attenuator question on wx freqs

[LMHODNETT]

I have 5 freqs in my BCD536 for weather stations and I hear none of them. Squelch is set at 2 I am supposed to set attenuator to 20 but I have not found a setting for that yet. I wonder if the freqs I programmed are setup correctly. Advice if you can.

 

[GeraldP]

You do not need the attenuator!!!

 

[doctordialtone]

I question if my freqs are stored properly. Any advice?

There's no reason to use an attenuator. Who gave you that advice?

Here are the frequencies.

Just enter them as Conventional

NOAA Weather Radio Info

www.weather.gov

Read the manual:

Weather Operation

Good luck!

 

[letarotor]

There are a total of 7 common NWS weather broadcast frequencies. If you're not hearing anything, make sure you try all of these.

162.400
162.425
162.450
162.475
162.500
162.525
162.550

It sounds like you have your squelch set good but you don't want to use the attenuator to hear the signal though. The attenuator is for diminishing the signal reception.

Brian
COMMSCAN

 

[iMONITOR]

I am supposed to set attenuator to 20 but I have not found a setting for that yet.

Who told you that and why?

 

[LMHODNETT]

The Uniden manual recommended setting the attenuator, but I am fine without it since I cannot locate it.

 

[iMONITOR]

The Uniden manual recommended setting the attenuator, but I am fine without it since I cannot locate it.

Not sure why Uniden would give that advice if you're trying to hear the weather stations. Possibly to rule out strong weather stations transmitters from interfering with other things.

What are you using for an antenna? How far away are the weather transmitters?

 

[LMHODNETT]

Outside discone Roughly 15-20 miles

 

[letarotor]

There definitely is a setting for your attenuator on that radio. And I'm not looking at any of my radios now, but my Uniden SDS100 shows on the number 4 key ATT. If I wanted to do attenuate a signal I was monitoring, or make it where I wasn't receiving it as well, I would press the Func (Function) button and then the 4 key and I would see ATT on the screen as it attenuated that channel/frequency.

You might have misunderstood what the manual says and that is understandable. But you definitely don't want to use the attenuator unless you're trying to weaken the reception of a signal or maybe get rid of some sort of interference on a frequency. If you look under the menu setting on your radio there is a global attenuation which will attenuate everything and an attenuation for just attenuating the channel / frequency you want to. You do have different options depending upon what part of the menu you are in. When you're editing the information or a frequency you have your delay, the option to use the attenuator, etc, etc. But most of the time you will not want to use attenuate on the radio. It will definitely decrease your chances of receiving a signal.

Brian
COMMSCAN

 

[LMHODNETT]

Thanks Brian

 

[baker50021]

As a rule of thumb I never use the Attenuator

 

[K4EET]

I have 5 freqs setup for Weather stations <snip>

There are seven (7) frequencies, not five (5) frequencies, for the NWS as @doctordialtone has linked for you. One of the two missing frequencies probably covers your area unless, of course, your attenuator set at 20 is squelching out the live frequency. Like the others have said, get rid of the attenuator completely. You don't need it for the NWS frequencies.

 

[wtp]

you need 162.55 from what i see.

 

[LMHODNETT]

Thanks all.