RadioShack 12-250 Owner Manual

Cat. No. 12-250

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

7 Channel WRSAME

®

Weatheradio

with Alert

WARNING

!

hazard, do not expose this product to rain or
moisture.

:

To reduce the risk of fire or shock

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.

DO NOT OPEN.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF

ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICE­ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING
TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

This symbol is intended to alert
you to the presence of uninsu­lated dangerous voltage within
the product’s enclosure that might
be of sufficient magnitude to con­stitute a risk of electric s hock. 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 accom­panying this product.

©

1999 Tandy Corporation.

RadioShack, Plug ’n Power, and Weatheradio are registered

X-10 is a registered trademark of X-10 (USA) Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

trademarks used by Tandy Corporation.

2

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 re­ceived, including interference that may cause undes­ired operation.

Product: 7 Channel WRSAME

Model: 12-250

Responsible Party: RadioShack

Phone: [phone]

Weatheradio with Alert

100 Throckmorton
Fort Worth, TX 76102

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.

.

3

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 your local RadioShack store or an expe­rienced radio/TV technici an for help.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
RadioShack may cause interference and void the us­er’s authority to operate the equipment.

4

Your RadioShack 7 Channel WRSAME Weatheradio
is the next generation of weather alert technology.
Your Weatheradio uses SAME (Specific Area Mes­sage Encoding) circuitry to provide more complete in­formation about weath er c on dit ion s i n y ou r im m edi ate
area, letting you avoid hearing alerts for geographical
areas that do not interest you.

Your Weatheradio’s features include:

SAME Operation

ent geographical codes into the Weatheradio’s mem­ory, so the Weatheradio sounds an alert only when a
weather em ergency is declared in any of thos e loca­tions.

7 Weather Channels

for your local National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad­ministration (NOAA) weather broadcasts.

Selectable Alert Function

eradio so it sounds an alert when it receives a weath­er emergency broadcast from NOAA. You can also
set the Weatheradio so it does not alert you when it
receives some types of warnings.

8-Charac ter Liquid Crys tal Display

eradio’s large, easy-to-read display clearly shows a
description of the type of alert in progress (such as a
tornado warning, flood watch, and so on).

Alert Status Indicators

glance the type of alert the Weatheradio is receiving.

— lets you program up to 15 differ-

— let you select the frequency

— lets you set the We ath -

— the Weat h-

— help you determine at a

5

Adjustabl e Di sp l a y B ac k li gh t

— helps you read the
display in low light situations. You can set the light to
turn on for about 10 seconds when you press a key,
or remain on until you turn it off.

Alert Volume Control

— lets you adjust the volume

of an alert so you will be sure to hear it.

External Al ert Terminals

ternal controller system (such as a Plug ’n Power



system) to the Weatheradio, then set that sys-

X-10

— let you connect an ex-



or

tem to indicate an alert based on signals received by
the Weatheradio. Th is le ts yo u hear or see the alert in
a location (such as the garage) that might be some
distance from where you installed the Weatheradio.

External Antenna Connector

— lets you connect an
optional external antenna to the Weatheradio to im­prove reception in remote areas.

We recommend you record your Weatheradio’s serial
number here. The number is on the bottom of the ra­dio.

Serial Number:

6

How Your Radio Works .................................................... 8

When a Weather Alert Occurs ...................................... 9

New Alert Types ..................................................... 10

NWS Weather Alert Descriptions ................................ 10

Understanding FIPS Codes ........................................ 17

Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s) ...................... 18

Preparation ..................................................................... 19

Powering the Weatheradio .......................................... 19

Connecting the Weatheradio to AC Power ............. 20

Installing the Backup Battery ................................. 21

Using the Built-In Antenna .......................................... 22

Choosing a Location and Mounting the Weatheradio . 23
Connecting the Weatheradio to an External System .. 25

Programming the Weatheradio ................................... 26

Testing the Weatheradio ............................................. 31

Manually Testing the Alert Tone ............................. 32

Testing the Alert Siren/Display ............................... 33

Operation ................... ..................................................... 35

Listening to a Weather Broadcast ............................... 35

Using the Alert Function ............................................. 36

Setting the Alert Volume ........................................ 37

Changing/Checking the Alert Pattern .................... 37

Enabling/Disabling Alert Tones .............................. 39

Using the Weatheradio’s ‘All Signals’ Code ........... 41

Reviewing Overlapping Alerts ................................ 42

When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs ....................... 43

Using the Backlight ..................................................... 44

Troubleshooting ............ ................................................ 45

Care and Maintenance ................................................... 48

The FCC Wants You to Know ...................................... 49

Specifications ......... ................................................... .... 50

7

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 alo ng wi th the broadcast. This m ean s th at
people who live outside an affected area are often
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 Ad­ministration (NOAA) began broadcasting coded sig­nals 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 geo­graphic area (such a s a county) affected by the em er­gency. Your Weatheradio receives, interprets, and
displays information about the codes so you can de­termine if the emergenc y mi ght a ffec t y our area.

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 conditions in and
around your area.

Only

8

WHEN A WEATHER ALERT
OCCURS

When the W eatheradio receives a weather alert:

• it sounds an alert (siren or beep)

• a description of the alert appears

• an indicator on the f ront of the W eat heradio lights
If the Weatheradio receives more than one

Note:

weather alert at the same time, it displays information
about each alert.

The alert descriptions your Weatheradio can display
are based on a list of sp ecifi c we ather al ert type s pub ­lished by the NWS. For a list of all the alert descrip­tions that your Weatheradio can display, see “NWS
Weather Alert Descriptions” on Page 10.

Caution:

els to determine an alert’s effective time. However,
the end of an alert does not nec essa rily me an that the
related weather emergency is over.

The NWS uses so ph is tic a te d wea t he r mo d-

9

New Alert Types

Your Weatheradio is designed to recognize all com­mon weather alert types currently used by the NWS.
However, the NWS occasionally creates and broad­casts
memory does not contain a specific, corresponding
descripti on). If your Weatheradio receives a signal for
a new alert type, it is preset (if the alert function is
turned on) to display
(

EMERGENC, STATEMNT, WARNING

and

alert types (for which the Weatheradio’s

new

, the alert description

TUNE TV

UNKNOWN

, then sound a siren alert.

, or

WATCH

NWS WEATHER ALERT
DESCRIPTIONS

Your Weatheradio can display these NWS weather
alert descriptions. For easy reference, this list also
shows the type of alert (siren or beep) that sounds
during each alert.

),

Weather/Alert

Description

Avalanche warning AVALANCH

You See

WARNING

Avalanche watch

AVALANCH

WATCH

10

You

Hear

Siren

Siren

Weather/Alert

Description

You See

You

Hear

Blizzard warning BLIZZARD

Siren

WARNING

Civil danger warning

CIVIL

Siren

DANGER

WARNING

Civil danger watch

CIVIL

Siren

DANGER

WATCH

Civil emergency — turn
on the TV for information
or, if no information is
available on TV, call your
local NWS office

TUNE TV might also indicate the Weatheradio

Note:

has received a signal for a condition not defined in the
Weatheradio’s memory (see “Testing the Alert Siren/
Display” on Page33).

Coastal flood
warning

TUNE TV Siren

COASTAL

Siren

FLOOD

WARNING

Coastal flood
watch

COASTAL

FLOOD

Siren

WATCH

11

Weather/Alert

Description

You See

You

Hear

Emergency action
warning

Emergency action
termination

Evacuate
immediately

Fire warning

Flash flood statement

Flash flood warning

Flash flood watch

Flood statement
Flood warning

Flood watch

EMERGENC

ACTION

WARNING

EMERGENC

ACTION

TERMINAT
EVACUATE

IMMEDIAT

FIRE

WARNING

FLASH
FLOOD

FLASH
FLOOD

WARNING

FLASH
FLOOD
WATCH

FLOOD
FLOOD

WARNING

FLOOD
WATCH

Siren

Beeps

Siren

Siren

Beeps

Siren

Siren

Beeps
Siren

Siren

12

Weather/Alert

Description

You See

You

Hear

Hazardous material
warning

Hazardous material
watch

High wind warning

High wind watch

Hurricane statement
Hurricane warning

Hurricane watch

Immediate evacuation
warning

Law enforcement
warning

HAZARD

MATERIAL

WARNING

HAZARD

MATERIAL

WATCH

HIGH
WIND

WARNING

HIGH
WIND

WATCH
HURRICAN
HURRICAN

WARNING

HURRICAN

WATCH
IMMEDIAT

EVACUATE

WARNING

LAW
ENFORCE
WARNING

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

Beeps
Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

13

Weather/Alert

Description

You See

You

Hear

Local area emergency LOCAL

AREA

EMERGENC

National information
center

NATIONAL

INFO

CENTER

Periodic national test

NATIONAL
PERIODIC

TEST

Practice/Demo

DEMO

MESSAGE

Radiological hazard
warning

RADIOLOG

HAZARD

WARNING

Radiological hazard
watch

RADIOLOG

HAZARD

WATCH

Required monthly test

MONTHLY

TEST

Required weekly test

WEEKLY

TEST

Severe thunderstorm
warning

SEVERE
THUNDER
WARNING

Siren

Siren

Beeps

Nothing

Siren

Siren

Beeps

Beeps

Siren

14

Weather/Alert

Description

You See

You

Hear

Severe thunderstorm
watch

Severe weather
statement

Shelter in-place warning

Special marine
warning

Special weather
statement

Test message

Tornado warning

Tornado watch

Tsunami warning

Tsunami watch

SEVERE

THUNDER

WATCH

SEVERE

WEATHER
SHELTER

IN-PLACE

WARNING
SPECIAL

MARINE

WARNING
SPECIAL

WEATHER

TEST

MESSAGE
TORNADO

WARNING
TORNADO

WATCH

TSUNAMI
WARNING

TSUNAMI

WATCH

Siren

Beeps

Siren

Siren

Beeps

Nothing

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

15

Weather/Alert

Description

You See

You

Hear

Unrecognized code
ending in S

Unrecognized code
ending in W

Unrecognized code
ending in A

Unrecognized code
ending in E

Volcano warning

Volcano watch

Winter storm warning

Winter storm watch

UNKNOWN

STATEMNT

TUNE TV
UNKNOWN

WARNING
TUNE TV

UNKNOWN

WATCH

TUNE TV
UNKNOWN

ENERGENC

TUNE TV
VOLCANO

WARNING
VOLCANO

WATCH

WINTER

STORM

WARNING

WINTER

STORM
WATCH

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

Siren

16

An authorized service center can add memory

Note:

for up to 5 additional weather/alert descriptions to
your Weatheradio’s memory. Contact your local Ra­dioShack store for more informatio n.

UNDERSTANDING FIPS CODES

For the purpose of broadcasting weather information,
the NWS has divided the United States into regions
by state and county (or parish , where appli cable ) then
assigned a 6-digit FIPS code to identify each county
or parish. For example, the code for Tarrant County,
Texas, is 048439.

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.

Most FIPS codes b egin with 0, which means

Note:

the code represents a n entire count y. T he NWS, ho w­ever, 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.

048439

State

County/
Parish

County Subdivision

Your Weatheradio can receive all SAME alert signals
broadcast within about a 50-mile radius of where you
installed it. To receive SAME alerts and broadcasts

17

about weather occurring only in particular counties
within that area, you can program up to 15 FIPS
codes into the Weatheradio’s memory. For example,
this lets you avoid hearing an alert that applies to an
area within a 50-mile radius but not necessarily to
your county or parish.

Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s)

To obtain the FIPS co de for th e loca tion w here y ou in­stalled your Weatheradio, contact your local Ra­dioShack store or call the NWS toll free at 1-888­NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263). If you call the NWS,
follow the instructions you hear.

If you are close to a county or parish line, you

Note:

might want to obtain the codes for the nearby coun­ties or parishes.

Since you can program up to 15 FIPS codes

Hint:

into the Weatheradio’s memory, you might want to
obtain the codes for other local areas that you fre­quently travel through (as long as those areas are
within a 50 mile radius of your location and within an
area covere d by your loca l NWS broadcast station).
That way, you can program those codes into the
Weatheradio and receive broadcasts covering those
locations, too.

18

POWERING THE WEATHERADIO

Your Weatheradio uses standard AC power for nor­mal operation and one 9V battery (not supplied) for
backup power when AC power fails or is temporarily
disconnected. For the best performance and longest
life, we recommend a RadioShack alkali ne batt er y .

Cautions:

• Use only a fresh battery of the required size and

• Do not use a rechargea b le bat tery in yo ur W e ath-

Notes:

• A fresh backup battery will power the Weathera-

• If the backup battery becomes weak, your

recommended type.

eradio .

dio for up to 1 hour with the weather broadcast
turned on, or up to 8 hours in alert standby mode
(see “Using the Alert Function” on Page 36).
Howe v er, we re comm end y ou always connect the
Weatheradio to AC power for normal use.

Weatheradio might not sound a tone when an
emergency or test alert is broadcast. Test your
radio's reception periodically (see “Testing the
Weatheradio” on Page31), and replace the bat­tery if the tone does not sound.

19

Connecting the Weatheradio to
AC Power

1. If the Weatheradio’s display is on, rotate
to the right until it clicks to turn off the Weathera­dio.

2. Plug the Weatheradio’s power cord into a stan­dard AC outlet.

Caution:

polarized plug (one blade is wider than the
other). If you have diffic ult y in se rting the plug into
the outlet, do not force it! Tur n the plug over and
try again.

Yo ur Weatheradio’s power cord ha s a

VOLUME

20

Installing the Backup Battery

1. If the Weatheradio’s display is on, rotate
to the right 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 the compartment.

4. Replace the cover.

When

REPLACE

Weatheradio stops operating when it is unplugged
from AC power, replace the battery.

then

BATTERY

appears, or the

VOLUME

21

Cautions:

• Dispose of an old battery promptly and properly.
Do not burn or bury it.

• Always remove an old or weak bat ter y. Batter ies
can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic
parts.

REPLACE

Note:

backup battery is installed and the Weatheradio is
connected to AC power and then turned on.

then

BATTERY

also appears if no

USING THE BUILT-IN ANTENNA

The Weatheradio’s built-in telescoping antenna
lets you receive strong local signals. To use the
built-in antenna , l ift i t u p so i t is vertical, the n ful ­ly extend it.

To improve reception in remote areas,
you can connect an external antenna to
your Weatheradio using an optional
adapter cable with a phon o plug (avai lable
by special order from your local RadioShack
store) to the Weatheradio’s
RadioShack store sells a wide variety of antennas.

22

EXT ANT

jack. Your local

To connect an external antenna to the Weatheradio,
connect one end of the adapter cable to
the back of the Weatheradio then connect the other
end to the antenna.

EXT ANT

on

CHOOSING A LOCATION AND
MOUNTING THE WEATHERADIO

You can set your Weatheradio on any flat surface
(such as a shelf or counter top), or you can mount it
on a wall using the supplied mounting bracket and
two screws (not supplied) with heads that fit the key­hole slots on the mounting bracket.

For the best reception, place your Weatheradio
where:

• it can receive alert signals (see “When a Test or
Demo Alert Occurs” on Page 43)

• you can hear its alert tone (see “Setting the Alert
Volume” on Page 37)

23

Make sure the Weatheradio is away from ob-

Note:

structions such as metal cabinets or bookshelves.
(Higher frequencies are noticeably affected by ob­structions.) 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.

Follow these steps to mount the Weatheradio on a
wall.

1. Select a mounting location
near an AC outlet and drill

1

two holes 2

/8 inches apart.
Then thread a screw into
each mounting hole until the

1

head extends about

/8 inch

from the wall.

2. Insert the tabs on the
bracket into the slots on the
Weatheradio. Then, while
making sure any cords con­nected to the Weatheradio
are aligned with the cutouts
in the bracket, press the
bracket toward the Weath­eradio until it clicks into
place.

24

3. Align the keyhole slots
in the mounting bracket
with the screws on the
wall. Then press the
Weatheradio toward t he
wall then downward to
secure it.

CONNECTING
THE WEATHERADIO TO AN
EXTERNAL SYSTEM

Your Weatheradio’s
nect it to an external module interface (Plug ’n Power
or X-10, such as RSU 10037745) using twin-lead 20­gauge cable (not supplied). Then you can set the in­terface to indicate an alert (sound a buzzer or flash a
light, for example) on a connected appliance when
the Weatheradio receives a weather emergency alert
broadcast.

Your local RadioShack store carries a wide se-

Note:

lection of cable and audible or visible alert accesso­ries you can use with the recommended external
module interface.

To connect your Weatheradio to an external system,
connect the Weatheradio’s positive (+) and negative
(–)

ALARM OUT

sponding (+ and –) terminals on the external system.

ALARM OUT

quick-connect terminals to the corre-

jacks let you con-

25

When the Weatheradio’s alert function is turned on
and it rece ives an NWS alert broadcast, th e Weath­eradio sends a 7.5VDC signal to the connected mod­ule interface, and an alert sounds on both the
Weatheradio and the connected system.

To remove the wires you connected to your Weath­eradio’s
wires while using a pointed object such as a straight­ened paper clip to press the orange tabs under the
wires.

ALARM OUT

terminals, gently pull out the

PROGRAMMING THE
WEATHERADIO

Some of the Weatheradio’s keys (such as 0–9)

Note:

are located under the cover on top of the Weathera­dio. Slide off the cover to a ccess the keys.

The first time you use your Weatheradio, it is auto­matically set to use the NOAA weather broadcast fre­quency 162.400 MHz (Channel 1) and receive all
SAME alert signals broadcast within a 50-mile radius
of where you installed it.
26

Your Weatheradio is preprogrammed to receive
broadcasts for the FIPS code stored in its first memo­ry location (called

single mode

), and is prepro­grammed with the seven national NOAA broadcast
frequencies (Channel s 1–7). Depending on y ou r lo ca­tion, you might need to set the Weatheradio to its

multiple mode

and select a different channel.

Follow these steps to select a different broadcast fre­quency and set the Weatheradio to its single or multi­ple mode (if necessary), and store or change FIPS
codes in the Weatheradio’s memory (to narrow the
area for which you receive SAME alerts).

1. To turn on the Weatherad io, turn

VOLUME

to the

left until it clicks.

2. Set

MODE

to

PROGRAM

. The Weatheradio dis­plays the last selected weather broadcast chan­nel and frequency number.

27

3. Press

WEATHER

weather broadcast, then rotate

(if necessary) to turn on the

VOL UM E

can hear the broadcast as you make your selec­tion.

If you do not press a key for about 45 sec-

Note:

onds during Steps 4–8, the Weatheradio exits
the programming mode and saves only those
changes stored before the last keypress. To con­tinue, set

MODE

back to

OPERATE

, then start

over at Step 2.

4. Press a number key
(1–7) to listen to the
broadcast on that
channel. The Weath­eradio displays the
selected channel and
its corresponding fre­quency.

Repeat this step until
you find the channel
broadcasting in your
area.

Channel

Frequency

(MHz)

1 162.400
2 162.425
3 162.450
4 162.475
5 162.500
6 162.525
7 162.550

so you

28

If you receive a NOAA broadcast on more

Note:

than one channel, th e one wit h the be st recept ion

might not

be the one broadc ast ing in formation f o r
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.

mode (

), press .

PLE

YES

SINGLE

NO

YES

or

MULTIPLE

) appears.

SINGLE

or

MULTI-

5. Press three times. The currently selected

6. To select the o ther set ting (

7. Press . The FIPS code stored in the first
memory location appears.

8. To change the code in the first memory location,

NO

press .

------

appears.

29

Or, to add or change a code in a different posi­tion, repeatedly press until you see the first

YES

unused memory location or the code you want to
change, then press .

NO

9. Use the number keys (

------

0–9

appears.

) to enter the 6-digit

FIPS code you want to store.

Notes:

• If you make a mistake while entering the code,

NO

press to clear all digits (
pears), then enter the correct digits.

------

reap-

• To reset the Weatheradio to receive all SAME
signals within a 5 0-m ile r adius, simply enter

99

in the first memory location (see “Using the
Weatheradio’s ‘All Signals’ Code” on
Page41).

• For easy reference, us e a pen ci l to wr i t e d own
each FIPS co de you store in memory on the
supplied label. Then affix the label behind the
Weatheradio’s keypad cover.

10. Press to store the code in the Weatheradio’s

YES

memory.

If you set the Weatheradio to its multiple mode

the code (if any) stored in the next memory posi­tion appears. Repeat Steps 7–9 for each code
(up to 15) you want to change or add.

When you press to store a code in the

Note:

YES

last (15th) memory position, weather alert

,

30

descriptions appear (see “NWS Weather Alert
Descriptions” on Page 10).

11. When you fi ni sh, s et
rent alert status appears (see “Using the Alert
Function” on Page 36).

MODE

to

OPERATE

. The cur-

TESTING THE WEATHERADIO

For your Weatheradio to be effective, you must place
it where it can receive an emergency alert broadcast
and where you can hear its alert tone.

In the United States, the NWS broadcasts a test alert
every week on Wednesday between 11 AM and 1
PM. To find out the specific test schedule in your ar­ea, contact your local NOAA or NWS office. These of­fices are usually listed in the telephone book under
''US Government, Department of Commerce.''

Important:

weather broadcast signal does
emergency alert broad cast w ill tr igger y our Weath era­dio’s alert function. Be sure you choose the proper lo­cation for the Weatheradio (se e “C hoo si ng a Loc at ion
and Mounting the We athe rad io ” on Page 23) and reg­ularly check the Weat heradio to be sur e it is op erating
properly (see “When a Tes t or Dem o Al ert O ccurs ” on
Page 43).

The fact that you get clear reception of a

guarante e that a n

not

31

Manually Testing the Alert Tone

To manually test th e Weatheradio’s alert to ne, turn off
the Weather adio, hold do wn
eradio by turning
then release

and press

OFF

VOL UME

sounds the alert tone. Then, as the tone sounds, walk
around the area where you keep the Weatheradio to
make sure you can hear the tone.

Important Notes:

• To make sure your Weatheradio will sound the

alert tone when it receives an emergency signal,
always keep the built-in antenna fully extended
(unless you connected an external antenna).

• Testing the alert tone only ensures that the

Weatheradio’s alert tone can be heard. It does
not test the Weatheradio's receiver or guarantee
you will receive an emergency alert.

• If the Weatheradio does not sound an alert tone,

you are either out of range of the broadcast or
the backup battery is weak.

• An emergency alert broadcast might not trigger

your Weatheradio’s alert tone, even if it receives
voice transmissions clearly or if the alert tone
sounds when y ou m anually test it. Als o, if you are
in a fringe area, your Weatheradio might be trig­gered by a broadcast when it is placed in one
area, but not be triggered if you place it some­where else (even close by).

32

, turn on the Weath-

OFF

to the left until it clicks,

. The Weatheradio

ALERT

Testing the Alert Siren/Display

1. Turn of f the Weatheradio.

2. While holding down

VOL UM E

to the left until it
clicks to turn on the Weathera­dio.

TESTMODE

appears.

3. Press a number key to select the desired setting.
The Weatheradio tunes to the corresponding
channel, and one of the following appears.

OFF

, turn

You

Press:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

The Weatheradio Displays:

CH. 1
CH. 2
CH. 3
CH. 4
CH. 5
CH. 6
CH. 7
DEFAULT

(reset to default)

33

You

Press:

The Weatheradio Displays:

9

DEMO ON

or

DEMO OFF

Weatheradio’s demo mode)

Your Weatheradio can also perform these test
functions while

• If you press

TESTMODE

ALERT

appears:

, the Weatheradio continu­ously sounds its alert siren. Press
again to turn off the siren.

• If you press

, STATEMENT, WATCH, and

YES

WARNING light at the same time.

• If you press

, STATEMENT, WATCH, and

NO

WARNING turn off at the same time.

• If you press

WEATHER

, all display characters

appear at the same time.

4. Turn

VOLUME

toward off until it clicks to turn off
the Weatheradio and store your selection. Then
turn it back on to begin using the new setting.

(the

ALERT

34

To turn on the Weatheradio, turn
until it clicks.
pears.

WEATHER

then

ALRT

VOL U ME

to the left

(alert) ON ap-

Note:

VOL UM E

broadcast volume. To set the alert volume, see “Set­ting the Alert Volume” on Page 37.

To listen t o a weather br oadcast

Weather Broadcast.”

To have the Weatheradio sound an alert

the Alert Function” on Page36.
To turn off the Weatheradio, rotate

right until it clicks and the display clears.

also controls the Weatheradio’s audio

, see “Listening to a

, see “Using

VOL UME

to the

LISTENING TO A WEATHER
BROADCAST

Your Weatheradio is preprogrammed with the seven
NOAA weather broadcast frequencies (Channels 1–

7). To select a frequency broadcast in your area, fol­low Steps 2–4 and 9 in “Programming the Weathera­dio” on Page 26.

35

To listen to a weather broadcast,
make sure

, press

ATE
VOLUME

to the desired listening

is set to

MODE
WEATHER

OPER-

, then adjust

level. To turn off the weather
broadcast, press

WEATHER

again.

USING THE ALERT FUNCTION

To set the Weatheradio to sound
an alert when the NWS broad­casts a warning, watch, or state­ment, hold down
seconds until

ALRT ON

WEATHER

appears. The Weath-

eradio beeps once.

Notes:

• If you programmed more than one FIPS code
into memory, be sure th e W ea ther adi o is set to it s
multiple mode (see Steps 5 and 6 under “Pro­gramming the Weatheradi o” on Page 26 ). Oth er­wise, the Weatheradio will only receive
broadcasts for the FIPS code you stored in the
first memory position.

• If severe weather threatens, do not wait for an
alert tone; turn on the weather broadcast and
monitor the weather information.

ALERT

for 2

then

36

To set the Weatheradio so it does not sound an alert,
hold down

ALRT

OFF

appears. The Weatheradio beeps twice.

for 2 seconds until

ALERT

WEATHER

Setting the Alert Volum e

To set your Weatheradio’s alert volume, turn on the
alert tone (see “Manually Testing the Alert Tone” on
Page 32), the n rotate
the volume or toward

We recommend you set the alert volume to the high­est volume setting, then decrea se it as needed .

TON E

LOW to

toward

HIGH

decrease it.

to increase

Changing/Checking the Alert P attern

You can set the Weatheradio to respond to an NWS
alert broadcast in one of two ways.

— the Weatheradio sounds an alert for about

VOICE

8 seconds, then automatically turns on the weather
(voice) broadcast for 5 minutes. Then it returns to
standby mode. It also displays the alert description
(such as
tive time received as part of the NWS broadcast code
expires. An alert could be in effect for several hours.

TORNADO WARNING

) until the alert’s effec-

37

(Continuous) ALERT

— the Weatheradio sounds an
alert and displays an alert description until the alert’s
effective time expires. To turn off the alert sooner,
press
press

Note:

. To turn on the NWS voice broadcast,

OFF

WEATHER

.

When the Weatheradio’s alert ends or you turn
it off, you hear the NWS alert tone (which sounds dif­ferent than the Wea thera di o’s tone) for a few sec ond s
before you hear the voice broadcast.

The Weatheradio automatically selects the ALERT
setting the first time you tu rn it on. T o ch ange th e alert
pattern se tting (or check which setting is curr ently se­lected), follow these steps .

1. Set

Note:

to

MODE

PROGRAM

If you do not press a key for about 45 sec-

.

onds during Steps 2–4, the Weatheradio exits
the programming mode without storing any
change. To continue, set

, then start over at Step 1.

AT E

2. Press once. The cur-

YES

MODE

back to

OPER-

rently selected alert pattern
(

VOICE

or

ALERT

) ap-

pears.

3. To select the other setting (

NO

press . The setting you selected appears.

VOICE

38

or

ALERT

),

4. Press again to store your selection, then set

YES

to

MODE

(

WEATHER ALRT ON

OPERATE

. The current alert status

or

WEATHER ALRT OFF

appears.

Enabling/Disabling Alert Tones

You can turn on or off the alert tone for certain weath­er alert types received by your Weatheradio. For ex­ample, you can turn off the alert tone for a volcano
warning if you do not live near a volcano.

Notes:

• The Weatheradio still detects and displays infor­mation about alerts even after you disable the
tone for those alerts.

• If you set the Weatheradio so it turns itself on
when it re ceives a spec if i c warning, di sa blin g th e
alert tone for that warning means that the Weath­eradio will not turn itself on when it receives that
warning.

You can set the Weatheradio so it does not sound an
alert tone during

the following types of alerts:

only

)

Avalanche Warning Av alanche Watch
Blizzard Warning Coastal Flood Warning
Coastal Flood Watch Flash Flood Statement

39

Flash Flood Warning Flash Flood Watch
Flood Statement Flood Warning
Flood Watch High Wind Warning
High Wind Watch Hurricane Statement
Hurricane Watch Practice/Demo
Required Monthly Test Severe Thunderstorm

Severe Weather
Statement

Special Weather
Statement

Unknown Statement Unrecognized code

Volcano Warning Volcano Watch
Winter Storm Warning Winter Storm Watch

Watch
Special Marine Warning

Test Message

ending in

S

Follow these steps to enable or disable alert tones.

1. Set

Note:

MODE

to

PROGRAM

.

If you do not press a key for about 45 sec­onds during Steps 2–4, the Weatheradio exits
the programming mode without storing any
change. To continue, set

, then start over at Step 1.

AT E

MODE

back to

OPER-

40

2. When your Weatheradio displays weather alert
information for an alert type you want to change,

YES

press to enable the alert tone (if the tone is
not already sounding) or to disable it (if the

NO

tone is sounding).
When there are no more alerts being displayed,

SELECT CHECK

3. To view each alert type, repeatedly press .

appears.

YES

The alert type and ON (if the alert is turned on) or

(if the alert is turned off) appears.

OFF

4. To resume norma l ope ratio n, se t

.

ATE

MODE

to

OPER-

Using the Weatheradio’s ‘All Signals’
Code

Your Weatheradio is preset to use a default “all sig­nals” code of 99, which lets it receive any w eather alert
broadcast within the Weatheradio’s reception range
(about a 50-mile radius in most locations). This code is
preset in the Weatheradio’s first memory location.

To set the Weatheradio to respond only to specific
NWS FIPS code s you select, choose the cod es (as
many as 15) you want to program (see “Understand­ing FIPS Codes” on Page 17 and “Obtaining Your Ar­ea’s FIPS Code(s)” on Page 18), program those
codes into memory locations 2–15, and set the
Weatherad io to its m ultipl e mode (see S teps 5 and 6
under “Programming the Weatheradio” on Page26).

41

To reset the Weatheradio to us e the “al l si gna ls ” co de

YES

again, follow the steps under “Programming the
Weatheradio” on Page 26, setting the Weatheradio to
its single mode in Steps 5 and 6, a nd s toring 99 in the
first memory position in Step 9.

Reviewing Overlapping Alerts

Your Weatheradio can store up to three different
alerts (with overlapping effective times) in its memory.
If the Weatheradio receives a new alert while a previ­ous alert is still in effect, it automatically displays the
alert description and sounds the new alert.

To scroll forward or backward through the Weathera­dio’s memory and review all effective alerts, press
(to scroll forward) or (to scroll backward).

YES

Notes:

• The Weatheradio sounds a high-pitched tone if
you try to scroll past the first or last alert in mem­ory. To continue, pr ess to begin scrolling in
the opposite direction.

• If the Weatheradio receives a new alert while
three previous alerts are still in effect, it stores
the newest alert and clears the oldest alert from
memory.

42

NO

When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs

The NWS sends out weekly test signals you can use
to confirm that your Weatheradio is working properly.
To find out the specific test schedule in your area,
contact your local NOAA o r NWS offic e. Thos e offic es
are usually listed in the telephone book under

US Government, Department of Commerce

When the Weatheradio’s alert function is turned on
and the Weatheradio receives a test broadcast for a
FIPS code you programmed into its memory, it re­sponds in one of these ways:

NWS Alert Type You See You Hear

.

Demo Message

(sent at random times)

Required Weekly

SAME Test

Required Monthly

SAME Test

The Weatheradio does not turn on an indicator

Note:

Demo

Message

Weekly

Test

Monthly

Test

No sound

Beeps

Beeps

during a test/demo broadcast .
If your Weatheradio is turned on and properly set but

it does not respond to a test broadcast, see “Trouble­shooting” on Page 45.

43

USING THE BACKLIGHT

Your Weatheradio’s backlight automatically turns on
while you listen to the weather broadcast and for
about 10 seconds each time you press a key. For ex­tended use in low light situations, you can set the
backlight so it remains on until you turn it off.

You can turn on your Weatheradi o’s backlight

Note:

so it stays on continuously
connected to AC power.

Follow these steps to turn the backlight on or off.

MODE

to

PROGRAM

1. Set

2. Within 45 seconds, press twice so
(continuous) and

TINUO

flash on the display, then press to turn on
continuous backlight or to turn it off.

If you do not press a key for about 45 sec-

Note:

onds, the Weatheradio automatically exits the
programming mode. Set

, then start over at Step 1.

AT E

MODE

to

OPERATE

3. Set

if the Weatheradio is

only

.

YES

BACKLITE

YES

NO

back to

MODE

.

CON-

alternately

OPER-

44

If your Weatheradio is not working as it should, these
suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If
the Weatheradio still does not operate normally, take
it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.

Problem(s) Suggestion(s)

No power. Make sure the Weatheradio is

connected to AC power and a
backup battery is installed (if AC
power has failed). See “P owering
the Weatheradio” on Page 19.

No sound. Adjust

TONE

ping Alerts” on Page 42 or “Set­ting the Alert Volume” on
Page 37.

Multiple FIPS codes
are stored, but the
Weatheradio only
responds to weather
alert broadcasts for
one code.

One or more FIPS
codes are stored in
memory, but the
radio responds to
weather alert broad­casts for areas
covered by those
codes.

not

Make sure the Weatheradio is
set to its multiple mode (see
Steps 5 and 6 under “Program­ming the Weatheradio” on
Page 26).

Make sure the Weatheradio’s all­signals code (99) is not stored in
memory. See “Using the Weath­eradio’s ‘All Signals’ Code” on
Page 41.

VOLUME

. See “Reviewing Overlap-

or

ALERT

45

Problem(s) Suggestion(s)

No weather broad­cast when you press

WEATHER

The Weatheradio’s
continuous alert tone
sounds intermittent
or seems to warble.

.

Make sure the telescoping
antenna is fully extended. See
“Using the Built-In Antenna” on
Page 22.

If you connected an external
antenna, make sure that it is
connected properly and the tele­scoping antenna is lowered. See
“Using the Built-In Antenna” on
Page 22.

Make sure the Weatheradio is
set to the NOAA channel that is
being broadcast in your area.
See “Programming the Weath­eradio” on Page 26.

The Weatheradio constantly
monitors the channel you set it
to, even while it is sounding a
continuous alert. Each time the
Weatheradio receives a signal
on that channel, it pauses very
briefly to compare that signal
against those stored in its mem­ory. If the W eat heradio pauses
frequently (depending on how
often it receives a signal), it
might make the Weatheradio’s
continuous alert tone sound
intermittent. This is not a mal­function.

46

Problem(s) Suggestion(s)

The radio is not
responding properly
to NWS weather alert
broadcasts.

CHECK OP

(check operation)
appears.

Make sure you programmed the
correct FIPS code(s) into the
Weatheradio’s memory. See
“Programming the Weatheradio”
on Page 26.

Make sure

ON

ALERT

Function” on Page 36.
Make sure

OPERATE

Make sure the Weatheradio is
set to receive new alert types.
See “Testing the Alert Siren/Dis­play” on Page 33.

The Weatheradio has not
received any type of SAME alert
signal (including test or demo
signals) for about one week.
Make sure the FIPS code(s)
stored in memory are correct.
See “Programming the Weath­eradio” on Page 26.

Make sure the telescoping
antenna is fully extended or the
external antenna (if any) is prop­erly connected. See “Using the
Built-In Antenna” on Page 22.

WEATHER ALRT

appears. If not, press

. See “Using the Alert

is set to

MODE

.

47

Your RadioShack 7 Channel WRSAME Weathera­dio is an example of s uperior design and c raf tsm an ­ship. The following suggestions will help you care
for your Weatheradio so you can enjoy it for years.

Keep the Weatheradio dry. If it gets
wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids
might contain minerals that can corrode
the electronic circuits.

Use and store the Weatheradio only in
normal temperature environments.
Temperature extremes can shorten the
life of electronic devices, damage bat­teries, and distort or melt plastic parts.

Keep the Weatheradio away from dust
and dirt, which can cause premature
wear of parts.

Handle the Weatheradio gently and
carefully. Dropping it can damage cir­cuit boards and cases and can cause
the Weatheradio to work improperly.

Use only a fresh battery of the required
size and recommended type. Batteries
can leak chemicals that damage your
Weatheradio’s electronic parts.

48

Wipe the Weatheradio with a damp
cloth occasionally to keep it looking
new. Do not use harsh chemicals,
cleaning solvents, or strong detergents
to clean the Weatheradio.

Modifying or tampering with the Weatheradio’s in­ternal components can cause a malfunction and
might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC au­thorization to operate it. If your Weatheradio is not
performing as it should, take it to your local Ra­dioShack store for assistance.

THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW

Your Weatheradio might cause TV or radio interfer­ence even when it is o perati ng prope rly. To determ ine
whether your Weatheradio is causing the interfer­ence, turn off your Weatheradio. If the interference
goes away, your Weatheradio is causing it. Try to
eliminate the interference by:

• moving your Weatheradio away from the TV or
radio

• contacting your local RadioShack store for help

49

Frequency Coverage (MHz):

Channel 1 ....................... ............................162.400

Channel 2 ....................... ........................... 162.425

Channel 3 ....................... ........................... 162.450

Channel 4 ....................... ........................... 162.475

Channel 5 ....................... ........................... 162.500

Channel 6 ....................... ........................... 162.525

Channel 7 ....................... ........................... 162.550

Receiving Sensitivity (at 12 dB SINAD)................ 0.3 µV

FIPS Code Sensitivity

@ ± 3 kHz Deviation/90% Success Rate ............. 0.3 µV

Signal to Noise Ratio ............................................ 40 dB

Dual Tone Detection Range ..................... 1.2 to 2.4 kHz

Channel Selectivity ............................. . ± 25 kHZ, 60 dB

Power Output (Maximum) ................................. 250 mW

Power Supply ................... 120 Volts, 60 Hz, 5 Watts AC

Battery Back-up ................................ One 9-Volt Battery

(Cat. No. 23-553)

Antenna ................................ Telescoping Rod Antenna

Dimensions (HWD) ............... 7

Weight .............................................................. 20.28 oz

1

/20 × 51/2 × 117/20 Inches

(179 × 140 × 47 mm)

(575 g)

Specifications are typical; individual units might vary.
Specifications are subject to change and improve­ment without notice.
50

51

Limited Nine ty-Day Warranty

This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in
material and workmanship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the
date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized
RadioShack franchisees and dealers. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN,
RadioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FIT­NESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO
THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED
HEREIN. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO
LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PER­SON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY L IABILITY, LOSS OR DAM­AGE CAUSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PERFORMANCE
OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WAR­RANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULT­ING FROM INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF TIME, DATA, PROPERTY,
REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF RadioShack HAS BEEN AD­VISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied warranty
lasts or the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above
limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product
and the RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any Ra­dioShack store. RadioShack will, at its option, unless otherwise provided by
law: (a) correct the defect by product repair without charge for parts and la­bor; (b) replace the product with one of the same or similar design; or (c) re­fund the purchase price. All replaced parts and products, and products on
which a refund is made, become the property of RadioShack. New or recon­ditioned parts and products may be used in the performance of warranty
service. Repaired or replaced parts and products are warranted for the re­mainder of the original warranty period. You will be charged for repair or re­placement of the product made after the expiration of the warranty period.
This warranty does not cover: (a) damage or failure caused by or attribut­able to acts of God, abuse, accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage,
failure to follow instructions, improper install ation or m aintena nce, alter ati on,
lightning or other incidence of excess voltage or current; (b) any repairs
other than those provided by a RadioShack Authorized Service Facility; (c)
consumables such as fuses or batteries; (d) cosmetic damage; (e) transpor­tation, shipping or insurance costs; or (f) costs of product removal, installa­tion, set-up service adjustment or reinstallation.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.

RadioShack Customer Relations, 200 Taylor Street, 6th Floor, Fort Worth,

We Service What We Sell

TX 76102

04/99

04A99 Printed in China

811080940C