Oregon WR602, WRB603 User Manual

QUICK START GUIDE

WR602/WRB603 PUBLIC ALERT RADIO

NOTE: If you have the WRB603, the recharging cradle is replaced by the Weather Docking
Station. Please use Section C, D, and E to setup the WR602 Public Alert Radio handset.

UNPACK

A

1×

Make sure that you have all of the parts shown here before
setting up your Public Alert Radio.

Public Alert Radio

Recharging Cradle

1×

1×

Belt Clip

1×

Battery pack

1×

9V Adaptor

TURNING ON THE UNIT

C

FOR THE FIRST TIME

NOTE:Make sure you complete each step in its entirety and without interruption.This is a timed process.If you do not complete
each step in order and confirm each setting within one minute, the WR602 handset will automatically exit the setup process and
go into Standby mode.If this happens, press the reset button to start the setup process again.It is essential that you complete
this setup process to ensure your unit is ready to receive all warning messages.

Instruction LCD DisplayButton(s) to Press

Open the battery cover and press the RESET button located on the top right
hand corner of the battery compartment.

12/24hr

Press the UP arrow to select 12 or 24 time format and then press the MENU
button to confirm.

12/24hr

Press the UP arrow to select PM/AM HOUR setting and press the MENU
button to confirm.

pm 12:00

Press the UP arrow to select MINUTE setting and press the MENU button
to confirm.

pm 12:00

B

1a

INSTALL BATTERIES
AND RECHARGE RADIO

1b

2

3

5

4

Press the UP arrow to select month/date or day/month and press the
MENU button to confirm.

Press the UP arrow to select YEAR and press the MENU button to confirm.

Press the UP arrow to select MONTH and press the MENU button to confirm.

Press the UP arrow to select DAY and press the MENU button to confirm.

Press the UP arrow to select LANGUAGE (E=English / F=French /
S=Spanish) and press the MENU button to confirm.

Press the DOWN arrow to select “Set Channel” Mode and press MENU
to select.

Press the DOWN arrow to select "Auto" channel seeking and press the EXIT
button to confirm and press EXIT button again to get back to time mode.

If you know the specific Channel (1 through 7) that is applicable to your
location, press the UP or DOWN arrow button to select. Press the EXIT button
to confirm and press EXIT button again to get back to time mode.

m/d or d/m

1/1/2005

1/1/2005

1/1/2005

Lang: E/F/S

Set Channel

Channel:A

Channel:1

1

Open the battery cover on the back of the radio by pulling the
compartment lock and lifting the cover.

2

Insert the rechargeable battery by inserting the piece at the end
of the wire into the indentation at the bottom right of the battery
compartment.

3

Install power adaptor into the recharging cradle

4

Insert the AC adaptor into the wall outlet

5

Slide radio in recharging cradle making sure the red “charge”
light is illuminated. *It will take 6 hours to charge the batteries.

Press the POWER button to switch to the NOAA ON mode. Your radio will
automatically search the appropriate channel that is in your area. Once you
hear the 24-hour weather broadcast on your radio, your radio has successfully
found the appropriate channel. If you set your channel manually, the 24-hour
weather broadcast will start immediately.

Press the POWER
is in Standby and will switch to ON when a NOAA alert message is received.

button to switch to the NOAA STANDBY mode. The radio

NOAA On

NOAA Standby

PROGRAMMING YOUR SAME CODE

D

1

What is a SAME code?

SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a digital code that is sent with many warnings, watches, and emergency messages to your weather radio. The SAME code
includes the type of event (Tornado, flash flood, thunderstorm, etc...), the appropriate geographic area (county), and how long the event is valid.

2

Why is this important to me?

The SAME code includes the applicable geographic area for all messages or alerts. By programming your specific 6-digit SAME code for your area, your radio will alert you
ONLY for emergencies for the counties you programmed. This will allow you to be warned of any nearby hazards within your vicinity.

5

Program by State Name and County Name

Press the MENU button to select the Name setting.

Use the UP or DOWN buttons to scroll through the list of
States and select your state and press the MENU button.

Name/FIPS

Alabama

3

How many counties can I program into my weather radio?

The Oregon Scientific Weather Radio can accept up to 9 diffferent SAME county codes. You can also select ALL counties in your area, if you want to receive alerts from your
county and all surrounding counties.

4

Lookup your county's and surrounding counties' SAME codes and write them down

To contact the NWS by telephone: Phone 1-888-NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263) Follow prompts through a simple voice menu.

To obtain the NWS radio channels and SAME codes on the internet: Locate www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm Click the state for which information is needed.

1 2

1 2

Instruction LCD DisplayButton(s) to Press

While in the NOAA Standby mode, press and hold the MENU
button for 3 seconds.

NOAA Standby

Press the UP arrow button to move to the SET LOCATION
screen. Press the MENU to select.

Set Location

Press the UP arrow button to move to the "CO:All" storage
LOCATION screen and press the MENU button to activate
the "ALL" value.

IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE ALERTS FROM ALL
COUNTIES. STOP NOW! Press the EXIT button twice to go

back to the NOAA Standby mode.

Co:All

NOAA Standby

Use the UP or DOWN buttons to scroll through the list of
Counties. Select your COUNTY and press the MENU button.

Press the MENU button, the appropriate 6-digit SAME code
for that COUNTY will be displayed next to the STORAGE
LOCATION number.

Press the UP button to select and PROGRAM the next
STORAGE LOCATION using the last four steps.

Once you are finished, press the EXIT button to return to the
NOAA Standby screen.

6

Program 6-digit SAME code from the NWS

Press the MENU button to select the FIPS setting.

The first digit will be blinking. Press the UP or DOWN button
to select the first number.

Press MENU to confirm and select the second number and
repeat.

After setting the last digit, the cursor will bring you to the
STORAGE LOCATION code.

Press the EXIT button twice to go back to the NOAA Standby
screen.

Autauga

C1:001001

C2:000000

NOAA Standby

Name/FIPS

C1:000000

C1:000000

C1:000000

NOAA Standby

You can start programming your SAME code(s) in two different ways:

1

Using the Radio's list of SAME codes by State name and County name or

Programming each digit of the 6-digit SAME code you searched on the NWS website or phone number. *You can program up to nine counties on your radio.

2

Press the UP button to turn off the All counties setting. Press
MENU to confirm change.

Co:------

Press the UP arrow button and the MENU button to start
programming your SAME code.

C1:000000

Contact our Customer Service Department for additional questions:

website: www2.oregonscientific.com/service phone: [phone] (voice) address: 19861 SW 95th Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062

USING AND TESTING YOUR

E

PORTABLE WEATHER RADIO

Using your Portable Weather Radio

At Home: Be warned of approaching inclement weather so you can take all the
necessary precautions before the storm or tornado arrives! Reception can vary from
room to room. Moving even a few feet can turn a weak signal into a strong one. Place
the radio near a window, preferably on the second floor, away from other electronic
devices. You should always confirm the successful reception of the 24-hour weather
broadcast before deciding where to place the recharging cradle in the house.

Away from Home: When traveling, boating or performing other outdoor activities, be
warned of all hazards that might suddenly head your way. Make sure your radio is set
to “TRAVEL” mode. Your radio will automatically scan for the channel with the
strongest signal. This will allow you to receive all messages in the vicinity you are
currently located.

Required Weekly Tests (RWT)

Your local NWR office normally runs tests each
Wednesday between 10 a.m. and noon local time.
Tests may occur at other days and times when
there is a threat of severe weather in the listening
area or for other reasons. The Portable Weather
Radio will activate and will sound off a loud tone
and a short message explaining the test will begin.

Example test message: "This is the National
Weather Service Office in (local city name). The
preceding signal was a test of the Weather Radio
Station (...call sign...'s) public warning system.

Tests of this signal and receivers' performance are normally
conducted by the National Weather Service. If there is a
threat of severe weather, the test will be postponed to the
next available good-weather day. Reception of this
broadcast, and especially the warning alarm, will vary at
any given location. Where more than one state is involved,
the state name will always precede the names of the
counties in that state. If the test was missed during the
scheduled time frame, then the test normally takes place
between 10 a.m. to noon on the next available good­weather day. If you have any questions regarding alarm
tests or to verify if a test was conducted, contact the
programming office of the NOAA Weather Radio station.