La Crosse Technology WS-8008U

To Next Page

La Crosse Technology, Ltd Page 1

WS-8008U FAQS

The links below will work in most PDF viewers and link to the topic area by clicking

the link. We recommend Adobe Reader version 10 or greater available at:

http://get.adobe.com/reader

CONTENTS

WT-8008U/WS-8008U FAQS ....................................................................... 1

Batteries ..................................................................................................... 1

Digital Clock Factory Restart ....................................................................... 2

Fahrenheit/Celsius...................................................................................... 2

12-Hour or 24-Hour Time Format ............................................................. 2

Supported Time Zones.............................................................................. 2

Dashes, OFL or Stuck Indoor Temperature ..................................................... 2

Does the clock have a backlight? ................................................................... 2

Time is off by hours ..................................................................................... 3

Daylight Saving Time ................................................................................... 3

Manually Set Time/Date: Program Menu ........................................................ 3

No WWVB Tower Icon .................................................................................. 4

Set Time Alarm ........................................................................................... 4

Activate/Deactivate Time Alarm .................................................................... 4

Snooze Alarm ............................................................................................. 4

Digital clock has distorted or frozen display .................................................... 5

Digital clock is blank: No letters, numbers or dashed lines ................................ 5

Day of the week is incorrect. ........................................................................ 5

Digital clock drains batteries quickly .............................................................. 5

Digital clock has missing segments ................................................................ 5

Batteries

Explanation: Many problems are resolved with fresh batteries of the appropriate

voltage. Many items sent in under warranty work when tested with fresh batteries.

Batteries manufactured this year will have an expiration date 10 years (or more) in

the future. Battery technology has improved and batteries will maintain voltage

longer in storage. However, the environment the batteries reside in for the 10 years

can deplete the power.

 We suggest name brand Alkaline batteries for indoor displays.

 A minimum voltage of 1.48V for each battery is necessary for proper

performance.

Need help?

Do you have a question about the La Crosse Technology WS-8008U and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Digital Clock Troubleshooting

Digital Clock Factory Restart

Resets the digital clock to its original factory state to resolve issues.

Fahrenheit;Celsius Display

Instructions for switching the temperature display between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Time Format (12;24 Hour)

Guidance on how to display the time in either 12-hour or 24-hour format.

Supported Time Zones

Information on the available time zones and their functionality.

Indoor Temperature Errors

Explanation of error messages like dashes or OFL for indoor temperature.

Backlight Information

Clarification on whether the clock features a backlight.

Time and Signal Settings

Time Accuracy Issues

Troubleshooting steps for when the clock time is off by hours.

Daylight Saving Time (DST)

Guidance on how DST affects time changes and settings.

Manual Time;Date Setting

Instructions for manually setting the time and date via the program menu.

No WWVB Tower Icon

Troubleshooting steps for when the WWVB time signal icon is not displayed.

Alarm Functions

Setting the Time Alarm

Step-by-step guide on how to set the alarm hour and minute.

Activate;Deactivate Alarm

Instructions on how to turn the alarm on or off and recognize its status.

Snooze Alarm Operation

Details on how the snooze function works when the alarm sounds.

Display Issues and Power

Distorted or Frozen Display

Troubleshooting steps for a distorted or frozen digital clock display.

Blank Display

Steps to resolve a blank display with no letters, numbers, or lines.

Incorrect Day of Week

Guidance on how to correct the day of the week setting.

Rapid Battery Drain

Advice on diagnosing and fixing issues causing quick battery depletion.

Missing Display Segments

Troubleshooting for missing segments on the digital clock display.

Summary

Digital Clock Troubleshooting

Digital Clock Factory Restart

Resets the digital clock to its original factory state to resolve issues.

Fahrenheit;Celsius Display

Instructions for switching the temperature display between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Time Format (12;24 Hour)

Guidance on how to display the time in either 12-hour or 24-hour format.

Supported Time Zones

Information on the available time zones and their functionality.

Indoor Temperature Errors

Explanation of error messages like dashes or OFL for indoor temperature.

Backlight Information

Clarification on whether the clock features a backlight.

Time and Signal Settings

Time Accuracy Issues

Troubleshooting steps for when the clock time is off by hours.

Daylight Saving Time (DST)

Guidance on how DST affects time changes and settings.

Manual Time;Date Setting

Instructions for manually setting the time and date via the program menu.

No WWVB Tower Icon

Troubleshooting steps for when the WWVB time signal icon is not displayed.

Alarm Functions

Setting the Time Alarm

Step-by-step guide on how to set the alarm hour and minute.

Activate;Deactivate Alarm

Instructions on how to turn the alarm on or off and recognize its status.

Snooze Alarm Operation

Details on how the snooze function works when the alarm sounds.

Display Issues and Power

Distorted or Frozen Display

Troubleshooting steps for a distorted or frozen digital clock display.

Blank Display

Steps to resolve a blank display with no letters, numbers, or lines.

Incorrect Day of Week

Guidance on how to correct the day of the week setting.

Rapid Battery Drain

Advice on diagnosing and fixing issues causing quick battery depletion.

Missing Display Segments

Troubleshooting for missing segments on the digital clock display.

This document provides a comprehensive FAQ and troubleshooting guide for the La Crosse Technology WS-8008U and WT-8008U digital clocks.

Function Description:

The WS-8008U/WT-8008U is a digital clock designed to display time, date, and indoor temperature. It features atomic time reception (WWVB signal) for automatic time synchronization in North America, ensuring accuracy. The clock supports both 12-hour and 24-hour time formats, and users can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius for temperature display. It includes time alarm functionality with a snooze feature, and it automatically adjusts for Daylight Saving Time (DST) in most regions. The clock is battery-operated, making it portable and suitable for various indoor environments.

Important Technical Specifications:

Time Zones: Supports 4 time zones: Eastern (E), Central (C), Mountain (M), and Pacific (P).
Time Formats: 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour (military time).
Temperature Units: Fahrenheit (°F) and Celsius (°C).
Power Source: Battery operated (requires fresh Alkaline batteries with a minimum voltage of 1.48V per battery for proper performance).
Atomic Time Reception: WWVB signal from Fort Collins, Colorado (effective in North America).
Alarm Duration: Time alarm sounds for 120 seconds if not deactivated.
Snooze Duration: 5 minutes.
Display: Digital LCD display.

Usage Features:

Factory Restart: A procedure to reset the clock to its "out-of-the-box" state, often resolving various issues. This involves removing batteries, pressing buttons multiple times to clear memory, leaving it unpowered for 15 minutes, inserting fresh batteries, and not pressing buttons for another 15 minutes.
Fahrenheit/Celsius Switch: A dedicated °F/°C button allows easy toggling between temperature units.
Time Format Selection: Users can switch between 12-hour and 24-hour formats through the Program Menu.
Time Zone Setting: The ZONE/up arrow button allows users to cycle through the four supported time zones (P, M, C, E).
Manual Time/Date Setting: A Program Menu accessible via the SET button allows users to manually set the hour, minutes, year, month, and date. The day of the week automatically sets based on the date.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Adjustment: The clock automatically adjusts for DST, but users can manually set DST to ON or OFF in the Program Menu if their location does not observe it.
WWVB Search: The clock automatically searches for the WWVB signal upon battery insertion or when the WWVB Search button is pressed. It searches for 7 minutes and then hourly if no signal is found.
Time Alarm Setting: Press and hold the ALARM button to set the desired alarm hour and minute.
Alarm Activation/Deactivation: A single press of the ALARM button toggles the alarm ON (bell icon appears) or OFF (bell icon disappears).
Snooze Function: Pressing the SNOOZE button when the alarm sounds activates a 5-minute snooze.
No Backlight: As a battery-operated device, this clock does not feature a backlight.

Maintenance Features:

Battery Replacement: The document emphasizes the importance of using fresh, name-brand Alkaline batteries with sufficient voltage (minimum 1.48V per battery). It suggests using batteries with an expiration date at least six years in the future for optimal performance and stability.
Troubleshooting for Common Issues:
- Time off by hours: Check WWVB tower icon, reposition clock towards Colorado, verify time zone and DST settings in the Program Menu, and consider environmental interference (large buildings, electrical equipment).
- Dashes, OFL, or Stuck Indoor Temperature: Often a power-related issue. Recommended steps include removing/reinserting fresh batteries, performing a factory restart, and leaving the clock unpowered for 1-2 hours.
- Distorted or Frozen Display: Check for a thin plastic "scratch guard" film on the screen, which may have printed numbers for store displays. Ensure all power is removed and the screen is blank before reinserting batteries.
- Blank Display: Verify correct battery installation and voltage. Perform a factory restart.
- Incorrect Day of the Week: Check the year setting in the Program Menu, as the day of the week is automatically calculated from the year, month, and date.
- Quick Battery Drain: Test new alkaline batteries, record installation date and voltage, and note when they fail to help diagnose the problem. Also, check for leaking batteries.
- Missing Segments on Display: Typically power-related. Perform troubleshooting steps similar to distorted display, including checking for scratch guard and ensuring proper battery installation.
Reception Optimization: For better WWVB signal reception, position the digital clock in a window (front or back facing Colorado) or near an outside wall, pointing in that general direction. Allow up to 5 nights for the clock to receive the time signal.