Scan All 7 Weather Frequencies With 1050 hZ

JASII · #1 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 10:23 PM

Does anybody know what equipment, if any, would allow me to scan all 7 weather channels with 1050 hZ decode? There have been times when I have been traveling that I have thought it might be handy to scan all of the weather channels and hear an alert on any of them. One of my concerns, however, is that with 7 channels to step through, might it miss an alert as it is stepping through the other channels. If anybody has tried this I would like to hear from you.

XTS3000 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2009, 04:48 AM

You can do this with an XTS2500 or XTS5000 using single tone. NOAA transmits the 1050hz tone to 8 seconds, which is more than enough time for the XTS to scan all 7 channels, even when all 7 wx channels have traffic. In my area I can hear 5 WX stations, when a VHF band opening happens, I can hear all 7.

Chauffeur6 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009, 03:37 AM

First off, spending $1200+ on an XTS for weather alerting is a bit overkill. Secondly, even if someone did want to spend that much, exactly how is the radio supposed to scan 7 different frequencies that all have a constant carrier? It'll lock on one frequency and never move off it as long as it detects a carrier. Unless /\/\ has secretly implemented some type of "silent scan" ala the Minitor V, it's just not going to work the way you describe.

Ray_Air · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 12:16 AM

I think he means he just wants the radio to open up if it detects the 1050Hz signal. In essence, it is just scanning for the 1500Hz tone. That's the only way it would work, if it is doable. It would have to be like a Minitor.

burner50 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 10:44 AM

Wirelessly posted (MINE!!!!11!!oneone: BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Some Yaesu amateur hear does this

UPMan · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 11:31 AM

When investigating the operating methodology for a line of portable WeatherRadios we were developing (not my current "we" but a previous "we"), we talked extensively with the weather service in regards to whether this (scanning for a tone) would ever be needed. The upshot was "no." If you are ever in an "overlap" area (where multiple NWS transmitters have overlapping coverage) and that area requires a warning, the warning will be sent on all transmitters with coverage, to ensure that any consumer in that area tuned to any one of the multiple frequencies would be alerted.

The test site used in the DFW area is just south of Denton, and can receive three different NWS transmitter sites. We actually had to special request the NWS to stagger each transmitter by 5 minutes when we were testing so that we had time to reset all radios to the next transmitter frequency (otherwise, they triggered them all at basically the same time for the weekly test).

fmon · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 01:08 PM

Code:

Alpha tag      FIPS Code  Event Alert Tone
Virginia       *51***	  ***	Default		
West Virginia  *54***	  ***	Default		
Kentucky       *21***	  ***	Default

My scanners are set as above.

Michael-SATX · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 02:38 PM

FMON - OK, I'm curious .... one doesn't program "astericks or wildcards" as a FIPS code right ?
So I am guessing that you do use the full 5 digital SAME FIPS code for your county ?
You probably just didn't include all 5 digits for your county in the off chance a newbie accidently
enters "your numbers" instead of "their numbers" .... and thus misses their own NOAA Alerts right ?

Frank & Paul, as usual, your technical explanations have taught me a lot and I am sure others agree !