How to Program SAME Codes on a Weather Radio

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In this article 9 sections

What a S.A.M.E. Code Is
How to Find Your S.A.M.E. Code
Step-by-Step: How to Program a S.A.M.E. Code
Programming by Brand
Single County vs Multiple Counties
How to Verify Your S.A.M.E. Code Is Working
Troubleshooting Common S.A.M.E. Programming Problems
Video: How to Program SAME Codes
Frequently Asked Questions

Hands programming SAME codes into a Midland weather radio display

A S.A.M.E. code (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a 6-digit number that identifies your county in the NOAA weather alert system. When programmed into a weather radio, it acts as a filter: the alarm only sounds for alerts affecting your specific county rather than every county within the transmitter's broadcast range, which can cover dozens of counties.

Without a S.A.M.E. code, a weather radio in Houston might wake you up for tornado warnings in counties 200 miles away. With your county code programmed, the alarm only activates when your area is directly affected. This is the single most important setup step for any NOAA weather radio, and it takes less than 10 minutes.

Lena Thornton: Weather Station Analyst & CWOP Contributor
Specifications verified against official documentation

10 minutes to complete Setup guide NWS SAME database referenced

At a Glance

Code length 6 digits

Official source weather.gov/nwr/counties

Max counties per radio Up to 25 (most models)

Time to program Under 10 minutes

Works with All S.A.M.E.-capable NOAA radios

Cost Free

Live in Houston or Southeast Texas? County codes, local NOAA transmitters and a 5-step setup: weather alert radio for Houston and Southeast Texas flooding.

What a S.A.M.E. Code Is

S.A.M.E. stands for Specific Area Message Encoding. It is a system built into the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network that allows alert broadcasts to be tagged with geographic codes identifying which counties or areas a specific alert applies to. Your weather radio reads these codes on incoming broadcasts and compares them to whatever codes you have programmed in, if there is a match, the alarm activates. If there is no match, the broadcast is received silently.

The codes themselves are based on FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) county codes. Every county in the United States has a unique 6-digit code. The first digit is always 0 for standard county codes. The next two digits identify the state. The final three digits identify the specific county within that state.

Without S.A.M.E. Code

Your radio alarm sounds for every weather alert broadcast by the NOAA transmitter serving your area. A single transmitter covers dozens of counties. You receive alerts at 3 a.m. for storms 150 miles away. Alert fatigue sets in and people turn the alarm off entirely.

With S.A.M.E. Code Programmed

Your radio alarm only activates for alerts that include your county code. When it goes off at 3 a.m., it is always relevant to you. You pay attention to it because you know it means something is happening in your area specifically.

Live in Alaska? See the list of NOAA Weather Radio stations in Alaska.

How to Find Your S.A.M.E. Code

The official source for all S.A.M.E. county codes is the National Weather Service database. There are two ways to find your code:

Two Ways to Look Up Your Code

Online, NWS database: Go to weather.gov/nwr/counties. Select your state from the list, then find your county. The 6-digit FIPS code in the left column is your S.A.M.E. code.

Radio manual: Most weather radio manuals include a printed S.A.M.E. code list organized by state and county. If you have your manual, the code list is typically in the appendix.

Example code format:

State
Texas
County
Harris
SAME Code
048201

State
Illinois
County
Cook
SAME Code
017031

State
California
County
Los Angeles
SAME Code
006037

Write your code down before starting: you will need it at step 5.

Write the code down first. Most radios require you to enter each digit individually using arrow keys. Having your 6-digit code written on paper in front of you before you start makes the process significantly faster and avoids entry errors.

Step-by-Step: How to Program a S.A.M.E. Code

These steps apply to most NOAA weather radios with S.A.M.E. capability. The exact button labels and menu names vary by brand and model: see the brand-specific instructions below if these steps do not match your display.

Find and write down your 6-digit S.A.M.E. code 30 seconds

Look up your county at weather.gov/nwr/counties and note the 6-digit FIPS code. Have it written in front of you before touching the radio.

Example: If your county code is 048201, write 048201 on paper before you begin.

Press the MENU button on your radio 15 seconds

This opens the main settings menu. On most radios the display will shift from showing time or current conditions to showing a menu list you can scroll through.

If your radio does not have a MENU button, look for a button labeled PROG, SET, or SETUP.

Navigate to SAME SET, SET LOCATION, or PROGRAM 30 seconds

Use the up or down arrow keys to scroll through the menu. Look for an option labeled SAME SET, SET LOCATION, FIPS, or PROGRAM. Press SELECT or MENU to enter it.

On some radios this option is nested inside a sub-menu called ALERT or RECEIVE. Keep scrolling if you do not see it immediately.

Select SINGLE or MULTIPLE county mode 15 seconds

Most radios offer two modes. SINGLE programs one county code. MULTIPLE allows you to add several codes (typically up to 25) to receive alerts from your county and surrounding counties.

For your first setup, start with SINGLE using your home county. You can add more counties later in a separate session.

Enter your 6-digit code using the arrow keys 2–3 minutes

The display will show a cursor on the first digit. Use the up or down arrow to cycle through numbers 0–9 and select the correct digit. Press the right arrow to move to the next digit. Repeat for all 6 digits.

Take your time on this step. A single wrong digit means alerts for the wrong county. Double-check each digit before moving to the next.

Press SELECT or MENU to save 10 seconds

Once all 6 digits are entered, press SELECT or MENU to confirm and save the code. The radio should return to the main menu or normal operation. Your S.A.M.E. code is now active.

Some radios display a confirmation message or briefly show the stored code. If the display returns to normal without an error, the code has been saved.

Step-by-step infographic showing how to program SAME codes into a NOAA weather radio

Programming by Brand

The general steps above apply to most radios, but button labels differ between manufacturers. Select your brand below for the specific sequence.

Midland Weather Radios (WR120B, WR400, ER310PRO and most others)

1Press MENU

2Scroll to SAME SET using arrow keys, press SELECT

3Choose SINGLE or MULTIPLE, press SELECT

4Enter your 6-digit code: up/down arrows change digit, right arrow advances

5Press SELECT to save

6Press MENU to exit back to normal operation

For full instructions, see our Midland programming guide or consult the Midland support page for your specific model manual.

Uniden Weather Radios (BC75XLT, BC125AT, Bearcat series)

1Press FUNC or MENU

2Scroll to SAME or WX settings

3Select PROGRAM SAME or SET LOCATION

4Enter your 6-digit FIPS code using the keypad or arrow keys

5Press E or ENTER to save

Button labels vary by model. Consult the Uniden support page for your specific model manual.

Eton / Grundig Weather Radios

1Press MENU or SETUP

2Navigate to FIPS or SAME CODE

3Select your entry slot (SAME 1 through SAME 5 on most models)

4Enter your 6-digit code using arrow keys

5Press ENTER or SELECT to save

Consult the Eton support page for your specific model manual.

Other / Generic NOAA Weather Radios

1Look for a button labeled MENU, PROG, SET, or SETUP

2Navigate the menu to find options labeled SAME, FIPS, COUNTY, or LOCATION

3Enter your 6-digit code: most radios use up/down arrows to change digits and right arrow to advance

4Save using SELECT, ENTER, or MENU

If your radio's menu does not match any of the above, consult your printed manual. The S.A.M.E. programming section is typically listed under "Alert Setup" or "Location Setup."

Single County vs Multiple Counties

Single County

Recommended for most users

Programs one county code. Alerts only for events in your home county. Best for most households: reduces unnecessary alarms while catching everything that directly affects you.

Multiple Counties

For commuters and rural residents

Programs up to 25 county codes. Useful if you regularly commute through neighboring counties, have family nearby, or live near a county border where weather events frequently cross county lines.

Do not add too many counties. Adding all surrounding counties defeats the purpose of S.A.M.E. filtering. Stick to your home county plus any counties where you or immediate family members spend significant time.

How to Verify Your S.A.M.E. Code Is Working

After programming, confirm the code was saved correctly before relying on it during an actual emergency.

Three Ways to Test

Check the stored code in the menu. Go back into the SAME SET or SET LOCATION menu and verify that your 6-digit code is displayed correctly. This confirms the save was successful.

Use the TEST button. Many weather radios have a TEST button that triggers a simulated alert. This tests the alarm function but does not verify that the S.A.M.E. code filtering is working correctly.

Wait for the weekly NOAA test broadcast. NOAA Weather Radio conducts weekly tests on a scheduled day and time set by your local National Weather Service office: check your local office's schedule at weather.gov for the exact day and time in your area. Your radio should receive this silently if S.A.M.E. is correctly programmed and the test code matches your county. If it sounds the alarm during the weekly test, your filtering is confirmed working.

Troubleshooting Common S.A.M.E. Programming Problems

Radio is still alarming for counties that are not mine

The most likely cause is that the S.A.M.E. code was not saved correctly, or the radio is still in ALL COUNTIES mode rather than SAME mode. Check the alert mode setting in your menu: it may need to be switched from ALL to SAME or COUNTY.

Fix: Re-enter the programming menu and confirm SAME mode is selected, not ALL COUNTIES. Re-enter and save your code.

Radio is not alarming for weather events in my county

Either the wrong county code was entered, or the radio is not receiving the NOAA signal clearly enough to decode the S.A.M.E. header. A weak signal can cause the radio to miss alert codes even when it appears to be receiving audio.

Fix: Verify your code at weather.gov, re-enter it carefully, and check that your radio is tuned to the strongest NOAA channel for your area by scanning all 7 NOAA channels and selecting the one with the clearest signal.

Cannot find the SAME SET option in the menu

Not all weather radios have S.A.M.E. capability. Basic models receive all alerts without filtering. Check your radio's manual or product page to confirm it has S.A.M.E. support before assuming you have missed a menu option.

Fix: Search for "[your radio model] SAME code" to confirm the feature exists. If it does not, consider upgrading to a S.A.M.E.-capable model such as the Midland WR120B or ER310PRO.

Code resets after replacing batteries

Some older or budget weather radios do not retain programmed S.A.M.E. codes when power is removed. This is a hardware limitation: the radio does not have non-volatile memory for settings storage.

Fix: If your radio loses settings when batteries are replaced, keep a note of your code taped to the bottom of the radio so you can re-enter it quickly. Consider upgrading to a model with battery backup or AC power that retains settings.

Methodology: Programming steps in this article are based on the National Weather Service S.A.M.E. documentation and manufacturer user manuals for Midland, Uniden, and Eton weather radios. County code examples are accurate as of the current NWS FIPS database. Individual radio button sequences may vary: consult your manual for model-specific instructions.

Video: How to Program SAME Codes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SAME code?

A S.A.M.E. code (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a 6-digit number identifying a specific county in the US. When programmed into a NOAA weather radio, it filters alerts so the alarm only sounds for events in your county rather than every county in the transmitter's range.

Where do I find my SAME code?

The official source is the National Weather Service database at weather.gov/nwr/counties. Find your state, then your county, and note the 6-digit FIPS code. Your radio's manual may also include a printed code list.

How do I program my Midland weather radio?

On most Midland radios: press MENU, scroll to SAME SET, select SINGLE or MULTIPLE, enter your 6-digit code with the arrow keys, then press SELECT to save. See our full Midland programming guide for model-specific steps.

How many SAME codes can I program?

Most S.A.M.E.-capable radios allow between 1 and 25 county codes. The typical recommendation is your home county plus any immediately surrounding counties you regularly travel through.

Why is my weather radio not alerting for my county?

The most common causes are an incorrectly entered code, the radio still in ALL COUNTIES mode rather than SAME mode, or a weak NOAA signal that prevents the S.A.M.E. header from being decoded. Verify your code, re-enter it, and check your signal strength on the current NOAA channel.

Do I need to reprogram SAME codes if I move?

Yes. S.A.M.E. codes are county-specific. If you move to a different county, look up your new county code and reprogram the radio. Most radios also allow you to delete old codes from the stored list.