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WX-200

Weather Receiver with SAME Technology

The WX-200 monitors the NOAA Weather Radio Network which broadcasts continuous National Weather Service information, warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day.  This network operates over 800 stations in the continental United States, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico & the Virgin Islands. Along with the routine weather, hazard, and other information the NOAA Weather Radio Network also includes specialized signals designed to alert residents in specific areas about special warnings.  By broadcasting these signals, known as SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding), residents can tune in and learn of problems in their own geographical area.

 

WX-200 Front

 

WX-200 Rear

Specific Area Message Decoder
A programmable digital decoder, such as the WX-200, equipped with SAME is designed to respond to SAME alerts with an audible tone or other warning. The WX-200 can be programmed to respond to specific types of warning and/or those occurring in certain cities, counties, or other geographical areas.

Alert Message Timer
At the conclusion of a SAME alert a digital termination signal is transmitted.  The WX-200 is designed to decode and automatically shut down the transmitter or, if desired, an internal message timer can control the transmission time.

Repeater Interface
The WX-200 is engineered to seamlessly interface with your repeater.  With as few as 4 simple connections, the WX-200 can be set up to provide automatic weather alerts.

During a weather alert, a relay in the WX-200 will disconnect the transmitter from the controller and connect it to the weather receiver. The relay grounds the transmitter PTT line while providing weather audio to modulate the transmitter.

WX-200 Block

 

Alert Start Logic Output
The SAME broadcast includes a signal that is decoded by the WX-200 to produce an external alarm, trigger the controller to execute a specialized macro or automatically load a pre-recorded message.

Alert Stop Logic Output
The WX-200 is also able to respond to a length-of-message signal embedded in the SAME alert. Responding to this signal, the WX-200 will automatically reload a NORMAL memory save.

Weather Enable/Disable Input
Receiver alert control signals are available through the rear panel 15 pin connector. The enable input (when grounded) will enable the receiver. By connecting this input to a controller's user function output switch, weather reports on demand are available. The disable input (when grounded) will inhibit all WX-200 weather alerts, a feature to prevent repeater transmissions from interruption.

Voice Synthesizer Alert Message
Embedded in the SAME message is the time period the warning is in effect.  During this time period the built-in voice synthesizer will periodically broadcast the nature of the alert.  The voice synthesizer is programmed with several warnings, including "Tornado Warning", Winter Storm Warning", "Flash Flood Warning among many other .

WX-200 Printed Circuit Board Assembly
The PC contains a state of the art surface mount, dual conversion receiver equipped with a low-noise GaAS MESFET RF amplifier and a single chip MC13135P Motorola receiver. The dip switch allows the built-in frequency synthesizer to select one of 7 NOAA broadcasting stations.  The WX-200 interfaces with the repeater through the DB-15 rear connector while the DB-9 connector allows the RS-232 port connection to interface with a PC serial port. The heart of the WX-200 is the decoder-logic section which consists of the FSK decoder, P80C51RD2 microprocessor, NRAM, and TI voice synthesizer. Since the weather receiver data base is stored in the NRAM, the WX-200 can always be up-dated.

 

View of the WX-200 internal PC board

WX-200 PC Board

 

Weather Alert Log
As alerts are received, the WX-200 stores the date, time and type of alert in non-volatile memory. Storage is provided for up to 40 alerts.  The RS-232 port and the WX-200 configuration editor can be used to download the data which can then be saved as a PC text file or printed with the print driver included in the configuration editor.

WX-200 Configuration Editor
The WX-200 Configuration Editor (see below) included with the receiver requires a Windows® 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME®, Windows NT®, or Windows XP® operating system. The configuration editor is used to select the FIP codes, EVENT codes, OPTIONS and timer settings.

 

WX-200 Editor

Click here to view Configuration Editor

 

WX-200 Weather Receiver Specifications
Available NOAA Channels  Channel #1: 162.400 MHz
 Channel #2: 162.425 MHz
 Channel #3: 162.450 MHz
 Channel #4: 162.475 MHz
 Channel #5: 162.500 MHz
 Channel #6: 162.525 MHz
 Channel #7: 162.550 MHz
 
Sensitivity  .45 microvolts for 20dB quieting
Image Rejection  -55dB
I.F. Rejection  -60dB
Modulation  Narrow Band FM, 5KHz Deviation
Antenna  50 Ohm, Type BNC Connector
L.O. Emissions  Fully compliant with FCC Rules, Part 15
 
Relay Closure  2 Form C (DPDT) by Digital Packet
 Rear Connectors  Interface: 15 Pin D (Female)
 Computer: 9 Pin D (Female)
 
Power  +12VDC @ 100ma, DC Power
Size  1.75" H x 19" W x 5" D
Operating Temperature  -15 to +55 C
 
FCC Part 15 Registered  
 Ordering Information :
WX-200 Digital Weather Receiver with rack mount enclosure and
the WX-200 Configuration Editor, a Windows® based
application.
Price: $399.00
Configuration Editor  Supplied with WX-200 receiver.
Order Online WebStore
 

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4631 N.W. 31st Avenue, Suite 142
Fort Lauderdale, Florida   33309
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