Radio Shack 12-261 User Manual

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Bedside SAME

Weatheradio

OWNER’S MANUAL — Please read before using this equipment.

CLOCK — Press to set the clock and alarm time.

Liquid Crystal Display — a large, easy-to-read

display shows alert and channel information.

ADVISORY/WATCH/ WARNING LEDs —

Light to indicate the severity of a weather alert.

e, d, f, g

programming menus.

If an icon appears at the end of a paragraph, go to the box on that page with the corresponding icon for pertinent information.

— Press to navigate

Weather and othe r haza rd infor matio n brou ght to yo u by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

IMPORTANT

— Warning! — Important Ô — Note

RadioShack and RadioShack.com are trademarks

Public Alert is a trademark of the Consumer Electronics Association.

used by RadioShackCorporation.

WEATHER/SNOOZE — Press

to listen to a broadcast. Press to silence the alarm to snooze.

MENU — Press to select programming.

12-261

Back view

ALARM ON/OFF/SNOOZE — Turn the alarm on or off, or enable the snooze function.

DC 9V Jack — Insert the supplied adapter to power your Weatheradio®.

ALERT OUT — Connect to an external device to be notified of weather alerts almost anywhere in your home.

ALERT ON/OFF — Turn the audible alert on or off as desired.

EXT ANT — Connect an external antenna for crisp, clear reception.

HOW YOUR WEATHERADIO

WORKS

Traditional weather radios simply receive the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather broadcast, and then sound an alarm if an emergency code is transmitted along with the broadcast. This means that people outside an affected area are often alerted even though their area is not affected, causing some to ignore weather warnings that apply to their area.

In 1994, NOAA began broadcasting signals called FIPS (Federal Information Processing System) codes along with their standard weather broadcasts. These codes identify the type of emergency and the specific geographic area (such as a county) affected by the emergency. Your Weatheradio displays FIPS code information so you can determine if the em erg enc y af fec ts your area. Only SAME-compatible weather ra dios are able to take advantage of this technology.

Each FIPS code identifies a specific geographic area defined by the

receives, interprets, and

CONTENTS

How Your Weatheradio

Weather Alerts .............. 4 Locking Out Undefined Weather Descriptions ... 4 Understanding

FIPS Codes .................. 5 Obtaining Your Area’s

FIPS Code(s) ................ 6

Preparation .................. ..... 6

Connecting to AC Power 7 Installing the Backup

Battery .......................... 7

Using the Antenna ........ 8 Connecting an

External Antenna ..... ..... 9 Choosing a Location .... 9 Connecting to an

External System ...... ... 10 Testing the Weatheradio

Programming ................. 11

Channel Setup ............ 12

Alert Type Setup ......... 13 Missed Alert Reminder 14 Signal Loss Reminder 15

Response Location ..... 15

Tone Defeat ................ 18

Operation ................ ........ 21

Setting the Clock

and Alarm ................... 22 Listening to a Weather

Broadcast ................... 24

Using the Alert ........... 24 Setting Alert Tone Level 24

Viewing Multiple Alerts 25

Backlight ...................... .... 2 6

Troubleshooting ............. 27 The FCC Wants

You To Know .................. 28

Specifications ................ 29 NWS Alert Descriptions .. 30

Works ........ 3

............. 10

How Your Weatheradio® Works

Ô NOTE Ô

If more than one weather alert is received at the same time, the latest one will be shown. User can browse the alert buffer by pressing

WARNING o

The NWS uses sophisticated weather models to determine an alert’s effective time. However, the end of an alert does not necessar mean that the weather emergency is over.

National Weather Service (NWS). If FIPS codes are entered, your Weatheradio when a weather emerge ncy is dec lared in that area. This helps you more efficiently track the weather conditions in and around your area.

sounds an alert only

WEATHER ALERTS

When a weather alert is received, an alert sounds, and the alert description and duration appear on the display, Alert descriptions are based on a list of specific weather alert types published by the NWS. For a list of alert descriptions displ ay ed on you r Weatheradio Descriptions” on Page 30. Ô

, see “NWS Alert

LOCKING OUT UNDEFINED

EATHER DESCRIPTIONS

The NWS might occas ionally bro adcast weather information intended for commercial or non-private use. This information could include a message intended for automated weather services (such as those used by radio or TV stations). Your Weatheradio memory does not contain a specific, corresponding description for the

signals related to these commercial weather types.

Additionally, your Wea t hera di o

is designed to recognize all common weather alert types currently used by the NWS. However, the NWS occasionally creates and broadcasts new alert types. If a signal for a new alert type is received and the alert is turned on, description (

UNRECOGN and the alert

EMERGENCY, STATEMENT,

WARNING or WATCH) appear.

UNDERSTANDING FIPS

ODES

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

The first digit of a FIPS code identifies the county subdivision, the next two digits identify the state, and the last three digits identify the county or parish. Ô

Your Weatheradio SAME alert signals broadcast within

can receive all

How Your Weatheradio® Works

Ô NOTE Ô

Most FIPS codes begin with 0, which means the code represents an entire county. The NWS plans to subdivide some large counties. When this happens, each subdivision will be assigned a digit from 1-9, resulting in codes such as 148439, 248439, and so on. If you are close to a county or parish line, you might want to obtain the codes for the nearby counties or parishes.

IMPORTANT

You might want to obtain

Preparation

codes for other local areas that you frequently travel through (as long as they are within an area covered by your local NWS broadcast station). That way, you can program those codes into the Weatheradio receive those broadcasts.

and

about a 50-mile radius. To receive alerts about weather occurring only in particular counties within th at ar ea, yo u can program up to ni ne FIPS codes into memory. You can then 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 C

To obtain FIPS codes, contact your local RadioShack s tore or cal l the NWS

toll free at 1-888-NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263).

You can also visit the NWS website at:

www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm

ODE(S)

PREPARATION

Your Weatheradio AC adapter for power, and one 9V battery (not supplied) for backup if AC power fails or is temporarily

uses the supplied

disconnected. We recommend RadioShack alkaline batteri es .

Barrel Plug

CONNECTING TO AC

OWER

1. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s barrel plug into the W eatheradio

DC 9V jack.Ô

2. Plug the other end of the adapter into a standard AC outlet. Ô

INSTALLING THE BACKUP

ATTERY

1. Slide the battery compartment cover downward to remove it.

Ô NOTE Ô

• Using the

’s

different polarity adapter may cause the weatheradio's electronics trouble.

• Always connect the Weatheradio AC power for normal use.

Preparation

ÔBATTERY NOTESÔ

• Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly.

• Do not burn or bury batteries.

• Use only a fresh battery of the required size and recommended type.

• If you do not plan to use the Weatheradio® for several weeks, remove the battery. Batteries can leak chemicals that can damage electronic parts.

2. Place a 9V battery in the compartment according to the polarity symbols marked inside.

Preparation

3. Replace the cover.

² appears, backup battery

When power is low. When

² flashes and AC

power is connected, th e backup b attery is dead, or not installed correctly. Replace or install a fresh battery. Ô

USING THE ANTENNA

The built-in telescoping antenna lets you receive strong local signals. To use the built-in antenna, lift it so it is positioned vertically and fully extend it.

CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL

NTENNA

To improve reception in remote areas, you can connect an external antenna using an adapter cable with a phono plug. Your local RadioShack store sells a wide variety of antennas.

To connect an external antenna, connect one end of the adapter cable to

the Weatheradio

’s EXT ANT jack. Connect the other end of the cable to the antenna.

CHOOSING A LOCATION

where:

is away

on any

’s

You can set your Weatheradio flat surface. For the best reception, place your Weatheradio

• it can receive alert signals.

• you can hear the alert tone.

Make sure the Weatheradio from obstructions such as metal cabinets or bookshelves. Higher frequencies are notice ably 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 reduces the Weatheradio ability to receive signals.

Preparation

Ô NOTE Ô

•Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection o f cable and audible or visible alert accessories.

• The ALERT OUT

Preparation

terminal is turne d on when an valid alert is received and turned off after the effe ctive time has expired

•Pressing WEATHER to turn broadcast off can turn off ALERT OUT also.

CONNECTING TO AN

XTERNAL SYSTEM

The Weatheradio®’s ALERT OUT terminals let you connect an external module inte rface using twin-lead 20 gauge cable (not supplied), such as Plug’n Power or X-10. Then you can set the interface to s oun d an audible or visible alert on a connected appliance when a weather emergency alert broadcast is received . Ô

1. Connect the Weatheradio positive (+) and negative (-)

ALERT OUT terminals to the

corresponding (+ and -) terminals on the external system.

2. When you are finished, use a pointed object (such as a straightened paper clip) to press on the orange t abs u nder the cable wires, and gently pull on the wires to remove them.

TESTING THE WEATHERADIO

In the United States, the NWS broadcasts a test alert every w eek on Wednesday between 1 1 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

’s

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