Radio Reciever Kit for Weather Radio

[dmckim1977]

Heres the deal, while buying another soldering station today I noticed that you can buy a inexpensive kit to monitor ham radio. I am thinking of buying one of them and using it as a way to monitor my local weather channel

My questions are:

1) Has anybody used one of these before? If so do they work ok?

2) Can anybody think of a way to switch the audio on when ever an alert tone is broadcast?

Keep in mind I am not doing this because I'm too cheap to buy a weather monitor, I am purely doing this for fun.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Check the frequency range in the kit's specs . If you can cover 162-163 then you're okay. Assembling your first radio kit is a big step in going beyond just listening and learning how the damned things work. With a simple kit, you're not going to find alert code activations (at least none that I;m aware of). Sounds like a fun project with a little research beforehand.

 

[n3ncn]

(at least none that I;m aware of).

Nice disclaimer elk2370bruce. You know how that could of turned into something. HEHE

 

[dmckim1977]

I have been thinking about it and I think for the alert codes I can probable use some kind of frequency switch.

I have found some with a programmable on and off frequency, and I have found some that react to a human whistle. My luck they will probably go for $100 a piece.

Thans for the input

 

[902]

I've built a few Hamtronics kits over the years. These are pretty good and will give you professional results. The one that will cover weather is synthesized and tunes (by dip switch settings) from 154.200 - 164.435 MHz. In case you get bored with the weather, you can probably receive other things with it. I'm not sure if Jerry sells these as a kit.
http://www.hamtronics.com/r302.htm

I've built a few of these. These are available as a kit:
http://www.hamtronics.com/r100.htm

I forgot they even had one of these - this is a weather radio made by Hamtronics:
http://www.hamtronics.com/rwx.htm

 

[nexus]

Allow me to point you to RAMSEY ELECTRONICS

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/

These guys put the IT in KIT... They make a wide range of hobbyist electronic kits that you can buy cheap and put together yourself. Some are simple and some are complex. Check out their online catalog. You might find something for a weather radio, then again you might not, but there may be other things that you'd be interested in there.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Nice disclaimer elk2370bruce. You know how that could of turned into something. HEHE

No question. One of my many "friends" would have had something snotty to say in their greater understanding of everything electronic. As Barnum said, "Never give a sucker an even break."