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| Reviews Summary for MFJ Model 123 Eternity Atomic Clock |
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Reviews: 3
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Average rating: 4.7/5
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MSRP: $79.95
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Description: Solar powered Atomic Clock works for an "eternity"! Never need batteries! Never need to set time!
Ultra-efficient solar cells let ordinary room light power clock. It also replenishes built-in rechargeable battery to run clock in-the-dark.
The Eternity Atomic Clock automatically receives radio signals from WWVB atomic time radio transmitter for millisecond accuracy. It also automatically adjusts for daylight savings time.
LCD display is 2 inches tall and 6.75 inches wide .Choose 24 or 12 hour time format. Has a huge running seconds display.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-123
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write your own review of the MFJ Model 123 Eternity Atomic Clock.
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N3OQD
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Rating: 5/5
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May 12, 2008 20:38
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brief overview
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Classy look abeit on the expensive side. Even so, I have had this one for about three years and it is always dead on. Never put any batteries in it as the little solar panels do the job fine. Catches the signal at night here on the east coast about 90% of the time. Not bad for being this far from Ft. Collins Colorado. One of the few things MFJ has that is better than the common doubious clich'e of "Mighty Fine Junk"
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K5ADF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 18, 2007 10:56
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Actually works
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this clock for several years now with it mounted on the wall next to my radio station. Like others have said, this MFJ product actually works as advertised. There are other atomic clocks cheaper, but not solar powered. I have never had a problem with it not locking on to the time signal. My radio station is located on the first floor with a window, so I have not had any problems with the solar power feature. I use it to track the local time. The clock does contain a battery backup. My neighbor (non-ham) also has one mounted in their kitchen without problems. I have not had any RFI problems with this clock. One nice feature is the very large numbers that can be seen across the room. Since it is not designed to be a UTC clock, attempts are at your own risk. I am happy with my purchase.
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N4KZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 9, 2004 05:23
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Good clock, bad instructions
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This clock is attractive and theoretically should never need batteries. It has operated fine in my not-so-brightly lit basement ham shack.
Most hams will have purchased this clock to use it for UTC but beware because the directions do not tell you how to set it up for UTC. They tell you how to set it up for 24-hour operation but as we know that is not the same. In fact, if you set it for 24-hour operation as per the directions, the first time it locks onto WWVB, it will correct itself -- which will include automatically adjusting itself from UTC (if you have manually set it for that) back to your local time.
If you plan to use this clock for UTC, forgot the junk in the instructions about local time zones. Just set the clock for zero offset. In other words, pretend you live in Greenwich, England, and you have a zero hour difference between your local time and UTC. That way, when the clock locks onto WWVB at 2 a.m. each day, it will automatically adjust for that local time which happens to be UTC! Somehow this simple point eludes the Chinese manufacturer of this clock. But I have other digital atomic clocks from other companies and it eludes them too. (Or maybe all these clocks are made by the same Chinese company and there's just one blissfully uninformed clock company employee. Who knows!)
One final point -- and an important one. On some of these digital atomic clocks, the Daylight Savings Time function can be manually switched on and off. If that's your clock, leave the feature off. But this particular clock has an automatic DST function which cannot be switched off so twice a year you will have to readjust the clock. During DST, adjust the time zone difference to -1 hour but during Standard Time, adjust the clock to -0 time zone difference. I know. It's a pain but it's the price we pay for having a nice clock whick keeps accurate time and probably needs no batteries unless you live in a in a dimly lit cave -- which probably includes most of them.
73, Dave, N4KZ
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