Wx Alert Mode on the BCD396XT

[jclarkr6]

I had the chance to try out the Wx Alert mode on my new 396xt today. I programmed a SAME group with the correct FIPS code for my county, which is 017029. My county then came under a severe thunderstorm watch and eventually, a warning, but all the scanner did that whole time was periodically stop and hold onto a NOAA weather station for a brief moment. I could not hear anything from the scanner when it was "sitting" on the NOAA stations. The scanner would stop for a few seconds and hold on to one of the NOAA frequencies (without a sound), and then it would go back to scanning the weather stations. My volume was up and my squelch was set to 4. I should add that this is my first experience with the SAME feature, so I'm not quite sure what I should be expecting. Does anyone know what to make of this?

 

[UPMan]

SAME alert only works in WX Standby. Sounds like you were in WX Priority mode (where the scanner checks the WX channel every 5 seconds for an alert tone).

 

[jclarkr6]

Thanks, UPMan. I'll put the scanner in WX Standby mode instead of Wx Alert mode next time we have some severe weather headed my way. Thanks again!

 

[KE4ZNR]

This is why I have a separate $40 SAME WX radio just devoted to WX standby. I can't waste my 396xt by having it parked on WX standby all the time I only use WX on my 396xt when I have no other options.
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR