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An easy guide to setting up & using your atomic clock
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SkyScan makes over 40 models of atomic clocks that receive the time from a radio signal sent by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The time is incredibly precise and estimated to only deviate by less than 1 second within 3,000 years. Luckily, starting your SkyScan clock is easy, whether you have a digital, analog (standard clock face), or Weather Station clock. Keep reading for simple instructions to pick up the radio signal and set the clock manually, if you need!
Setting Up a SkyScan Clock
- On a digital clock, add 2 AA batteries and press the “Set” button on the back of the clock to select your time zone.
- Then, hit the “Set” and “+” buttons to change the hour, minute, and date. Place the clock near a window so it finds the signal.
- On an analog clock, add 1 AA battery and press and hold your time zone button on the back. Hang it up near a window and wait for it to sync with the signal.
Steps
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Place 2 AAA, 1.5-volt batteries into the transmitter, if you have one. If your digital clock comes with a weather transmitter, slide the battery compartment off of the back of the device. Then, insert the batteries into the compartment according to the polarities indicated on the case. [1] X Research source
- Place the battery door back over the compartment once you insert the batteries.
- Note : Some models may take 2 AA batteries instead. [2] X Research source
- The weather transmitter senses the temperature outside and displays it on the clock.
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Insert 2 AA, 1.5-volt alkaline batteries into the clock. Open the battery compartment on the back of the clock. Then, insert the batteries into the correct compartments based on the polarity marked on the clock. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Wait 10 minutes for the outdoor temperature to display on the clock. Set the transmitter next to the clock; this helps it sync up with the clock. It may take up to 10 minutes before you see the outdoor temperature on the clock. [4] X Research source
- If the outdoor temperature doesn’t display, remove the transmitter batteries and then the clock batteries. Wait 10 minutes and then reinsert the transmitter batteries and then the clock batteries.
- Place the transmitter outside once the outdoor temperature is set. Put it in a dry, shaded location no more than 200 feet (61 m) away from the clock.
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Change the time zone if you are not in Eastern Standard Time (EST). Press and hold the “SET” button on the back of the clock. Wait for the time zone to flash and then use the “+” button to select the correct time zone. [5] X Research source
- PST is Pacific Standard Time, MST is Mountain Standard Time, and CST is Central Standard Time.
- Note : Some older models have a time zone switch on the back. Simply slide the switch to the correct time zone you’re in. [6] X Research source
- The digital clocks are automatically set to EST, so skip this step if you are in EST.
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Set your atomic clock in a window overnight to sync with the time. Once you put in the batteries, your clock starts searching for the WWVB signal that sets the date and time. The WWVB signal goes out every hour between 12 am to 6 am, so place the clock in a window and leave it there overnight so it can detect and receive the signal. [7] X Research source
- Ensure the clock is at least 6 feet (2 m) away from TVs, computers, kitchen appliances, and other electronics. These devices can interfere with the signal.
- Metal and concrete structures can also interfere with the WWVB signal.
- The WWVB tower icon on the clock’s display starts flashing when it detects the signal.
- When the clock receives the signal, the WWVB tower icon becomes permanently lit.
- The WWVB signal is transmitted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Fort Collins, Colorado. [8] X Research source
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Press the “Set” and “+” buttons to manually set your clock. If you want your clock to show the correct time while it’s searching for the WWVB signal, press and hold the “Set” button for 3 seconds to cycle through the manual settings. When the display flashes for each setting, use the “+” button to make changes. [9] X Research source
- Press “Set” 2 times for daylight savings time (DST). You can turn DST off or on.
- Press “Set” 3 times for the language. You can change the language to US (English), F (French), E (Spanish), or d (German).
- Press “Set” 4 times to set the hour.
- Press “Set” 5 times to set the minute.
- Press “Set” 6 times to set the year.
- Press “Set” 7 times to set the date.
- Press “Set” 8 times to set the weekday.
- Press “Set” 9 times for 12 or 24 hour time display. You can choose to set the time in regular time (12-hour clock) or military time (24-hour clock).
- Press “Set” 10 times to set the temperature as Fahrenheit or Celsius.
- To exit manual settings mode , press the “SNZ” button on the back of the clock.
- The settings order may be slightly different for different clock models.
- Note : Your manual settings will get overridden when your clock receives the WWVB signal.
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Insert 1 AA, 1.5-volt battery into the clock’s battery compartment. Find the battery compartment on the back of the clock. Then, lift up the compartment cover and insert the battery according to the polarity indicated on the compartment. Put the cover back on when you’re done. [10] X Research source
- The compartment indicates the correct way to place the battery with a “+” or “-” symbol.
- If your analog clock comes with a digital clock component on the back, insert 1 AA, 1.5-volt battery into the digital clock’s battery compartment. [11] X Research source
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Change the time zone if you are not in Pacific Standard Time (PST). On the back of the clock are 4 buttons for Pacific (PT), Mountain (MT), Central (CT), and Eastern Standard Time (ET). Simply press and hold the button for the time zone you are in. [12] X Research source
- The SkyScan atomic clock can only collect the correct signal from 2,000 miles (3,200 km) away, so it must be set to the correct zone to get an accurate reading.
- The clocks default to PST. If you are in PST, skip this step
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Place the clock near a window overnight to sync with the time. Set or hang the clock near a window to help it detect and receive the WWVB signal and sync to the correct time. The WWVB signal transmits every hour from 12 am to 6 am, so your clock will sync sometime during the night. [13] X Research source
- Keep the clock 6 feet (2 m) away from TVs, computers, kitchen appliances, and other electronics as they can interfere with the WWVB signal.
- Once the SkyScan clock picks up the signal from the NIST station, it will advance by eight seconds until it gets the right signal.
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Press the “Manual Set” button to manually set the clock. While you wait for the clock to pick up the WWVB signal, feel free to adjust it to the correct time. Find the “Manual Set” button on the back of the clock. Press and hold it and watch as the hour and minute hands move. [14] X Research source
- Release the button when the hands are in the correct position
- Note : Once your clock receives the WWVB signal, it will override your manual settings.
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Insert 2 AAA batteries into the transmitter’s battery compartment. The Weather Station clock comes with a transmitter that reads the humidity and temperature indoors and outside. Unscrew the battery door off of the transmitter and insert the batteries according to the polarity information inside the compartment. [15] X Research source
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Assign a channel to each transmitter you plan to use. The Weather Station clock can receive temperature and humidity data from up to 3 transmitters that are set to unique channels. Once a channel is assigned to a transmitter, it can only be changed by removing the batteries and resetting the transmitter. [16] X Research source
- To set the channel , slide the switch inside of the battery compartment. There is a switch for channels 1, 2, and 3.
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Confirm the channel setting by pressing the “Reset” button. The “Reset” button is inside the battery compartment. Just use a small pin or needle to press the button. Put the battery cover back on and screw it into place. [17] X Research source
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Place 3 AA batteries inside the clock and press the “Reset” button. Pull off the battery cover door on the back of the Weather Station clock and insert the 3 AA batteries. Then, press the “Reset” button to restart the clock. This syncs the transmitter(s) to the clock. [18] X Research source
- Make sure to use the “+” and “-” symbols to place the batteries in the correct way.
- Put the battery cover door back on when you’re done.
- The Weather Station clock displays the time, time zone, and weather based on the information it receives from the transmitter.
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Change the time zone if you’re not in Pacific Standard Time (PST). The clock’s default time zone is set to Pacific. If you are not in this time zone, press the down arrow to select Mountain (M), Central (C), or Eastern (E) time. [19] X Research source
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Wait for the clock to receive the WWVB signal and sync to the time. The Weather Station clock searches for the WWVB signal at 2 am, 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm each day. Just keep the clock away from electronic devices and appliances to help it detect and receive the signal. [20] X Research source
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Manually set the time using the “Time” button. Set the clock to the correct time as you wait for it to detect the WWVB signal. Simply press and hold the “Time” button for 2 seconds. Then, use the up and down arrows to change the hour, minute, second, year, month, and day.
- Repeatedly press and hold the “Time” button to select the next setting.
- To exit the manual settings, press the “Time” key. Or, wait 30 seconds.
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Place the transmitter outside in a safe, shaded location. Find a spot for the transmitter that’s less than 100 feet (30 m) from the clock. Just avoid placing it in a location that’s exposed to rain, snow, or direct sunlight. [21] X Research source
- If you need to recalibrate the transmitter, press the “Reset” button.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhy does the clock keep blinking?Community AnswerYou need to reset the time. If the time is incorrect, it will keep blinking until you fix it.
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QuestionHow can I change it to Fahrenheit without changing any other settings?Community AnswerTry pressing the clock’s “Set” button repeatedly until the “C” on the clock flashes, then click the “+” button to change it to “F.” Alternately, see if there is a button within the transmitter that enables you change the transmitter’s F/C setting.
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QuestionWhat do the letters LUN mean on an atomic wall clock?Community Answer“LUN” may mean "set the clock to display the lunar (moon) phase." If it says “LON,” it means the time zone is set to show time in London, England, which is on Universal Coordinated Time (UTC).
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Tips
- Different SkyScan clock models may have different setup directions. Consult the user manual that came with your clock or find it on SkyScan’s website .Thanks
- It may take a few days for your clock to receive the WWVB radio signal, so try to be patient. During this time, the clock time might change between 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12.Thanks
- If your clock isn’t receiving the radio signal, move it to a different location. If possible, set the clock face towards Fort Collins, Colorado. Or, remove the transmitter batteries and then the clock batteries, wait 10-15 minutes, then put the transmitter and clock batteries back in.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7X2tsdDdSdVJsejA/view?resourcekey=0-Wys4lVneMlc48rPNqwO_Qw
- ↑ https://skyscanatomicclocks.com/site/owners-manuals/model-88909/
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7X2tsdDdSdVJsejA/view
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7X2tsdDdSdVJsejA/view?resourcekey=0-Wys4lVneMlc48rPNqwO_Qw
- ↑ https://skyscanatomicclocks.com/site/owners-manuals/models-88900-02/
- ↑ https://skyscanatomicclocks.com/site/owners-manuals/model-88909/
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7X2tsdDdSdVJsejA/view?resourcekey=0-Wys4lVneMlc48rPNqwO_Qw
- ↑ https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwvb/help-wwvb-radio-controlled
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7X2tsdDdSdVJsejA/view?resourcekey=0-Wys4lVneMlc48rPNqwO_Qw
- ↑ https://skyscanatomicclocks.com/site/owners-manuals/model-88302-04/
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7R1VReWxIVTYtckU/view?resourcekey=0-076grgSe5jLAChnLJQB2ew
- ↑ https://skyscanatomicclocks.com/site/owners-manuals/model-88302-04/
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7R1VReWxIVTYtckU/view
- ↑ https://skyscanatomicclocks.com/site/owners-manuals/model-88302-04/
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view?resourcekey=0-TK1WVR1F7QkMgQOPul8diA
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view?resourcekey=0-TK1WVR1F7QkMgQOPul8diA
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4iJGdLyQwf7eUlCNTJyOUMxRDg/view?resourcekey=0-TK1WVR1F7QkMgQOPul8diA
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To set an analog SkyScan atomic clock, first press and hold the correct time zone button on the back. You can then set the hands manually, but they will adjust by themselves when the clock receives a signal. To set a digital SkyScan clock, press the time zone button or slide the time zone switch on the back. Then, press the plus button to cycle through time zones. If your clock has a switch for Daylight Savings Time, make sure this is on or off. Once you’ve set the time zone, you can manually set the time with the plus and set keys, but it will adjust automatically when it receives a signal. Regardless of whether your clock is analog or digital, place it by a window away from any metal or concrete structures so it can pick up a signal from the station. Your clock should receive a signal once a day, usually at 2am. For more tips, including how to set a SkyScan clock with a weather station transmitter, read on!
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