Midland Radio 74-200 User Manual

Model 74-200

Digital Weather Receiver with

NWR- SAME decoding and

Digital clock with alarm

PRODUCT INFORMATION

The 74-200 N.W.R./ S.A.M.E. (National Weather Radio/Specific
Area Message Encoding) Weather / All Hazard Monitor provides
you with constant monitoring of your local National Weather
Service broadcast for messages warning you of hazardous
conditions. The NWR/SAME decoding allows you to hear only
messages concerning the area concerning you. You now have a
choice as to what information will be brought to you. No more
will you be awakened to hear of a problem many miles from your
home that will not affect you. A clock with alarm is also featured.

The 74-200 has an emergency battery backup system for use if
you lose power. It will provide up to three hours of operation if
power fails.

The 74-200 NWR/SAME Weather / All Hazard Monitor is the
latest advance in Weather monitoring technology providing you
with the information you need for your greatest safety from the
effects of weather and other external hazards.

FEATURES:

• VHF Weather Monitor with seven different National
Weather Service channels in the 162 MHz FM band
– Provides 24-hour-a-day National Weather Service
information from seven different channels for

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maximum reception possible (in areas where
available)

• Alert monitor system receives NWR/SAME codes
transmitted by National Weather Service stations
warning of dangerous weather conditions and other
general hazards. The SAME codes designate which
counties or parts of counties are affected by the
individual message. When the alert feature is
activated, the receiver remains in a standby mode.
As SAME coded messages are received, the
receiver automatically activates to warn you of
dangerous weather conditions.

• User-selectable warning system – Your choice of
siren alarm, voice or visual flasher.

• Weather Command Button – large touchbar turns
unit from alert mode to full time monitoring.

• High Performance Chassis – Receives weather
broadcasts up to 50 miles from transmitter.

• Large Top-Firing Speaker – Directs alerts and audio
toward listener.

• Eight-character LCD display for viewing alert type
and monitor status.

• Clock displays time and date and has alarm and
snooze functions.

• Emergency Powered from a single 9-volt battery
(optional).

• Telescopic Antenna – Provides maximum range

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reception-up to 50 miles. Antenna folds down for
easy transport.

• Fully Variable Volume Control – Adjusts audio
output.

• Alert siren volume adjustable for maximum
flexibility.

• External Alert jack to operate external warning
devices.

• External Antenna Jack – Permits use of an optional
extended range base antenna or a mobile antenna.

• External Power Jack – Allows use of AC adapter
(included) or DC cigarette lighter power cord
(optional) to run off a car or boat battery.

• Compact, Ultra Modern Styling – Small enough to
take along – looks good anywhere.

• Earphone Jack – Allows private listening or remote
speaker location.

CONTROLS:

[add illustration with numbers and lines to controls.]

1. Weather Bar Button – This is a push "on" button.
One push activates the weather receiver. Push
again to return receiver to standby.

2. Alert Bar Button – This is a push on switch. It

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enables and disables the alert siren and external
alert signals. When Alert is off, only the LED
indicators are active.

3. Off Bar button – this switch cancels alert siren
sounds and any external alert features when alert is
active.

4. “WARNING” LED Indicator – This red light emitting
diode visual indicator tells you that the unit has
received a SAME message that has issued a
warning for your area.

5. “WATCH” LED Indicator – This yellow light emitting

diode visual indicator tells you that the unit has
received a SAME message that has issued a watch
for your area.

6. “STATEMENT” LED Indicator – This green light
emitting diode visual indicator tells you that the unit
has received a SAME message that has issued a
statement for your area.

7. Off/On/Volume Control – This is the volume control
and the main power switch. It lets you adjust
volume to the desired listening level.

8. Earphone Jack – Allows private listening with use of
an optional earphone. Also may be used for
connecting an external speaker.

9. Alarm Switch – Enables and disables clock alarm
function.

10. DISP. MODE/year button – Normally this button
selects what is seen on the LCD display. Pressing
the button changes the display from current time to
current date to alarm time to weather alert. The

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display automatically switches to display messages
from the SAME decoder when they are received.

11. SET button – Press this button to switch from
display to set mode in time, date or alarm time
display modes. Characters will flash in set mode.
Use the other three adjacent buttons to change
settings. Press SET again to return to display
mode.

12. MIN/ MONTH and HOUR/DATE buttons – Used
mostly for time and date setting. Not active in
normal display mode.

13. SNOOZE button – Used for advancing the alarm
time by 9 minutes each time the clock alarm
sounds.

14. Programming Keypad – used to enter “FIPS” codes
into the memory of the radio, to set the radio to the
National Weather Radio channel for your area and
to change other programmable functions. See
section on programming your radio for details.

NWR-SAME:

In 1994, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) began broadcasting coded emergency signals that
identify the specific geographic area (such as a county) affected
by an emergency. Until that time such specific emergency
weather information was sent in other ways to broadcast stations
and others then relayed to the public.

NOAA transmits the coded weather emergency signals using a

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technique called SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding). The
Midland 74-200 7-channel weather/ all hazards monitor is
designed to receive these SAME transmissions.

Your Midland 74-200 can be programmed with up to 15
predefined state/county codes that will define which notices
broadcast by your NOAA weather station will cause the radio to
alert you. Warnings, watches and statements of weather and other
area emergencies, about 40 different types- will activate the radio
if one or more location code programmed into your unit is
included in the SAME message.

Also included in the SAME message is the amount of time for
which the message is effective. The 74-200 will continue to
display the alert until its time expires.

You don’t need to wait for the 74-200 to give you an alert. Just
find the NWR station broadcasting to your area from the 7
available channels. You can listen at any time, day or night to the
latest weather information from the National Wea ther Service.

EMERGENCY POWER

To install the emergency backup battery, turn the unit off and
disconnect it from the AC power adapter. Remove the cover by
pushing the battery door in the direction of the arrow.

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Install a 9-volt alkaline battery (Eveready 522 or equivalent, not
supplied). Observe the battery polarity (+ and -). Replace the
battery cover. (Rechargeable batteries are not recommended
because the 74-200 will not charge the battery.)

INITIAL SETUP

Connecting power –

The AC power adapter is required for normal operation if the
radio is to be in service for more than a few hours. Plug the wall
adapter into a 110-115 Volt AC (standard house current) outlet.
Connect the cord end to the DC -12Volt power jack on the back of
the unit.
A backup battery as stated above is also recommended. The
condition of the battery is monitored by the radio. When
REPLACE BATTTERY appears on the display, the battery has
been discharged and should be replaced. Do not leave a dead or
weak battery in the radio. Do not leave a battery in the radio
when it is not in use. The battery may leak and possibly damage
your unit. Dispose of batteries properly.

Antenna -

The telescoping antenna on the back of the radio should be
positioned vertically and extended to its full length. In most cases
this antenna should provide good reception of your NWR
broadcast.
In some cases especially in remote areas an external antenna may
be used to improve weak reception.

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NOTE: The National Weather Radio service operates
Weather Broadcast systems covering a large area of the
United States. Some areas are not included. Check the
directory enclosed for weather broadcast availability.

Your 74-200 can receive broadcasts from the Weather Stations up
to 50 miles. Hills and certain terrain can reduce reception. An
external antenna can improve range. If your city is listed as
having a Weather Service Station but you do not receive it please
call your local Weather Service to confirm they are broadcasting
(Sometimes these stations are shut down for maintenance). If your
local Weather Service is transmitting and you are not receiving
the broadcasts, you may need an outdoor antenna.

What is a FIPS Code:

The NWR divides the United States and territories by state and
county (or parish) and assigns a six digit code number called a
FIPS (Federal Information Processing System) code or also
known as a NWR/SAME county code. The first digit identifies
subdivision. The next two identify the state or territory, and the
last three identify the county. For example the code for Clay
county Missouri is 029047. The“047” indicates the county, the
“29” indicates the state, and the “0” indicates the subdivision of
the county. In this case and most cases the code will have a zero
for the first digit, indicating that no subdivision is in use. The
NWS plans to introduce subdivisions of some counties in the
future, assigning digits 1 through 9 to the parts resulting in codes

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