La Crosse Technology WS-7394TWC-IT
The Weather ChannelŽ Line Wireless Weather Station

The La Crosse Technology WS-7394TWC-IT is a great looking wireless weather station that proudly carries The Weather ChannelŽ brand logo and displays a large amount of forecast-related weather data on its 4-section LCD panel. One of three weather-forecasting icons plus a barometric pressure tendency arrow accurately predict the weather for the next 12 to 24 hours. Also displayed are indoor temperature and humidity, an indoor comfort icon, outdoor temperature, and barometric pressure with 12-hour history bar graph. The integral radio-controlled (atomic) clock has both a 12-hour or 24-hour time display and a day-date calendar display.

Along with indoor temperature and humidity, the WS-7394TWC-IT provides an indoor comfort indication. A happy face icon indicates a temperature between 68°F and 79°F and relative humidity between 45% and 64%. A sad face icon indicates any value outside of the comfort ranges.

Outdoor temperature is transmitted to the WS-7394TWC-IT via an included TX29U-IT remote sensor/transmitter. The station can actually receive signals from up to 3 transmitters and from a maximum distance of 330 feet (100 meters). Additional transmitters are optional and sold separately. If additional transmitters are used, a channel display indicates the selected transmitter. The TX29U-IT can be used in sub-freezing temperatures when equipped with AA lithium batteries instead of alkaline. Lithium batteries retain their power down to about -40°F (-40°C). 

The WS-7394TWC-IT keeps a record of the minimum and maximum indoor and outdoor temperatures and indoor humidity it has recorded. These are available at the push of a button, along with the associated times of recording. Resetting of the temperature and humidity records is done manually.

The station also has a weather-forecasting feature with three indicator icons: sunny, partly cloudy, and rainy. The weather-forecasting feature senses barometric pressure over time and adjusts the indicator icons to provide accurate forecasts for the next 12 to 24 hours based on pressure trends. Barometric-pressure tendency arrows are displayed along with the forecast icons. The forecast icon can be set for 3 different sensitivity levels, depending on how quickly weather conditions change in your area. The default is 2 (normal sensitivity). If your location normally experiences rapid weather changes, you can select 1 (maximum sensitivity). If weather changes in your area occur slowly, you can select 3 (low sensitivity).

The numeric barometric pressure display on the WS-7394TWC-IT shows relative barometric pressure (i.e., sea-level equivalent pressure, not absolute). You can select inHg (inches of mercury) or hPa (hectopascals) as the pressure unit, and you can adjust the numeric pressure reading up or down to calibrate it to the pressure in your area as given on local radio and television weather reports. Because the WS-7394U-AL's forecasts are based on pressure changes, this calibration will ensure the most accurate possible forecasts. (When your weatherman reports the current barometric pressure, this is always sea-level equivalent pressure, not the actual pressure--unless, of course, your location is at sea level.) The barometric pressure history bar graph below the numeric pressure display shows how the pressure has changed over the past 24 hours. 

An incredibly accurate radio-controlled atomic clock rounds out the many features of this station. This clock has a day-date calendar display. The clock calibrates itself to the world's most accurate clock every night by receiving WWVB radio transmissions. These transmissions contain time information from the U.S. atomic clock source, operated by the U.S. Commerce Department near Boulder, Colorado. The built-in antenna ensures reliable signal reception up to 2000 miles (3200km) from the WWVB transmitter. The time zone can be set for GMT +/-12 hours, and a time zone map display is provided for the 4 "lower-48" U.S. time zones. The factory-default time zone is EST, or -5 hours from GMT. A radio tower and waves icon indicates reception of radio-controlled timing signals.

The WS-7394TWC-IT has a wide array of user-programmable functions. Temperatures can be displayed in °F or °C, and pressure can be displayed as inHg or hPa. The pressure threshold at which the forecasting icons change can be set for any of three sensitivity levels. As mentioned above, you can calibrate the displayed relative pressure for your local area. Time can be displayed as 12-hour or 24-hour, and the clock can be optioned to automatically adjust for daylight saving time. Also, the clock can be optioned for manual setting, in which case radio reception is disabled and the clock functions as an ordinary quartz clock. Even the LCD display contrast can be adjusted for any of 8 different levels.

This station is medium in size at just under 9 inches tall and is handsomely styled in silver with brushed aluminum accent panels. You can see in the photo that the aluminum portions are darker than typical brushed aluminum. We'd call their color titanium. This, paired with the silver, gives the WS-7394TWC-IT a look that's definitely high-tech modern. The WS-7394TWC-IT can be mounted on a wall, or you can attach the included stand and place the station on a desk, shelf, or table.

The WS-7394TWC-IT is powered from two AA alkaline batteries, and the TX29U-IT remote transmitter is also powered from two AA alkaline batteries. Lithium AA batteries are recommended instead of alkaline for the TX29U-IT remote if it will be used in sub-freezing temperatures. Batteries are not included and must be purchased separately.