background image

WT-961B WWVB—RADIO CONTROLLED WATCH 

 

ABOUT WWVB (Radio Controlled Time) 

 
The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology—Time and Frequency 
Division) WWVB radio station is located in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and transmits the 
exact time signal continuously at 60 kHz.  The signal can be received up to 2,000 
miles away through the internal antenna in the La Crosse Technology watch.  
However, due to the nature of the Earth’s Ionosphere, reception is very limited during 
daylight hours.  The Watch will search for a signal every night when reception is best.  
The WWVB radio station derives its signal from the NIST Atomic clock in Ft. Collins, 
Colorado.  A team of atomic physicists is continually measuring every second, of 
every day, to an accuracy of ten billionths of a second per day.  These physicists have 
created an international standard, measuring a second as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of a 
Cesium-133 atom in a vacuum.  This watch is regulated by the WWVB transmitter.  
For more information on WWVB and the NIST Atomic clock please visit their website 
at http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwvb.htm 

 

 

SET-UP GUIDE, FEATURES, AND OPERATION 
 
 
 
 
 
SET-UP 
 

Your new radio-controlled watch may arrive to you already set.  The default (factory) 
setting is Eastern Time zone, Daylight Saving Time On and 12-hour time format.  You 
can tell if your watch has received the WWVB signal by looking for a tower icon in 
the upper right corner of the LCD display.  If the tower icon is solid your watch has 
received the signal and set the time and date.  If you need to set your watch to any 
other setting than the default or need to manually activate the WWVB search (only do 
so if there is no tower icon in the upper right of the LCD) please follow the directions 
that follow. 
 
NOTES: 
 

 

Do not press the 

TIME ZONE

 button while the watch is searching for the 

WWVB signal, which normally takes 6-10 minutes. 

 

If you are unable to receive the WWVB signal during the daytime please 
manually activate the WWVB search (see section II). 

 

The optimal time for WWVB reception is between midnight and 6:00 a.m., 
reception may not occur until this time period. 

 

When the WWVB search is complete the time and date will automatically be 
displayed in the LCD. 

 

If the watch is not within range of WWVB signals for an extended period of time 
it will still continue to operate as a accurate quartz controlled watch. 

 

I.

 

TIME ZONE SELECTION 
 

The default time zone is Eastern Time (EST, also GMT-5).  There are 25 Time Zones 
to choose from.  The selection will cycle from GMT-5 (EST) to GMT-12, then 
GMT+12 to GMT +1, then GMT, then GMT-1 to GMT –5 (EST). 

 

1.

 

Hold down the 

TIME ZONE

 button for 2 seconds or until a time zone 

abbreviation and “ZONE” flash in the LCD.

 

2.

 

Repeatedly press and release the 

TIME ZONE 

button until the 

appropriate Time Zone is displayed. 

3.

 

Wait 8 seconds for the automatic time-out to exit the time zone 
selection mode. 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 

II.

 

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (DST) AND 12- 24-HOUR TIME MODE 
 

Through the WWVB signals, the watch automatically adjusts for Daylight 
Saving Time.  The default (factory) setting is Daylight Saving Time On and 
12-hour Time mode.  To change this mode:

 

 

1.

 

Press and hold the 

TIME ZONE

 button for 4 seconds

 

2.

 

“DST ON” and “12h” will be displayed in the time LCD.

 

3.

 

Press and release the 

TIME ZONE

 button to select the desired mode.

 

4.

 

The four selections are:

 

 

DST On, 12-h 
DST Off, 12-h 
DST On, 24-h 
DST Off, 24-h 

 

5.

 

Wait 8 seconds for the automatic time-out to exit the DST On/Off, 
12/24-hour time selection mode.

 

 

NOTE:  At this point your watch will begin searching for the WWVB signal.  
This will always occur after entering the DST On/Off, 12/24 time mode setting.

 

 

III.

 

MANUALLY ACTIVATING THE WWVB SEARCH 
 

You can manually enter the WWVB signal search mode by pressing and 
holding the 

TIME ZONE

 button for 4 seconds.  This will bring up the DST 

On/Off, 12/24-hour time mode selection.  You now can either select the DST 
On/Off, 12/24-hour time mode you wish to be in, or wait 8 seconds for the 
automatic time-out to return to the time display and begin searching for the 
signal. 

 

IV.

 

LOW BATTERY INDICATOR 
 

The watch is supplied with, and powered by a high quality 3V lithium battery 
with a life expectancy of over 2 years.  There is a low-battery indicator that 
appears between the minutes and the date when the battery is low.  The 
battery should be replaced within 2 months of the appearance of the low-
battery indicator.  

 

V.

 

MAINTENANCE AND CARE 
 

Under normal conditions, the watch is shock resistant, however avoid 
excessive “rough” treatment of the watch as this may cause serious damage.  
Clean the watch with a soft dry cloth, or with one moistened with a mild soap 
solution.  Do not use any chemical cleaning solutions, these may cause 
permanent damage to the watch’s surface.  While the watch is water resistant 
to 100 feet, do not submerge in water for extended periods of time.  

 

VI.

 

ADJUSTING THE STRAP 
 

The metal/plastic strap is adjustable to fit most all wrist sizes. You may either 
take it to a local jeweler for adjustment, or perform the following steps. The 
strap is adjusted by removing/adding equal number of links on either side of 
the butterfly strap (or either side). The links are held in place by a small pin. 

 

1.

 

Use a small tool (a paperclip also works) to press out the pin(s) in the 
direction of the arrow on the link.

 

2.

 

Remove the pin on the other side of the link to remove the link.

 

3.

 

Press the pin back in place in the direction of the arrow.

 

4.

 

Repeat as necessary.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

TIME ZONE key 

“Hawaii Time displayed  
(GMT-10) 

Atlantic Time (ATL):     GMT-4      Alaska Time (ALA): GMT-9 
Eastern Time (EST):       GMT-5      Hawaii Time (HAW): GMT-10 
Central Time (CST):       GMT-6   
Mountain Time (MST):  GMT-7   
Pacific Time (PST):        GMT-8      Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): GMT 

TIME LCD 

Reviews: