Choosing the Best Alarm Clock Radio
Dual Alarm, Atomic, Vibrating and Other Features Explained
Some alarm clock radios now have iPod docking stations, projection displays, MP3 players, CD players and Internet radio. However, the basics should not be forgotten.
Backup Battery
A battery backup is an essential feature. All the features in the world don't matter if the alarm clock fails to sound on time because of a cut in the electricity supply.
There are different types or levels of backup
- Some clocks use capacitors to store enough electricity to preserve the clock's settings (current time, alarm time) if there is no electricity supply for a few hours. There isn't enough power to sound the alarm but if the electricity supply is restored, the clock will function as normal.
- Other clocks use batteries instead. They work like capacitors, but can preserve the clock's settings for longer, often days. Some can even sound the alarm when there is no mains electricity supply.
Clocks with Dual Alarms
Clocks that allow two different alarms to be set are useful
- To wake up couples sharing the same bedroom, at different times
- As a two-stage wake up, especially if the first alarm is set to radio
- To set different alarm times for different days of the week (weekdays, weekends)
Some clocks do not allow both alarms to be set to buzzer or both to radio alarm. One alarm has to be set to buzzer, the other to radio alarm.
Vibration Alarms
Vibration alarms can be useful for heavy sleepers. They work like vibration mode on handphones. Placed under the pillow or mattress, they are difficult to sleep through. They are also good alarms for the hearing-impaired. Shoppers should check that the cord connection from the alarm clock is long enough to reach their bed.
Dimmable Display
LED displays on some clocks can be bright enough to stop people from sleeping. This is a surprisingly common complaint. Even at the lowest setting, some clocks are bright enough to disturb in the dark. Light-sensitive sleepers should check that the clock display can be dimmed until it is barely visible. Others can use the bright display as a night light.
Daylight Saving Time Adjustment
For clocks with a DST setting, manually setting DST is normally straightforward. Pushing the DST button sets the time forward an hour. Pushing it again disables DST and sets the time back again.
Some clocks can automatically set DST based on the clock's date. Unfortunately some older models are set with the old DST dates.
Atomic Clocks
The time on some clocks can be synchronized with the atomic clocks at the NIST via radio signal.
Advantages
- No need to adjust clock's time manually
- Automatic DST setting
Disadvantage
- Reception of atomic clock radio signal might be difficult in some areas, requiring special placement of the radio antenna
Other Features
Other features to consider include
- Radio reception and sound quality
- Loudness of buzzer
- Ease of finding Snooze button (on some clocks, all buttons become Snooze buttons when the alarm is ringing)
- Sleep or countdown timer, to time naps without changing the alarm settings
- Adjustable snooze time (some are fixed to 10 minutes)
- Automatic dimming of display brightness depending on brightness of room
- Digital radio receiver to avoid station-drift and to allow setting of preset stations
- Progressive alarm volume: increases if alarm is not switched off (some models have this only for the buzzer)
- Ease of setting of alarm
- Ease of checking alarm settings (time, on/off)
The Best Alarm Clock Radio
Modern alarm clock radios can come with a dazzling array of features and knobs. This can make them more difficult to use and set. People who buy more features than they need can end up longing for the ease of use of simpler models.
Digital Alarm Clock Radio
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