the cord.

-

Wipe unit with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. Do

not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents or strong detergents.

-

When an external antenna is used, make sure that there are suffi-

cient 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 under a thunderstorm. Contact your
external antenna supplier for more information on lightning protec­tion and grounding issues on your antenna. You could also get
information from lightning protection device suppliers.

1

WX-67 Large Manual 3/12/02 10:25 AM Page 3

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the First Alert®Specific Area
Message Encode (S.A.M.E.) Emergency Alert Radio – WX67. This
product is designed to exacting standards, which provide reliabili­ty, long life and outstanding performance.

This product embraces the advanced technology to receive digi­tally encoded weather, emergency and hazard alert messages
transmitted from the National Oceanic and Aerospace
Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) broad­cast stations. NOAA has more than 425 stations in the 50 states
and near adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands and the U.S. Pacific Territories.

The S.A.M.E. Technology allows NOAA to send digitally coded
information for all types of hazards, both natural (earthquakes and
volcano activities) and technological (oil spills and chemical releas­es), targeted to a specific area, like a county or portion of a state.

The WX-67 Emergency Alert Radio receives all of the seven NOAA
weather channels and allows you to program and view warnings
on up to 20 pre-defined FIPS (Federal Information Processing
System) codes corresponding to the locations that you want to
monitor. (NOTE: You have to select the correct weather channel in
order to receive warnings for the state/ county codes that you
have programmed). The unit will sound an audible alert tone and
display the alert message on its |alphanumeric LCD display when
an alert with matching code(s) is received. In addition, there are
three colored lights indicating whether it is a “Statement”,
“Watch” or “Warning” alert message.

Working with other Federal agencies and the FCC’s new
Emergency Alert System (EAS), NOAA is the single source for
weather and emergency information available to the public.

For up-to-date information on NOAA and weather frequencies
used in your area, Check the NOAA National Weather Service web
site at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr. Your can also call
1-888-NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263) to obtain the FIPS code
number for programming your radio.

The main features of the WX-67
Emergency Alert Radio include:

Alert Function: Your Emergency Alert Radio will sound an alert
tone (siren) and turn on the corresponding color indicator when it
receives a weather emergency broadcast from NOAA. Users are
required to enter the FIPS codes into the Emergency Alert Radio
in order to be able to receive these alert signals.

SAME Operation: Allows you to store up to 20 different FIPS
codes into the Emergency Alert Radio’s memory. Each FIPS code
identifies a specific geographic area (defined by NWS). This helps
you track the weather conditions in and around your area. Your
Emergency Alert Radio will sound an alert when the weather
emergency is declared in your locations.

8-Character Alphanumeric Liquid Crystal Display: Allows you to
display time, NOAA channel numbers, programming information and
alert/status description. (Note: Time keeping function will be lost and
the clock will reset to 12:00am if AC power is disconnected from the
unit and there is no battery power to back up the operation).

7 Weather-Channels: Allows you to select any of all 7 NOAA
weather broadcast channels. (Note: The channel that gives you the
best reception may not be from the station that broadcasts weather
information for your own location or county, Check with NOAA/NWS
for the correct channel and station that broadcasts the information
that you need).

2

WX-67 Large Manual 3/12/02 10:25 AM Page 4

Display Backlight: Allows you to read the LCD display in low light
situations. When powered from an AC adapter or 12V DC source,
the backlight will stay on continuously. During a power failure, to
reserve power from backup battery, the backlight will stay on for
about 10 seconds every time you press a key.

Remote Alert Capability: Allows you to extend the audible and
flashing light alert to other rooms or locations up to 100 ft. away
(depending on the environment). It could also be used to control
Public Address and two-way radios for extended and special alert
applications.

Alert Audio Output: Allows you to connect to Public Address sys­tem or two-way radio for extended and special alert applications.
The audio output level is controlled by the radio’s volume control.

External Antenna: Allows you to connect an optional external
antenna (not included) to your Emergency Alert Radio to improve
its reception in fringe areas. (Caution – You should understand the
danger of lightning on an external antenna and make appropriate
measures to protect yourself from injury and fire hazard resulted
from a lightning strike on an external antenna – see Important
Safeguards section for details)

Battery Backup - The Emergency Alert Radio is normally powered
by an AC adapter. The unit will maintain normal operation with the
9V backup battery during short AC power blackout periods.

Rechargeable Backup Batteries – To avoid the hassles of chang­ing alkaline batteries, a rechargeable 9V Ni-Cd battery may be used.
A switch is provided to select the type of battery used. The internal
charging circuit will keep the rechargeable battery fully charged all
the time when the unit is operating on the AC adapter. See battery
installation section (pages 2 and 3) for more information.

Choosing A Location For Installation

The Emergency Alert Radio is designed for desk top or wall mount
installation. For peak effectiveness, place the unit where it can
receive an emergency alert signal broadcast and where you can
hear its alert tone or see the Message indication lights.

The best location to install the unit is:

- Clear of any obstructions or metal surface.

- Near windows or large openings for best radio reception.

- Near an AC Power outlet

- Near to where the user(s) would normally stay – e.g. in a bed­room, living room or in the office.

NOTE: Keep the receiver away from interference sources – e.g.
motors, computers, TV or microwave ovens.

-

To avoid damage to the product, do not expose it to direct sun-

light or extreme heat or humid environment for prolonged period.

- It is a characteristic of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) to change
color in extreme temperatures. If the unit is exposed to tempera­tures below -20ºC (-5ºF) or above +60ºC (+140ºF), the display
may temporarily cease to function properly, and in some cases,
could result in permanent damage.

- All Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) have a preferred viewing angle
when the display contrast is at maximum. The best viewing
point will vary by user, depending on such variables as tempera­ture, humidity and battery condition.

3

WX-67 Large Manual 3/12/02 10:25 AM Page 5