First check to see if your county is covered by
a NWR station. If you are definitely NOT within range of a NWR station, see the
letter on network expansion prospects.
The range for NWR reception is about 40 miles
from the transmitter. However, many things may impact reception. Forests,
deserts and hills/mountains tend to greatly reduce reception. Reception can
vary from room to room. Moving even a few feet can increase a weak signal to a
strong one. It may help to be near a window facing the direction of the
station, away from other electronic equipment, and on an upper level.
Generally, the least expensive NWR models are
the ones that have reception problems. Many models will have a port to hook up
an external antenna. You can buy an external antenna from any electronics store
or make your own:
The antenna will be similar to the type you use
for your stereo: a two-conductor piece of wire attached to a wall and stretched
up the wall toward the ceiling. As the wire nears the ceiling, split the wire
conductors to form a "T." Where the wire splits into its horizontal section,
each section should be at least 18 inches long. You can also tap into your
regular outside or inside TV antenna.
For specific reception questions, contact your local National
Weather Service office. The NWR station listing includes the
programming office for each station, with links to the programming office's
home page via a regional map.