As with any electronic device, sometimes things go wrong or settings get mixed up. Don't worry—this guide will help you troubleshoot common issues, based on both customer support experience and the official WR120 user manual.
I Can't Get a Signal
If your radio isn't picking up a weather broadcast:
First checks:
Make sure the ON/OFF switch on the side of the radio is ON. It should stay ON at all times.
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Press the WEATHER/SNOOZE button:
If you hear the weather broadcast, you’re connected to a NOAA transmitter.
If you hear only static, you're not tuned to a working NOAA channel, or your local transmitter may be offline.
If you hear a beep, the ON/OFF switch is OFF.
Troubleshooting steps:
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Ensure you're tuned to a NOAA channel that covers your county.
Go to Menu → Set Channel, then scroll through available frequencies.
Find your correct channel here.
Your local NOAA transmitter might be offline. Check real-time outages here.
If needed, try a different NOAA frequency (another one might also serve your area).
Environmental factors (hills, valleys, tall buildings, power lines) may block the signal. Try moving the radio near a window or to a higher spot.
If indoor interference is suspected, use an external antenna like the Midland 18-259W Window Mount Antenna.
My Radio Didn’t Go Off During a Storm
If you experienced severe weather but didn't receive an alert:
Checklist:
Confirm the ON/OFF switch is ON.
Press WEATHER/SNOOZE — do you hear a clear voice? If not, follow signal troubleshooting above.
Make sure you're set to the correct channel for your county.
Go to Menu → Set Location and confirm the correct county is selected.
Check if your local NOAA transmitter is operating here.
Sometimes severe weather is nearby, but your specific county wasn't under a warning. The radio won’t alert unless your county is explicitly included.
If “NOAA” blinks on the display, signal strength is poor. Move the radio to a better spot.
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Set Events must be set to All Default or All On to receive full alert types.
If it’s set to All Off, your radio will still alert for Tornado Warnings, but not for Severe Thunderstorm or Flash Flood Warnings.
I Live in Tornado Alley—Why Can’t I Find “Tornado Warning” in the Menu?
This is expected behavior.
Tornado Warnings, Hurricane Warnings, and other life-critical alerts are hardcoded into the radio and cannot be disabled, which is why they don’t appear in the EDIT EVENTS menu.
These alerts will always sound, no matter your event settings.
Want to receive only Tornado Warnings?
Go to Menu → Set Events → All Off
The radio will still alert for Tornado Warnings (required by law).
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Want to re-enable only a few more? Example:
Go to Edit Events, select Severe Thunderstorm Warning, press Select → On → Menu to save.
How Do I Reset My WR120?
To perform a factory reset:
Unplug the AC adapter from the wall.
Remove one AA battery.
While reinserting the battery, press and hold the WEATHER/SNOOZE button.
Once “RESET” appears on the screen, release the button.
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The radio will behave like new—follow the setup process:
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Set language → Set location → Set time → Set channel
This will erase all stored settings.
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Can I Lower the Alert Volume?
The WR120's alert siren is 76 decibels by design—loud enough to wake a person from deep sleep.
If it’s too loud:
Place the radio in a hallway, bathroom, or closet to muffle the sound.
Cover the speaker with a towel or cloth to dampen volume.
On newer WR120 models:
You can adjust alert volume directly:
Go to Menu → Alert Test → Select
Choose Low, Medium, or High
Press Menu to save
Event Menu Quick Guide
There are 4 options in Menu → Set Events:
All On – Enables every alert
All Off – Disables all editable alerts (Tornado Warnings still sound)
All Default – Enables all commonly recommended alerts
Edit Events – Lets you toggle individual alerts On/Off
To edit individual alerts:
Menu → Set Events → Edit Events
Scroll to an alert (e.g., Flash Flood Warning), press Select
Use arrows to set it to ON or OFF, then press Menu to save
Battery Tips
Use 3 AA alkaline batteries for backup power.
Replace annually to avoid acid leakage and ensure readiness during outages.
Comments
4 comments
My Midland radio has a Code on it and won’t work. The code is was K04 and now… after unplugging it for the day; it is showing System Code K11.
My radio says it is testing but nothing happens, no voice, no sound, silent.
The us gov website says we have a small craft advisory but my wr120b never sent an alert
Please reach out to support@midlandusa.com for troubleshooting on any of your Midland radios.
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