Oregon Scientific RAR381-BK Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Digital Clock, Black

by Oregon Scientific

Product Features

• Wireless weather station with remote sensor and integrated clock
• Displays the day and month for easy reference
• Displays the minimum and maximum temperatures
• Customizable temperature alarm alerts user to high or low temperatures
• Wirelessly transmits weather data from 100 feet away; temperature range: -30 to 140 degrees F

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000H9V4HW
• Item model number: RAR381-BK
• Batteries: 4 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,261 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen)

Product Description

Stylish Temperature and Timing!! Monitors the indoor and outdoor temperature from up to three remote locations using wireless sensors (one sensor included). Displays three levels of temperature trends: rising, falling and steady. Features include a digital crescendo alarm clock with 8-minute snooze function.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beware of accuracy and Oregon Scinetific policy about accuracy, September 16, 2008

By 

A. Cohen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oregon Scientific RAR381-BK Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Digital Clock, Black (Kitchen)

I bought this unit to replace another unit from another vendor. The problem I had with my other unit was poor range of the wireless sender. I also wanted a temperature alarm because I will be using this in an RV and want to make sure my water compartment does not freeze.

The base is small and compact and the LCD is perhaps a little crowded but not terrible I would say. I do like the size.

My disappointments with this unit and remote are twofold.

I ran into a problem with accuracy on the remote... the temperature reported was 3 to 4 degrees off from the base unit temperature when they were sitting side by side. This was in comparison to the units I was replacing as well some other non wireless thermometers I used for comparison.

I proceeded to the Oregon Scientific web site and requested support on this issue online. Their site says you should get a response within 4 days. After 8 days, I had not received a response so I called the company and explained my issue. The following is what they told me.

After telling me who their products are not intended as scientifically calibrated instruments (I sensed they have heard this complaints before), they indicated that their policy is that a thermometer (or remote sender) can be plus or minus 2.5 degrees off from another unit. This is not 2.5 plus or minus from the real temperature but from the any other sender or base unit. I indicated that this could mean that a unit could be off 5 or 10 degrees from the real temperature and they answered that my interpretation was correct and that this is their policy. I did not accept the explanation from the first support agent so she handed me off to another support agent who reiterated the policy. Two different support people from Oregon Scientific had now told me the same thing.

I was not expecting perfection, but I guess since this unit is priced a little more than average that at least it would be somewhat accurate... maybe one to two degrees off at most. A I mentioned at least three other thermometers that I used to compare the results from this one were within about 1 degree of each other. The base unit on this one was close but the remote was significantly off.

To me it seems that Oregon Scientific's policy on accuracy is absurd.

One question I asked the support person is why didn't Oregon Scientific articulate this policy on the packaging so that a consumer could make a reasonable and informed choice based on that information... of course there was no answer.

I think that if the consumer knew how inaccurate a thermometer Oregon Scientific's policy allows their products to be, this knowledge would be detrimental to their sales. After all, isn't accuracy what a digital thermometer is all about? I know that had I known all this, I would not have bought this product.

I guess my reaction is that I had an incorrect perception of Oregon Scientific products being step up products.... Something a little better. Certainly their customer service response, their policies and the product itself suggests otherwise.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money!!, November 6, 2008

By 

Ron "Ron" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oregon Scientific RAR381-BK Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Digital Clock, Black (Kitchen)

I ordered this because it had all the features I needed at the right price. I received the merchandise quickly and installed the batteries. The main unit picked up the sensor just fine - UNTIL - if you set the clock or date, the signal is lost!! I repeated this experiment 3 times - at distances of 1", 10", and 10' - EVERY time the unit lost the sensors signal. The seller took care of me, but I do NOT recommend this product to anyone unless you like to buy Junk.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woiks like a champ!, January 6, 2008

By 

John D. Shepard "shep716" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oregon Scientific RAR381-BK Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Digital Clock, Black (Kitchen)

I had to replace an indoor/outdoor thermometer as the old one freezes up when it -- ahem -- freezes OUT. Oregon makes good stuff and this device is up to snuff. Batteries in the outdoor unit may require changing during long durations of frigid weather. But then, so don't we?