Reliability of radio controlled alarm clocks?

nichorob · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:13

Afternoon all,

I know this isnt the most exciting of topics but read on if you will.

Ive just thrown away my second radio controlled alarm clock (the ones that get the time off a satellite and update themselves when clocks change etc) because it randomly loses sync with its sat link and resets itself and the time thus making me late for work! This is the second clock thats done this so im starting to think they may have some issues. Im not in a blackspot in terms of mobile signal or anything like that.

Anyone else have experience of them? If you have a working one post the make and model. Thanks.

FrostedNipple · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:16

Just get a normal one :/ radio control is a waste of radio waves!

GeForce · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:24

Had one for a few years now. Has been perfect... always accurate. I leave it plugged in so it hardly ever needs the batteries changing. I think I've changed them twice since I've had it.

It's an Oregon Scientific, don't know the exact model. Updates itself every hour IIRC

Jon

nichorob · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:25

GeForce said:
Had one for a few years now. Has been perfect... always accurate. I leave it plugged in so it hardly ever needs the batteries changing. I think I've changed them twice since I've had it.

It's an Oregon Scientific, don't know the exact model. Updates itself every hour IIRC

Jon

If you could find out what the model is it would much appreciated.

Il see if I can google it.

MrScott · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:28

I've had an Oregon Scientific RM318PU for a few years now (can't even remember exactly how long) and it's been spot on. Updates every hour and if it can't receive a signal just ticks away as accurately as any other clock anyway.

JonC · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:28

I've had an Oregon Scientific radio controlled Alarm clock for aaages, and it's never let me down.

Model No. RM318PU :-)

But everything I've had from Oregon Scientific had been fairly reliable. A clock shoudn't rely on the broadcast to keep it's time, only really to correct it.

Berserker · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:32

FrostedNipple said:
Just get a normal one :/ radio control is a waste of radio waves!

How do you work that out? They don't actually transmit radio waves you know. Now if you'd said waste of batteries, you might have been on to something.

I've had an Oregon Scientific clock for 5+ years. Works fine. I found that it has trouble receiving the signal in the corner I keep it, and the radio receiver drains the batteries faster, and it only loses about a minute every three months anyway, so I turn the radio on for a few minutes to reset the time once every few months (it'll be on tomorrow to do the GMT changeover).

Werewolf · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:34

We've got a couple of cheapy radio controlled wallclocks here and they work fine, as JonC says they shouldn't even try to rely on the radio for timekeeping, only to correct it's own mechanism and setup.

GeForce · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:38

I have two! Forgot about the other one.

One is a RM313PU, the other is an RM318PU. I tend to use the 318 more as I find the battery life to be better, and I prefer the way it looks.

But technically I can't fault the 313, it's done everything it was meant to!

Jon

Edit: Pic

[click for big]

The time on the 313 is wrong because I just put new batteries in, and it hasn't updated yet

Feek · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:39

Frank Butcher said:
....the ones that get the time off a satellite and update themselves when clocks change etc) because it randomly loses sync with its sat link ....

No.

They don't get the time from satellites, they get the time from the MSF transmitters which used to be in Rugby but which moved to Anthorn in Cumbria a few years ago. As you're in Blackpool, you're well in range.

Have a look here, because it sounds as though you're having reception problems.

But I'd never expect a clock which uses MSF to reset itself when it loses a signal. Any decent clock should continue running by itself until it next receives a signal and then correct itself with the right time.

I've been using MSF clocks for getting on for 20 years and have owned many different ones but have NEVER seen or heard of a clock which resets itself on signal loss.

nichorob · 27 Oct 2007 at 16:57

Cheers for the replys chaps, much appreciated. Interesting post Feek, yes ive had two and when they lose the signal they just reset and go back to 12am again which is no use.

ScoobyDoo · 27 Oct 2007 at 17:47

Got myself a cheap one from the catalogue shop recently and has kept time perfectly, as feek says it gets its time from the MSF transmitters which transmit strongest at night time when there is less interference.
My clock updates itself every hour, and theres an indication on there if it looses the signal (although it never has lost it).

stoofa · 27 Oct 2007 at 18:24

My current bedside clock is made by Oregon Scientific.
I've never had to manually change or set the time ever - even the very first time it was switched on from new it had set its own time within a few minutes.
It never resets its time unless I have to do a battery change and even then it soon sets the time correct again.

HangTime · 27 Oct 2007 at 19:16

My radio alarm clock is a BUSH model I've had for years - since around 1990 I think (definitely before 1992).

Don't see the point in posh ones that update automatically as mine is never more than a minute or two out and I don't need it to be all that accurate. As for the clocks changing, that only happens twice a year - OMG, what a hardship having to change it manually!

Feek · 27 Oct 2007 at 23:18

I just like all my clocks to be as accurate as possible.

Not watches though, I wear mechanical watches which are far from accurate but I do tend to check whatever one I put on against the Junghans MSF wall clock I have in the shack and just adjust it as appropriate in the morning.