About S.A.M.E.
Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) are NOAA's coded emergency weather signals that
identify a specific geographic area affected by an emergency.
The BC278CLT receives the emergency weather alert broadcasts that notify you of weather
warnings, watches and statements. When you receive S.A.M.E. for your area, your scanner beeps
and the display shows as follows.
Signal Display
Warning ALErt 1
Watch ALErt 2
Statement ALErt 3
Test tEst
To obtain further information about S.A.M.E. and FIPS code, visit
http://www.abrfc.noaa.gov/wtodocs/ nwr.html
Programming FIPS Code
The 6-digit Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) code established by the National
Weather Service (NWS) identifies geographic areas in the United States. This code can be
repeated up to 30 times during an alert broadcast. Programming FIPS code is necessary to
receive S.A.M.E. alerts about weather occurring in a particular area.
1. Press WX/ALERT to enter WX Scan mode.
2. Press WX/ALERT again to enter Alert mode.
3. Then press and hold WX/ALERT
to enter FIPS Code Programming
mode.
4. Select the memory location number by using HOLD
▲ and ▼LIMIT. You can store up to
15 FIPS codes. If you are programming the FIPS code for the first time, select 1.
5. Enter FIPS code by using the
number key pad. To cancel all
FIPS data in the location, press
the decimal key.
6. When you finish entering the 6-digit code, press E to store.
7. To finish the programming, press“decimal key”.
To obtain a FIPS code for your area, call the NWS toll free at; 1-888-697-7263 or visit
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm
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