La Crosse Technology Digital Travel Alarm Review

This is a great little clock. I've had three, given away one "New In the Box," or "NIB," am ordering another to have on hand when the spirit moves me to pass it on to someone. I'm kind of a time freak, so I've got one in my bathroom, another in the family room, and a much larger "atomic" wall clock right over my PC.

OK, its not atomic. It is digital, and it receives radio signals from a US station that tell it what time it is. You never need to set it. Couldn't set it if you tried. Once you have fed it an AA battery, set it up according to the instructions, and waited several hours some evening, it will display the exact time, to the minute. If you are willing to wait up to 59 seconds, you can get the exact time to the second, when the minutes display roles over to the next minute.

Yes, you can fold it up, pack it into your baggage, and set it up at your destination. BUT, if your travel takes several days, and if your destination lodging has thick walls and few windows, it may not pick up a signal. Take it camping ... no problem unless it rains on it, or a bear eats it. And, it pretty much has to be in the USA, although I bet parts of Canada, and maybe even northern Mexico, can pick up the signal, too.

Bad part? The part that made me give it only four stars? Setting it up is a PITA. Yes, the instructions are indeed printed right on the clock ... on the inside of the lid, which folds back to be the underside of the base. Hard to read when you are setting the clock using the buttons on the back of the clock, and watching the display on the front of the clock. Also, everything requires multiple button pushes of specific buttons ... one push too few, and you don't get what you want. One push too many, and you have to start over. Trying to set the clock while reading the instructions off of the base is a loser.

Oh yes, you can set it up for 12 hour time, or for Navy time: Right now it is "22:43" on "MO 9.21"

That is 10:43 PM on Monday, September 21st, for you land lubbers.

The URL for the clock's instructions is cleverly printed right on the back of the clock. No, not the base, the back of the clock, right on the battery door. My suggestion is to go to this URL:

and decide if you are sufficiently endowed with the necessary button pushing skills. If so, PRINT OUT the instructions and then order the clock! Its a doozy!

As for batteries, I'd use a common NiCad AA to set it up the first tim. When that dies, or is dying, put in a Lithium cell. That way you will only have to set it once every couple of years.

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Product Description:
Digital Travel Alarm Accurate Time -- All the Time This La Crosse Technology analog alarm clock is "Atomic" (ie "radio controlled"). It sets itself using transmissions received from the U.S. government, which include precise timing information from the U.S. Atomic Clock in Colorado. Please note that the radio transmissions that contain the timing information carry best at night. When you first put the batteries in these clocks, they will most likely not receive a strong enough signal to set themselves until the middle of the night. Folding case for travel use Instructions printed on the case Atomic time and date with manual setting Automatically updates for Daylight Saving Time (on/off option) Perpetual calendar Time zone setting US time zone map Dual alarm with adjustable snooze LED backlight Free standing Dimensions: 3.63"H x 2.63 "L x 0.86 "W Specifications: Display modes (changed by pressing "+" button): Date (Day, month, date) Date (Month, Date, Year) Alarm1 time Alarm2 time Seconds Power requirements: Alarm Clock: 1 "AAA" Alkaline Battery Battery Life Lasts Up to 18 Months About Lacrosse Technology Founded in 1985, we are a multinational company with a small-town philosophy of servicing our customers to the highest level. Our consumer electronics products include radio-controlled clocks and watches, wireless weather stations, power monitors, and other measuring devices. We introduced radio-controlled clocks to the US market in 1991 and continue to be on the cutting edge of this technology in America. Our weather instruments, clocks and watches are calibrated daily to the atomic time standard of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

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