The Acu-Rite 00789 Atomic
Projection Alarm Clock with Indoor and Wireless Outdoor Temperature is a radio controlled clock with calendar, single daily alarm, and 8 minute snooze.
In its 2-line LCD panel, the 00789 simultaneously displays the time, the indoor temperature, and (as reported by the included wireless remote
sensor/transmitter) the outdoor
temperature. In the projected image
on wall or ceiling, the 00789 alternately displays the time (in 12-hour or
24-hour mode), the outdoor temperature,
and the indoor temperature in a bright red digital beam with consecutive
presses of the SNOOZE / LIGHT / PROJECTION bar on the top of the
clock. The 00789 can be powered
either from batteries or from the included ac adapter and is designed as a free-standing unit only.
When the clock is battery
powered, the projected display and the soft green LCD panel backlight turn off
automatically after 5 seconds unless you hold the bar depressed. When the clock
is powered from the included ac adapter, projection is continuous and the
backlight auto-off function still operates. A switch on the projection unit
lets you rotate the image 180°, and another switch on the other end of the clock
lets you disable the projection entirely if desired.
Its styling is simple,
modern, and handsome with its silver molded case and black accent panel
surrounding the display. In its LCD panel, the 00789 simultaneously displays not only the time and indoor temperature but also the remote/outdoor temperature from a location up to
100 feet (30 meters) away. In the
time display, you can select either seconds or weekday along with
hour and minutes. Front-panel
pushbuttons make setting up and using the 00789 very easy.
Perfect for any location, you'll
appreciate the absolute accuracy and the convenient features of the 00789
atomic projection clock with thermometer. Because this clock is atomic, it sets
itself automatically, never needs resetting, and
adjusts automatically twice a year for Daylight Saving Time (DST). If you live
in a location that does not observe DST (
Arizona and parts of
Indiana), you can easily disable the DST time change
function. Also, you can disable automatic setting of time and date and set the
clock manually if you wish.
At 5-7/8 inches wide by
4-5/16 inches tall by 2 inches deep, the 00789 should fit comfortably on almost
any nightstand. The clock's LCD panel is about 2-1/2 inches wide by 1-/8 inches
high and has a 2-line display. In the upper line, hour and minutes appear in
bold digits 5/8 inch tall, with seconds digits or weekday characters about half
that size. In the lower line, indoor and outdoor temperatures appear in digits
3/8 inch tall, with tenths of a degree and °C or °F about half that size.
Additional information in
the upper line of the display includes a time zone icon (
U.S. map) and a time-signal search and reception icon
(radio tower and waves). Additional information in the lower line includes a
DST-on icon (sun face) and an alarm-on icon (speaker and sound waves).
The 00789's projected time
and temperature display is among the brightest among projection units and the
display is one of the easiest to read. This is not only because of the
brightness but also because the digits are quite bold (not skinny like those of
some projection clocks). Also, the projector focus works well. One test I read
about took the clock into a low-light environment and tried the projector. With
the clock about 6 feet from the ceiling (the maximum distance specified for
many projection clocks), the estimated height of the digits was about 4 to 5
inches. They used the projector FOCUS knob to bring them into sharp focus. Then
they put the clock on the floor and pressed the SNOOZE / LIGHT / PROJECTION bar
again. At 10 feet, the projected display on the ceiling was still bright and
sharp enough to read easily (and, naturally, even larger at about 6 to 7
inches). This is excellent performance.
During normal operation, you
can change a number of display selections at the push of a button without
having to go into setup mode. You use the MODE button to display seconds,
weekday, or alarm time (for viewing or setting). You use the UP (12/24) button
to select 12-hour or 24-hour time format. And you use the DOWN (C/F) button to
select °C or °F as the temperature unit. By the way, in 12-hour time format, AM
or PM is displayed to the left of the time.
The included wireless remote
temperature sensor is styled similarly to the clock, although its color is a
little darker. This wall-mount remote has its own temperature display for local
viewing (selectable for °C or °F) and comes with a detachable probe on a
10-foot (3-meter) cord. Without the probe, the operating temperature range of
the remote and also of the clock is 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C).
Like the clock, the
temperature remote requires two AA (1.5V) batteries. While alkaline batteries
are fine for use in the remote under moderate temperature conditions, the
manufacturer recommends that lithium AA batteries be used instead if the remote
will be used in temperatures below 32°F (0°C). Batteries for the remote and the
clock are not included and must be obtained separately.
Note: If there are batteries
in the clock and the adapter is connected to the clock before it is plugged
into the ac outlet, battery power is disconnected and the clock ceases
operation until the adapter is plugged into the outlet.
Under extremely cold or hot
conditions, the remote should be brought inside and the probe attached and used
outside. The probe's operating temperature range is -58°F to +158°F (-50°C to
+70°C). The instructions tell you that the probe should always be used in
temperature ranges of -58°F to +32°F (-50°C to 0°C) and +122 °F to +158°F
(+50°C to +70°C).
The Acu-Rite 00789 atomic
projection clock with thermometer looks good, has lots of features and
functionality (including a bright and bold projected display), and is priced
very reasonably.
Features:
- Atomic clocks receive daily 60kHz WWVB
time-synchronization radio signal from
U.S. atomic clock in
Colorado. Maintains accurate timekeeping to within one
second of official
U.S. government time. Radio signal effective in the
continental
U.S.
- Automatic time and date adjustment after signal
reception.
- Manual clock setting is also possible.
- Daylight Saving Time (DST) on/off option.
- Radio tower and waves icon indicates successful
signal reception.
- Time is displayed as hour and minutes in both
the LCD panel and the projected display.
- Time format is user-selectable for 12-hour or
24-hour, with AM or PM displayed in 12-hour mode.
- Clock's single daily alarm has an available
8-minute snooze function.
- In LCD panel, either seconds or weekday (a
two-letter abbreviation in English) can be displayed along with hour and
minutes.
- In LCD panel, indoor and outdoor temperatures
are displayed below the time.
- LCD panel has a soft green backlight for night
viewing.
- Projected information (in red) includes time,
outdoor temperature, and indoor temperature. These are alternately selected
by pressing the SNOOZE / LIGHT / PROJECTION bar.
- Projector can be angled to display the time on
wall or ceiling and rotated 180° by setting a switch.
- Projected image can be focused for maximum
sharpness at any distance within projection range. (Maximum distance is
not specified, but we found the display quite readable at 10 feet.)
- Projected display and LCD panel backlight have
5-second auto-off when clock is battery powered.
- Projection is continuous when clock is powered
by included ac adapter (in which case LCD panel backlight auto-off still
operates).
- Projection can be disabled entirely (via switch)
if desired.
- Clock's single daily alarm has an available
8-minute snooze function.
- Both clock and remote sensor can display
temperatures in °F or °C.
- Maximum transmission range for remote sensor is
100 feet (30 meters).
- Low-battery icon appears both in outdoor
temperature display on clock and in display on remote sensor when
batteries in remote need to be replaced.
- Clock and remote each require two AA (1.5V)
alkaline batteries (not included) unless clock is powered from included ac
adapter. For the remote, lithium AA batteries are recommended instead of
alkaline for use in sub-freezing temperatures.
- Clock is free-standing, and remote is wall-mounted.
- Instruction manual included
Dimensions:
- Clock: 5-7/8 in. wide x 4-5/16 in. tall x 2 in.
deep
- Remote sensor: 3 in. wide x 4-1/2 in. high x 3/4
in. deep
Note: This product has "atomic" clock
functionality. Atomic, or Radio Controlled clocks receive a radio signal to set
themselves. Like any radio receiver however, they may not be able to receive
the signal if they are in a building with a lot of steel in the structure, near
computers or other electrical equipment that may generate interference, or if
the weather is unsuitable. The signal they receive does not propagate well
during the day. That's the nature of the signal, not the clock. These clocks
are designed to catch the signal when they can, generally in the middle of the
night, calibrate themselves, and then run quite accurately for days until they
can catch another signal. When you first put in the batteries, they will most
likely not set themselves until the middle of the night. That's normal. By
morning, weather permitting, it should be correct. Under less than ideal
conditions, it could take a few days. Daylight savings time changes may not be
made the first night if location and weather are not favorable.