NOAA 162.550 MHz (KWO39)

[Radio99]

In advance, please excuse the rather lengthy post.

For the past two weeks, my weather radios have failed to alert for the weekly test on 162.550 MHz. In listening to the audio from the transmitter, it sounds a little distorted and raspy. I am located in Mount Prospect just south of Chicago Executive Airport. I have checked with several others a distance from me who hear the same distortion. I wanted to eliminate the possibility of any local interference that may be causing the issue. I have a Reecom R1630 and Midland WR-300 weather radio as well as a spare WR-300.

For the weekly test today (Wednesday September 10, 2025) I programmed the spare WR-300 on 162.550 MHz to receive the 1050 hZ tone only for the alerts. I also programmed the Reecom to 162.425 MHz using the proper same codes. The Reecom on 162.425 MHz alerted as normal. The spare WR-300 also alerted to the 1050 hZ tone. The other WR-300 remained silent.

I have checked the same codes in all radios and they are correct. After the failed test last week I notified NOAA via their link to report a malfunctioning transmitter. While I did get a reply they said they remote monitored the transmitter from Silver Spring, Maryland and heard no issues.

So a couple of questions. First, has anyone else noticed a failure to receive the weekly test on their radio or the distorted audio? Second does anyone have any ideas on who at the NWS to contact regarding this issue?

Thanks in advance to everyone.

 

[werinshades]

KWO-39 Chicago NOAA Weather Radio Currently Off the Air

 

[Radio99]

Thanks. May be anticipated because I am hearing as I type this.

 

[ecps92]

In advance, please excuse the rather lengthy post.

For the past two weeks, my weather radios have failed to alert for the weekly test on 162.550 MHz. In listening to the audio from the transmitter, it sounds a little distorted and raspy. I am located in Mount Prospect just south of Chicago Executive Airport. I have checked with several others a distance from me who hear the same distortion. I wanted to eliminate the possibility of any local interference that may be causing the issue. I have a Reecom R1630 and Midland WR-300 weather radio as well as a spare WR-300.

For the weekly test today (Wednesday September 10, 2025) I programmed the spare WR-300 on 162.550 MHz to receive the 1050 hZ tone only for the alerts. I also programmed the Reecom to 162.425 MHz using the proper same codes. The Reecom on 162.425 MHz alerted as normal. The spare WR-300 also alerted to the 1050 hZ tone. The other WR-300 remained silent.

I have checked the same codes in all radios and they are correct. After the failed test last week I notified NOAA via their link to report a malfunctioning transmitter. While I did get a reply they said they remote monitored the transmitter from Silver Spring, Maryland and heard no issues.

So a couple of questions. First, has anyone else noticed a failure to receive the weekly test on their radio or the distorted audio? Second does anyone have any ideas on who at the NWS to contact regarding this issue?

Thanks in advance to everyone.

Not sure if related or not, but many Radio/TV providers also experience (Here in New England) in the past week EAS units not processing due to clipped audio. NWS is aware and it maybe (if the same as your issue) a fix in process.

Someone locally called these raspy audio alerts "Duck Farts"