La Crosse Technology 617-1485B Atomic Color Alarm Clock with USB Charging Port

Being totally honest with myself, the only reason I'm inclined to keep this is because 1) it shows a pretty illumination of the moon's status, 2) it shows the indoor humidity level, 3) it shows which day it is, and 4) it's a *nice* looking clock face. So basically it's pretty.But I've passed it on to someone else because there are enough things that bug me too much after owning this for just a few days: 1) too loud of an alarm sound, 2) the alarm doesn't increase in *volume* as it waits to be turned off, 3) having only 1 alarm (not dual alarm), and 4) the atomic part being almost non-functional. So basically it's lousy.More details:Directions are clear. But I wish there were more instructions so I could be more confident in how to make the atomic part work.Very few buttons... for very few functions. They make sense.A pleasant beeping, but very loud. My spouse knew it was about to go off (because he was already awake, and knew what time I'd set it for), and was still startled by it. I tested the alarm later, and tried putting my fingers/hands over the speakers, and that didn't muffle the sound at all. (So there's no hope for taping it with duct tape or packaging tape to try to make it quieter.)I don't believe the alarm gets *louder* as it waits for you to turn it off. Instead, it *increases its speed* of beeping very quickly. So it gets more intense, but I don't believe it gets louder.I wanted an alarm clock with dual alarms, which could be set to alarm on weekdays, weekends, or every day. Unfortunately this one only has one alarm, which can only be set to either on or off.I'm sensitive to lights in the room when I'm sleeping, but this clock works just fine for me on the dim setting. This clock has 3 settings: bright, dim, and a setting that looks off but has visible dark numbers on a dark background. Works for me! I was nervous about the white LED, which I'm also sensitive to, but on the dim setting it doesn't bother me at all.Other reviewers are right about the viewing angle for clarity. With it on my nightstand next to my bed, I can see it fine from the angles I need to see it from; so it doesn't bother me. BUT I did try it set on a dresser across the room, and it looks terrible and is very hard to read.It did not connect readily to the atomic clock. After checking on it a couple times over several hours and it not connecting (and thus not setting itself), I decided to do the work for the clock. I set the correct date and time zone (all the things except for the time, just because hello it's an atomic clock so is it going to do it or not?), opened a window, set it closer to the window, and it eventually connected. I'm not sure why it bothers to be an atomic clock if it can't readily connect. The reason why I like to have an atomic alarm clock is because if the electricity goes out in the middle of the night, it will know the correct time when the electricity comes back on. But if it didn't do it for several hours after I originally plugged it in, I'm not confident it will do it when the electricity goes out. Thus, this is the first time I've put batteries into an alarm clock - because I can't expect this one to do its job.The atomic part can be turned on or off, and a radio icon signifies that. I wonder why it would need to be on all the time. To double check it still has the time right? So I turned off that function, because I don't want it going dark for several min every couple hours. Well now that I've turned off the atomic part, now it's an hour off. Maybe because of a daylight savings setting? Maybe I accidentally messed with that?The hardest thing about this clock is setting the time... AND the time is extremely tedious to try to set, and to set accurately. If the darn atomic clock would just connect, it would sure get rid of a lot of the hassle.

If you buy this clock, be certain that you have version 3. The display problems seem to have been fixed.As far as the atomic time problems, try facing your clock due west. I have two clocks - one (v.2) is rather hit or miss, and one in another room (v.3) is connected to the satellite almost all of the time.

I love this clock .. It is easy to read, tells time, date, moon phase, temp and humidity .. However, I find it annoying that approx 1AM I look over to the clock and it is completely dark . After doing some research, I found that the clock searches for the atomic clock to synch itself back up .. I find this annoying, as it sometimes is out for quite a long time .. The most annoying thing is the power cord does not stay inserted into the clock .. It tends to pull itself out just enough that the light does not come on .. Great features, just annoying .. I dont use the alarm so cannot rate it ..

Reading the instructions carefully helps, but I had to find the product's website to ask for a more detailed manual, which I couldn't find on their site. They were very helpful, even checking back with me to see if my questions had been answered. They said it takes up to 5 days for the atomic signal to be picked up if you leave the clock in a window facing Colorado; seems a long time to me and a bit difficult if your bedside table to a long way from the window where the clock is trying to pick up the signal. Love the large numbers.

I just got this a couple of weeks ago and I'm pretty much in love with it. However, mine does NOT ever find the atomic time clock so it's not an atomic clock for all intents and purposes for me. I really wanted an atomic clock! I'm giving them a break this once because I really like the LaCrosse brand and because I happen to live on a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean off of the east coast of the U.S. Perhaps the signal just doesn't reach us here. A lot of that happens here. The only other thing I'll note is that the display is nearly impossible to read from any angle except straight on. I had to adjust where I place my clock so the angle is head on from the place I most check the clock. It's easy to set, I love all the colors and I love all the info! The two limitations make me think of what Steven Wright says, "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" ;)