For a station clock, this one isn’t automatically set by WWVB (see NIST for WWVB Radio Controlled Clocks: Recommended Practices for Manufacturers and Consumers -68p PDF) but is easily set at least to the nearest minute. It also shows clock and remote temperatures and a 12v system voltage. It’s in the under $20 class of nifty gadgets.
SainSpeed 7045V Compact 3-in-1 Car Computer with Icy Alert, LCD Backlight Display
The device uses a couple of coin cells for the clock. The temperature and voltage readings and the backlight function when connected to 12v and draws about 200 mW.
The clock part of the display is easily configured to show time or date and the time display can show either day of week or seconds. Despite one illustration on Amazon’s page, the voltage is two and a half digits showing voltage tenths. It also supports a frost alarm for the remote temperature and an alarm clock function with a snooze button.
The buttons act like those on my IC 706 as they support a ‘second function’ when you push and hold for a couple of seconds. The documentation page that comes with the device is an ‘interesting’ translation effort typical of these nifty electronic gadgets. It’s big enough to read easily at console distances but small enough to fit into a crowded operating station. It comes with a double sided tape base mount so angle adjustment is easy after mounting.
Until I get a decent thermostat for the RV, this will make a good nightlight and bedside clock, I think. Then, when the dog gets restless (he has to shuffle the bed when it gets below 50F), I can easily check the temperature and see if I need to turn on the furnace for a few minutes. I’ll use another one in the mobile hamshack so I can tell when I am pushing the battery a bit more than is healthy for it. Maybe I’ll find a decent ‘atomic’ clock I like for the hamshack. That will provide accurate local time for WSJT. I could then use this one for UTC to help when I can’t figure out how to add 7 or 8 hours to local time.
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