La Crosse Technology 404-1220 User Manual

DST Button
Time Zone

Buttons

Battery
Compartment

Q-Set
Button

Model 404-1220

20” Atomic Wall Clock

Welcome to the world of radio controlled timekeeping technology. We hope you will enjoy the convenience of never
having to set your clock again and the confidence of knowing the exact time.

INITIAL SETUP:

1. Install 1 fresh C, LR14 1.5 volt ALKALINE battery at night.

2. The hands will spin to 12:00, 4:00 or 8 o’clock and wait for a WWVB signal.

3. THAT’S IT! During the night your clock will automatically set itself to Pacific Time.

4. After the clock has set itself to Pacific Time, press the correct time zone button for your location.

DETAILED SET UP:

1. Install 1 fresh C, LR14 1.5 volt ALKALINE battery into the clock, observing correct polarity.
Note: Best done at night when the signal is strongest.

2. The hands will spin to 12:00, 4:00 or 8 o’clock and wait for a WWVB signal. This is normal behavior.
Note: Do not press any buttons at this time. The hands will not move until a WWVB signal is received. This may
take up to 5 nights due to location or interference.

3. When the WWVB signal is received the clock will set to its default of Pacific Time.

4. After the clock has set itself to Pacific Time, select a different time zone if desired, by holding the time zone
button for 5 seconds. The hands will correct themselves to the new time. The clock has four time zone settings.

Time Zone Buttons:
PT Pacific
MT Mountain
CT Central
ET Eastern

Complete set up for this clock is to simply install one fresh C, LR14 ALKALINE battery and wait. Due to the nature of
long wave radio signals it is normally not possible to receive a signal during the day so it is best to install the battery
late in the evening. Once the battery is installed the clock will begin searching for a signal. Stand the clock in an
upright position near a window with the front or back of the clock facing Colorado. If a signal is not received it will fast-

forward the hands to the 4, 8, or 12 o’clock position and search for WWVB. Within five minutes the clock should

either: receive the WWVB signal and set itself to the exact time, or it will determine that the signal is not receivable at

its current location and time of day. The hands will remain at the 12:00, 4:00 or 8:00 o’clock position until the WWVB

signal is received.
The clock will continue to search for a WWVB signal at 15 minutes and 30 seconds before the following hours: 00:00,

01:00, 02:00, 03:00, 04:00, 06:00, 12:00, 18:00, 22:00, 23:00 and compares internal time with the new information.
For increased battery life, receiving time is limited to 10 minutes.

The wonderful advantage of owning a La Crosse Technology radio controlled clock is that it is virtually trouble free. If
the clock receives a clear signal it will set itself perfectly. If it does not receive a signal consider the following:

 Battery The La Crosse Technology clock must have a fresh battery to receive and process the time signal.

Note: Batteries are the number one warranty issue. Alkaline battery is recommended. A battery

that is overpowered or underpowered may cause erratic function

 Location Try a different location, ideally near a window. It should be at least six feet from

computers, TVs, air conditioners, other Radio-Controlled clocks and other electrical appliances that cause
interference.

 Weather Electrical storms between your location and Colorado during the night will interfere with

the WWVB signal.

DST (Daylight Saving Time) ON/OFF:

The change to and from DST is based on an embedded bit in the WWVB signal that tells the clock when to change.
DST is defaulted to the ON position. The clock will make the adjustment to and from DST automatically when the
signal is received. It is not necessary to press the DST button to change to standard time.

In areas where no DST is observed deactivate DST by pressing the DSTOFF switch. Pressing DST-OFF during DST
the clock will switch to Standard Time. Press it again DST will be activated again. Pressing DST-OFF during ST the
clock will switch to DST.

Q-SET BUTTON:

In some cases, the La Crosse Technology clock may not receive the WWVB signal due to atmospheric disturbances
or hard to reach locations such as inside shopping malls. In this case, please use the Q-Set button, located at the
back of the clock to manually set the time.

SET TIME:

On rare occasions it is not possible to receive a WWVB signal at the location of the clock. In this instance the clock
may be set manually and will operate as a quartz clock.

1. Press and hold the Q-Set Button on the backside of the movement until the second hand starts running.

2. Release the button quickly (less than 3 seconds) and press it again to set actual time.

3. Three seconds after releasing the Q-Set Button your clock will start working as a Quartz Clock.

4. In Quartz Mode your clock will try to receive each even hour. If a signal is received it will override the manual

set time.

AUTO CORRECTION:

The clock automatically checks its hands position daily between 3:00 and 4:05 (pm). If hands position is not equal to
internal time, the hands are driven (quick run) to the correct time again. You will see the hands spin completely
around during this correction. This is normal behavior.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

For a better understanding of how and why your clock works please continue reading.

The La Crosse Technology clock is designed for indoor use only. 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.

The WWVB time signal will easily penetrate masonry and wood framed buildings. WWVB will penetrate almost every
residential building and most steel buildings if they have adequate windows. It is not possible, however, for WWVB 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 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 clocks can be

manually set and used anywhere.

For more information on the NIST and radio controlled time, see www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/

NOTHING IS MORE PRECISELY MEASURED THAN TIME!

And nothing keeps track of time more precisely and trouble free than La Crosse Technology radio controlled clocks.
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