Entering SAME Codes/FIPS/FreeSCAN

[Blackink]

Sometimes it's the simple things that stump me..........Here goes....

I'm using FreeSCAN with my BCT15X scanner and attempting to understand the "WX Alert" tab and how to fill in the SAME & FIPS info it's looking for in the "Set Scanner Options" window.
I live in Vermont-Washington County.

Here is a link to the NOAA Weather SAME codes I'm confused about;
NOAA Weather Radio

If I'm understanding what needs to be done, under the "SAME Group Name" in the WX tab of the FreeSCAN "Set Scanner Options" window, I can enter the name(s) of the counties I'm interested in here. Like; Washington, Chittenden, Addison, Rutland, and Franklin.

If I'm right about this so far, all is well.....until I try to understand why there is more than one FIPS code(SAME#) listed, with the same FIPS code numbers, for the different counties? And do I need to enter the same FIPS code number more than once?
For example, Washington County has the number-050023 listed twice. Do I enter that number under the FIPS 1 window, and then enter it again under the FIPS 2 window?
Rutland County is listed 4 times, with the same SAME# 050021 !!

I would understand it better if, after I entered the same number several times, that I would also have a place to enter the different frequency numbers to link them to, but I don't.

Am I correct by entering just one SAME# for each county even though more than one number may be listed?

 

[hiegtx]

Sometimes it's the simple things that stump me..........Here goes....

I'm using FreeSCAN with my BCT15X scanner and attempting to understand the "WX Alert" tab and how to fill in the SAME & FIPS info it's looking for in the "Set Scanner Options" window.
I live in Vermont-Washington County.

Here is a link to the NOAA Weather SAME codes I'm confused about;
NOAA Weather Radio

If I'm understanding what needs to be done, under the "SAME Group Name" in the WX tab of the FreeSCAN "Set Scanner Options" window, I can enter the name(s) of the counties I'm interested in here. Like; Washington, Chittenden, Addison, Rutland, and Franklin.

If I'm right about this so far, all is well.....until I try to understand why there is more than one FIPS code(SAME#) listed, with the same FIPS code numbers, for the different counties? And do I need to enter the same FIPS code number more than once?
For example, Washington County has the number-050023 listed twice. Do I enter that number under the FIPS 1 window, and then enter it again under the FIPS 2 window?
Rutland County is listed 4 times, with the same SAME# 050021 !!

I would understand it better if, after I entered the same number several times, that I would also have a place to enter the different frequency numbers to link them to, but I don't.

Am I correct by entering just one SAME# for each county even though more than one number may be listed?

Steve,

Go back and take another look at Washington County.

It's listed twice, but each line is linked to a different transmit frequency. Basically, the site is telling you Washington alerts can be found from two different NOAA stations, so use the station that includes the other (or the greatest # of other) counties that you want to be alerted for.

In my case, I use the Fort Worth/Tarrant County frequency, because it covers counties to my west & southwest, which is where severe weather normally approaches me from (I'm in southwest Dallas County). You can see much of the same overlap here.

So, all you need to do is pick the transmit site that covers what you need, or if more than one does, the one with the best signal. Then, enter the codes in that line. I label mine with the transmitter name. You could also enter the other one, along with duplicating the county codes, just in case the first transmitter was down. The scanner will only monitor the one you tell it to. It won't scan back & forth.

 

[Blackink]

Hi Steve,
I did notice the different transmitter frequencies for that #050023. One in Burlington and one in St. Johnsbury. Somehow I feel that if those frequencies were entered, I'd have a better understanding of the process. I will enter the areas to the west/northwest of me as that is where the severe weather will come from most of the times. I listed 5 counties I'll be entering, including the one I live in-Washington County, as I like to listen to weather alerts where the weather is actually heading my way.

There was something you said that still confuses me a bit. Here's part of the quote "So, all you need to do is pick the transmit site that covers what you need, or if more than one does, the one with the best signal."
In Washington County there are two frequencies listed but with the same number-050023. The Burlington site is closer to where I live than the other one in St. J and Burlington's wattage is 500 vs. 300 at St. Jay's. How does the scanner know I want to hear what Burlington is putting out for a weather alert if I enter 050023? I would feel a bit more confident if I could enter the frequencies, because I know where they originate from, than entering a 6 digit number that is listed for two different areas.
Like I said in the beginning of my original post, I think I'm over thinking all this.
My plan is to list 5 different counties under the SAME Group Name in FreeSCAN's "Set Scanner Options" window in the "WX Alert" tab and enter one 6 digit FIPS code for each county.
Tell me if that is wrong or not.

I have one more question I'd like to ask you that I meant to put in my first thread: When I set my scanner to "Weather Scan", does my scanner scan 10 weather channels that are pre-programmed into my scanner? I don't see any pre-programmed weather channels when I go into the menu and channel options of my scanner.
Here's what I read from the Easier to read BCT15X manual- "Weather Scan, The scanner starts scanning the preprogrammed weather frequencies and stops on the first good signal. If the signal is lost, the scanner resumes searching for another weather transmission."

The reason I wonder about 10 channels is, I found this on the BCT15X CD owner's manual that came with the scanner under the Weather Mode section.."Since the 10 NOAA weather channels now cooperate with the FCC and DHS to alert you of other hazards besides weather, it's important to understand how weather mode works."

Thanks for the assistance you've given me and I do appreciate your help.

Good Day...

 

[hiegtx]

Hi Steve,
I did notice the different transmitter frequencies for that #050023. One in Burlington and one in St. Johnsbury. Somehow I feel that if those frequencies were entered, I'd have a better understanding of the process. I will enter the areas to the west/northwest of me as that is where the severe weather will come from most of the times. I listed 5 counties I'll be entering, including the one I live in-Washington County, as I like to listen to weather alerts where the weather is actually heading my way.

There was something you said that still confuses me a bit. Here's part of the quote "So, all you need to do is pick the transmit site that covers what you need, or if more than one does, the one with the best signal."
In Washington County there are two frequencies listed but with the same number-050023. The Burlington site is closer to where I live than the other one in St. J and Burlington's wattage is 500 vs. 300 at St. Jay's. How does the scanner know I want to hear what Burlington is putting out for a weather alert if I enter 050023? I would feel a bit more confident if I could enter the frequencies, because I know where they originate from, than entering a 6 digit number that is listed for two different areas.
Like I said in the beginning of my original post, I think I'm over thinking all this.
My plan is to list 5 different counties under the SAME Group Name in FreeSCAN's "Set Scanner Options" window in the "WX Alert" tab and enter one 6 digit FIPS code for each county.
Tell me if that is wrong or not.

Steve,

In order for the scanner to use the SAME/FIPS codes. it has to be parked on a specific NOAA weather radio transmit frequency. The county specific FIPS codes are sent out in a data burst when the alert goes out. Simply put, you cannot be scanning normal public safety traffic, and use the scanner in SAME Weather Alert mode. That's why I said use either the frequency that covers the counties you want, or if more than one (sounds like it's two that cover your county), then use the one with the strongest signal. With my 396XT (I don't have the BCT15X), you make the final frequency selection when you make the decision to use the SAME mode of weather alert. So, in effect, you're relegating a fairly expensive scanner to a weather radio use, because, as I've stated, in SAME mode, it cannot be used as a scanner.

I use the extra lines of the SAME/FIPS codes for different areas. The first row is for my home area. The second has counties of interest for the surrounding territory 100 miles west, that I visit fairly frequently.

I have one more question I'd like to ask you that I meant to put in my first thread: When I set my scanner to "Weather Scan", does my scanner scan 10 weather channels that are pre-programmed into my scanner? I don't see any pre-programmed weather channels when I go into the menu and channel options of my scanner.
Here's what I read from the Easier to read BCT15X manual- "Weather Scan, The scanner starts scanning the preprogrammed weather frequencies and stops on the first good signal. If the signal is lost, the scanner resumes searching for another weather transmission."

The reason I wonder about 10 channels is, I found this on the BCT15X CD owner's manual that came with the scanner under the Weather Mode section.."Since the 10 NOAA weather channels now cooperate with the FCC and DHS to alert you of other hazards besides weather, it's important to understand how weather mode works."

I think what may be confusing you, is that there are several Weather Alert modes that you can use, plus a Weather Scan. The 'scan ten channels' will find any NOAA weather radio station transmitter in range, if you just want the forecast and conditions. That's what you get if you use the "Weather Scan". In the Weather Alert mode, the scanner will scan the weather radio channels, searching for an in range signal. It will then wait for the 1050Hz tone that you hear when an alert is issued. At that point, the audio would un-mute, and you'd hear the tone then the alert. The scanner would not scan programmed systems and channels, only the weather.

In Weather Priority mode, though, the radio can be used for normal public safety scanning, of whatever you have programmed. However, every 3 or 4 seconds (drawing a blank on exactly which), the scanner will go back to the weather frequency briefly, and check for that 1050Hz tone. If found, it will sound an alert, at full volume, and switch to the weather alerts frequency. Whenever the scanner checks for the weather alert tone, you'd hear a brief break in your scanner audio, but that's all.

Whenever I'm at home, I mainly use a dedicated weather radio, instead of one of the scanners. However, all of the scanners are programmed to be able to handle this duty if I'm not at home. In case severe weather is possible, I usually take an extra scanner with me to work or on a road trip (one of the analog ones) for possible stand-in weather alert duty. I've had to use them several times.

Thanks for the assistance you've given me and I do appreciate your help.

Good Day..

.
You're welcome. Enjoy your scanner.

 

[Blackink]

Hi Steve.
Must be our two scanners are set up differently as far as entering SAME codes and frequencies.

I don't have an option to enter the frequency # in either FreeSCAN or in my scanner. Or, as in my case, frequency # 162.400 (Burlington) for FIPS code 050023 for Washington County.
What I can enter, when I select MENU, scroll to WX Operation, then select Program SAME, (I have the option now of selecting SAME 1-SAME 5), and I select SAME 1. I have 2 selections to choose from there, EDIT Name & Edit County. When I select Edit County, my scanner screen has "Select Code No." at the top with No.1-No.8 for places to enter the six digit FIPS codes.

Nowhere do I have the option of putting in the frequency 162.400 (Burlington), just the code 050023. And that's the same code # for two different frequencies for Washington County: Burlington 162.400 with 500 watts, and St. Johnsbury 162.425 with 300 watts.
I wish I could enter the strongest frequency # here but I can't.
For now, I entered the 6 digit FIPS code for a couple of areas to the west of me so when there is the threat of an oncoming storm, I'll switch my scanner over to Weather Alert and choose All FIPS and I should be all set.

Once again Steve, thanks for your help and .....by the way - I'm enjoying my scanner immensely!
I've barely touched the surface of what this thing is capable of doing. Slowly, I'll venture into new areas of things to scan. I have a railroad a couple of miles from me in the city below and there's an airport across the valley that I'll try and tap into.
Take Care,

 

[hiegtx]

Steve,

I don't have a "field" to enter the frequency when going into "SAME" mode either.

Rather, if I select the SAME mode for weather, from the menu, the scanner will search for an active frequency, but I can use the scroll knob to have it use an alternate. The Dallas transmit site is in the northern portion of the county, and is only slightly stronger than the Fort Worth site. For reasons already stated, I have the scanner use Ft. Worth, not Dallas.

For the SAME codes. you can have 8 FIPS codes in one list. My "list one" is labeled Dallas area. The 2nd is for an area about 100 miles west. You can choose either one of the specific SAME lists, or choose 'All FIPS', which should use any code entered on the various lists.. This selection is made when you go into Weather mode selection from the menu, not in FreeSCAN.

 

[mur]

I am a bit confused on the SAME and Freq Settings

We were in Truckee, CA and I wanted to Listen to the weather Alerts, the NWS Station is Reno, NV 162.550, however there is not a SAME number for it, can I enter in the freq in the FIPS field?

 

[hiegtx]

I am a bit confused on the SAME and Freq Settings

We were in Truckee, CA and I wanted to Listen to the weather Alerts, the NWS Station is Reno, NV 162.550, however there is not a SAME number for it, can I enter in the freq in the FIPS field?

No, the frequency would not go in the list in place of a FIPS code.

The FIPS code is the code for the specific county that you want to receive warnings, whether that is the county you are in, or perhaps a county to your west, north, southwest, whatever direction severe storms normally approach from.

For example, I am in Dallas County, in Texas. But besides Dallas, I enter the codes for the counties to my south, southwest, west, northwest, and north (Ellis, Johnson, Tarrant, Wise, & Denton). Most of our severe weather moves west to east, in some form or fashion, but occasionally north to south (or vice versa) along frontal systems.

General weather radio information information can be found on NOAA's site. To find the correct FIPS code for your county, or counties of interest to you, see this page. Choose the state, which will then list the counties, with FIPS code, as well as the NWR transmit station covering the area. Some counties will be covered by more than one transmit site.

 

[mur]

Truckee, CA is in the Reno county, however there is no SAME for Reno county, only a freq. I do have the surrounding counties selected, however when we were at Northstar (ski resort in Truckee) I wasn't getting any reports, obviously I'm missing something

 

[mdulrich]

Truckee, CA is in the Reno county, however there is no SAME for Reno county, only a freq. I do have the surrounding counties selected, however when we were at Northstar (ski resort in Truckee) I wasn't getting any reports, obviously I'm missing something

Truckee is in Nevada County with a SAME code of 006057 and should be covered by 162.550 or possibly 162.400.

Mike