Oregon Scientific Genoa Motion Activated Atomic Wall Clock

[Da3vid]

@Bezalel

This clock doesn’t get signals from WWVB in Fort Collins. Instead it gets its signal from MSF in Rugby or DCF in Frankfurt. It you are intending to use this clock in the USA you will have to set the time manually.

Man, am I glad I read this post! I was about to buy.

[jamesbottomtooth]

walmart pic shows a power adapter, maybe you don’t need 7 batteries if you plug it in.

[YouCantWootThis]

@rbarkus

From Amazon re the same model:

"Amazon.Com Product Description
A wall clock, alarm clock and nightlight in one, Oregon Scientific’s innovative Genoa motion detection ensures you’ll never search for the clock as you enter a room again. When motion is detected in the dark, the nightlight and wall clock backlight temporarily activate for easy nighttime viewing. The clock automatically synchronizes itself with the US Atomic Clock and never needs adjusting for Daylight Savings Time. Time and indoor/outdoor temperature data displays on a large LCD screen for easy reading from across the room. The clock also features a month/day calendar. Choose between several display languages including: English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. "

Perhaps Oregon Scientific just didn’t post the manual for the USA version.

Hmmm, I wasn’t able to find this thing on Amazon.com. Can you provide a link?

I bought one, thinking that the atomic clock isn’t critical if I can set it manually. I just thought it would be nice to light the way when my wife gets up at night… I sure wish woot.com would actually answer this question since it seems to be limiting the number of people that want to buy it…

[4Ward]

From the clock’s manual
“RF Clock Frequency System DCF77 (EU) or MSF60 (UK)”

From the Wikipedia article about WWV, a US based radio time broadcaster, there is a footnote about other radio time signal stations

“Time signal stations
Longwave DCF77 · HBG · JJY · MSF · TDF · WWVB
Shortwave BPM · CHU · RWM · WWV · WWVH · YVTO
GNSS time transfer Beidou · Galileo · GLONASS · GPS · IRNSS”

This implies that this clock does not receive the US based time code, as the receiver is an entirely different (Longwave as opposed to shortwave) frequency.

[Digital_One_Studios]

@famlane

the motion detector is totally separate unit. i wounder how the whole thing will look on the wall.

Click on the picture on the main page it shows the detector

[kene]

if this clock only syncs to europe time,
then i wonder if the date display is also
euro-style (DD/MM) vs US (MM/DD)?

[THISGUY2007]

I’m with most of you guys, I think to use it in USA, you’ll have to manually set it.

[BigD]

This clock does function in the US, it will sync with the atomic clock in Colorado.

According to the Oregon Scientific’s customer service (1-800-853-8883), it can take between 20 minutes and 24 hours for the unit to receive the first signal from the U.S. Atomic clock. Also, they recommend that you make sure that the signal in the middle of the clock is showing the “strong” signal, which is the backwards “C” with three pulsing bars. If it is not showing that, it may never connect to the Atomic clock. They recommend that the clock be moved away from other radio signal devices, TV, radio, etc. Close to an outside window with a view of the sky is the best place.

[YouCantWootThis]

@BigD

This clock does function in the US, it will sync with the atomic clock in Colorado.

According to the Oregon Scientific’s customer service (1-800-853-8883), it can take between 20 minutes and 24 hours for the unit to receive the first signal from the U.S. Atomic clock. Also, they recommend that you make sure that the signal in the middle of the clock is showing the “strong” signal, which is the backwards “C” with three pulsing bars. If it is not showing that, it may never connect to the Atomic clock. They recommend that the clock be moved away from other radio signal devices, TV, radio, etc. Close to an outside window with a view of the sky is the best place.

Thanks for calling them. Can you update the product description to clarify that it works on the US atmic clock, too? I think you will sell more if you do… based on how few items have sold through previous days on sellout.woot, I don’t think the average Yahoo Shopping patron understands how to decipher woot’s creative descriptions…

[warrenhj]

@BigD

This clock does function in the US, it will sync with the atomic clock in Colorado.

I’m totally in for 3. Have an older relative with little use of her hands-- constantly resetting her regular clocks is an ordeal. Bonus is the room temp. “see, grandma, I told you it was way too cold in here.”

[warrenhj]

@YouCantWootThis

… based on how few items have sold through previous days on sellout.woot, I don’t think the average Yahoo Shopping patron understands how to decipher woot’s creative descriptions…

It doesn’t help that the sellout.woot area is ‘below the fold’… you have to scroll to get to it! I was expecting some more ‘pop,’ but the woot module just looks like some other ad or something, hanging out at the bottom… If Yahoo! expects to make some money off of this deal, they better hype it better.

[Bezalel]

@4Ward

From the clock’s manual
“RF Clock Frequency System DCF77 (EU) or MSF60 (UK)”

From the Wikipedia article about WWV, a US based radio time broadcaster, there is a footnote about other radio time signal stations

“Time signal stations
Longwave DCF77 · HBG · JJY · MSF · TDF · WWVB
Shortwave BPM · CHU · RWM · WWV · WWVH · YVTO
GNSS time transfer Beidou · Galileo · GLONASS · GPS · IRNSS”

This implies that this clock does not receive the US based time code, as the receiver is an entirely different (Longwave as opposed to shortwave) frequency.

Actually atomic clocks normally syncronize using WWVB. WWV (and WWVH) have a voice channel in addition to a data stream making it a less than ideal source for atomic clocks.

[leonbev]

Genius! I can use this to find out when it’s time to eat some hot wings!

[cshupe]

This is sold as a “low-vision” clock for people who can’t see well, hence the large size numerals…
I think the flaw is “7 AA batteries”. I think the first set is included, but…

[to0w1r3d]

4 batteries for the clock - 3 batteries for the remote sensor.

[liammc]

@Bezalel

This clock doesn’t get signals from WWVB in Fort Collins. Instead it gets its signal from MSF in Rugby or DCF in Frankfurt. It you are intending to use this clock in the USA you will have to set the time manually.

Thank you. Can back before the next item to purchase. No need now.

Again Thank you.

[jdiegs]

I would love to buy one but only if it has a AC adapter. I am not going to pay to constantly put in 7 batteries. I know it is only minutes from a new woot. Does anyone know if this has an AC adapter with it?

[liammc]

@jdiegs

I would love to buy one but only if it has a AC adapter. I am not going to pay to constantly put in 7 batteries. I know it is only minutes from a new woot. Does anyone know if this has an AC adapter with it?

Motion Activated so I am guessing no. But not 100% sure.

[Trillian123]

Hmmm… Dallas Texas to Lawrence Kansas

September 25, 2007 1:34 PM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA
September 22, 2007 1:55 AM Sortation Center Arrival NEW BERLIN, WI
September 21, 2007 7:00 AM Sortation Center Departure DALLAS, TX
September 19, 2007 6:31 PM Sortation Center Arrival DALLAS, TX
September 19, 2007 6:28 PM Pickup CARROLLTON, TX

“Smartpost” Indeed

[YouCantWootThis]

My clock arrived today. This is the kewlest thing ever. My only complaint is that the backlight isn’t orange as advertised, it is closer to the pail-green like most LCD clocks.

So, to answer the questions - it DOES synch to the boulder atomic clock, and the motion sensor came with an A/C adapter. The clock can only run on batteries.

I wish I’d bought more than one of these!