Uniden Wx500 Vhf Scanner Owners Manual

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Battery Backup
Battery backup capability allows the WX500 to operate for a limited time
when AC power is not available. During AC power loss, all radio features
are available, but turning the Emergency/Weather Radio OFF will
conserve the battery. Remove the battery if the WX500 will not be
plugged in for an extended period of time. Without AC or Battery Backup
power, the Clock time will be lost, but all other programmed information
will be kept.
WX500 will sound a Low Battery tone at the time that a low battery
condition is detected. After the tone, the Low Battery Icon will turn 
ON to indicate that the Backup Battery needs replacement.
  
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Controls & Functions 
1.   LCD DisplayDisplays time, channel, frequency, and functions.
2.   Green IndicatorIndicates that a Statement type of alert broadcast is in 
effect. Refer to the alert table for details.
3.   Yellow IndicatorIndicates that a Watch type of alert broadcast is in effect. 
Refer to the alert table for details.
4.   Red IndicatorIndicates that a Warning type of alert broadcast is in effect. 
Refer to the alert table for details.
5.  Antenna
6.   56KeyWith more than one NWR Alert active, forces a change of 
the display to the next active Alert. During Menu 
operation, changes the current Menu item.
7.   34KeyWhile setting the Clock time, the Alarm time, or a SAME 
code during Menu operation, moves to the previous/next 
field (for example, moving from Minutes to AM/PM).
8.   menuKeyEnters and exits the Main Menu. Returns to a previous 
menu while using Sub-menus.
9.   selectKeyDuring Menu operations, selects the current menu or 
accepts the current setting.
10. weather/snoozeTurns the NWR broadcast (speaker) ON and OFF. 
When Alarm Clock tones are being heard, stops the tones 
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and sets the Alarm Clock tones to start again in 8 minutes 
(press any other key to reset the Alarm until the alarm 
time is reached again).
11. volume/on/offTurns the Weather Radios receiver ON and OFF. 
Sets the Volume level for NWR broadcasts. The receiver 
must be ON in order to use the Weather button or to 
receive alerts. 
12.  Speaker
NOTE:If the Emergency/Weather Radio is turned OFF while alert messages
are active, the active alerts will be deleted.
NOTE:When the WX500 is sounding NWR Alert tones, buttons do 
not perform their normal functions. Instead, they stop the 
Alert tones.
1.   14-Segment Characters : Displays Time, Alert information, and Menus
2.   Low Battery Icon : Indicates when the Backup Battery needs to be 
changed.
3.   Menu Icon : Indicates Menu programming is active.
4.   NOAA Icon : Shown when the Weather Radio receiver is ON, 
extinguished when the Weather Radio is OFF.
5.   Tone Icon : Indicates that the Alert Method is set to TONE.
6.   Voice Icon : Indicates that the Alert Method is set to VOICE.
7.   Alarm Icon : Indicates that the Alarm Clock is set to sound 
Alarm tones.
If the NOAA icon is ON but the TONE and VOICE icons are OFF, the
Weather Receiver is available (ON) for listening to NWR broadcasts and
the Alert Method is DISPLAY (Alerts will be displayed, but no Alert tones
will be sounded).
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Initial Settings
There are six menu options that you must set up prior to proper
operation.
To do this, press the menukey. Use the 5/6keys to change the six
menu options.
Setting Default
Clock Time (TIME)                              12:00 AM
Alarm (ALARM)                                   OFF
Channel (CHANNEL)                            1 (162.550 MHz)
SAME code (SAME SET)                        ANY
Alert type (ALT TYPE)                           VOICE
Backlight mode (LIGHT)                       SAVE
To exit the menu mode, press menurepeatedly. 
Each of these options are described in more detail following this
introduction.
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Clock Setting
When you first apply power or when there is a power outage without the
battery backup, the current time on the display will not be correct. 
To set the current time:
1. Press menu.                                
2.
TIMEappears on the display. 
3. Press select.
4. Enter the time by pressing the 3, 4, 5, and 6keys.
5. Press selectto complete the entry. The display goes back to the 
Menu mode.
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Alarm Clock Setting
As an additional feature, the WX500 has an audible alarm clock.
Before setting this feature, set the clock to the current time. 
(See page 12.)
1. Press the menukey.
2. Press 5/6until 
ALARMappears.
3. Press selectfor setting the Alarm Clock.
4. Press 5/6to choose the
Alarm Clock Setting. If you do
not want to set the Alarm Clock,
select 
OFF. The display goes
back to the menu mode.
5. If you select 
ON; enter the
time by pressing the 5/6
keys. To scroll more quickly (in
15 minute increments), press
and hold 5/6for more than
5 seconds.
6. To move to the next digit press 3/4.
7. To exit press the menukey.
 
 
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NWS Broadcast Channel Setting
Your radio is preprogrammed with the seven National Weather Service
broadcast frequencies (Channel 1-7). Depending on your location, you
may be able to receive more than one channel with clear reception.
The first time you use your radio, Channel 1 (162.550 MHz) is
automatically set as your emergency/weather channel. Depending 
on your location, you may be able to receive this channel. To check 
or change channels, perform the following steps.
1. Turn the on/off/volumecontrol until it clicks. The NOAAicon will
appear in the display.
2. Press weather/snooze.
3. Adjust the volume control to a comfortable listening level. You may
hear the emergency/weather broadcast on the initially selected
channel. If not or if you wish to select another channel, continue on.
Otherwise stop here. Your channel is set.
4. Press menu.
5. Press 5/6until 
CHANNELappears.
6. Press select.
7. Press 5/6to scroll through the list of channels. The channel
number and the corresponding frequency appear in the display. 
If you receive more than one channel, select the one that has the
clearest audio.
8. Press selectagain to complete the entry.
CH No. Frequency (MHz)1 162.5502 162.4003 162.4754 162.4255 162.4506 162.500
7 162.525
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FIPS Code Setting
The 6-digit Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) code
established by the National Weather Service (NWS) identifies geographic
areas in the United States. Programming FIPS code is necessary to
receive S.A.M.E. alerts about emergencies/weather occurring in a
particular area.
To set FIPS codes:
1. Press menuand toggle 5/6until 
SAME SETappears in 
the display.
2. Press select.
3. Press 5/6to select 
SINGLE, MULTIPLE, or ANY.
or:
• If you select 
ANY, press select. This completes the entry. 
The display returns to menu mode.
• If you select 
SINGLE,
a) Press select.Then enter the FIPS code that you want to be
monitoring.
b) Press selectand the display returns to menu mode.
• If you select 
MULTIPLE,
a) Press select. SAME 1appears in the display. If you do not
want to see or change the first FIPS caode, use 5/6to choose
another location.
b) Press selectagain and the first digit of the FIPS code starts
flashing, indicating that the code is ready to be edited. 
c) Press the 5/6, 3/4keys to enter the code and 
press selectagain.
d) Repeat the above steps in any or all memory locations using the
5/6to select another location.
e) To exit this mode, press menukey until 
SAME SETappears in the display.
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Option Description:
ANY FIPSWhen this option is selected, your radio receives the alert
signals of any FIPS codes whether you have programmed
them or not.
SINGLEWhen this option is selected, your radio only receives the
alert signals corresponding to the FIPS code that you
enter.
MULTIPLEWhen this option is selected, your radio receives the alert
signals corresponding to the FIPS code that you program
in any of the 20 memory locations.
6. To turn OFF the radio, turn the on/off/volumecontrol until it clicks.
Your radio will continue to function as an Alarm Clock. The selected
settings remain for the next time the radio is turned ON
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Alert Type Setting
When the All Hazards/Weather Radio is ON, this setting determines how
WX500 will communicate screened NWR Alert messages. For all three
selections, the 5 most recent Alerts, along with Severity and Time of the
Message Expiration, will be shown on the display.
DISPLAY: Upon receiving a screened NWR Alert, only the Alert and 
Alert Severity displays will be affected. No Alert tones will 
sound and the broadcast will not be heard unless you 
press the weather/snoozekey.
VOICE: Upon receiving a screened NWR Alert, an alert tone 
will sound for about 8 seconds. After the alert tone, the
WX500 will automatically turn ON the emergency/weather
broadcast (speaker). You will hear the broadcast until the
NWR End-of-Message code is received or until you turn the
broadcast OFF. The WX500 automatically selects the
VOICE Alert Type the first time you turn it ON.
TONE: Upon receiving a screened NWR Alert, an alert tone will  
sound for up to 15 minutes. A press of any key will stop 
the Alert tone. The broadcast will not be heard unless you 
press the weather/snoozekey. 
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