WX alerts on GMRS

[quarterwave]

I know there are a few GMRS repeaters around the country with a WX receiver tied in for severe weather alerts. 

 

I have not located any owners specifically to ask what equipment they used. I can make it happen on mine, but I am having trouble locating a weather radio (non super expensive) that will auto-reset after the broadcast. From what I can find most of them stay open until they are manually reset. 

 

Anyone know of one that re-closes after the alert goes out? Anyone know of any repeaters having these tied in. 

 

(I am aware of the "legal" debate...not what I am interested in here. If life or property is at risk, I don't think the FCC will mind a WX went out on GMRS and saved a life...that is after someone actually complained about it, and the FCC took the time and money 4 years later to chase it down....just saying). 

 

 

[PastorGary]

Absolutely - The one in the link below is also available at most Wal-Mart stores and Costco... just do a little research on local availability.

 

Each of our Chaplain Responders has one of these ( yes, it can operate as a portable) and can be programemd for the S.A.M.E.  alert codes for specific areas within a NOAA region.  We highly recommend this style and it has a time-out reset feature as you requested...

 

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200492180_200492180?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Outdoors-_-Weather%20Instruments-_-20394&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=20394&gclid=COWly7qg37YCFZOHMgodw34ASA

[Logan5]

I am also interested in this ability, I do not have anything to offer at this time, but I will be following this thread.

[JohnE]

I'll have to look and see if I can find the notes we had on a Plectron toner for one of our VFD's.

it was an old 70's vintage plectron wired through the MRTI I think on an MTR 2000.

getting the audio is the easy part, making PTT no too hard either, it where to put it.

[quarterwave]

Yeah the interfacing is no big deal, I can make that happen, for me it's just finding a not too expensive wx radio with a relay out and a auto-reset timer to shut it up after the alert has gone out. 

[Logan5]

Ok, I have a Radio Shack 7 channel SAME radio that i have been using for over 10 years. it has battery back up, external antenna connector. and Alarm out "I have never used" yet is has no audio out. This radio would be perfect if the Alarm is also the NOAA audio. I will hook a speaker up and see what it does. seems like I could set an HT into VOX mode and place the MIC next to the NOAA radio to send Alerts to the Repeater. over the weekend I will be shopping around NOAA radios, and will report what i find.

[JohnE]

you could always make a timer on a bread board w/relay to kill the PTT.

just a thought.

[Logan5]

I was thinking a simple circuit or wire made that interfaces with a WX radio with S.A.M.E. and maybe even a talking clock, using an HT with VOX function should do most of the work for you? am I way off? , I have everything necessary thinking about trying it. the WX radio I have alarm out only, but I have seen some that have audio out as well. I was at the Swap Shop today and some guy had some older Motorola and Midland GMRS radios , but I could not tell from the documentation if they were Repeater offset compatible.  

[PastorGary]

Some commercial radio systems that use weather alert triggering, use the tone generated by the NWS transmitter to tell the repeater to shut down any existing traffic and over-ride it with the alert. If someone is using the repeater when the alert comes on, the alert may not be heard.

 

It is unclear as to whether a weather alert can be rebroadcast automatically and directly on a GMRS system, so to be on the safe side, use a weather alert monitor with S.A.M.E. codes programmed in for the area that the repeater can be heard in and once an NWS alert comes in on your weather monitor, simply get on the repeater yourself to announce what the alert consisted of.      47CFR95.183 (a) sub 12 may apply, but is not 100 percent clear.

[JohnE]

so its a grey zone.

[Logan5]

well I used a speaker Mic. on an extra radio, set to VOX laying on my WX radio. left it set like this all day. just had a storm, got the NOAA storm alert on my repeater. not too loud and very clear, at the end of announcement the NOAA radio cut out and deactivated the VOX PT and everything returned to normal. This could of course be improved with some special cables and a better WX radio.

[Guest spd641]

I haven't made a comment on this but I will.IMO I believe it is a good idea to have weather information on any radio system is a good idea.I like the way my 2meter radio is set up with WX configuration and it works well.I like the idea it can be set to over ride any ongoing transmission or if in scan mode...William

[Logan5]

well I have tried this with a link cable and radio set in vox 3, at this time it does not work correctly. after NOAA alert it keys up every 10 to 15 seconds or so. The weather radio I got is great and I needed to upgrade anyway. I will try with my other radios soon. looks like a repeater upgrade would be easier than this project. lol.

[Logan5]

This is the radio I purchased. http://www.acurite.com/environment/weather-radio/acurite-emergency-weather-alert-noaa-radio-with-s-a-m-e-08500-08505.html  got it for 14.99 shipping included. it has a "SP" (line out) is very nice looking so if it does not work linked to the repeater, I will keep on the nightstand next to my bed. I have had it running on 3 AA rechargeable battery's for 3 days with no indication of low battery condition, it also included an external 4.5v wall wart. Looks great with indigo blue backlight, sound is good. have not yet heard any NOAA alerts. since my old scanner had an alarm output and this has audio output. seems these could be wired so the alarm activates the PTT and this radio provides the audio. just a thought. 

[quarterwave]

I haven't given any more attention to this. I would still like to find the right radio that will reset itself after the alert broadcast, although from the link up above, they appear to be made. I am thinking I want to put this on the control station where I could setup EchoStation and it through that with Vox. I have used that for radio testing before and the vox worked fine, I would have more controls over timing, etc with it too. Just another project I need to get into this winter. 

[PastorGary]

There is a web link below as to how HAM Radio handles these interconnects... please review the entire page - This may or may not apply in any way to GMRS - >>>

 

 

http://www.repeater-builder.com/tech-info/weather-radios.html

[Logan5]

yes quaterwave, I am just about to give up on VOX, I have tried 2 of 3 types of radios I have all "CCR" and this has not worked as of yet. I have tried many different settings all to no avail. Thank You PastorGary, I will have time to readup later. "73's"

[quarterwave]

I reviewed that link a while back, it's ok, but dated. 

 

Midland says their WR120 operates with EOM now. 

 

I'm going to get into this on the bench after Christmas. 

[W4ATN]

Not sure what price range you're looking. If your budget can handle $500.00 look at the Computer Automation Technologies, WX-250. http://www.catauto.com/index.php/products/weather-receivers-and-accessories/wx-250-weather-receiver.

I've researched this topic for the past few months in anticipation of getting a repeater on the air and unless I find something better I plan on using this one.

 

73,

Paul - W4ATN

[PastorGary]

Paul - Welcome to the Forum and thank you for your information.

 

[Logan5]

Thank You, Paul. and Welcome to the Forum. Yes I have had my eye on a CAT RC210 controller for sometime, only 325.00 on fleabay. However I think I am getting a Hytera RD982U-1 for Christmas, can't wait to get my hands on it. Duplexer is already tuned and a friend helped install the LMR600 a week ago.  I took some resent pic's so I will have to post them.  "73's"   Jim...

[quarterwave]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=24190856

 

This one costs a bit more, but does have an aux out, alarm out and ext antenna connections. 

 

Reading the guide, it did say that in voice alert mode, it opens up for 10 minutes. That's a bit long for most messages. Usually 1-2 minutes is enough from what I hear on air. 

 

I think I am still going to try playing with the Midland WR120 when I have a chance. If I use Echo Station for it, I think I can control it via DTMF too, so if I need to shut it down. 

[JohnE]

 

Reading the guide, it did say that in voice alert mode, it opens up for 10 minutes. That's a bit long for most messages. Usually 1-2 minutes is enough from what I hear on air.

if the external alert jack is just a dry contact set up you could put a 555 timer circuit on it to drop it out in 2-3 minutes or let the repeater time out timer(TOT) drop it for you. the only problem w/that is your basically disabled until it drops out. use the headphone jack to supply the audio.

I personally think the CAT is way over priced for doing what a WX radio does to interface w/repeater.

[Captain056]

Everyonce in a while, I do use a Weather Eagle 200 on my repeater. The Alerts, are set to 90 seconds.

[quarterwave]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch. I talked to another repeater operator who is using WX on GMRS, and he used a Reecom, says it works well, and has good EOM reset. I found the $80 Reecom model on eBay, new and shipped for $20...so I bought it. This unit is supposed to have a alert audio out, and a alert relay out connection. I will start testing it out soon. I intend to tie it to a low power mobile, which I can use to hit my repeater if all goes well. I will share more if/when this thing gets going.