Batboard

Has anyone ever successfully programmed and received from NOAA weather radio freqs? I have the right freqs programmed into the radio but I'm not hearing anything. I've got it set to carrier squelch. Is there anything else I need to do?

Did you check to make sure this is programmed for carrier squelch mode? If it is a second hand radio, and given the era of that radio it probably is. It is possible the previous programming had specific VHF frequencies with PL/DPL programmed in. I can't recall on this unit specifically, but some have a means for the end user to disable tone squelch. You may want to try that and see if you can receive NOAA Weather Radio. I have received 162.550 and others on many Motorolas over the years and it is probably something quite simple. You may even want to double check the frequency. Every so often locally someone will think they programmed 162.5500 and then upon closer inspection find out it was programmed as 166.5500 or something else by mistake.

what bandsplit is your HT600? If you are trying to program a low split (136-151) up that high it won't work.
If you are using a mid split 146-162, or 157-174, and you have it set to CSQ, you may have an alignment issue. If you hold the monitor button do you hear anything? Assuming your alignment checks out and you aren't trying to program a low split that high...I know it sounds dumb, are you programming the correct NOAA frequency for your area? Is it on the air?

It should work fine provided you have disabled all signaling for the channel (RX set to CSQ) and no QCII is enabled unless the radio is way out of alignment.

You'll probably laugh at this, but I found out that I have programmed everything correctly, it just took moving outside to get a signal. 162.4000 is the correct NOAA frequency for the area. I think because of the channel deviation, depending on the position I hold the radio I actually (and unintentionally) switch between different NOAA freqs. (ie I have it programmed at 162.4000 and if I tilt it or something, I pick up another NOAA station on like 162.42500).

The HT600 is a 146-162 split. I deleted the previous tone information, switched the mode to 3 TPL and 1 DPL, programmed in two TPLs and left everything else blank. I'm wondering if I change the squelch (it's at 01 currently) or the channel deviation, maybe that will improve the reception/quality?

the channel deviation affects the TX bandwidth only. the RX bandwidth shouldn't have any problem accepting NOAA WX radio which is using standard 5KHz deviation, so it should RX fine. If your RX is poor, a full alignment of the front end preselector may be needed. The HT600/MT1000 genesis RF boards are pretty hot and the VHF versions usually do not need adjustment over the rated bandsplits unlike the UHF versions.

One thing to check is a failure of the antenna ferrule that connects the control top antenna jack to the actual RF board. For some reason they have a tendency to develop a crack that will cause a poor connection. RX is usually not affected except on weaker signals and of course TX output is poor (not to mention the PA is transmitting into an open). You can usually see the ferrule just by opening the front cover of the radio and looking in the opening in the shield where the front cover post protrudes through. A crack or break is usually obvious, and can be repaired by flowing some solder over it. Just thought I'd mention that, every Genesis portable I own I've gone over, 5 out of 10 have that affliction.