Customer Reviews

Oregon Scientific RMR382-B Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Atomic Clock, Black

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(35)

 

 

So far the device has entirely lived up to expectations. Atomic Clock feature works fine and the range and accuracy on the remote sensor seems fair enough -- there is often about a 1-2 degree difference between the sensor and main unit if set right next to each other, but this is minor for the uses we get out of it (a quick look at outside temps during the winter).

The only issue we ran into that was "problematic" was the Ice Alarm feature. This feature sets off the devices alarm anytime the temperature drops between 32 and 27 degrees or so to alert you to possible icy conditions. The problem is that in cold climates the temperature hovers in that range all winter long...so the alarm goes off continually every 40 seconds or so.

We just happened upon a solution that has worked perfectly. The ice alarm only works on Channel 1. So, if you set the outside sensor to Channel 2 or 3 the ice alarm is disabled and is no longer triggered. Obviously, they should have an ability to shut it off, but this is it...and even this isn't listed in the instructions.

Product does what it is supposed to do. The readout is large and easy to see. Only complaint is there should be a way to turn off the freeze warning audible alarm which is irritating. It goes off continually. The only way to silence it is to set the outside unit on a different channel than channel 1. Perhaps Oregon should consider doing away with this feature.

I was dissapointed by the inaccurate temperature readings on this wireless Oregon Scientific item (RMR382A-BK). I placed the external sensor right next to the inside main base unit (with its own sensor) and the temperature was measured as 77.5 degrees on the external sensor, and 74.5 degrees on the base unit (the inside part). The actual room temperature was 73 degrees. This is hardly what I'd decribe as accurate measurements and certainly isn't what I expected.

I called Oregon Scientific and their customer service person said, "They are built with an expected five degree +/- variation." I replied that is a huge range for a digital thermometer and that I can get that kind of "accuracy" from a spring or mercury style thermometer. I also found it interesting that nowhere on the box or in the instructions is this five degree +/- range of accuracy mentioned.

The customer service rep didn't seem to really care about my issue, and keep trying to act like this is "OK" and should be "acceptable" and inferred that if I wanted better accuracy I should purchase one of their more expensive models.

We'll, it's not OK to make crappy products, especially with the Oregon Scientific name on them. The RMR328A will be going back to the store tomorrow and I'll be looking for another manufacturer that hopefully has a little tighter standard for their thermometer's accuracy.

The Oregon Scientific name used to stand for quality. It seems that this is no longer the case. At least on this model anyway. And the customer service response that "this is somehow OK and acceptable" is beyond me.

Oh, and by the way, I noticed that this thermometer (as well as many of their other wireless models) is manufactured in China. I wonder if this is part of the problem?

Jim Bailey
Lake Oswego, OR

My Son-in-law bought this to use in Alaska. The Atomic clock works within 4000 miles of Ft Collins, Co, which doesn't include Alaska. So he set the time manually and it worked for a few weeks, then picked up WWV just long enough to set the clock... to Pacific time. Turns out the clock only has 4 time zones, and doesn't include HI or AK. Customer service couldn't help. Each time he reset it to AK time it worked for awhile then reset to Pacfic time. The wrong time is worse than no time at all. So he gave it to me. I live in NM.

I had the same problem as another reviewer.... freeze alarm constantly waking me up at night. Instructions and customer service no help. Solution was to set remote to channel 2 which has no freeze alarm.

The folks at Oregon Scientific must be related to the Word programmers at Microsoft. They try to come up with overly helpful features which only annoy. And they are no help trying to correct.

Once we relocated this device to New Mexico and figured how to get around the annoying freeze alarm, it works fine. Batteries last MUCH longer than in other brands I have used. And it seems very accurate, gauging by the ice on the dog's dish. UPDATE - have been using it almost 2 years still going strong on the initial lithium battery in the transmitter.

First, the ONLY reason to buy this thermometer (as opposed to another thermometer) is because of the Freeze alarm feature.

So lets talk about that ...

The freeze alarm goes off at 32F +/- 5 degrees. So what really happens. As the temp drops the freeze alarm goes off at 37F. You press the alarm silence button. So far so good.

Now the temp drops to 27F ... the alarm goes off again. Not good, but you silence it. Temp drops some more than warms up to 27F. Alarm goes off again. Continues to warm up through 37F. Alarm goes off AGAIN. Four alarms for ONE freeze event. By now you've had a horrible night sleep.

But wait there's more. Let's say nature isn't perfectly linear and the temp drops to 36.9F (Alarm goes off). Then ten minutes later the temp is 37.1F (Alarm goes off again). Nature continues to vary and the alarm goes off every FEW minutes until you want to throw the thing in the trash.

But I NEED a freeze alarm. And there is NO other inexpensive alarm that I can find in the internet.

So, I drilled a hole in the side and put in a switch from Radio Shack that disconnects the ALARM buzzer. Now when the alarm goes off I ignore the 'alarm' silence button and flip my extra switch OFF and no more alarm. I reset the switch the next time I need the alarm.

This device is a great idea but a horrible application.

I recently received this unit as a gift. It is very nice looking, and it works well.
The only problem I had was figuring out how to change the time zone from Pacific time to Eastern time. The manual says to press the ZONE button. The manual neglects to say that the ZONE button is inside the battery compartment.

I own many Oregon Scientific thermometers, here are some suggestions to simplify it`s setup. For single, or multiple sensors to work, you need to have all outdoor sensors next to you along with the main unit. First, select a different channel number for each external unit (or select channel 2 or 3 for a single unit to disable the freeze alarm), install the batteries, then press the reset button on each as soon as you install them. Next, install the batteries in the base unit, press the reset, and if using multiple sensors, wait to get a reading on one of the channels. Then toggle the channel button to make sure your getting a reading on all of them. For a single, select the channel on the base unit to match the one you set in the outdoor sensor. Then you may install the sensors in your desired location. If you lose the signal, you have an obstruction. Now for battery changes. If the base unit needs to be changed, you only need to change them and hit the reset button to get the signal back. If you need to replace the outdoor sensor battery, you`ll need to do the initial setup all over again (hint, use lithium batteries). On the clock. If your having trouble with the atomic clock you can disable it. Press and hold the down button on the back of the main unit for a few seconds. Then press and hold the mode button for a few seconds, the clock will flash. You can then set the time zone, 12 or 24 hr display, and set the time and date manually. After each selection you make, press the mode button to confirm, and to move on to the next selection.

*************UPDATE*********** The older model sensors (THN138), even though they (supposedly) use the same 433mhz, WILL NOT work with this base unit. Likewise, the sensor that comes with this unit will not give a signal to my older head units. WHY? In order for this model to work, you MUST use the included sensor. And to add insult to injury, EVERY morning the signal is lost. It has to be reset by holding the mem/ch button EVERYTIME. The quality of Oregon Scientific has dropped drastically. I no longer recommend their latest products.

I like the unit, but the outdoor sensors should be waterproofed.

Also, the ice alert thing that beeps when the temperature is between 29 & 37 is about the worst idea they could have come up with. The winter in Chicago hits those numbers about 80% of the time. Very annoying. And even worse, you can't turn it off easily. The tip below about changing it to sensor 2 or 3 is the only way to go.

Plus, c'mon, like we're not going to notice if it's cold or icy and need that beep anyway.

The first thermometer I was sent was defective. The link between the main unit and the remote sensor dropped after about 30 minutes, so the unit failed to display an outdoor temperature. Thinking there might be some obstacle interfering with the signal, I brought the remote sensor back indoors and tried placing it side-by-side with the main unit (i.e. no obstacles). That didn't fix the problem, so I tried resetting both the main unit and the remote sensor, switching out the batteries (even though the batteries were from a brand new pack), etc., but the link between the main unit and remote sensor never came back up.

So I exchanged the first defective thermometer for a second thermometer. The main unit and remote sensor on the second thermometer had no communication problems, however, the indoor temperature as measured by the main unit was consistently 5 to 6 degrees off. What good is a thermometer that can't tell you the correct temperature? I tried resetting the unit and waited 48 hrs for it to calibrate, but it just never came close to the correct indoor temperature (the outdoor temperature, however, was correct).

So I returned the second defective thermometer, too. I have completely given up on this particular product and am back to looking for a good indoor/outdoor thermometer.

This instrument has a problem that is a real nuisance.The alarm goes on randomly, at all hours day or night.I went to their website,I never heard from them.I opened the case and clipped one of the beeper wires.No more beeping.