Radio Shack 12-259 - Manual (Page 2)

Troubleshooting
If your alert radio is not working properly, these suggestions might help you eliminate the problem. If it still does not
operate properly, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
Problem Suggestion
No Power. Make sure the AC adapter is connected to the alert radio or the backup
batteries are installed.
No sound. If the backup batteries becomes weak, your alert radio might not sound
a tone when an alert is broadcast. Test your alert radio’s reception
periodically, and replace the batteries if the tone does not sound.
Multiple FIPS codes are stored, why does
te radio only responds to weather alert
broadcasts for one code?
Make sure the alert radio is set to MULTIPLE LOC mode.
Make sure the FIPS codes stored in memory are correct.
•
•
One or more FIPS codes are stored, but
the alert radio responds to weather alert
broadcasts for areas not covered by those
codes.
Make sure the alert radio is not set to ALL LOCATION
Make sure the alert radio is not set to TRAVEL mode.
•
•
The alert radio’s continuous alert tone
sounds intermittently or seems to warble.
The alert radio constantly monitors the channel you set it to, even while it is
sounding a continuous alert. Each time a signal is received on the channel,
it pauses briefly to compare the signal against those stored in its memory.
If the alert radio pauses frequently (depending on how often it receives a
signal), it might make the continuous alert tone sound intermittent. This is
not a malfunction.
No weather broadcast when you press WX. Make sure your hand is not holding the antenna.
Adjust the volume. •
•
The alert radio is not responding properly
to NWS weather alert broadcasts.
Make sure the correct FIPS code(s) are programmed into the memory.
You might be out of the broadcast range. Move the alert radio closer to
the broadcast source, if possible.
Make sure the alert radio is set to the NOAA channel that is being
broadcast in your area.
If the backup battery becomes weak, your alert radio might not sound
a tone when an alert is broadcast. Test your alert radio’s reception
periodically, and replace the battery if the tone does not sound. •
•
•
•
CHECK OPERATION appears. The alert radio is broadcasting and has not received a SAME alert signal for
about 10 days. Make sure the FIPS code(s) stored in memory are correct.
Signal Loss Reminder Setting
1. Press MENU. Then repeatedly press  or  until SIG
REMINDER appears.
2. Press . Í (off) or % (on) appears.
3. Repeatedly press  or  to select Í or %. When the
desired mode appears, press  to select. Press  to
return without changes.
4. Press MENU to exit.
Note: When signal loss reminder is on, with Signal Loss detected,
signal loss reminder will be generated at intervals of 30 seconds,
1 minute, 1.5 minutes, 2 minutes, ...up to 5 minutes. With no
signal recovered, the reminder continues to beep every 5
minutes and will be terminated with any key pressed.
Understanding the FIP Code
For the purpose of broadcasting weather information, the
NWS has divided the United States into regions by state
and county. A 6-digit FIPS code is used to identify each
county, parish, or part of a county. For example, the code
for Tarrant County, Texas, is 048439. The first digit in a FIPS
code identifies a portion of Tarrant County. The next two
digits identify the state, and the last three digits identify the
county or parish. Your alert radio can receive all SAME alert
signals broadcast within about a 50-mile radius of where
you program it. To receive SAME alerts and broadcasts
about weather occurring only in particular counties within
that area, you can program up to 10 FIPS codes into the
alert radio’s memory.
Note: To get all alerts for your county, enter 0 as the first digit of
the FIPS code. To be alerted only to county notices and notices
for your particular part of the county, enter your code (1–9). Your
county or parish may not be divided.
You can also set the location by directly selecting a state
and county. While displaying location code under SINGLE
or MULTIPLE mode, LOCX ----- (default with memory blank)
appears, hold down  for a second. A list of states appear.
Press  or  to scroll through the list. With the correct
state displayed, press  to view the corresponding county
list. Press  or  to scroll through the county list and press

to confirm. If your county cannot be found from the list,
please refer to “Obtaining Your Area’s FIPS Code(s)”.
Obtaining Your Area’s FIP Code
To obtain the FIPS code for the location where you
programmed your alert radio, contact your local
RadioShack store or call the NWS toll free at 1-888-NWR-
SAME (1-888-697-7263). You can also obtain a state/county
list of all FIPS codes by visiting the NWS website:
www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm.
Choosing a Location
You can set the alert radio to work with FIPS codes in one of
three ways:
ALL LOCATION – The alert radio receives all SAME alert
signals broadcast within about a 50-mile radius. The alert
radio automatically selects ALL LOCATION the first time
you turn it on.
SINGLE LOC – The alert radio receives a SAME alert
signal for one FIPS code programmed in memory
location 1.
MULTIPLE LOC – The alert radio receives a SAME alert
signal for up to 10 FIPS codes programmed in multiple
locations in the alert radio’s memory.
1. Press MENU. Then repeatedly press  or  until AREA
SELECT appears.
2. Press . The selected FIPS mode (ALL LOCATION,
SINGLE LOC, or MULTIPLE LOC) appears.
3. Repeatedly press  or  until the desired FIPS mode
appears. Then press .
If you select ALL LOCATION, the radio beeps and AREA
SELECT appears. You will now receive all SAME alert
signals within a 50-mile radius.
If you select SINGLE LOC or MULTIPLE LOC and have
not programmed the alert radio with a FIPS code,
LOC1--------- appears. Otherwise, LOC and FIPS codes
already programmed in that memory location appear.
4. If you select SINGLE LOC, go to step 5. Otherwise,
repeatedly press  or  to select the memory location
to store a FIPS code.
5. To add or change a FIPS code, press . The FIPS code’s
first digit flashes.
6. Repeatedly press  or  to move the cursor backward
or forward to change the digit. Then repeatedly press 
or  until the desired digit appears. Then press .
Note: To erase the FIPS code, press  or  to select the first
digit and press  to confirm.
7. Repeat step 6 for each digit you want to change or add.
Press  when the last digit flashes. The radio beeps and
saves the FIPS code. If the code is not in the alert radio’s
database, NEW CODE? appears. Press  again to save
the FIPS code.
8. If you select MULTIPLE LOC in step 4, the FIPS code
stored in the next memory location appears. Repeat step
5 -7 for each additional FIPS code.
9. When finished, press MENU or wait about 45 seconds
without pressing any key.
Alert Tones Setting
The alert radio automatically sounds an alert tone during
specific types of weather alerts. You can turn the alert tone
on or off for each of these alerts. For example, you can turn
off the alert tone for a volcano warning if you do not live
near a volcano.
1. Press MENU. Then repeatedly press  or  until TONE
DEFEAT appears.
2. Press .
3. Repeatedly press  or  until the type of alert you
want to enable or disable (WARNING, WATCH, or
ADVISORY) appears.
4. Press .
5. If you selected WARNING, repeatedly press  or  to
select one of the following specific alerts:
avalanche warning flood warning
blizzard warning high wind warning
boil water warning fire warning
flash freeze warning special marine warning
freeze warning flash flood warning
coastal flood warning iceberg warning
dust storm warning winter storm warning
severe thunderstorm warning
If you selected WATCH, repeatedly press  or  to
select one of the following specific alerts:
avalanche watch hurricane watch
coastal flood watch severe thunderstorm watch
dam watch evacuation watch
flash flood watch tropical storm watch
flood watch wild fire watch
high wind watch winter storm watch
tornado watch unrecognized watch
If you selected advisory, repeatedly press  or  to
select one of the following specific alerts:
administrative message child abduction emergency
practice/demo national audible test
national information center network notification message
national periodic test national silent test
power outage advisory required monthly test
required weekly test 911 telephone outage
emergency
transmitter backup on transmitter carrier off
transmitter carrier on transmitter primary on
flash flood statement severe weather statement
flood statement special weather statement
hurricane statement unrecognized emergency
unrecognized statement
6. Repeatedly press  or  to select TONE ON or TONE
OFF for the specific alert you selected. Then press .
7. To select another alert type and specific alert, press .
Then repeat steps 3-6. Otherwise, press MENU or wait
about 45 seconds without pressing any key.
Receiving Weather Alerts
The alert radio generates an alert when the FIPS code
matches the pre-programmed location code. The
corresponding alert type icon appears at the top of the
display.
Note: When more than one alert message (maximum four
messages can be stored and displayed) is received, press  or 
to review the alerts.
In Voice mode, a siren sounds for about eight seconds,
followed by a voice weather broadcast for five minutes or
until End of Message (EOM) is received.
In Tone mode, a siren sounds for five minutes or until the
End of Message (EOM) is received.
Viewing Signal Strength
The alert radio can monitor the signal availability indicated
by Ê. When a signal is available, Ê is on. When the signal is
lost, SIGNAL LOSS appears and Ê flashes. If a signal loss
occurs and signal reminder is enabled, a series of beeps
occur. The beep terminates when a signal is detected again
or if any key is pressed.
Note: When SIGNAL LOSS appears, press and hold down MENU.
The clock time appears. Release MENU, and the alert radio
returns to SIGNAL LOSS display.
Locking Key
1. Press MENU once to enter menu mode.
2. Press  within two seconds. A long beep sounds and
appears.
3. The keypad of the alert radio is now locked.
4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to unlock the keypad.
Note: When the keypad is locked, the alert radio does not
respond to any key operation. Unlock the keypad first to
terminate alarm or alert sound.
Attaching the Belt Clip
Insert the clip into the hole at the back of the alert radio
until it clicks. To remove the belt clip, press the button on
the tip of the clip and pull it out.
Attaching the Wrist Strap (not supplied)
Slide the wrist strap’s small loop under the bar at the back
of the alert radio. Then pull the strap’s large loop through
the small loop and fasten it.
Selecting Travel/Home Mode
There are two data receiving modes: Travel and Home. Press
and hold TR/ HM for two seconds. The alert receiving mode
switches between Travel and Home. With Travel selected,
Î
appears. With Home selected, Îdisappears.
When in Home mode, the alert radio uses your default
selections for channel selection, alert mode, missed alert
reminder, and response location. The alert radio does not
perform auto re-scan.
When in Travel mode, the radio searches for the best
channel. If signal loss occurs and no channel is detected
for 10 seconds, the radio switches back to the channel last
selected, whether it was in Home mode or in Travel mode. In
Travel mode, the alert radio is configured with the following
defaults:
Channel Selection — Auto
Alert Mode — Tone
Missed Alert Reminder — Off
Response Location — All Locations