Customer Reviews

La Crosse Technology WT-8005U-B Atomic Digital Wall Clock with Indoor Temperature, Black

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(59)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(53)

 

 

Purchased to replace my trusted old Atomic clock (different brand) that worked for 5+ years.
Good and no frill design. Bought it at around $20.

Positives
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- Large and high contrast display, easy to read from far across a room
- Receiver is more sensitive (getting atomic clock signal immediately and during the day, when my old one was only correcting at night (Atomic clock RF signals travel better at night) about 10' from the nearest window). BTW, if you want to get the right clock immediately and during the day, go near a window with clear view to the outside and press clock sync button on the back for manual sync.
- Easy to follow instruction, and the web address for the instruction is printed right next to the battery compartment (handy, since we need to refer to instruction when we change the batteries)
- Simple timezone setting (one button to toggle four USA time zones) -- more on this on Neutral (below) also.
- Daylight Savings Time reflects the correct calendar period -- some of the older products somehow does not understand the new daylight savings time period in USA, but this one does.
- If you care about accuracy of the temperature display, mine was correct within 0.5 oF, compared to my lab instrument -- your clock's accuracy may vary :-).

Negative
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- Instruction is not clear for the first initialization. Could only select the timezone AFTER the clock searched for the Atomic clock signal... (a few minutes), but the instruction does not say that. I thought I had a faulty unit at first. Better instruction needed.

Neutral
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- MAKE SURE that you plan to use this clock in continental USA (ONLY the 4 time zones, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific). But then again, I don't think you could receive the atomic clock signal if you are outside of these zones in North America.

Helpful Hints
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- Fold up the instruction booklet and tape it near the battery compartment on the back -- you'll be glad you did in about 18+ months.
- I am a big fan of Atomic clocks -- one in almost every room in my house -- and found that most of the external temp sensor version needs battery changes every 6 month or so, while the non-external temp version, like this one, needs battery change every 12~24 months (all using alkaline batteries). So I use rechargeable for the clocks with external temp sensor (both the clock and the sensor) now, and alkaline batteries otherwise.

In Maryland it can be difficult to get a radio-controlled clock to pick up the time signal (it is sent from Colorado), so sometimes it is necessary to set the time manually. Unfortunately, a lot of atomic clocks make this very difficult, giving you only one or two cryptic buttons to use for settings, so it is either impossible to figure out how to set the time or it takes forever because of the clumsy controls. This clock was quick and easy to set up and I did not have to look at the manual at all.

The display and clear and easy to read.

Unlike most digital wall clocks this one includes the seconds -- some people may find the constant updates visually distracting.

I have several LaCrosse atomic clocks, and I have found them to be easy to set up, accurate and reliable. I have one that is five years old and is still going strong.
As well as keeping time and the date, I like being able to see the temperature in the room where it is located to accurately assess my air conditioning and heating unit.
Regular clocks always seem to have the slightest ticking that I find annoying when it is quiet. The atomic clocks do not have that ticking, and I am very pleased about that.
I was glad to get it on a gold box deal and got it on time early in the morning by FedEx. The only thing that I object to is that these atomic clocks do not have backlighting, so I can see the clock at night or in low lighting. If the company ever puts backlighting in, then I would call these clocks more than perfect.

La Crosse Technology WT-8005U-S
I have been using this clock for 3 months now.

It syncs with the atomic clock for some days in a week. Once the time is correct, it stays correct for few days as well.
But suddenly it loses sync with the atomic clock and then sets itself back to January 2000. This happens at least once every 2 weeks.
Moreover, after this sync loss, it doesn't correct itself upon next sync. It then has to corrected manually. This is a fail as a wall clock.

For me, this clock was a waste of money.

If someone knows how to turn off auto-sync with atomic clock, please leave that in comments. Much appreciated.

Great clock, except it does NOT work for Hawaii as there are only 4 US times Zones. It does not say that in the product descrition, so I was very disappointed. The ad was misleading.

First time to have a Atomic Clock. I have this clock for about four weeks now, and everything is working perfect. To start with I had to press the re-set button twice before it found the satellite signal, and set the time itself. We all were amazed. All you have to do is set the time zone and it does the rest. The numbers are large and easy to read, and it tells you the date automatically from the satellite signal as well. It even automatically changed to daylight savings time. The thermometer for the room temperature is a nice added extra. I wish it had a back light so I could see it in dark, but I guess then the batteries won't last 2yrs as they say. Best price and service from Amazon.

Clock quit after 3 weeks. Contacted Manufacturer(LaCrosse). They blamed the batteries. Replaced the batteries with Duracell coppertop with expiration date 7 years from present date. Clock quit (again) after 3 weeks. No manufacturer support. They won't back the warranty. Buyer beware!

Looks nice, seems to have the correct temperature but it doesn't work as a clock. It is currently 9:02AM July 30, 2010. It insists that it's 10:02 PM April 8. This has happened 3 times now. I reset it to the correct time and date. By the next morning it again advances the time by 13 hours and says it's April. Oh, yeah, tomorrow morning it won't correct itself. No, it'll be a random time. It will say, for instance, that it's 2 o'clock AM when it should say 9 o'clock AM. Therefore, it will have a lot of distracting irrelevant numbers for a thermometer. I only wish I could rate it a zero rather than a one star.

The first time I ordered this the cover for the battery compartment was missing. I tried to call La Crosse, but with no luck. I ordered a replacement - the replacement continuously beeps at random intervals and does not display the correct temperature (it is not 92 degrees F in my apartment). Neither unit synced to the atomic clock as advertised when placed in various locations. Very poor quality control, I'm not giving this a third try.

Bought this for a Father's Day gift and had to return it.
We couldn't get it to set correctly according to enclosed directions.
There must be problems with this company because there was a big note
inside that recommend you call them first before you return the clock.
Well the 800 number rings busy throught their business hours and if you
go to their on line support as suggested, it does not support this model
on line, it refers you to the 800 number!!!

Way too much trouble for a clock that should be a simple device.

We returned it and chose another.