Is an UltrAtomic Clock Better than an Atomic Clock? The LaCrosse Technology 404-1235UA-SS

WWVB in Colorado broadcasts atomic time data with a system designed to reach most of North America. But there are lots of ways that our modern world creates radio interference too. Several years ago the WWVB broadcast was changed to include phase-modulating (PM) time code. In short, this change was made so that radio controlled clocks would set themselves more reliably in conditions where radio reception was difficult. If you want to read a technical article about the Enhanced WWVB Broadcast Format, here's a link... https://www.nist.gov/system/files/doc...

So, it turns out that LaCrosse Technology built a couple of consumer-level radio controlled clocks which take advantage of the enhanced WWVB broadcast and this is one of them. And, yes, I can report that this clock can set itself correctly even when reception conditions are difficult and when my other radio controlled clocks are unable to do it. In addition, this is a very good-looking clock and it's large, with a 14-inch diameter. This version of the clock has a brushed, stainless steel bezel and real glass covering the face. There's another version with a plastic front instead of glass. The price of either version at Amazon was almost identical when I bought this.

The clock is very easy to operate. Just select your time zone, put two C-size batteries in the clock and the clock will immediately go through its start-up process. Within a few minutes it'll be set to the right time and keep going for years before batteries will need to be replaced. The clock requires two batteries but also has two additional battery slots to allow up to six years of continuous use before batteries will need to be replaced. The fact that it's large, it sets itself to the right time and it can run for so long between battery changes makes it ideal to hang in locations where it might be difficult to reach.

This clock is designed for North America, so its time zones are Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern by default. However, once "atomic time" reception is complete, you can choose a "custom" time zone with any whole-hour offset. You can choose whether the clock will make changes for Daylight Saving Time or will always show Standard Time (making it easy to use this clock in Arizona). There's even a way to disable "atomic time" reception and use this as a quartz clock only.