How Your W
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2
HOW YOUR
WEATHERADIO
WORKS
Traditional weather radios simply
receive the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
weather broadcast (usually within a 50-
mile radius), then sound an alarm if any
emergency code was transmitted along
with the broadcast. This means that
people outside an affected area are
often alerted even though their area is
not affected, leading some to ignore
weather warnings that apply to their
own 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 (such as a country)
information about the codes, so you
can determine if the emergency might
affect your area. Only SAME-
compatible weather radios are able to
take advantage of this technology.
Each FIPS code identifies a specific
geographic area defined by the
National Weather Service (NWS), so
CONTENTS
How Your Weatheradio
Works ............................... 2
Preparation ....................... 3
Installing Batteries ........ 3
Using AC Power ........... 4
Power Up Reset ........... 4
Turning Power
On and Off .................... 5
Attaching the Belt Clip .. 5
Programming the
Weatheradio ..................... 6
Setting the Alarm .......... 7
Setting the Clock .......... 8
Selecting Temperature
Display Mode ................ 8
Selecting a Channel ..... 9
Selecting Alert Mode .. 10
Enabling/Disabling Missed
Alert Reminder ............ 11
Enabling/Disabling Signal
Loss Reminder ........... 13
Understanding the FIPS
Code ........................... 13
Response Location
Selection ..................... 15
Enabling/Disabling Alert
Tones .......................... 17
Receiving Weather Alerts 20
Viewing Signal
Strength ...................... 21
Locking Key ................ 21
Selecting Travel
/Home Mode ............... 21
Troubleshooting ............. 23
FCC Declaration of
Conformity ...................... 25
The FCC Wants
You to Know ................... 25
Care ............................... 27
Specifications ................. 27
