Emerson CKS3029 AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Automatic Time Setting System

by Emerson

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• ASIN: B0002DG130
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,704 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 11, 2004

Product Description

Emerson CKS3029 Research Dual-Alarm AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Automatic Time Setting System with no need to reset the time after an interruption of electricity, this Emerson Research dual-alarm AM/FM clock radio with SmartSet automatic time setting automatically corrects the year, month, date, day and time as soon as the power supply is restored. Features AM/FM radio; slide-rule tuning dial; rotary tuning and volume controls; one-touch radio on/off switch; large, easy-to-read red LED clock display; adjusts from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time automatically.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Loved it until it didn't Spring forward, March 11, 2007

By 

jgflash (Wellington, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emerson CKS3029 AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Automatic Time Setting System (Electronics)

Living in hurricane territory, I definitely wanted some clocks that would function with or without the help of Florida Light and Power and that I would not have to reset whenever I experience a momentary loss of power. Three Emerson Smartsets made us a very happy household for almost two years now, until this morning. I went over to Brookstone where I know they sell these clocks to complain that my clock did not Spring forward. They handed me a sheet explaining how to manually update my clock (something I will need to do 4 times a year for my clocks purchased pre Marc 2006). Here's how you do it for anyone frustrated as I was:

1. On the second Sunday in March, set your clock to the next lowest number time zone (for example, if you live in the Eastern Time zone, Zone 02, you will change your clock to Zone 01 to move it ahead by one hour)

2. On the first Sunday in April, when the clock will automatically advance itself by one hour for whatever time zone you are in. You will then need to set the clock back to your correct time zone (Zone 02 if you are in the Eastern time Zone)

3. On the last Sunday in October, you would again set your clock to the next lower numbered time zone (Zone 01 if you are in the Eastern time zone). Your clock was not originally set to change times on this date.

4. On the first Sunday in November, the date your clock has been preprogrammed to fall back, you would again set your clock back to your correct time zone (Zone 02 if you are in the Eastern time zone).

Really this is a circumstance beyond Emerson's control, but I am starting to think that what Emerson needs to do is bring this smartset technology to an actual Atomic clock and then the government can change daylight savings time start and end dates as many times as they want, without Emerson consumers ever experiencing any problems. Until then, I hope this has helped someone who like me scoured the Internet for information on how to change the time on these not-so-smartsets after all.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT Atomic, June 27, 2006

By 

Dan Sargent (Ames, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

The Amazon description "Emerson CKS3029 Atomic Dual-Alarm AM FM Clock Radio" misleadingly uses the word "Atomic" - I believe they meant "Automatic". Although this device claims to have a preset time (mine was set incorrectly), and does reset the time after a power outage, it does not set itself from an Atomic clock radio signal. So if that's what you want, look elsewhere.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good clock radio, not "atomic", May 8, 2005

By 

ducrab "Steve" (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emerson CKS3029 AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Automatic Time Setting System (Electronics)

I purchased this clock/radio because I thought that it was an "atomic" clock. An atomic clock (or watch) is a clock that sets its time automatically by monitoring the WWVB clock signal transmitted by the NIST atomic clock in Fort Collins, Colorado. In other words, a true atomic clock/radio would never need setting, would never need to be adjusted for daylight savings time, and would always display the accurate time.

The Emerson CKS3029 Clock Radio is a regular clock radio with a battery-backed up memory. When you unplug the clock (or when there's a power outage), the battery keeps the clock portion powered (there's no display). When power is restored, the time is "reprogrammed" by the internal clock. Once the internal battery dies (it supposedly lasts 3-5 years) and there is a power outage, the clock will lose its settings and must be manually set!

Unlike other non-atomic clock radios (the GE 74894 comes to mind), this one DOES self-adjust for daylight savings time and leap years which is nice.

The clock radio seems to be very well made and has some really nice features including a display dimmer, weekend and/or non-weekend alarms (dual alarms), a nice large snooze button, and day-of-week indicators. The radio sounds a bit "tinny" and cheap, but this is a clock radio and not a boombox.

In summary, if you're looking for a genuine atomic clock radio, steer clear of this product. If you're looking for a clock radio that can ride out power outages without losing track of the time, and a radio with lots of nice features, then I'd recommend this one.