Receiving Alerts in Standby Mode

Scanning

When the scanner receives a SAME-coded signal, ALERT ﬂashes and the SAME alert level appears, alternating with the weather channel. The scanner will also output an alert signal to the external alert output jack. The scanner remains on the weather channel and the audio turns on so you can hear the weather broadcast.

The scanner can receive alerts even if it is in standby mode (power off). To receive alerts in standby mode, ﬁrst turn on the Digital Weather Alert Feature and then press POWER to turn the scanner off. The display indicates the weather channel being monitored for alerts. If an alert is received, the scanner sounds an alert tone and the SAME alert level is displayed.

To have an external device activate during an alert, plug it into the Alert

Output Jack on the back of the scanner.

Testing the Weather Alarm

To hear and test the tones for the three alert levels, press WX/ to select the weather service, then hold down PRI/WX ALERT for about one second. The tones sound in the order of Advisory level, Watch level, then Warning level. Press any key to end the test sequence.

Programming Alerts for a Speciﬁc County

To specify a county, SAME uses a standard established by the US Census bureau, called FIPS. The format of a FIPS code is “PSSCCC,” where:

P = area subdivision (0=entire area)

SS = State code (00=all states)

CCC = County code (000=all counties)

For example, the FIPS code for Tarrant County, Texas is: 048439 (0=entire area; 48=Texas; 439=Tarrant County).

To limit weather alerts to a speciﬁc area, you must program in the FIPS codes for the areas you want to receive alerts. The scanner can be set to either alert for all areas, or only an area you have programmed.

Programming FIPS

1.Press WX. And then press PSE to go to the Weather Scan Pause Mode.

2.Press and hold ENT/PROGRAM to go to the FIPS Programming Mode. If the scanner is set to alert for all FIPS, ALL FIPS appears in the display.