Radio Shack 12-250 Owner's Manual
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Radio Shack 12-250 Owner's Manual

7 channel wrsame weatheradio with alert
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Cat. No. 12-250
OWNER'S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
7 Channel WRSAME
Weatheradio
with Alert
®

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Summary of Contents for Radio Shack 12-250

  • Page 1 Cat. No. 12-250 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment. 7 Channel WRSAME Weatheradio with Alert ®...
  • Page 2 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. NO USER-SERVICE- ABLE PARTS INSIDE.

  • Page 3: Declaration Of Conformity

    (2) this device must accept any interference re- ceived, including interference that may cause undes- ired operation. Product: 7 Channel WRSAME Weatheradio with Alert Model: 12-250 Responsible Party: RadioShack 100 Throckmorton Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone: 817-415-3200 This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules .
  • Page 4 However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the follow- ing measures: •...
  • Page 5 Your RadioShack 7 Channel WRSAME Weatheradio is the next generation of weather alert technology. Your Weatheradio uses SAME (Specific Area Mes- sage Encoding) circuitry to provide more complete in- formation about weather conditions in your immediate area, letting you avoid hearing alerts for geographical areas that do not interest you.
  • Page 6 Adjustable Display Backlight — helps you read the display in low light situations. You can set the light to turn on for about 10 seconds when you press a key, or remain on until you turn it off. Alert Volume Control — lets you adjust the volume of an alert so you will be sure to hear it.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    How Your Radio Works ............ 8 When a Weather Alert Occurs ........9 New Alert Types ............. 10 NWS Weather Alert Descriptions ........ 10 Understanding FIPS Codes ........17 Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s) ...... 18 Preparation ..............19 Powering the Weatheradio .......... 19 Connecting the Weatheradio to AC Power .....

  • Page 8: 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 that people who live outside an affected area are often alerted even when their area is not affected, causing many of them to ignore potentially real weather warn- ings that can save lives.

  • Page 9: When A Weather Alert Occurs

    WHEN A WEATHER ALERT OCCURS When the Weatheradio receives a weather alert: • it sounds an alert (siren or beep) • a description of the alert appears • an indicator on the front of the Weatheradio lights Note: If the Weatheradio receives more than one weather alert at the same time, it displays information about each alert.

  • Page 10: New Alert Types

    New Alert Types Your Weatheradio is designed to recognize all com- mon weather alert types currently used by the NWS. However, the NWS occasionally creates and broad- casts new alert types (for which the Weatheradio’s memory does not contain a specific, corresponding description).
  • Page 11 Weather/Alert You See Description Hear BLIZZARD Blizzard warning Siren WARNING Civil danger warning Siren CIVIL DANGER WARNING Civil danger watch Siren CIVIL DANGER WATCH TUNE TV Civil emergency — turn Siren on the TV for information or, if no information is available on TV, call your local NWS office TUNE TV...
  • Page 12 Weather/Alert You See Description Hear EMERGENC Emergency action Siren ACTION warning WARNING EMERGENC Emergency action Beeps ACTION termination TERMINAT EVACUATE Evacuate Siren IMMEDIAT immediately FIRE Fire warning Siren WARNING FLASH Flash flood statement Beeps FLOOD FLASH Flash flood warning Siren FLOOD WARNING FLASH...
  • Page 13 Weather/Alert You See Description Hear HAZARD Hazardous material Siren MATERIAL warning WARNING HAZARD Hazardous material Siren MATERIAL watch WATCH HIGH High wind warning Siren WIND WARNING HIGH High wind watch Siren WIND WATCH Hurricane statement Beeps HURRICAN HURRICAN Hurricane warning Siren WARNING HURRICAN...
  • Page 14 Weather/Alert You See Description Hear LOCAL Local area emergency Siren AREA EMERGENC National information Siren NATIONAL center INFO CENTER NATIONAL Periodic national test Beeps PERIODIC TEST DEMO Practice/Demo Nothing MESSAGE RADIOLOG Radiological hazard Siren HAZARD warning WARNING RADIOLOG Radiological hazard Siren HAZARD watch...
  • Page 15 Weather/Alert You See Description Hear SEVERE Severe thunderstorm Siren THUNDER watch WATCH SEVERE Severe weather Beeps WEATHER statement SHELTER Shelter in-place warning Siren IN-PLACE WARNING SPECIAL Special marine Siren MARINE warning WARNING SPECIAL Special weather Beeps WEATHER statement TEST Test message Nothing MESSAGE TORNADO...
  • Page 16 Weather/Alert You See Description Hear UNKNOWN Unrecognized code Siren STATEMNT ending in S TUNE TV UNKNOWN Unrecognized code Siren WARNING ending in W TUNE TV UNKNOWN Unrecognized code Siren WATCH ending in A TUNE TV UNKNOWN Unrecognized code Siren ENERGENC ending in E TUNE TV VOLCANO...

  • Page 17: Understanding Fips Codes

    Note: An authorized service center can add memory for up to 5 additional weather/alert descriptions to your Weatheradio’s memory. Contact your local Ra- dioShack store for more information. UNDERSTANDING FIPS CODES For the purpose of broadcasting weather information, the NWS has divided the United States into regions by state and county (or parish, where applicable) then assigned a 6-digit FIPS code to identify each county or parish.

  • Page 18: Obtaining Your Area's Fips Code(S)

    about weather occurring only in particular counties within that area, you can program up to 15 FIPS codes into the Weatheradio’s memory. For example, this lets you avoid hearing an alert that applies to an area within a 50-mile radius but not necessarily to your county or parish.

  • Page 19: Preparation

    POWERING THE WEATHERADIO Your Weatheradio uses standard AC power for nor- mal 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 a RadioShack alkaline battery. Cautions: •...

  • Page 20: Connecting The Weatheradio To Ac Power

    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 Weathera- dio. 2. Plug the Weatheradio’s power cord into a stan- dard AC outlet. Caution: Your Weatheradio’s power cord has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other).

  • Page 21: Installing The Backup Battery

    Installing the Backup Battery 1. If the Weatheradio’s display is on, rotate VOLUME to the right until it clicks to turn off the Weathera- dio. 2. Press the tab on the battery compartment cover then lift up the cover to remove it. 3.

  • Page 22: Using The Built-In Antenna

    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. Note: then also appears if no REPLACE BATTERY backup battery is installed and the Weatheradio is connected to AC power and then turned on.

  • Page 23: Choosing A Location And Mounting The Weatheradio

    To connect an external antenna to the Weatheradio, connect one end of the adapter cable to EXT ANT 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 key-...
  • Page 24 Note: Make sure the Weatheradio is away from ob- structions such as metal cabinets or bookshelves. (Higher frequencies are noticeably affected by ob- structions.) 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.

  • Page 25: Connecting The Weatheradio To An External System

    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 jacks let you con- ALARM OUT nect it to an external module interface (Plug ’n Power or X-10, such as RSU 10037745) using twin-lead 20-...

  • Page 26: Programming The Weatheradio

    When the Weatheradio’s alert function is turned on and it receives an NWS alert broadcast, the Weath- eradio sends a 7.5VDC signal to the connected mod- ule interface, and an alert sounds on both the Weatheradio and the connected system. To remove the wires you connected to your Weath- eradio’s terminals, gently pull out the...
  • Page 27 Your Weatheradio is preprogrammed to receive broadcasts for the FIPS code stored in its first memo- ry location (called single mode ), and is prepro- grammed with the seven national NOAA broadcast frequencies (Channels 1–7). Depending on your loca- tion, you might need to set the Weatheradio to its multiple mode and select a different channel.
  • Page 28 3. Press (if necessary) to turn on the WEATHER weather broadcast, then rotate so you VOLUME can hear the broadcast as you make your selec- tion. Note: If you do not press a key for about 45 sec- onds during Steps 4–8, the Weatheradio exits the programming mode and saves only those changes stored before the last keypress.
  • Page 29 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.
  • Page 30 Or, to add or change a code in a different posi- tion, repeatedly press until you see the first unused memory location or the code you want to change, then press appears. ------ 9. Use the number keys ( – ) to enter the 6-digit FIPS code you want to store.

  • Page 31: Testing The Weatheradio

    descriptions appear (see “NWS Weather Alert Descriptions” on Page 10). 11. When you finish, set . The cur- MODE OPERATE rent alert status appears (see “Using the Alert Function” on Page 36). 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.

  • Page 32: Manually Testing The Alert Tone

    Manually Testing the Alert Tone To manually test the Weatheradio’s alert tone, turn off the Weatheradio, hold down , turn on the Weath- eradio by turning to the left until it clicks, VOLUME then release and press . The Weatheradio ALERT sounds the alert tone.

  • Page 33: Testing The Alert Siren/Display

    Testing the Alert Siren/Display 1. Turn off the Weatheradio. 2. While holding down , turn to the left until it VOLUME clicks to turn on the Weathera- dio. appears. TESTMODE 3. Press a number key to select the desired setting. The Weatheradio tunes to the corresponding channel, and one of the following appears.
  • Page 34 The Weatheradio Displays: Press: (the DEMO ON DEMO OFF Weatheradio’s demo mode) Your Weatheradio can also perform these test functions while appears: TESTMODE • If you press , the Weatheradio continu- ALERT ously sounds its alert siren. Press ALERT again to turn off the siren. •...

  • Page 35: Operation

    To turn on the Weatheradio, turn to the left VOLUME until it clicks. then (alert) WEATHER ALRT pears. also controls the Weatheradio’s audio Note: VOLUME broadcast volume. To set the alert volume, see “Set- ting the Alert Volume” on Page 37. To listen to a weather broadcast , see “Listening to a Weather Broadcast.”...

  • Page 36: Using The Alert Function

    To listen to a weather broadcast, make sure is set to MODE OPER- , press , then adjust WEATHER to the desired listening VOLUME level. To turn off the weather broadcast, press again. WEATHER USING THE ALERT FUNCTION To set the Weatheradio to sound an alert when the NWS broad- casts a warning, watch, or state- ment, hold down...

  • Page 37: Setting The Alert Volume

    To set the Weatheradio so it does not sound an alert, hold down for 2 seconds until WEATHER ALERT appears. The Weatheradio beeps twice. ALRT OFF Setting the Alert Volume To set your Weatheradio’s alert volume, turn on the alert tone (see “Manually Testing the Alert Tone” on Page 32), then rotate toward to increase...
  • Page 38 — the Weatheradio sounds an (Continuous) ALERT alert and displays an alert description until the alert’s effective time expires. To turn off the alert sooner, press . To turn on the NWS voice broadcast, press WEATHER Note: When the Weatheradio’s alert ends or you turn it off, you hear the NWS alert tone (which sounds dif- ferent than the Weatheradio’s tone) for a few seconds before you hear the voice broadcast.

  • Page 39: Enabling/Disabling Alert Tones

    4. Press again to store your selection, then set . The current alert status MODE OPERATE WEATHER ALRT ON WEATHER ALRT OFF appears. Enabling/Disabling Alert Tones You can turn on or off the alert tone for certain weath- er alert types received by your Weatheradio. For ex- ample, you can turn off the alert tone for a volcano warning if you do not live near a volcano.
  • Page 40 Flash Flood Warning Flash Flood Watch Flood Statement Flood Warning Flood Watch High Wind Warning High Wind Watch Hurricane Statement Hurricane Watch Practice/Demo Required Monthly Test Severe Thunderstorm Watch Severe Weather Special Marine Warning Statement Special Weather Test Message Statement Unknown Statement Unrecognized code ending in...

  • Page 41: Using The Weatheradio's 'All Signals' Code

    2. When your Weatheradio displays weather alert information for an alert type you want to change, press to enable the alert tone (if the tone is not already sounding) or to disable it (if the tone is sounding). When there are no more alerts being displayed, appears.

  • Page 42: Reviewing Overlapping Alerts

    To reset the Weatheradio to use the “all signals” code again, follow the steps under “Programming the Weatheradio” on Page 26, setting the Weatheradio to its single mode in Steps 5 and 6, and storing 99 in the first memory position in Step 9. Reviewing Overlapping Alerts Your Weatheradio can store up to three different alerts (with overlapping effective times) in its memory.

  • Page 43: When A Test Or Demo Alert Occurs

    When a Test or Demo Alert Occurs The NWS sends out weekly test signals you can use to confirm that your Weatheradio is working properly. To find out the specific test schedule in your area, contact your local NOAA or NWS office. Those offices are usually listed in the telephone book under US Government, Department of Commerce .

  • Page 44: Using The Backlight

    USING THE BACKLIGHT Your Weatheradio’s backlight automatically turns on while you listen to the weather broadcast and for about 10 seconds each time you press a key. For ex- tended use in low light situations, you can set the backlight so it remains on until you turn it off. Note: You can turn on your Weatheradio’s backlight so it stays on continuously only if the Weatheradio is connected to AC power.

  • Page 45: 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 normally, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. Problem(s) Suggestion(s) No power. Make sure the Weatheradio is connected to AC power and a backup battery is installed (if AC power has failed).
  • Page 46 Problem(s) Suggestion(s) No weather broad- Make sure the telescoping cast when you press antenna is fully extended. See WEATHER. “Using the Built-In Antenna” on Page 22. If you connected an external antenna, make sure that it is connected properly and the tele- scoping antenna is lowered.
  • Page 47 Problem(s) Suggestion(s) The radio is not Make sure you programmed the responding properly correct FIPS code(s) into the to NWS weather alert Weatheradio’s memory. See broadcasts. “Programming the Weatheradio” on Page 26. WEATHER ALRT Make sure appears. If not, press ALERT.

  • Page 48: Care And Maintenance

    Your RadioShack 7 Channel WRSAME Weathera- dio is an example of superior design and craftsman- ship. The following suggestions will help you care for your Weatheradio so you can enjoy it for years. Keep the Weatheradio dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately.

  • Page 49: The Fcc Wants You To Know

    Wipe the Weatheradio with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to clean the Weatheradio. Modifying or tampering with the Weatheradio’s in- ternal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate its warranty and void your FCC au- thorization to operate it.

  • Page 50: 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) ....0.3 V FIPS Code Sensitivity 3 kHz Deviation/90% Success Rate .....
  • Page 52 Limited Ninety-Day Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material 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. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FIT- NESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO...

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