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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 54 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
119 of 119 found the following review helpful:
 Sturdy little weather alert radio - performs well Aug 29, 2007
By Kirk
The WR602 is an updated version of the WR108, which had some alert problems. Oregon Scientific changed the model number for the repaired version to avoid confusion. Do not purchase the WR108, which has been discontinued.
The WR602 works well. It has good reception, and once it's set up, is bascially a no-brainer. Plan on spending a few minutes to actually read the instructions and play with the unit when you first receive it, though. We had a nasty storm front hanging over Chicago for several days. Believe me, this radio does what it's supposed to. Over the course of a couple of days I received the weekly test, thunderstorm warnings, a tornado warning, and flash flood warnings, all relevant to my area.
One note: the instructions advise that *when changing batteries*, push the reset button in the battery compartment. This does not "wipe" the unit (location codes are retained), but it does "reboot" it. Apparently if you don't do this (at least on the older model), the unit may not alert properly. I have not had this problem, but your mileage may vary. All that should need to be done after a battery change/reset is to set the clock.
If you don't want audible alerts, you can put it into mute mode. Any current alert will show up on the screen, and the light will blink red, but there will be no audio.
Pros: You have the option of either selecting the station you wish to receive, or you can set it to automatically select the strongest station. You can program up to 9 different SAME codes to only receive alerts for a specific area(s). There is also a travel mode that switches the unit to automatic channel/receive all county alerts. By pressing one button you can ensure that you will receive alerts as you travel. Pressing the travel/home button again restores your home channel/SAME settings. The unit has rechargeable batteries, and will continue to operate during a power failure. The audio is both loud and clear.
Cons: When the backlight is used, the display is difficult to read except when looking up from the bottom of the radio. The status light could also be brighter.
Other Information: The radio responds to a specific alert signal sent out by the National Weather Service. When such an alert is broadcast on TV or radio, there is a distinctive "squawk" tone which precedes the message. Not every alert that is put out by a TV or radio station originates from the NWS (or more specifically the Emergency Alert System), and not every alert the NWS issues is considered important enough to "squawk". They reserve this for messages they consider of high importance. Per the National Weather Service / NOAA: "Only the most imminent life- and property-threatening hazards are broadcast with the SAME signal and 1050 Hertz warning alarm tone, where the public has to take immediate action to protect themselves and their property. An operational guideline is that messages are alerted only for hazards urgent enough to warrant waking people up in the middle of the night or otherwise interrupting someone's activities at any time." Don't necessarily expect to hear the alarm go off for watches. Your local NWS station decides what is important enough for the alert tone. When you do receive an alert, the display has a countdown timer that will delete the alert when it reaches zero (expires). Also, be aware that the alert tones (or as some have called them, the "siren") are BROADCAST. They aren't part of the radio. The "squawk" is what activates the radio, the tone that follows is intended to get your attention.
Incidently, weekly tests don't always happen when they're supposed to. If there's even a chance of a real alert happening, they will keep pushing the test back 24 hours at a time until there's no chance of a real alert being issued.
You can't disable specific alarms, but you shouldn't need to, since NWS doesn't issue alarms capable of activating the radio lightly. The weekly test will make noise for about a minute once a week, but it's useful in that you will know that the unit is still working. The radio isn't doing you any good if you only find out that it's not operating when you actually need it.
As to technical support, I had a couple of pre-purchase questions regarding the way the unit operated. I reached a live person quickly (2-3 minute hold time) and they answered my questions accurately. I've had no problems with the unit since I purchased it.
29 of 29 found the following review helpful:
 Good basic weather radio Dec 29, 2007
By SilverSurfer
This radio works fine for me. I seem to have a strong signal in my area. The radio indicates signal strength, but it doesn't seem to work well, it either shows full strength or zero, even though it's capable of displaying several intermediate levels. Regardless of the indicated signal strength I can hear the weather statements and receive alarms/alerts with no problem.
The LCD display has a pretty limited viewing angle, you have to hold it at just the right angle to view it well.
You can't turn off alerts, they time out on their own. I'm not sure how long it takes, but it's many hours. It gets a bit old seeing the Wednesday test scroll across the screen over and over.
The rechargeable batteries last 2 or 3 days, with the radio in standby most of the time, and a few minutes of listening to the radio each day. For a trip of any length you will need to bring the charger or switch to regular batteries.
These are minor issues, overall I'm happy with it.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
News you need but don't want to hear Aug 19, 2008
By Debra Wood
"dreamstreamr"
Weather Radio & Charge Cradle We shopped almost a year for this, and a couple of times thought we might not survive to find it. We travel full-time in our travel trailer and don't watch t.v. or listen to local radio. Our first clue weather is turning bad is the sky or weird temperature or wind swings. But you need better information, especially if you live out of doors like we do.
This little weather radio has been great. We receive flood warnings, weather warnings, and weekly test notifications. The box included a belt clip and the radio is so small it is easily carried. We leave it in the charger in our camper most of the time and have occasionally put it on the truck dash while we travel.
We have used other Oregon Scientific products with very good results and expected the same with this product. We have no experience with other weather alert radios, but this one has worked very well for us and we would purchase the same one again.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Latest Oregon Scientific Weather Radio Enhancement Disappoints/Fails ! Jul 10, 2010
By a.customer
We love the venerable/trusty, yellow Oregon Scientific WR-8000 weather radio!! Gave one to all family members for Christmas, and wore off the labels during storm seasons. Only complaint for that one is minor: battery life, but only affects the clock; radio still performs great.
Since the old unit has been SOLD OUT for a few years, and we wanted a pair for each car, we only found the WR602 to be the approximate smaller size we like about the WR-8000. With hope based on the yellow radio, we ordered a pair of the new Oregon Scientifics from AMAZON...
But this new one -- WR602 -- kept being reset, with the whole memory dumped and erased! Finally we determined that the difficult to turn on/off button would erase the works when that button was held down too long to turn off the unit after use!! The setup required needs a sharp point like a toothpick on the recessed "reset" button near the battery connector to go into setup mode. And this mode is a pain to step through. If you love menus you'll love this "radio." But we do NOT.
Another problem we don't have with the old yellow WR-8000 is that the WR602 will pause the radio message for a second or two, then continue on. It is just like when the WiFi radio stops due to high internet traffic and reports that it is busy "buffering" the streaming audio...
Save us from the computer-base modern world of so-called improvements, and just give us the old-time radio! (That goes for the current 'radio programming' in spades.)
a.customer -- UNHAPPY victim of the bean counters who drive most product design in this millenium
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Good, sturdy, up-to-date unit, not too hard to program Jul 28, 2008
By Allen Smalling
"Constant Reader,"
It used to be that the NOAA weather-alert functions came in three varieties: on top-line walkie-talkies, in cumbersome base units, or integrated with AM and FM. NOAA is a wonderful radio alert-broacasting network, but sometimes it was a little hard to get a unit using NOAA without paying for extras.
Surprise! No walkie-talkie here, nor AM or FM. The Oregon Scientific WR602 is something to cheer about because it only does one thing (NOAA, including SAME) -- and does it very well. It's a constantly recharging unit that includes its own batteries. The unit can easily be turned on but put in "Standby" mode that will sound the alert when bad weather or disasters of various kinds are on the way. Best of all, the charger base holds the unit only about an inch higher, and its sides are barely wider than the unit itself. It's a durable job, too, as a clumsy trip-and-fall on my part did a little damage to me but none for the unit!
For forays into the field (and away from the charger base) you'll need AA cells; the nickle metal-hydride type is recommended, but alkalines work although they may poop out earlier. Keep some handy at home, too, for charger-busting home blackouts.
I am giving this radio a four-star rating insted of a five because the Owner's Manual, which better would have been named an owner's booklet, is a little terse for high-tech scardies like me. I could and did eventually figure it out, but what the "manual" really needs IMHO is a few more drawings, especially a graphic that would depict the various functions the LCD screen is capable of, and therefore where and what kind of (frequently arbitrary) symbols to look for.
Prices vary greatly; Amazon seems to be with or slightly cheaper than the pack at around fifty dollars. BTW I should mention that there are a lot of weather alert radios in the forty-to sixty-dollar range; they vary by function, and can include console models, portables and hand-crank dynamos with built-in flashlight. Sometimes instead of (or alongside) the NOAA weather bands come AM/FM and shortwave features, even the audio part of television. I myself wouldn't go out of the way to get TV audio, though, because after February 9, 2009, when television signals are set to go all digital, your TV band will no longer work.
See all 54 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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The
Importance Of Lighting In Interior Design
by Jessica Ackerman
Everyone knows how important
paint color, furniture choices and artwork are to
interior design. One aspect of design that is often
overlooked, however, is lighting. Lighting not only
affects the brightness of the room, but it can also
change the way a paint color looks, cast shadows in ways
that make the room seem smaller and have an impact on
the presentation of art work.
There is no light like
natural light. If you are buying, building or
remodeling, opt for as much natural light as possible.
Oversized windows and skylights are two ways to get the
most natural light. Of course, not everyone is in the
position to be able to do that, so you'll have to work
with what you have.
How much natural light do
you get in your room? If the room in question faces
north, you won't get as much natural sunlight as you
would in a southern facing room. Rooms that face south
get bright, natural light throughout the day. Rooms that
face east will only have good natural light in the
morning hours and western facing rooms will have the
most light during the afternoon.
Once you are familiar
with how much natural light is in each room, you'll be
able to make informed choices about what additional
lighting may be necessary. Keep in mind that rooms with
little or no natural light will need artificial lighting
- even during the day - in order to look their best.
Here are some types of lighting to consider.
1. Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is
perfect when you want to showcase a piece of art or a
special piece of furniture or other item. Since light
draws the eye, it will bring attention to the features
in your room that you wish to highlight.
2. Hanging Light Features
Chandeliers and smaller
hanging lamps can be beautiful as well as functional. A
trip to the local home improvement store will quickly
show you how overwhelming the choices can be. You'll
want to select lighting that blends in with your
existing dÃÂécor. For example, a crystal chandelier in a
country themed dining room probably isn't the best
option. If you don't choose carefully, your lighting may
stick out like a sore thumb and become more of an
eyesore than a lovely accent.
3. Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting is a
good choice for a room that needs extra light throughout
the day. Because the lighting won't interfere with the
existing decor, it can work in almost any room. It
provides abundant light without taking up a lot of space
or interfering with other aspects of the room.
4. Lamps
Using lamps are a way to
add not only additional lighting, but also punches of
color. If possible, see how much light the lamp gives
off before leaving the store. Many lamps serve as
decoration more than as a light source and give off very
little light. If you love the lamp, but it doesn't give
off quite enough light, consider changing the shade
which will usually solve the problem.
When decorating your
home, remember how important lighting is, and give it
the same thought and attention you give to the other
details of decorating your home.
About the Author
Jessica Ackerman is the
featured author at Wall DÃÂécor and Home Accents. Shop today
for great deals on
metal wall sculpture ,
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accents and more unique wall dÃÂécor products.
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