| Weather radios In the past, weather radios had NOAA, am/fm and local TV station weather. I'm in the market for a good AC/battery operated weather radio.
With the switch in the U.S. to all digital TV broadcasting, are select weather radios still able to receive TV broadcasts? For example, in Charleston, South Carolina, we have several TV stations that provide weather information, but can weather radios still receive TV information after the conversion to digital broadcast?
Thanks
Robert |
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 61999674Gotta Do What Ya Gotta DoPremium
join:2000-09-02
Here
kudos:1
1 edit | "Weather Radios" pick up signals from the local NOAA radio station, not from TV stations.
»www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrbro.htm
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 JahntassaWhat, I can have feathersPremium
join:2006-04-14
Conway, SC
kudos:4 | reply to boaterbob1
Some radios, including 'shower radios' could pick up TV audio signals.
To my knowledge no new radios have been made that support that with the digital switchover, and I almost doubt there will be. |
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| Here are a couple of examples of weather/AM/FM/TV band radios:
"Sony's ICF-36 Portable AM/FM/TV/Weather Band Radio features a simple design with high power and good sound output. The four-band AM/FM/TV/Weather tuner means you can tune in your favorite radio broadcasts, listen to TV programs, and receive up-to-date weather reports." and a more expensive "Sonido AM-FM-TV-Weather Radio". These radios receive TV1 and TV2-VHF channels 2-13.
At lease they use to receive TV1 and TV2-VHF channels 2-13.
TV local weather was quite useful. But, did the digital conversion cause the TV audio to be lost? Are TV channels 2-13 still used? |
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 neonhomerKK4BFNPremium
join:2004-01-27
Edgewater, FL
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to 61999674
There are radios that have multi-band capability. The also happen to have a Wx band built into them.
OP is saying that he used his radio to also pick up TV stations that had weather broadcasts to supplement the NOAA broadcasts.
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"F is for Fire that burns down the whole town...
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 Grail KnightQui audet adipisciturPremium
join:2003-05-31
Valhalla
kudos:6
·Time Warner Cable
| reply to boaterbob1
I use my Bearcat Scanner 60XLT-1 to listen in to NOAA.
It has built in weather alert as well as a weather button if I want to listen to the weather. The side benefit is I can listen in on aircraft, police, fire, and emergency.
Cost was about $100 at Radio Shack a few years back and prices have since dropped.
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"Facts not FUD!" |
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JahntassaWhat, I can have feathersPremium
join:2006-04-14
Conway, SC
kudos:4 | reply to boaterbob1
said by boaterbob1 :
TV local weather was quite useful. But, did the digital conversion cause the TV audio to be lost? Are TV channels 2-13 still used?
Yes and no. Analog is no longer broadcast except for certain low-power stations. Therefore VHF analog channels that you could pick up audio from are no longer broadcast in the way they used to be. |
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 Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1
1 edit | reply to boaterbob1
For me its of little importance.... nearest TV is 150 miles away and just talkes about Miami with occasional Keys Mention. The new Cat 5 NWS/NOAA office is 2 blocks down the street.... can't get a much more local forcast than that.;)
But to my knowledge no digital TV capable WX radios have been made yet, and they will likely be quite expensive when there are as it will require having a whole second digital tuner for that.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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 SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL
 ·Clearwire Wireless
| reply to boaterbob1
The quick answer is NO.
TV audio for the most part is no longer available via radio. I doubt it will be economically feasible in the near future to put in the required digital decoder for TV transmission in a radio. The only possibility would be to receive a LPTV (Low Power) station, which or mostly still analog. Eventually they too will be converting I would imagine (if not by rule, by the need to survive).
Currently There are still some some Full power stations on the air in Analog these are "Search Light" stations but they are simply telling anyone left behind that TV as we knew it is gone. |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1
2 edits | said by SmokChsr:The quick answer is NO. TV audio for the most part is no longer available via radio. I doubt it will be economically feasible in the near future to put in the required digital decoder for TV transmission in a radio. The only possibility would be to receive a LPTV (Low Power) station, which or mostly still analog. Eventually they too will be converting I would imagine (if not by rule, by the need to survive). Currently There are still some some Full power stations on the air in Analog these are "Search Light" stations but they are simply telling anyone left behind that TV as we knew it is gone. AQAnd most/many of those translators or just doing automated BS, not real local programing or WX. Unless maybe still connected to a network station many are not anymore, even before the digital changeover.. And just ultra local rinky dink stations. And even when we had them here, were all Miami crap nothing to do with Key West.
And since sold of as BS mini stations.... some religious, some home shoping, some actually trying to be local but no news or meteorologist.
And we have a PRIME NWS station here... two blocks from me, can't get more local forcast than that 
Even the broadcast translators still existing are not really providing local info, just that from the parent station/area.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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| Eton radios says "No, the frequencies (TV) that it tunes are the old analog frequencies. We have
yet to find a radio that will tune the new digital stations." |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1
4 edits | ANd again all depends where you live relative the radio station.... and shelters , etc... here in the Keys "Locals" are 150 mi away in Miami.... and Keys above Cat 2 there are no shelters you are on your own if still here.
And even Cat 1 & 2 you are still prety much on your own, bring all your own supplies and food, Pets allowed but must be kenneled... fine for a fuf fu dog.... muut my 95 pounder near as tall as I am on realr legs....thats isn't likely, of course the screaming ranting, whining runing, likely virulent kids aren't caged though.
You make your choices.... stay or leave.
And again NWS Cat 5 bulding is 2 blocks down the street can't get a much more local forcast or radar than that .
They tried to budget cut us under the Bushwhackers.... and remote control us from Miami..... Cable can't even do that.... some place CRITICAL its the Keys... and early warning for mainland FL and the Nat Hur Ctr. Just couldn't see the value of humans here with bailing wire, chewing gum and duct tape.
They didn't leave and built us a Cat 5 WX fortress.
And Maybe some would say that is Senate Earmark BS.... but it also boils down to gov bemoaning how few evacuate the Keys though there have been time most have.... but give us the BEST IMMEDIATE info to decide on.... no maybe crapped out remote link.... and again early warning for the rest of FL and the Nat hur Ctr.
Oddly enough we convinced Bell South (before ATT took over) to give all remaining 305 area code numbers to the Keys. Miami is split 305/other area code but the Keys is still all 305, 7 didgit dialing., and flat rate 25 cent calls LD to SO MIA for many where in the Keys or up and down from wherever youre local area is.
It is a unique area largely 100 yard wide by 150 mi long except for KW, Big Pine, Marathon and Key Largo., after all the rest of the south never seceeded we did.... bu t then had the sense to surrender... and our weapons were stale Cuban Bread.....
Never got our repparations but sure embarassed the heck out of the US gov when they tried to make the Keys a third world country in 1982, putting up a effectively NATIONAL border at the entrance to the Keys, bring taffic and supplies to a standstill.
OH wandering OT.... you don't mess with a hurricane but you do make you ezperienceal choices. Never been through one and a Cat 2 or greater LEAVE.... but after a dozen H and TS in 16 years.... I know where to draw the line.... and won;t be wimppering on the radio during or after. You had no clue why did you stay???
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1
1 edit | reply to boaterbob
said by boaterbob:Eton radios says "No, the frequencies (TV) that it tunes are the old analog frequencies. We have yet to find a radio that will tune the new digital stations." Again that would requirea radio with a whole second tuner....
While mutli band, TV audio was just a matter of freq shifting, not format... also FM, and AM still analog though different modulation.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL Reviews:
·Clearwire Wireless
| reply to boaterbob
said by boaterbob:Eton radios says "No, the frequencies (TV) that it tunes are the old analog frequencies. We have yet to find a radio that will tune the new digital stations." The frequencies are actually somewhat the same, the problem is that TV audio used to be FM and easily demodulated with inexpensive circuitry. Now that TV is "Digital" It requires a very expensive demodulator and decoder circuit. It would have to decode the entire digital signal and then separate the audio from it. Bottom line don't expect to see one anytime soon. |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1
4 edits | Or costly, and of little benifit to many NWS/NOAA doesn't do a fine job of.
Just learn where you local shelters are etc you REALLY need local TV to tell you that at the last moment... NWS county level won't do for? And the modern radio aare discriminatory (SAME) so you only notices for your county or near one if you are on a borderline.... but user defineable what youare notified about and not needless bothered with..
And that threads into 70& undr 5 ft or more of salt water.... two months after Katrina (Also hit here as goin on Cat 2) we asked fornoting.... and even after Wilma yes rebuilding aid for some, but immediate aid no the Red Cross and others were sort of befuddled by how few needed immediadte aid.... we know what herricanes are I have my two weeks of tuna fish, etc.
That MRE looks sort of cool though you really want to give them away.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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| I used a NOAA weather radio with S.A.M.E when I lived in Florida. I restricted alerts to 3 counties around my house. After about 3 months I turned off that feature - I would get 'alerts' at all hours - day and night - for 'fog alert', for 'dense smoke alert', for 'flood alerts', for 'wind alert' and for any kind of alert you could think of.
I know in today's society the government (NOAA) needs to issue warning for each and every possibility but too much was too much. A 1am alert because there was fog in the next county was too much for me to take!
I'd rather listen to my local radio (or TV  weather for current and relevant information - including which roads are closed, etc.
Robert |
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| Uniden says "With the change to digital, no scanners can receive TV audio transmissions."
Guess that closes this thread. |
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 EGeezerSummertimePremium
join:2002-08-04
Midwest
kudos:7
 ·Callcentric
3 edits | reply to boaterbob1
Re: Weather radio recommendations I have a portable AM/FM/TV/Wx radio which received TV audio.
On the cutover date The TV audio stopped on all channels I received except one channel which continued for a few days after that, broadcasting instructions to use a converter and contact DTV2009.
EDIT - several sites are still advertising AM/FM/TV/Wx radios, but are failing to mention the fact that they don't support the new digital TV audio. Be sure to verify (preferably in writing) digital TV audio reception before ordering them.
I have an LL Bean version of the Eton-Grundig FR150 which is quite a handy travel radio.
Pros - good sensitivity, well sealed, solar panel, compact, nice little LED flashlight. Wx channels are switch selectable and require no tuning.
Cons - analog tuner for AM/FM has a tuning wheel that's extremely sensitive and hard to tune. No "alert" function. (some other Eton crank models have an alert feature).
I also have a First Alert Wx radio no longer made. It works well, but is not nearly as sensitive as the unit above. It also seems to go through batteries even though it is always plugged in to the AC on a 1.5KVA UPS. Based on that, I would not buy another First Alert.
I ordered a Reecom R1650, received two new defective units and returned them for refund.
I'd probably go with the Midland WR300 for a home based radio unless I wanted short wave or GMRS two way etc. It has "SAME" capability to allow you to filter alerts for areas and alert types that you wish.
The Midland Midland ER102 looks interesting if you are considering a hand crank unit, but I haven't tried it.
On purchasing, I'd look for a local store rather than mail order if possible. I originally bought a REECOM R1650 from Ambient weather. It was defective, but I had to pay shipping to send it back. They sent me another defective unit, I had to pay shipping again to send that one back. When I sent the second one back, I had them issue a refund, since I was racking up costs for a problem they should have paid for.
I will not do business with Ambient again.
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The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. -- Justice Louis D. Brandeis |
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1 | reply to boaterbob
Re: Weather radios said by boaterbob:I used a NOAA weather radio with S.A.M.E when I lived in Florida. I restricted alerts to 3 counties around my house. After about 3 months I turned off that feature - I would get 'alerts' at all hours - day and night - for 'fog alert' If you tirned it off you should have gotten even more, unless you set it to no alert at all. What I am hapy with which was alwas an irritant before a SAME capable radio..... I had gotten all the marine reports for the Keys, setting it to Monroe county, seems no I am only getting the LAND notices at least.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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Hayward K A R - 1 2 0 CPremium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
kudos:1 | reply to boaterbob
said by boaterbob:Uniden says "With the change to digital, no scanners can receive TV audio transmissions." Guess that closes this thread. Until maybe dual tuner digitals come out and sooner or later radio will probably go digital to and much of FM has with the HD radios.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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