Midland Wr-300 Noaa Weather Monitor Owners Manual

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Your new MIDLAND Weather Monitor (WR-300) is 
the latest advance in Weather monitoring technology providing 
you with the information you need for your greatest safety from 
the effects of weather and other external hazards.  The Midland 
Weather Monitor has a special receiver that tunes to the 24/7 
broadcasts issued by the National Weather Service.  The 
combined All Hazards/Weather Alert broadcast network is the 
single, most immediate source for comprehensive weather and 
emergency information available instantaneously to the public, in 
advance of TV and radio bulletins. 
 
This MIDLAND Weather Monitor has an innovative automatic 
alert system. In the event of special warning broadcasts, the radio 
is automatically activated along with a loud tone, a flashing LED 
indicator, and an “alert” message in the LCD.  Emergency 
weather bulletins include alerts about: Tornadoes, Hurricanes, 
Floods, Ice/Snow Storms and other Severe Weather.  Other 
emergencies might include:  Amber Alert, Hazardous Explosions, 
Fires, Chemical Spills, and other civil emergencies. 
 
We encourage you to read this Owner’s Manual thoroughly 
before operating this unit.  This manual is a valuable part of your 
new Midland Weather Monitor.  See the “Quick Start” section of 
this manual for the initial Weather Monitor setup and 
programming.  The quick & easy programming menus are 
designed to meet your radio operation needs.  After this Weather 
Monitor is programmed and operating properly, store the manual 
in a safe place. 
 
Midland Radio Corporation 
1120 Clay Street 
North Kansas City, Missouri 64116 
Phone:  (816) 241-8500 
Fax:    (816) 241-5713 
E-mail:  [email protected]
  
						

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URL:   www.midlandradio.com  
						

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(See “Controls” & “Quick Start” sections in this manual.) 
 
DIAGRAM OF THE WEATHER MONITOR: 
 
 1. WEATHER/HAZARD ON/OFF standby mode button 
 2. ALERT ON/OFF button 
 3. SNOOZE clock alarm snooze button 
 4. “WARNING” Alert Status light 
 5.  “WATCH” Alert Status light 
 6. “ADVISORY” Alert Status light 
 7. AM/FM radio AM or FM selector button 
 8. RADIO AM/FM radio on/off button 
 9. OFF Weather Monitor unit on/off dial & volume control 
 10. ALARM OFF/ON switch 
 11. MENU (programming) menu mode activation button 
 12. SELECT (programming) select & confirm option button 
 13. Arrows (programming) buttons – up, down, right & left 
  Note:  This unit programs with menus similar to a TV remote control. 
 
Features located on back of unit are not shown
:  DC jack (also for 
AC Power Adapter), and jacks for optional external alert, external 
antenna & earphone.  
						

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TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
 
Your new MIDLAND Weather Monitor (WR-300)
........ 1 
 
Diagram of the Weather Monitor
..................................... 2 
 
Product Information
.......................................................... 5 
 
Features
............................................................................. 5 
 
Controls
............................................................................ 8 
 
Quick Start Instructions
 
  1.  Batteries .................................................................. 10 
 
  2.  AC Power Adapter .................................................. 10 
 
  3.  Antenna ................................................................... 10 
 
  4.  Setting the AM/FM Clock Radio 
          a.  Time ................................................................... 11 
          b.  Date.................................................................... 11 
          c.  Alarm (for AM/FM Clock Radio....................... 12 
 
  5.  Program the Weather Channel for Your Area ........ 13 
 
  6.  About S.A.M.E. & the County Codes ..................... 13 
 
Programming Your Weather Monitor
.............................. 14 
NWR, NOAA, NWS, & SAME ....................................... 14 
Emergency Power (connecting power & reception) ........ 15 
What is a FIPS Code? ....................................................... 16 
Acquiring FIPS codes for Your Area ............................... 17 
Adjusting the Weather Frequency .................................... 18 
Changing the Alert Pattern ............................................... 19 
FIPS Code Programming.................................................. 20 
Using the Alert Function .................................................. 22 
Testing Siren & External Alert Devices ........................... 23 
NWR Alert Descriptions (chart)....................................... 23 
Reviewing Overlapping Alerts ......................................... 26 
When a Test of Demo Alert Occurs ................................. 26 
Defeat Siren Alert Option................................................. 27 
Adding Future SAME Event Codes ................................. 27 
Backlight of the Display ................................................... 28 
AM/FM Radio Use ........................................................... 28 
AM/FM Memory Channels .............................................. 29 
Programming Memory Channels ..................................... 29  
						

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Button Press Beeps ........................................................... 29 
Troubleshooting & Help ................................................... 30 
Notes & Maintenance ....................................................... 31 
12 Volt Operation ............................................................. 32 
FCC Compliance Information .......................................... 32 
FIPS Code Form ............................................................... 34 
Service .............................................................................. 35 
One Year Limited Warranty ............................................. 36 
Specifications ................................................................... 37 
Glossary ............................................................................ 38 
  
						

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PRODUCT INFORMATION: 
The WR-300 N.W.R./ S.A.M.E. (National Weather 
Monitor/Specific Area Message Encoding) Weather / All Hazard 
Monitor provides you with constant monitoring of your local 
National Weather Service broadcast for messages warning you of 
hazardous conditions. The NWR/SAME decoding allows you to 
hear only messages concerning the area concerning you.  You 
now have a choice as to what information will be brought to you. 
No more will you be awakened to hear of a problem many miles 
from your home that will not affect you.  A clock with alarm and 
AM/FM radio are also featured.   
 
The WR-300 has an emergency battery backup system for use if 
you lose power. It will provide up to thirty hours of operation if 
power fails. 
 
The WR-300 NWR/SAME Weather / All Hazard Monitor is the 
latest advance in Weather monitoring technology providing you 
with the information you need for your greatest safety from the 
effects of weather and other external hazards. 
 
FEATURES: 
 
• VHF Weather Monitor with seven different National 
Weather Service channels in the 162 MHz FM band – 
Provides 24-hour-a-day National Weather Service 
information from seven different channels for maximum 
reception possible (in areas where available)  
						

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• Alert monitor system receives NWR/SAME codes 
transmitted by National Weather Service stations 
warning of dangerous weather conditions and other 
general hazards. The SAME codes designate which 
counties or parts of counties are affected by the 
individual message. When the alert feature is activated, 
the receiver remains in a standby mode. As SAME coded 
messages are received, the receiver automatically 
activates to warn you of dangerous weather conditions. 
• User-selectable warning system – Your choice of siren 
alarm, voice or visual flasher. 
• Weather Command Button – large touch bar turns unit 
from alert mode to full time monitoring. 
• High Performance Chassis – Receives weather 
broadcasts up to 50 miles from transmitter. 
• Large Top-Firing Speaker – Directs alerts and audio 
toward listener. 
• Eleven-character LCD display for viewing alert type. 
• Clock displays time and date and has alarm and snooze 
functions.   
• AM/FM radio for listening or wake-up alarm. 
• Emergency Powered from 4 type AA batteries (optional). 
• Telescopic Antenna – Provides maximum range 
reception-up to 50 miles. Antenna folds down for easy 
transport. 
• Fully Variable Volume Control – Adjusts audio output. 
• Alert siren volume adjustable for maximum flexibility.  
						

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• External Alert jack to operate external warning devices.  
(optional) 
• Earphone Jack – Allows private listening or remote 
speaker location.  (optional) 
• External Antenna Jack – Permits use of an optional 
extended range base antenna or a mobile antenna. 
• External Power Jack – Allows use of AC adapter 
(included) or DC cigarette lighter power cord (optional) 
to run off a car or boat battery. 
• Compact, Ultra Modern Styling – Small enough to take 
along – looks good anywhere.  
						

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CONTROLS: 
Note:  The MIDLAND Weather 
Monitor volume control and the main power switch  (# 9 above) 
must be turned on to activate the following controls unless 
otherwise noted by an asterisk.    
 
1.  WEATHER/HAZARD ON/OFF standby mode button.  
The Weather/Hazard broadcast & alert receiver is active 
whenever the Weather Monitor unit is turned on.  Press this 
button to put the weather/hazard receiver into standby mode 
(alert monitor mode.)  Press button again to return to 
hearing National Weather Service weather/hazard reports.  
 
2.  ALERT ON/OFF button.  Press this button to cancel alert 
siren sounds and any external alert features when alert 
active. Press and hold button to enable and disable alert 
siren and external alert signals (see Page 20).  
  When Alert is off, only the LED indicator lights 
(“Warning”, “Watch”, &  “ADVISORY”) are active.  
  
3.  SNOOZE clock alarm snooze button.  Press to advance the 
clock alarm time by 9 minutes each time the clock alarm 
sounds. 
 
4.  “WARNING” Alert Status light.  This red LED Indicator 
light tells you that a warning has been issued for your area 
by the National Weather Service.    
 
5.  “WATCH” Alert Status Light.  This orange LED Indicator