FIPS-SAME-SKYWATCH-WX problems.

[Avix]

I just found my old Radio Shack Pro-97 scanner and I have most of it programmed up thanks to RR here. One thing I just can't seem to get figured out is how to set up SAME/FIPS/SKYWATCH. I don't even get anything on WX locally, although I did get some when I was 35 miles south and 1600 feet lower. I have looked over several hows to set up for FIPS/SAME/SKYWATCH but none of them seem to match up with what my 97 shows on the screen. I press WX and it just scans parts of the 162 bands. No results at all. I have an airport 5 miles away. I have conflicting information about the FIPS cods. I have these pages. I'm in Latah County.

NOAA Weather Radio

And this page

Idaho (ID) Counties

FIPS codes for Idaho.

unicede.air-worldwide.com

And this page.

https://www.weather.gov/media/pimar/FIPS/id_cnty.pdf

I am confused and befuddled. Not to mention that instructions on how to program SAME don't seem to match up with my 97. I'm using PSR-300 programming software, and it has 10 slots for FIPS which also doesn't make much sense. And then there is SKYWATCH if I press and hold the WX button for a couple of seconds. Can anyone please clarify what numbers I should be using and where they go?

Avix

 

[rk911]

Are you hearing anything if you just program the NOAA Wx frequency without the FIPS codes? Let's see if your radio can hear the transmitter first. And...programming the FIPS code(s) is only for watches, warnings, etc.

 

[a417]

Are you hearing anything if you just program the NOAA Wx frequency without the FIPS codes? Let's see if your radio can hear the transmitter first. And...programming the FIPS code(s) is only for watches, warnings, etc.

This. Let's get it working, then figure out the rest later.

 

[Avix]

I'm not getting any signals on the WX button at all. It just keeps seeking. I have the FIPS codes in the window for them in the software. I won't have my outdoor antenna up for a couple of weeks.
Avix

 

[rk911]

The FIPS codes are ONLY for watches, warnings, etc.

Habe you programmed ALL of the NOAA WX freqs into the scanner?

162.400​

162.425​

162.450​

162.475​

162.500​

162.525​

162.550​

 

[tvengr]

What is your city so that we can determine the closest transmitter site?

 

[tvengr]

If you cannot receive NOAA weather, check your squelch setting. Also, check if attenuator is turned on. Is it PSREdit300 software?

 

[FKimble]

As mentioned you need to program just the receive NOAA frequencies, no codes. Then you will find out which if any of those frequencies you can receive. Then add in the codes and wait for bad weather! Or see if they do a weekly test that maybe. When the receive questions are figured out, only put in the frequencies that you can receive and that have good audio. If you are in a deep valley between some tall hills, you may not be able to receive any of the WX stations. Adding stations you can't receive will only slow down your scanning.

Frank

 

[Avix]

R911: I think I have entered the freqs in the right place. I have not entered then in any channel bank. They seem to be built into the WX function.

TVenger: I am using PSR-300 software. Please see attached screenshot.

I live in Moscow, Idaho. approx 90 miles south of Spokane WA (GEG). 35 miles north of Lewiston Idaho. (LWS) and 5 miles east of Pullman/Moscow airport (PUW).

Geographically I am in a bit of a hole with a ridge north, south and west of me but open east of me. I will be putting up a better antenna come the spring. It's too frelling cold out there right now. I am currently using the old car antenna which is mag mounted to my chimney.

My squelch setting is as thin as I can get it. It does not appear that attention is on for weather. Again. Please see attached.

We have been under winter weather advisory/watch updates several times a day every day for the last 2 weeks. Everything from 7-9 inches of snow a day for 3 days running, to -30F wind chills, with rain and flooding in the latest ones. I figure I should have gotten some kind of weather report. I do have 162.5500 programed in as my priority. I hope I didn't miss any questions. Thanks for all your help, folks. I really do appreciate it.

 

[rk911]

If you hit the WX button and then open the squelch the scanning should stop and show the freq in the window. Write it diwn and then, while keeping the squelch open, press the WX button again and see if the radio steps to the next WX frequency. Write thst down. Repeat until you see the freqs repeating. Are the freqs you wrote down the same as those I posted? I don't know that radio but is it possible to skip or lockout any of those freqs? Are any locked out?

If all else fails program the 7-wx freqs into a bank and see what happens.

 

[Avix]

Rk911, I followed your advice and this is what I have in the firmware programming for the WX button.
1: 162.40000
2: 162.42500
3: 162.45000
4: 162.47500
5: 162.50000
6: 162.52500
7: 162.55000

As near as I can see it;'s the same freqs you listed. I got the same negative result when plugged into bank 9. Could it be that I'm just in the wrong place to pick up the signal with my micky mouse antenna rig?
Avix

 

[rk911]

If you're not hearing anything either thru the pre-programmed WX button or after programming the NOAA freqs into a bank then one or more of the following must be true:

- You're simply out of range of the avaiable NOAA transmitter sites
- The NOAA transmitters near you are down for maintenance.
- Your radio is deaf.

- You can check the status of NOAA's transmitters HERE
- If your radio is receiving other signals in the VHF-Hi Band (~ 150-175 mhz) then your radio is not deaf.

I'm betting you are out of range due to either your physical location. Is your antenna outside and up as high as possible?
An alternative to NOAA radio would be to get the NOAA Weather Radio App. I have the Apple version but I'll bet there is an Android version. It works just like a NOAA radio or your scanner with FIPS code.

 

[tvengr]

You have the frequencies programmed where the FIPS codes should be. You are setup to receive 162.55 MHz.

 

[Avix]

Rk911: Local police and fire are in the 151 to 159 and 453 to 465 ranges, I'm having little problem getting them. So it's not deaf. No record of systems being down in the Northern California or Eastern Montana transmitters (if I'm reading the map right). My antenna is a car roof mag mount type of thing stuck on a metal chimney to get it as high in our mobile home as possible. Local reception's been a bit erratic, but I did get a state police car from a town 14 miles away. It's been too cold to run a new antenna up to the top of the flag pole to give me the highest point on my property. That's going to be a spring/summer project. I went out this morning and took a really good look, and we're in one heck of a hole. I think for the moment I'll look at a roof antenna and see if our handyman will take a shot at mounting it for me. That weather app looks like it's apple only.

Tvengr: AH HA! I entered the FIP code for my county and it took that but it won't let me enter FIPS for a county to the south (Nez Perce) or to the direct west (Whitman). That I shall have to figure out why.
Avix

 

[rk911]

Are you hearing 162.55 now?

 

[Avix]

I'm still not getting any reception on the 162.* weather freqs at all. I think I'm just going to assume that I'm just not receiving a signal strong enough to pick up any of them. I've given up on SKYWATCH. You would think you could find the freqs for that, but I had no luck. I should ask my Wife to do it. She's way better at google-fu than I am. Thank you so very, very much for all this help and knowledge. I'll update after time on the road. I'm going to assume SAME is working. I now have the right freq in the priority slot. I'll take it with me next time I drive anywhere, which will be in 2 or 3 days, due to plus freezing temperatures with rain during the day and sub freezing ones at night and probably local flooding. I'll let everyone else have their accidents. Listening to the local LEO freqs has been quite entertaining, lol.
Avix

 

[rk911]

By Skywatch do you mean the Amateur Radio SKYWARN program? I found one ham radio repeater in Boise affiliated wifh Skywarn. Skywarn

And these Idaho ham radio repeaters, some of which may be used during severe weathee or other emergencies.
Idaho Repeaters

 

[Avix]

DOH! Maybe I should rethink all this weather stuff. Yes. I meant SKYWARN. I remember several years ago when I first got this scanner, I ran into a couple of local people and started talking about radios because I saw mics on their dashboard. The weather suddenly went thunderstorm, and she hopped in and started a report to NWS and I thought that was just the coolest thing. My wife and I talked about maybe getting into amateur radio, but that hit the brick wall when we saw the costs of getting in on it. I input those freqs for Latah/Whitman counties on an empty bank, and we'll see what I hear. Thanks for that, RK911. Next challenge. Trunk lol.
Avix

 

[rk911]

Getting an amateur radio license costs next to nothing. You surely have ham radio clubs in your area. Goto The ARRL and search for a club near you. Betcha at least one in your area will occasionally host free classes. The cost to take the exam is <$10. There is a ton of used equipment on the market. You could very likely get a nice, used, dual-band (VHF/UHF) monile radio, power supply, antenna and coax for less than you might think.

 

[Avix]

Unfortunately, according to that site, the nearest affiliated club is just over 200 miles south and no classes anywhere in Idaho or Washington. Using an area code search, there are 3 groups within 100 miles. Around here, you sometimes drive the 100 miles for lunch. I'll talk to my much better and smarter half and see what she says. Thank you all so much again for the help. Oh! As soon as I stuck the antenna on the roof of my car and fired it up I got WX on 162.5500. That's an improvement. With all the cell dead zones around this part of the country, it's nice to have a backup system for emergency weather reports.
Avix.