La Crosse Technology WT-3143H Quick Setup Instructions
WT-3143H
Radio Controlled Analog Clock
Quick Setup Instructions
Welcome to the world of atomic timekeeping technology. We hope you
will enjoy the convenience of never having to set your clock again and
the confidence of knowing exactly what time it is.
A locking pin may be placed into the movement at the factory to
prevent shifting of the hands during shipment. Remove the locking
pin directly below the Reset button. This will unlock the hands and
enable the clock to set itself after receiving the signal.
Set the clock to your time zone by moving the indicator arrow to
appropriate zone: P (UTC-8 Pacific Time), M (UTC-7 Mountain
Time), C (UTC-6 Central Time), E (UTC-5 Eastern Time)
Enable the Daylight Savings Time Auto Adjust feature by moving
the DST switch to “ON”. If you are in a time zone that does not
follow DST, make sure you set the DST mode to “OFF”. The
Daylight Savings Time feature is disabled when the switch is set to
“OFF”.
Insert 1 new AA, LR6 1.5 volt ALKALINE battery in the analog
clock battery compartment according to the polarity marked on the
case.
Once the battery is installed, the radio reception mode is activated
and the second, minute and hour hands will automatically reset to
the 12:00 position. Once the hands are in the 12:00 position, the
movement will start searching for the radio signal. The search
procedures takes approximately 3 to 10 minutes after all hands
have set to the 12:00 position. If a signal is found within the first 3
to 10 minutes, the clock will set to the correct time. If the clock
does not receive a radio signal soon after activated, the clock will
start running from the 12:00 position and will continue to run. In
this case, do not attempt to reset the hands manually even though
the time displayed on the clock is incorrect. The clock is
synchronizing to the WWVB signal and once the radio signal is
decoded, the hands will automatically adjust to the correct time.
The
WAVE button can be used to attempt an enforced signal
receipt. To activate, hold the WAVE button down for 3+ seconds.
Once the WAVE feature is activated, the hands will automatically
reset to the 12:00 position, and the movement will attempt to
enforce a signal receipt from Fort Collins, CO. If the movement
successfully receives the signal, the clock will reset automatically to
the correct time. Generally, the signal enforced receipt takes
approximately 3-8 minutes. If the clock still fails to receive the
signal while in the WAVE mode, the clock will automatically leave
the WAVE mode. In this case, set the clock manually according to
instructions below and the time keeping function will be controlled
by the movement’s micro-CPU.
Manual Set: On rare occasions in certain areas, the clock may not
be able to utilize the radio-controlled function because of either the
strength of the signal or the geographic location. In this case, the
clock can be set manually and used as a regular quartz wall clock.
If it is necessary to set the clock manually, press and hold the SET
button for 3+ seconds to activate the manual mode. Once the
clock is in manual mode, there are two ways to move the minute
hand forward. Hold the SET button down to move the minute hand
forward consistently. Or, press the SET button rapidly (more than
once per second) to move the minute hand forward step by step (in
minute increments). Use these features to move the minute hand
forward until the correct time is set. The clock will automatically
leave manual mode after the SET button is not pressed for 6+
seconds.
Reset: If the clock does not respond to the various function
modes, you can reset the clock by pressing the RESET button on
the movement case.
Internal Synchronization: Once the clock has been set correctly
by the radio signal, the clock’s CPU operates continuously. To
ensure accuracy, the clock synchronizes the position of the second
and minute hands to the time calculated by the CPU every day.
Second hand synchronization occurs at 1:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
and minute hand synchronization occurs between 1:50 and 2:01
am every day.
Signal Interference: In some cases, the signal can be affected by
weather conditions and electrical interferences, or the location of
the clock itself may result in poor reception. If the clock has not
synchronized to the correct time within a few days of activation, you
may wish to move the clock to a different location. Try to place it
near an outside wall closest to the direction of Colorado. Avoid
placing the clock near electrical items such as TVs, microwave
ovens and computers.
NOTHING IS MORE PRECISELY MEASURED THAN TIME!
Since the beginning of time, man has been fascinated with the
measurement of time and has devised more accurate machines to trap
and measure time. Today, time is precisely measured in the United
States by the most accurate clock in North America, the Atomic Clock of
the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, Time and
Frequency Division in Boulder, Colorado. A team of atomic physicists
continually measures every second of every day to an accuracy of ten
billionths of a second per day. These physicists have created an
international standard, measuring a second as 9,192,631,770 vibrations
of a Cesium 133 atom in a vacuum. This atomic clock regulates the
WWVB radio transmitter located in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the
exact time signal is continuously broadcast throughout the United States
at 60 kHz to take advantage of stable long wave radio paths found in that
frequency range. Radio waves at these low frequencies use the earth
and the ionosphere as a wave-guide and follow the curvature of the earth
for long distances.
The built in antenna system will receive the WWVB signal anywhere in
North America within 2000 miles of Fort Collins where long-wave radio
reception is undisturbed. A microprocessor activates the receiver and
processes the time signal from Fort Collins overnight.
Through the radio signals, La Crosse Technology atomic clocks always
keep precise time. The changeover from standard time to daylight
saving time, and vice versa, takes place automatically with the same
precision.
The La Crosse Technology atomic clock is designed for indoor use. For
indoor locations, select a location to place your radio controlled clock
where it will be at least six feet away from a TV, computer, air conditioner
or other household electrical appliances. The optimal location is near a
window. Windows facing Colorado provide the best signal.
Notes:
Do not submerge clock in water.
Extreme temperatures, vibration, and shock should be avoided to
prevent damage to the clock.
The WWVB time signal will easily penetrate masonry and wood framed
buildings. The WWVB signal will penetrate almost every residential
building and most steel buildings if they have adequate windows. It is
not possible, however, for the WWVB signal to penetrate most indoor
shopping malls and rooms in the center of large office buildings that do
not have windows. In buildings that WWVB cannot penetrate you may
set the time using the manual time set button. When the clock receives
the WWVB signal it will automatically set the hands to the exact time.
La Crosse Technology atomic clocks do not receive or process
radio controlled time signals from Germany’s DCF 77, Japan’s J Ga
AS, or England’s MSFs atomically regulated transmitters. La
Crosse Technology atomic clocks can be manually set and used
anywhere. Please Note: WWVB time will over ride a manual setting.
For more information on the NIST and radio controlled time, see
www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
The National Institute of Standards and Technology and WWVB encode
a special DST “bit” in the WWVB transmission for DST. Your La Crosse
Technology clock will read this information and automatically advance
the hands one hour in the spring and eleven hours in the fall.
WARRANTY
La Crosse Technology, Ltd provides a 1-year limited warranty on this
product against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship.
This limited warranty begins on the original date of purchase, is valid only
on products purchased and used in North America and only to the
original purchaser of this product. To receive warranty service, the
purchaser must contact La Crosse Technology, Ltd for problem
determination and service procedures. Warranty service can only be
performed by a La Crosse Technology, Ltd authorized service center.
The original dated bill of sale must be presented upon request as proof
of purchase to La Crosse Technology, Ltd or La Crosse Technology,
Ltd’s authorized service center.
La Crosse Technology, Ltd will repair or replace this product, at our
option and at no charge as stipulated herein, with new or reconditioned
parts or products if found to be defective during the limited warranty
period specified above. All replaced parts and products become the
property of La Crosse Technology, Ltd and must be returned to La
Crosse Technology, Ltd. Replacement parts and products assume the
remaining original warranty, or ninety (90) days, whichever is longer. La
Crosse Technology, Ltd will pay all expenses for labor and materials for
all repairs covered by this warranty. If necessary repairs are not covered
by this warranty, or if a product is examined which is not in need or
repair, you will be charged for the repairs or examination. The owner
must pay any shipping charges incurred in getting your La Crosse
Technology, Ltd product to a La Crosse Technology, Ltd authorized
BATTERY
COMPARTMENT
DST ON/OFF BUTTON
SET BUTTON
RESET BUTTON
WAVE BUTTON
TIME ZONE SWITCH