Weather radio channel to frequency
While dedicated NOAA NWR weather (WX) radios are available, two-way communications radios such as CB radio and GMRS etc. can also have 162 MHz weather radio receivers. 162 MHz WX radio is a one-way radio service that broadcasts weather information and emergency alerts across much of the USA, Canada, and Mexico. When determining which WX channel to receive on, it can be confusing because there is no standard WX channel number to 162 MHz frequency mapping. Use the NOAA USA search or Canada search to find nearby WX radio transmitter frequencies.
Channel number to frequency mapping: a common practice is to start with the lowest frequency and go up across the 7 WX radio frequencies. This is perhaps the most common channel number to frequency mapping.
| WX Channel | Frequency (MHz) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 162.400 |
| 2 | 162.425 |
| 3 | 162.450 |
| 4 | 162.475 |
| 5 | 162.500 |
| 6 | 162.525 |
| 7 | 162.550 |
Non-sequential channel order is used by some CB radios such as Radioddity / Anytone radios made by Qixiang.
| WX Channel | Frequency (MHz) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 162.550 |
| 2 | 162.400 |
| 3 | 162.475 |
| 4 | 162.425 |
| 5 | 162.450 |
| 6 | 162.500 |
| 7 | 162.525 |
Comparing the reception performance on a known frequency vs. a handheld radio can give a quick indication that an antenna system is working OK–even if like 27 MHz CB radio the designed antenna frequency is far from the 162 MHz weather radio frequency. Comparing WX radio reception on a CB radio with base or mobile antenna versus a handheld radio on the same 162 MHz WX radio frequency indicates that the CB radio antenna coax is perhaps not severely damaged or lossy, and the radio is working OK.