Features:

• Specific Area Message Encoding notifies of alerts in your area only
• Receives all 7 NOAA weather/hazard channels
• Amber Alert and 911 call outage messages
• Automatically sounds a loud alert siren when emergency conditions occur in your area
• Upgradable using a PC

Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
Receives NOAA (NWR) broadcasts. First Alert Brand Emergency Alert Radios give you the life-saving advantage of an automatic warning before severe weather and other emergency conditions arise. Designed for use before, during and after emergencies, these radios meet the new CEA standard for Public Alert devices. Accurate Digital Tuning The unit uses accurate digital crystal controlled PLL (phase locked loop) tuning for all (7) NWR Channels. Analog radios which are tuned by turning a knob are prone to drift off of the set station over time and temperature changes. Digital Alert Decoding The (S.A.M.E Specific Area Message Encoding) Technology allows the radio to decode the digital broadcast information for all types of emergency, both civil (radiological, oil spills and chemical releases)natural (weather, earthquakes and volcano activities). These emergency alerts can be targeted to a specific area, with a granularity of 1/9th of a county. The text of the event is then shown on the LCD. NWR Alerting Receiver Constantly monitors one of the seven NOAA Weather Radio channels (162.400 162.550 MHz) for any emergency notifications i.e. civil emergency, AMBER Alert. There are more than 900+ NWR Stations covering 95% of US population. The system is used daily, and tested weekly. Alert Siren A two tone alert siren which sounds when an emergency alert is received. The siren can be set to mute, LOW ( 80 dBa ), or HIGH( 90 dBa ). Location Programming Up to 20 locations can be programme

Amazon.com Product Description:
The First Alert WX-167 Weather Radio is the next step in the evolution of the all-hazards radio warning system in the United States. In addition to providing traditional emergency weather alert warnings, the First Alert WX-167 now includes civil emergency messages such as terrorist attacks, problems at nuclear plants, industrial fires, chemical spills, biological hazards and AMBER alerts. This state-of-the-art public alert radio monitors the National Weather Radio broadcast channels day and night and automatically alerts you to 79 civil and severe weather messages.

The radio itself is filled with features that make the receiving of your messages easier than ever, including a telescoping antenna, color-coded warning lights, digital clock with calendar, backlighting for easy night viewing, siren alert and more. Featuring SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology, this radio enables you to program 20 different location codes into the unit, helping you avoid non-local alerts. Powered by an included 9-volt AC adapter, the WX-167 uses five AA alkaline batteries (not included) for back-up power, and also has a built-in circuit for charging five 1.5-volt rechargeable NiCad or NiMH batteries (batteries not included).

What's in the Box
WX-167 radio, AC power adapter and mounting bracket.

Rating : - Lifesaver with a few annoying habits
We bought this product a couple of years ago because we live in tornado alley in Southern Indiana. It has saved us in the middle of the night more than once. We have experienced the "reception errors" that others complain of and have been woken up during the night a few times as a result, but I consider than only an "annoying habit" compared to the lifesaving features of this product. The ability to limit the notifications to your area and turn off the types of alerts you don't want to hear make it very versatile. If you have family in other counties and want to keep watch for them too, you can do that. I'd definitely recommend this to a friend.