Are other features available?

Projection clocks even come in stylish colors such as the Ferrari Collection from Oregon Scientific and in smaller, travel versions.

What are atomic clocks?

Atomic clocks and watches aren't really atomic despite what their name suggests. The clocks are actually radio-controlled timepieces that are reset daily via radio signal from Fort Collins, Colorado.
The term “atomic” is coined from the fact the time transmitted by the government radio signal comes from the official U.S. atomic clock.

How far does the radio signal reach?

Operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and located in Fort Collins, Colorado, the radio signal is effective in the continental United States and some parts of Canada and Mexico. It has an approximate range of 2,000 miles.

What is a projection clock?

Projection clocks actually do as advertised – they project!
The popular clocks from Oregon Scientific and La Crosse Technology beam a red image onto ceilings or walls, displaying the correct time and (on some models) indoor or outdoor temperature!

Features are available

Projection clocks offer a variety of additional features from radio-controlled time and date to various weather-related functions such as indoor or outdoor temperature, weather forecasting, AM/FM radio and alarms.

A bit of projection clock history

Projection clocks were first invented in the early 1900's and were known then as “Ceiling Clocks” for the fact they projected an image of the old-fashioned clock dial and hands onto a ceiling. A patent was filed in the United States in 1940 regarding a method of projecting an enlarged image of the clock hands and numerals onto a ceiling or wall. Since that time, modern technology has allowed projection clocks to a convert to digital status.

Accuracy is everything in timekeeping.

State-of-the-art atomic clocks and watches are reset daily to within one second of official U.S. government time. Now that's pretty accurate! The timepieces even automatically adjust for Daylight Savings Time and Leap Year.

Are atomic clocks radioactive?

So-called “atomic” clocks (really radio-controlled clocks and watches) are not radioactive.

Will my atomic clock work in Europe?

Your atomic clock or wristwatch will certainly work if you're traveling to Europe or elsewhere in the world – it just won't automatically reset each day by radio signal from the U.S. atomic clock!
The radio signal from Fort Collins, Colorado using the WWVB transmitter has a limited range. Central Europe uses a German DCF signal transmitter and Britain, Ireland and Portugal use the British MSF time signal transmitter.
Your timepiece will work manually when you're away from the country and will update once you're back in range of the U.S. radio signal.

Beam me up

Depending on the distance the base unit is from the ceiling or wall, the projected time (or temperature) will appear anywhere from four to ten inches in height! The farther the clock is away from the ceiling or wall, the larger the image will appear.