1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Radio Shack Manuals
  4. Weather Radio
  5. 12-251
  6. Owner's manual

Radio Shack 12-251 Owner's Manual

Weatheradio with alert
Hide thumbs Also See for 12-251:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

12-251.fm Page 1 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM
Cat. No. 12-251
OWNER'S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
®
Weatheradio
with Alert

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for Radio Shack 12-251

Summary of Contents for Radio Shack 12-251

  • Page 1 12-251.fm Page 1 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Cat. No. 12-251 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment. ® Weatheradio with Alert...
  • Page 2 12-251.fm Page 2 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or shock hazard, do not expose this product to rain or moisture. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK.

  • Page 3: Fcc Declaration Of Conformity

    12-251.fm Page 3 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM FCC 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,...
  • Page 4 12-251.fm Page 4 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM accordance with the instructions, may cause harm- ful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equip- ment does cause harmful interference to radio or...
  • Page 5 12-251.fm Page 5 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM FEATURES Your RadioShack Weatheradio with Alert is the next generation of weather alert technology. Your Weath- eradio uses SAME (Specific Area Message Encod- ing) circuitry to provide more complete information about weather conditions in your immediate area, letting you avoid hearing alerts for geographical ar- eas that do not interest you.
  • Page 6 12-251.fm Page 6 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Alert Indicator Lights — the Weatheradio’s display clearly shows whether a received alert is a state- ment, watch, warning, or emergency. Battery Backup — the Weatheradio uses a 9-volt battery (not supplied) for backup power if AC power fails or is temporarily disconnected.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    12-251.fm Page 7 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM CONTENTS How Your Radio Works ........8 When a Weather Alert Occurs ....... 9 Understanding FIPS Codes ......9 Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s) ..11 Preparation ............12 Powering the Weatheradio ......12 Connecting AC Power ......

  • Page 8: How Your Radio Works

    12-251.fm Page 8 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM HOW YOUR RADIO WORKS 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 along with the broadcast. This means...

  • Page 9: When A Weather Alert Occurs

    12-251.fm Page 9 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM WHEN A WEATHER ALERT OCCURS When the Weatheradio receives a weather alert: • it sounds the built-in siren • an indicator on the front of the Weatheradio lights Warning: The NWS uses sophisticated weather models to determine an alert’s effective time.
  • Page 10 12-251.fm Page 10 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM The first digit in a FIPS code identifies State county subdivision, the next two digits 048439 identify the state, and County/ the last three digits Parish identify the county or County Subdivision parish.

  • Page 11: Obtaining Your Area's Fips Code(S)

    12-251.fm Page 11 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s) To obtain the FIPS code for the location where you installed your Weatheradio, contact your local Ra- dioShack store or call the NWS toll free at 1-888- NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263).

  • Page 12: Preparation

    12-251.fm Page 12 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM PREPARATION POWERING THE WEATHERADIO Your Weatheradio uses standard AC power for nor- mal operation and requires one 9-volt battery (not supplied) for backup power when AC power fails or is temporarily disconnected. For the best perfor- mance and longest life, we recommend a Ra- dioShack alkaline battery.

  • Page 13: Installing The Backup Battery

    12-251.fm Page 13 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Caution: Your Weatheradio’s power cord has a po- larized 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.

  • Page 14: Using The Built-In Antenna

    12-251.fm Page 14 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Warning: Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them. Caution: If you do not plan to use the Weatheradio for several months, remove the battery. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.

  • Page 15: Choosing A Location For The Weatheradio

    12-251.fm Page 15 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM CHOOSING A LOCATION FOR THE WEATHERADIO You can set your Weatheradio on a flat surface (such as a shelf or counter top). For the best reception, place your Weatheradio where: • it can receive alert signals (see “When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs”...

  • Page 16: Programming The Weatheradio

    12-251.fm Page 16 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM PROGRAMMING THE WEATHERADIO Your Weatheradio is preprogrammed to receive broadcasts for all FIPS codes, and is prepro- grammed with the seven national NOAA broadcast frequencies (Channels 1–7). The first time you use your Weatheradio, it is auto- matically set to use the NOAA weather broadcast frequency 162.400 MHz (Channel 1) and receive all...

  • Page 17: Selecting A Broadcast Frequency

    12-251.fm Page 17 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Selecting a Broadcast Frequency 1. To turn on the Weatheradio, turn to the VOLUME right until it clicks. 2. Set PROGRAM/OPERATE PROGRAM the current radio channel setting flash. 3. Repeatedly press...
  • Page 18 12-251.fm Page 18 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Frequency Channel (MHz) 162.450 162.475 162.500 162.525 162.550 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.

  • Page 19: Storing/Changing Fips Codes

    12-251.fm Page 19 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Storing/Changing FIPS Codes You can store or change FIPS codes in the Weath- eradio’s memory (to narrow the area for which you receive SAME alerts). Your Weatheradio has two memory locations for FIPS codes.
  • Page 20 12-251.fm Page 20 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM 4. Repeat Step 3 to change each digit of the FIPS code. When you have entered the last digit of the FIPS code, the Weatheradio sounds a con- firmation tone and saves the new FIPS code.

  • Page 21: Testing The Weatheradio

    12-251.fm Page 21 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM 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.

  • Page 22: Operation

    12-251.fm Page 22 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM OPERATION To turn on the Weatheradio, turn to the VOLUME right until it clicks. Note: also controls the Weatheradio’s au- VOLUME dio broadcast volume. To set the alert volume, see “Setting the Alert Volume” on Page 24.

  • Page 23: Using The Alert Function

    12-251.fm Page 23 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM low the steps in “Selecting a Broadcast Frequency” on Page 17. To listen to a weather broadcast, make sure PROGRAM/OPERATE set to , press OPERATE WEATHER then adjust to the desired VOLUME listening level.

  • Page 24: Setting The Alert Volume

    12-251.fm Page 24 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Setting the Alert Volume To set your Weatheradio’s alert volume, rotate toward to increase the volume or toward TONE HIGH to decrease it. We recommend you set the alert volume to the high- est volume setting, then decrease it as needed.

  • Page 25: Using The Weatheradio's 'All Signals' Code

    12-251.fm Page 25 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM TONE — the Weatheradio sounds an alert. To turn off the alert and turn on the NWS broadcast, press WEATHER Notes: • The STATEMENT, WATCH, or WARNING indi- cators on the front of the Weatheradio light in either alert pattern setting.

  • Page 26: When A Test Or Demo Alert Occurs

    12-251.fm Page 26 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM gram those codes into the first and second memory locations (see “Storing/Changing FIPS Codes” on Page 19). When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs The NWS sends out weekly test signals you can use to confirm that your Weatheradio is working proper- ly.
  • Page 27 12-251.fm Page 27 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM If your Weatheradio is turned on and properly set but it does not respond to a test broadcast, see “Troubleshooting” on Page 28.

  • Page 28: Troubleshooting

    12-251.fm Page 28 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM TROUBLESHOOTING If your Weatheradio is not working as it should, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If the Weatheradio still does not operate properly, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
  • Page 29 12-251.fm Page 29 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Problems Suggestions The radio is not Make sure you programmed responding properly the correct FIPS code(s) into to NWS weather alert the Weatheradio’s memory. broadcasts. See “Programming the Weath- eradio” on Page 16.
  • Page 30 12-251.fm Page 30 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Problems Suggestions The Weatheradio has not C-OP (check operation) received any type of SAME appears. alert signal (including test or demo signals) for about 192 hours. Make sure the FIPS code(s) stored in memory are correct.

  • Page 31: Care

    12-251.fm Page 31 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM CARE To enjoy your Weatheradio for a long time: • Keep the Weatheradio dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. • Use and store the Weatheradio only in normal temperature environments.

  • Page 32: Specifications

    12-251.fm Page 32 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM SPECIFICATIONS 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) ..
  • Page 33 12-251.fm Page 33 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and im- provement without notice.
  • Page 34 12-251.fm Page 34 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM NOTES...
  • Page 35 12-251.fm Page 35 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM...
  • Page 36 12-251.fm Page 36 Tuesday, March 14, 2000 12:40 PM Limited Ninety-Day Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in ma- terial 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.

Table of Contents