NWS S.A.M.E. Codes

[PanJurekMrJerry]

I was wondering how wide are the 10 Weather Frequencies in Megacycles?
Also, how wide is the datastream that they use to activate the S.A.M.E. codes in our recievers?

 

[Voyager]

I was wondering how wide are the 10 Weather Frequencies in Megacycles?
Also, how wide is the datastream that they use to activate the S.A.M.E. codes in our recievers?

They are standard NBFM (NarrowBand FM) that is +/- 5 kHz deviation with 3 kHz maxumum frequency, so the bandwidth would be 16 kHz.

The datastream is no more than 5 kHz deviation, and is likely 3 kHz with roughly 2000 Hz maximum frequency, so that would be about 10 kHz bandwidth maximum.

So, how wide are they in MHz? About 0.016 MHz.

They range from 162.400 MHz to 162.550 MHz in the USA. (in 25 kHz steps)

Joe M.

 

[Joseph11]

This reminds me, is anyone thinking of making a SAME decoder for Windows? It would be interesting to be able to decode SAME data right in Windows, wouldn't it? You set your scanner to your local NOAA frequency and connect it to your computer from your discriminator output.

 

[PanJurekMrJerry]

Not enough electronic knowledge here but it sure would be cool.

 

[K5MAR]

This reminds me, is anyone thinking of making a SAME decoder for Windows? It would be interesting to be able to decode SAME data right in Windows, wouldn't it? You set your scanner to your local NOAA frequency and connect it to your computer from your discriminator output.

Wouldn't it be easier to buy a weather radio with a computer interface and software, such as the Radio Shack 12-258? It's discontinued, but still widely available in the stores. Computer programable (software included), and pops up the weather alerts for your selected counties on your monitor. I have this model and really like it. I'm sure there are others on the market.

Mark S.

 

[Joseph11]

It'll be eaiser, but not as fun. Software would be cheaper or free too.

 

[PanJurekMrJerry]

This reminds me, is anyone thinking of making a SAME decoder for Windows? It would be interesting to be able to decode SAME data right in Windows, wouldn't it? You set your scanner to your local NOAA frequency and connect it to your computer from your discriminator output.

Wouldn't it be easier to buy a weather radio with a computer interface and software, such as the Radio Shack 12-258? It's discontinued, but still widely available in the stores. Computer programable (software included), and pops up the weather alerts for your selected counties on your monitor. I have this model and really like it. I'm sure there are others on the market.

Mark S.

Does the software work with Windows 2003? How much is he software?

 

[Joseph11]

Does the software work with Windows 2003? How much is he software?

You'd need the hardware too, but it should work on Windows Server 2003. Windows Server 2003 is basically Windows NT 5.2.

 

[PanJurekMrJerry]

http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...ory_name=&product_id=12-258&hp=search

I like the e-mail alert part but I am NOT by my computer that often.
They should include e-mail, USB Ports, Atomic Time, AM/FM and possibly remote operation on all their WX radios.

Too bad that their radio scanners, that include WX S.A.M.E.
alerts cannot do that.

 

[Arvetus]

I see that some of the mobile scanners have the ability to use SAME technology. I have a question on this.

I'm looking at getting a scanner of that type to use instead of carrying my Yaesu VX-7 and a weather radio in the car, along with my mobile transceiver. Now, my question is this. Does the scanner constantly monitor the NWS frequencies in the background and then sound an alert when something comes across? OR, do you have to put a local NWS frequency in your frequencies to be scanned in order for it to pick it up?

 

[loumaag]

... Does the scanner constantly monitor the NWS frequencies in the background and then sound an alert when something comes across? OR, do you have to put a local NWS frequency in your frequencies to be scanned in order for it to pick it up?

Depends on what you are looking for. If you want SAME codes recognized, you must lock it on WX watch or what ever it is called for your scanner. If you are just interested in hearing any alert, then you can put it as the PRI channel and it will go off anytime the regular alert tone is sounded.

 

[K5MAR]

This reminds me, is anyone thinking of making a SAME decoder for Windows? It would be interesting to be able to decode SAME data right in Windows, wouldn't it? You set your scanner to your local NOAA frequency and connect it to your computer from your discriminator output.

Wouldn't it be easier to buy a weather radio with a computer interface and software, such as the Radio Shack 12-258? It's discontinued, but still widely available in the stores. Computer programable (software included), and pops up the weather alerts for your selected counties on your monitor. I have this model and really like it. I'm sure there are others on the market.

Mark S.

Does the software work with Windows 2003? How much is he software?

Software included. According to the manual, it works with 98SE/ME/2000/XP.

Mark S.

 

[PanJurekMrJerry]

I have noticed that the Pro-96 tells you how much of the recieved signal it is receiving in Percentage. I was curious as to how well your WX Radio has to recieve the WX Frequencies in order to decode the data stream and t oactivate the alert function.

 

[loumaag]

I have noticed that the Pro-96 tells you how much of the recieved signal it is receiving in Percentage. I was curious as to how well your WX Radio has to recieve the WX Frequencies in order to decode the data stream and t oactivate the alert function.

The Pro-96 does not show received signal strengh. It does have a CC Decoding Accuracy Percentage for TRS's, which obviously is not related to any conventional channel, including WX.

 

[PanJurekMrJerry]

Ah, okay. Control Channel decoding. Thanks. But I am still curious as to how much of a singal strength your WX radio has to recieve in order in order to decode the data stram and activate the Alert Function.

 

[K5MAR]

Ah, okay. Control Channel decoding. Thanks. But I am still curious as to how much of a singal strength your WX radio has to recieve in order in order to decode the data stram and activate the Alert Function.

Hard to say. Previously, I was in the fringe reception range for the site that covered my county, and sometimes I couldn't even hear the transmitter. Now, with a new 1000 watt transmitter just north of town, I don't even have to pull out the antenna to get a full quieting signal.

Mark S.

 

[Voyager]

Ah, okay. Control Channel decoding. Thanks. But I am still curious as to how much of a singal strength your WX radio has to recieve in order in order to decode the data stram and activate the Alert Function.

It likely goes pretty low. I know modern scanners can pick up a CDCSS code lower than you can understand what is being said.

I know my WX alert has gone off and the signal is pretty well in the mud. That goes for the old 1050 Hz alerts, too, not just SAME.

Joe M.