Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio Review

I was looking for a high-quality alarm clock after about 12 years with an unimpressive Sony Dreammachine. This clock delivered on that front, and unlike most consumer electronics devices I've purchased in the past several years, it is clear that lots of thought was put into this device (and very little into the manual).

PROS:
There are tons of little nuances that the manual does not detail that I've discovered using the clock for a few weeks. For example the display can be dimmed with a dial on the bottom (which on my unit did not take effect until my alarm goes off the first time). The clock remains dimmed at your preset level, but goes to full brightness when the alarm goes off, making the clock easier to find. Combined with the pleasing blue light and the HWS (makes the alarm bell go from soft to loud) it's really nice to wake up to.

Another thoughtful touch is that alarm indicators only light within 24 hours of your alarm. Either alarm can be set to go off on particular days, with any combination of Su-Sa set for each alarm (i.e. alarm1 can be set for Monday, Thursday and Sunday, no weekday/weekend restrictions like some others). The alarm indicators however only light up when your alarm will ring the next morning. Very nice.

Other functions like the snooze, nap timers, etc. all work well. Like most alarms you need some time to figure out how it works, but after a few mornings most functions were intuitive.

The radio functions well, and pulls in way more stations than the Dreammachine. The speaker is fine, that is to say neither exceptionally good or exceptionally poor. If I want the ultimate music experience, I have an expensive stereo for that.

The clock is a true atomic time clock (not just a "preset" clock like many others). I don't know all the nuances of atomic cock synchronization, but the weather and location of the antenna seem to affect the two atomic clocks I have at home. Try moving the antenna towards the window if you have problems.

CONS
It is nicer than average plastic and construction, but still not going to win any design awards. I can't figure out why all alarm clock designs are frozen in 1992.

The manual was clearly written by a bunch of engineers. It is no nonsense, and explains how to set/use everything, but does not mention any of the usability features I noted above. For example if it's Monday and you set an alarm for thursday, You might wonder why the alarm indicators do not all light up. No mention at all in the manual. I thought the clock was broken since the dimmer did not function until the first time an alarm went off. Again, no mention in the manual of what turned out to be a very nice feature, and one I almost returned the clock for!

Another example is the unwieldly "Time Machine" antenna for the atomic clock. It is big and odd looking, but fits nicely to the back of the clock. Again, no mention in the manual save for a single line drawing.

When I initially plugged the clock in, all kinds of crytic numbers flashed on the display while it synced the time, again, no mention of what was happening or why in the manual. The manual does tell you how to DO everything, but does not explain WHY certain things work the way they do, or explain the various nice features someone clearly took time to think through.

Overal a great buy, especially for something you'll likely use every day for 5-15 years. I would like to see a better manual, autodimming of the display (it is BRIGHT when set to max), Sangean using a designer that is somewhat current, and perhaps a user manual rewrite, other than that, this clock works very well and will be on my nightstand for years to come.

I agonized over what to put on my nightstand (everything from Bose to Timex) and am very happy with my choice.

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Product Description:
Sangean's RCR-22 Clock Radio is the atomic clock radio you can set once and forget.It connects to the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado to set the most accurate time available.Once the clock is set you can program the dual alarms to wake to your favorite AM or FM station.Take advantage of the Humane Waking System that begins with a low volume beep and gradually increases in intensity to slowly wake you instead of receiving a firm jolt that others provide.There is also a handy sleep timer that allows you to fall asleep listening to your favorite radio station from 15 minutes up to 2 hours.You can also connect your iPod or a CD player to the auxiliary input to enjoy your favorite soothing sounds CD or digital music collection to fall asleep.

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Emerson CKS3516 SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with Time Projection System Review

This review refers to the CKS3528 model, which I purchased from Amazon's partner, Target. The only difference between my model and this one is that the clock projection has a selectable color filter on the CKS3528. This unit listed here does not.

I purchased this clock for the large digit display and projection functions. So far both are working out quite nicely. The display is not too bright at night, when the dimmer is set to low. It is still quite readable in a lit room. The projection is too dim to read if the room is lit, but it works nicely in the dark. I am nearsighted, but I have no problem reading the ceiling display with my glasses off at night. I'd guess the digits are about 10 inches high on my ceiling. The projection is also not so bright that it lights up the room or keeps me awake.

The smart set function is little more than a preset internal clock that lives off a lithium battery when it is not plugged in. The manual says the battery will last 3 years even if the unit is never plugged in, and should last 5+ years when used normally. The clock allows you to change the time settings yourself (if you like your clock 5-10 minutes fast, or if the time ever drifts) and the internal memory will keep the new time setting. This is a nice improvement over the RCA version that I replaced, which had drifted about 2 minutes off and could not be corrected.

The clock knows 7 times zones: Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Yukon, and Hawaiian. Since you can change the internal time memory anyway, I imagine it would be pretty easy to use this in any zone and just fix the time shift once. However, the clock obeys the 2007 US daylight savings time rules: starting 2nd Sunday of March, ending 1st Sunday of November. There does not appear to be a way to turn DST off. So, if your state or country does not follow these rules, you'll have to change the time or timezone every time the DST changes do not match your area.

The radio is set by an analog dial. The dial indicator lights up when the clock is plugged in, but it's still not easy to tell by the display what channel number you have set. It doesn't seem to drift very badly, but my chosen wake-up station is pretty strong in my area. I'd have preferred a digital tuner.

There are two alarms. Each can be set to wake by buzzer or radio. Each alarm can be set to run for 7-days, 5-days (Mon-Fri), or 2-days (Sat-Sun). The buzzer alarms wake by crescendo, that is, they start softly and increase in volume. I can't comment on how loud they get, since I don't use buzzer alarms. The wake by radio function works nicely, coming on directly to the volume that you have preset. To turn off the buzzer alarms, you have to find one of the tiny (1) or (2) alarm buttons among the many on top of the unit. To turn off the radio alarm, you can also hit the much larger Radio On/Off button on the right end of the unit. The snooze button is large and easy to find in the middle. Snooze is fixed at 9 minutes.

I recommend this clock to anyone who likes to wake up to a radio, and who lives in a US timezone following the new DST rules. My only complaint is the lack of a digital radio tuner.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Emerson CKS3516 SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with Time Projection System

Product Description:
Enjoy true ease of operation and convenience with Emerson's SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock with Time Projection System.With Emerson's exclusive SmartSet Auto Time-Setting Technology, the clock automatically sets itself to the correct date and time as soon as you plug it in.Not only does it feature an easy-to-read display, but the projection system also shows the time in brilliant red numbers on your wall or ceiling.Programmable dual alarms can also be set for weekday only, weekend only, or every day operation.

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Honeywell PCR426W Weather Forecaster with Dual Projection and Atomic Clock Review

I also purchased this unit on line & followed the directions to the letter. It works perfectly!!!! This is the fourth projection weather clock I bought & the only one I am keeping.If you follow the directions, the outside weather comes on & then the inside. I manually set the clock, & the next day the atomic time set itself & works perfectly. The Back light works either continuously or put it on auto & it comes on as the room darkens. I was a little skeptical when I bought it, but couldn't be happier now.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Honeywell PCR426W Weather Forecaster with Dual Projection and Atomic Clock

Product Description:
With a new double-tool design, the Honeywell PCR426W Weather Forecaster with Dual Projection and Atomic Clock boasts an elegant glossy finish that is perfect for modern decors. The Honeywell PCR426W is the quickest, most accurate, and most convenient way of keeping track of the weather in and around your home or office.
The PCR426W allows you to monitor temperatures in up to three remote locations at the same time, while simultaneously providing you with the most accurate timekeeping available. This system comes with a compact main display unit and a single, water-resistant Honeywell TS13C remote temperature sensor that can be used both indoors and out. And with an effective transmission range of up to 100 feet, you can install the remote sensor most anywhere in or near the house. If you need to know the temperature in multiple locations, you can purchase up to two more TS13C remote sensors and use them all with the same main display unit. The main unit even includes a remote channel auto-scan function so you don't have to cycle through multiple sensors manually. And not only does this system display the temperature, but provides you with a 12- to 24-hour weather forecast with six easy-to-interpret, large graphical icons.
The PCR426W utilizes easy-to-read digits on a bright, red backlit LCD display that allows you to read its information at a glance day or night. The screen displays the current temperatures at both the main display, and the remote sensor location in either Celsius or Fahrenheit depending upon your selection. As an added convenience, this system contains a programmable ice warning alarm, which lets you know when a frost is predicted so you can take precautions. Users will also delight in this system's wide outdoor temperature range, which can range from -38 to 158 degrees F when powered by lithium batteries, making it suitable for virtually any application. Perhaps one of the coolest features on the PCR426W though is its dual projection display that projects the time, graphical weather forecast, and remote sensor temperature on your wall or ceiling. The projection display is operated via touch-key programming, and includes a focus adjustment, an enhanced backlight, and an image control with a 180-degree rotation or flip.
More than just a personal weather station, the PCR426W includes a built-in clock that displays the current time in 12-hour format, and features a light sensor that detects low-light conditions and lights up the LCD display. And this clock really will display the current time, since it receives radio signals from the U.S. Atomic Clock in Fort Collins, Colorado. Not only does this consistently adjust the clock to within one second of official U.S. government, but automatically adjusts the time for Daylight Savings Time as well. What's more, this clock comes with dual alarms that feature a crescendo tone and a snooze function, as well as a calendar with month and day readings in English, Spanish, and French. As convenient as it is accurate, the display unit fits easily on your desktop and can go wherever you do. The main display can be plugged in to the included AC/DC power adapter to allow continuous projection, or can run on four AA batteries (not included) when you are traveling. The remote sensor runs on two AA batteries (not included), while all units are backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Honeywell PCR426W long-range weather forecaster and clock with dual projection, AC/DC power adapter for main unit, 1 x Honeywell TS13C remote sensor, user's guide and warranty information.

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