7-Channel WRSAME Weatheradio w/Alert
(120-0250) Preparation Faxback Doc. # 51408
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 and alkaline battery (available at your local RadioShack store).
CAUTIONS: Use only a fresh battery of the required size and recommended
type.
Do not use a rechargeable battery in your Weatheradio.
Notes: A fresh backup battery will power the Weatheradio 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" in Faxback Doc. #
51409). However, we recommend you always connect the Weatheradio
to AC power for normal use.
If the backup battery becomes weak, your Weatheradio might not
sound a tone when an emergency or test alert is broadcast. Test
your radio's reception periodically (see "Specifications in
Faxback Doc. # 51412), and replace the battery if the tone does
not sound.
Connecting the Weatheradio to AC Power
1. If the Weatheradio's display is on, rotate VOLUME to the right until
it clicks to turn off the Weatheradio.
2. Plug the Weatheradio's power cord into a standard AC outlet.
CAUTION: Your Weatheradio's power cord has a polarized plug (one
blade is wider than the other). If you have difficulty
inserting the plug into the outlet, do not force it! Turn
the plug over and try again.
Installing The Backup Battery
1. If the Weatheradio's display is on, rotate VOLUME 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 then BATTERY appears or the Weatheradio stops operating when
it is unplugged from AC power, replace the battery.
Note: REPLACE then BATTERY also appears if no backup battery is installed
and the Weatheradio is connected to AC power and then turned on.
CAUTIONS: Dispose of an old battery promptly and properly. Do not burn
or bury it.
Always remove an old or weak battery. Batteries can leak
chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.
Using The Built-In Antenna
The Weatheradio's built-in telescoping antenna lets you receive strong
local signals. To use the built-in antenna, lift it up so it is vertical
then fully extend it.
To improve reception in remote areas, you can connect an external antenna
to your Weatheradio using an optional adapter cable with a phono plug
(such as RadioShack Unlimited Cat. No. 11806437) to the Weatheradio's EXT
ANT jack. Your local RadioShack store sells a wide variety of antennas.
To connect an external antenna to the Weatheradio, connect one end of the
adapter cable to EXT ANT on the back of the Weatheradio then connect the
other end to the antenna.
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" in
Faxback Doc. # 51409).
You can hear it alert tone (see "Setting the Alert Volume" in Faxback
Doc. # 51409).
Note: Make sure the Weatheradio is away from obstructions 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 two holes 2-1/8
inches apart. Then thread a screw into each mounting hole until the
head extends about 1/8 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.
3. Align the keyhole slots in the mounting bracket with the screws on the
wall. Then press the Weatheradio toward the wall then downward to
secure it.
Connecting The Weatheradio to an External System
Your Weatheradio's ALARM OUT jacks let you connect it to an external
module interface (Plug `n Power or X-10, such as RSU 10037745) using twin
lead 20-gauge 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.
Note: Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection 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 quick-connect
terminals to the corresponding (+ and -) terminals on the external system.
When the Weatheradio's alert function is turned on and it receives an NWS
alert broadcast, the Weatheradio sends a 7.5 VDC 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 ALARM OUT
terminals, gently pull out the wires while using a pointed object such as
a straightened paper clip to press the orange tabs under the wires.
Programming The Weatheradio
Note: Some of the Weatheradio's keys (such as 0-9) are located under the
cover on top of the Weatheradio. Slide off the cover to access 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.
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 (Channels
1-7). Depending on your location, you might need to set it 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 Weatheradio, 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.
3. Press WEATHER if necessary to turn on the weather broadcast, then
rotate VOLUME so you can hear the broadcast as you make your
selection.
Note: If you do not press a key for about 45 seconds 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.
Note: If you receive a NOAA broadcast on more than one channel, the
one with the best reception might not be the one broadcasting
information for 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.
5. Press [<yes] three times. The currently selected mode (SINGLE or
MULTIPLE) appears.
6. To select the other setting (SINGLE or MULTIPLE), press [NO>]. The
setting you selected appears.
7. Press [<YES]. The FIPS code stored in the first memory location
appears.
8. To change the code in the first memory location, press [NO>].
_ _ _ _ _ _ appears.
Or, to add or change a code in a different position, repeatedly press
[<YES] until you see the first unused memory location or the code you
want to change, then press [NO>]. _ _ _ _ _ _ appears.
9. Use the number keys (0-9) to enter the 6-digit FIPS code you want to
store.
Notes: If you make a mistake while entering he code, press [NO>] to
clear all digits (_ _ _ _ _ _ appears), then enter the correct
digits.
To reset the Weatheradio to receive all SAME signals within a
50-mile radius, simply enter 99 in the first memory location
(see "Using the Weatheradio's `All Signals' Code" in Faxback
Doc. # 51409).
For easy reference, use a pencil to write down each FIPS code
you store in memory on the supplied label. Then affix the
label behind the Weatheradio's keypad cover.
10. Press [<YES] to store the code in the Weatheradio's 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.
Note: When you press [<YES] to store a code in the last (15th) memory
position, weather alert descriptions appear (see NWS Weather
Alert Descriptions" in Faxback, Doc. # 51407).
11. When you finish, set MODE to OPERATE. The current alert status
appears (see "Using the Alert Function" in Faxback Doc. # 51409).
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 he 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: The fact that you get clear reception of a weather broadcast
signal does not guarantee that an emergency alert broadcast
will trigger your Weatheradio's alert function. Be sure you
choose the proper location for the Weatheradio (see "Choosing
a Location and Mounting the Weatheradio", above) and regularly
check the Weatheradio to be sure it is operating properly (see
"When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs" in Faxback Doc. # 51409).
Manually Testing the Alert Tone
To manually test the Weatheradio's alert tone, turn off the Weatheradio,
hold down OFF, turn on the Weatheradio by turning VOLUME to the left until
it clicks, then press ALERT. The Weatheradio 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 you manually test it. Also, 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).
(EB 2/15/99)
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