Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

How should I mount the remote transmitter?

In order to get an accurate reading and to prolong the life of your transmitter, we recommend that you have it in a sheltered area out of the sun and direct rain. Fog and Mist will not affect the sensor, but a soaking in water may. You can mount it outside under an eave of your house or any other suitable place that will keep it out of the sun and rain. Do not wrap the sensor in plastic or seal it in a plastic bag.

What is the maximum distance I can have the remote transmitter from the display?

The maximum open-air distance is 82 feet in a straight line, although you should take into account distance and resistance. Subtract 25-30 feet for an exterior wall or any obstruction that is similar in width or composition. Subtract 15-20 feet per interior wall or any obstruction that is similar in width or composition. (An obstruction would include anything that is between the line of sight like a roof, walls, floors, ceilings, trees, etc.) Also keep your units away from electronic appliances like TV's, microwaves, computers, refrigerators, and speakers.

The transmitter has trouble maintaining a signal through metal siding, stucco walls, and UV glass. You can get the remote transmitter to transmit through these materials, but it will take a little bit of trial and error. Reset the clock as mentioned above and change the angle that the remote transmits through the siding or glass until an outdoor temperature remains on the display for an extended period of time. Keep in mind that the signal from the remote must travel through some space (3 inches of air minimum) before reaching the metal wall or glass window.

My clock has lost its outside temperature reading.

If your outside temperature is not showing on your clock, that may mean that the clock and the transmitter have lost their connection. To reconnect them you must first take the batteries out of both of the units for 15 minutes. First put the batteries back into the transmitter, and then the clock. Let them sit side by side inside your home. When both the indoor and outdoor temperatures show on your clock with the same reading, or within two degrees of each other, then you may put your transmitter back outside. Remember to keep the transmitter out of the direct sun in a dry place. Also keep it away from metal, which can affect the readings. We suggest you use Duracell batteries for optimal performance.

My clock doesn't work.

NIST provides the signal received by your radio controlled clock, but we cannot provide technical support for the clocks themselves. We didn't manufacture them, and we are not familiar with all the models or all of their features. We recommend that you save the instruction sheet that came with your clock, so you can refer to in the future if necessary. Having said that, we can offer a few general tips about what to do if your radio controlled clock isn't displaying the correct time.

My clock doesn't synchronize at all.

Most WWVB radio controlled clocks work great, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of units that have been sold throughout the United States. However, if your radio clock or receiver isn't working, we suggest:

• If your clock uses batteries, check them and replace if necessary.

• If you have a desk top unit, try rotating it 90 degrees. If you have a wall clock try mounting it on a wall perpendicular to the one it is currently on (e.g. if it is on a north-south wall try an east-west wall). The antennas are directional and you might be able to improve the signal strength by turning the antenna.

• Place the clock along a wall or near a window that faces Fort Collins, Colorado.

• Locate the clock at least 1 or 2 meters away from any computer monitors, which can cause interference (some monitors have a scan frequency at or near the WWVB carrier frequency of 60 kHz).

• If nothing else works, take the clock outdoors at night and power it down (remove the batteries or unplug it), then power it up again to force it to look for the WWVB signal. If it works outdoors but not indoors, you probably have a local interference problem inside your house or building. If it doesn't work outdoors at night, its probably best to return it and try a different model.

• The shielding provided by a metal building might prevent the clock from working. For example, if you live in a mobile home or a house with steel siding, the clock might not work.

• If you think your clock is defective, ask the manufacturer or dealer about obtaining a replacement.

This information provided by www.tf.nist.gov

My clock switched to DST, but we don't observe DST where I live.

There is most likely an on/off toggle for DST. Turn it off if your area does not observe DST. Contact us about how to do this. If there isn't a way to turn DST off, you may have to change your time zone setting during DST to make your clock display the correct time.

This information provided by www.tf.nist.gov

How do I stop my clock from giving me military time?

The clock has two hour setting features. One feature is the regular time (12) and the second feature is military time (24). As a default the clocks are set for regular time (12). For those that wish to utilize the military (24) feature, you must follow these steps.

First, you repeatedly push the SET button until you see the number (12) for regular time at the top of your LCD screen where your minutes used to be. Second, you push the (+) button once. Your (12) for regular time will switch to (24) for military time. Once you see the (24) do not push any more buttons your clock will update itself.

When does daylight savings time (DST) begin?

Click here http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php

How does my Atomic clock work?

Click here http://www.atomicclocksstore.com/how-do-atomic-clocks-work

Do the clocks run on batteries and if so how long do they last?

Most of the clocks run on AA or AAA batteries. The batteries in the watches and wall clocks usually last about 2 years. The batteries in the digital clocks usually last about a year.

How do I set my time zone?

Each clock is different but in each case you can set each clock & watch to any one of the 4 major US time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Western). When you get your clock, you put in the batteries, set the time zone, and that's it! The clock will take care of the rest. It is also possible to display different US time zones other then the one you are in (convenient if you want four clocks to display the 4 US times zones all at the same time).

What about Canada and Mexico?

The signal does penetrate into areas of southern Canada and Northern Mexico but unfortunately we do not ship outside the US at this time.

Do your clocks work outside of the US, like say in Europe?

Unfortunately not. These clocks were designed only to pick up the US time signal therefore they only work in the US.

Do your clocks work in Alaska or Hawaii?

Unfortunately not. The signal does not reach outside the continuous 48 states.

Will I be able to return the clock if I can't pick up the signal?

Yes. If after 7 days you have followed the instructions and still have not been able to pick up the signal you may return your clock for a full refund.

How long does it take to pick up the signal?

Each case varies depending on the strength of the signal at the time you set up your clock, the clock or watch you have, and your location. In most cases people are able to pick up the signal within a day (usually during the first night when the signal is the strongest).

Will I be able to pick up the time signal where I live?

The government recently upgraded the signal strength from 27,000 watts to 50,000 watts, therefore the signal currently covers the entire continental US. The signal is weakest on the east coast (the I-95 Northeast Corridor) so it may take a little longer to pick up the signal there, and in rare cases some people have not been able to pick up the signal (mostly in commercial metal/brick enclosed buildings with few windows). If you plan to set up some clocks in a brick office building or school we recommend trying out one (just to make sure you can pick up the signal) before you outfit the whole building with atomic clocks. Overall, 98% of our customers have been able to pick the signal.

How do atomic clocks/watches work?

The government owns and operates an "atomic clock" which is located in Colorado. This atomic clock keeps precise time by dropping atoms. It is the most accurate clock in the world and is considered the official US time. The clock is hooked up to a huge radio antenna which sends out a strong radio signal across the entire contiguous US. Our clocks tune into that radio frequency, decode the signal, and automatically set their time to the US atomic clock. The clocks automatically search for the signal at least once a day in order to keep precise time. For more information and a coverage map please go here: http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwvb.htm