Not only does the La Crosse WS-7394U-SAL Wireless Weather Station with Forecast, Min/Max Memory, Air Pressure History, and Atomic Clock look good, it also displays a generous amount of forecast-related weather data in 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-7394U-SAL 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-7394U-SAL via an included TX6U 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.

For this station, four different remote transmitters are available. The TX6U (the one included with the station) reports outdoor temperature and has no display of its own. The TX3UP senses temperature via a waterproof probe on a 10-foot (3-meter) wire for use in pools, spas, soil, etc., and has a display. The TX6U 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). Now that AAA lithium batteries are available from at least one manufacturer, this is also true of the TX3UP. However, because of the nature of liquid crystals, the display on the TX3UP will fade as the temperature approaches 0°F (-17.8°C).

The WS-7394U-SAL 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-7394U-SAL 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-7394U-SAL 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-7394U-SAL a look that's definitely high-tech modern. The WS-7394U-SAL can be mounted on a wall, or you can attach the included stand and place the station on a desk, shelf, or table.

Features:

• Clock sets automatically to WWVB 60 kHz radio signal (manual setting is also possible).
• 12-hour or 24-hour time display (hour, minute, second).
• Calendar display with weekday abbreviation and date.
• Time zone setting (GMT +/-12 hours) with map display for the 4 continental U.S. time zones.
• Daylight saving time ON/OFF option.
• Display of current indoor temperature (in either °F or °C) and relative humidity with minimum and maximum recordings and times and dates of reception.
• Indoor comfort-level icon (smiling or sad face).
• Three weather-forecasting icons.
• Barometric pressure tendency indicator arrows.
• Numeric display of current barometric pressure (as either inHg or hPa).
• Kinetic bar graph of barometric pressure history for the past 12 hours at -12, -9, -6, -3, and 0 hours
• Display of current outdoor temperature (in either °F or °C) and relative humidity (in %) with minimum and maximum recordings and times and dates of reception.
• Can receive and display information from up to three outdoor transmitters (one TX6U temperature remote is included; additional remotes are optional and sold separately).
• LCD display contrast selectable for 8 different levels.
• Low-battery condition indicated by display becoming faint.
• Station powered by two AA (1.5V) alkaline batteries (not included).
• Remote transmitter (TX6U) powered by two AA (1.5V) alkaline batteries (not included). For use in sub-freezing temperatures, lithium AA batteries are recommended instead of alkaline.
• Battery life for both station and remote is up to 18 months.
• Station is designed for either wall mounting or, via included removable stand, desk/shelf/table placement.
• TX6U remote is a wall-mount unit.

Station Specifications:

• Radio-controlled time signal: WWVB, 60kHz
• Recommended operating temperature (station):
  32°F to 122°F (0° to 50°C)
• Indoor temperature measuring range:
  14.2°F to 139.8°F with 0.2°F resolution
  -9.9°C to 59.9°C with 0.1°C resolution
  ("OFL" is displayed if outside this range)
• Outdoor temperature measuring range:
  -21.8°F to 157.8°F with 0.2°F resolution
  -29.9°C to 69.9°C with 0.1°C resolution
  ("OFL" is displayed if outside this range)
• Indoor relative humidity measuring range:
  1% to 99% with 1% resolution
  ("- -" is displayed if outside this range)
• Barometric pressure measurement:
  • Relative hPa (adjustable): 960 to 1040 hPa
  • Relative inHg (adjustable): 28.35 to 30.72 inHg
  • Forecast sensitivity setting: 2 to 4 hPa
  • Air pressure history: for the past 12 hours at 0, -3, -6, -9, and -12 hours
• Data checking intervals:
  Indoor temperature: every 15 seconds
  Indoor relative humidity: every 20 seconds
  Outdoor temperature (by remote sensor): every 1 minute
  Outdoor temperature reception (by main unit): every 5 minutes
• Transmission/reception range: 330 feet (100m) maximum in open space with no interference
• Station dimensions:
  4.0 inches (102mm) wide
  8.75 inches (222 mm) high
  1.5 inches (40 mm) deep without stand

• Remote transmission of outdoor temperature to station via 433.92 MHz signals
• Transmission range when used with WS-7394U-SAL main station: 330 feet (100 meters) in open space with no interference
• Recommended operating temperature:
  -25° to 158°F (-31.6° to 70.0°C)
• Temperature measuring range:
  -21.8°F to 157.8°F (-29.9°C to 69.9°C)
• Temperature checking interval: every 1 minute, with reception by station every 5 minutes
• Rainproof case
• Wall mounting
• Power source: two AA (1.5V) alkaline batteries (not included). For use in sub-freezing temperatures, lithium AA batteries are recommended instead of alkaline.
• Remote transmitter dimensions:
  1.57 inches (40 mm) wide
  5.04 inches (128 mm) high
  0.9 inch (23 mm) deep

WWVB (the station’s identification just like any other radio station) continuously broadcasts time and frequency signals at 60 kHz. The carrier frequency provides a stable frequency reference traceable to the national standard. There are no voice announcements on the station, but a time code is synchronized with the 60 kHz carrier and is broadcast continuously at a rate of 1 bit per second using pulse width modulation. The time code contains the year, day of year, hour, minute, second, and flags that indicate the status of daylight saving time, leap years, and leap seconds.

The Integral Atomic Clock:

The atomic clock integral to the WS-7394U-SAL maintains its incredible accuracy by automatically tuning into the WWVB radio signal. The built-in antenna ensures reliable signal reception up to 2000 miles (3200 km) from the WWVB transmitter. As a result, the clock will calibrate to the atomic clock not only throughout the mainland U.S. but also in much of Canada. You need only insert the batteries, wait until the signal is received, and program the desired additional settings. In locations outside of WWVB range, the clock can be manually set and will provide the high degree of accuracy of any quality quartz clock.

In a nutshell, here's how the the atomic clock works: The clock's antenna is specifically tuned for optimal reception of the 60 kHz time signal. The time signal received on the antenna is demodulated by an onboard receiver, which sends the information to the clock's CMOS microprocessor for decoding. Once your clock has automatically set its time for the first time, it ensures continuing accuracy by automatically tuning into the WWVB radio signal between midnight and 6:00 a.m. As long as your clock is kept within transmitter range, it will continue to display the absolutely precise time, automatically adjusting for summer time/winter time changeovers if the daylight saving time option is ON. Should you move your clock out of transmitter range for an extended period of time, the clock will continue to operate as a highly accurate quartz-controlled clock. Upon re-entering the transmitter range, your clock will correct itself again to the precise WWVB time signal.