SAME MESSAGES
The WR102 receives and displays SAME warning messages in three classifications depending upon the
severity of emergency:
Warning
,
Watch
and
Statement
. In addition to these classes of alert messages,
there is now a new type of message:
Test
.
The purpose of this new class is to assist you in verifying that your NOAA weather radio is set-up and
working properly. Each week the National Weather Service Office will broadcast a Test message in SAME
format. To receive the Test message, your WR102 needs to be in NOAA-On, NOAA-Stand-by or NOAA-
Mute mode with a county code and NWR channel selected and programmed into the radio. If the WR102
is properly set, a flashing “Test” icon will be displayed on the LCD screen when a Test message is
received. The “Test” icon will continue to flash for over an hour after the Test message is received.
NOAA Weather Radio stations broadcast the Test message every Wednesday between 10:00AM - Noon
local time. (Test messages may also be sent on other days and times when there is a threat of severe
weather in the listening area or for other reasons.)
Corresponding with the “Test” icon, the following broadcast will be made immediately after sounding the
Test alarm:
“This is the National Weather Service Office in ... (city) .... The preceding signal was a test of the
Weather Radio Station ... (call sign) ... public warning system. During potentially dangerous
weather situations, specially built receivers can be automatically activated by this signal to warn of
the impending hazard. Tests of this signal and receivers’ performance are normally conducted by
the National Weather Service at ... (time) ... each Wednesday. 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. This variability,
normally more noticeable at greater distances from the transmitter, can occur even though you are
using a good quality receiver in good working order. To provide the most consistent and
dependable warning service possible, the warning alarm will be activated for hazardous watches
and warnings for the following counties ... (list of counties)...”.
When more than one state is involved, the state names will always precede the names of the counties in
that state.
If the Test is cancelled due to the threat of severe weather, the Test broadcast schedule will resume with
the next good-weather day.
If you have any questions regarding alarm tests or to verify if a test was conducted, contact the
programming office of your local NOAA Weather Radio station.
