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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Southwest Virginia on 10/2/2008
The people need to understand is that having a good weatherproof seal on an outdoor electronic device requires something tight, so screws are pretty much necessary.
Upon READING THE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY, my unit works great! Each time batteries are changed, the Reset button needs to be pressed to begin transmission. This is very common with wireless weather devices.
from Palm Desert,CA on 8/8/2008
I suspect that some of the negative reviewers never owned this thing. Workmanship is good, it is accurate to +/- 1.5 deg F. Using it at a distance of app 75 feet. The outside unit should be waterproof, but placing it in a jar took care of it.That is why 4 stars. It is dangling in the shade of a tree for the time being. Would like to get a second unit but since the same code and frequency is used not a good idea.
Eugene
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
My 13 year old hard wired radio shack thermometer finally failed because the genius painter painted it. First I was frustrated because the battery compartment on the transmitter had teeny tiny screws that were a PITA to get off and on but it was all for not because the unit only works if they're like 2 feet apart in the same room. DOES NOT GO THROUGH WALLS! I wish they still sold the hard wire unit. I'm Retuning it.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
On the only positive note, the outdoor range is supposed to be -4 below, but this made it all the way down to -16 below this winter.
Otherwise, this thing refuses to reengage the wireless connection after reinstalling the batteries.
Remote needs to be directly facing main unit, thus cancelling any practicality. Won't go thru windows, doors or anything else. Units need to be almost kissing to work. Like another reviewer said, works best in a home without walls. The worst.
from Memphis, TN on 11/24/2007
I have owned several RS remote temp units and all have worked well. This one is a complete disappointment. The remote receiver simply doesn't communicate through walls (and walls are the primary reason one needs a remote unit).
from Albuquerque, NM on 11/17/2007
While remodeling my home I needed to know if the outdoor temperature was dropping below 40 degrees at night to decide if I could apply new stucco to the exterior. The unit performed as described on the packaging displaying real time indoor and outdoor temperatures along with minimum and maximum values. The remote exterior sensor is located outdoors protected from rain or snow by the eave about ten feet away from the main unit indoors. The house is 2 X 4 wood frame construction with a stucco exterior. The key to using this device is to read and follow the instructions and use fresh batteries.
from NJ on 10/18/2007
The sending unit and main unit DO NOT communicate. They are seperated by 1 wall and a total of 5 feet. However, both function properly when they are within the same room. I guess the instructions should state you must live in a house with no walls...
I installed the sending unit in an attic storage room almost directly above my bedroom. The receiving unit is only about 20 feet away. The signal has to travel through a ceiling and some insulation. The unit worked fine for a few hours then it started losing touch with the receiver. I?ve moved it around many times to try and make it work and it will work for a few hours, then it stops. I also put in new batteries and it made no difference. Years ago I bought a similar unit from [...] and it worked fine. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS UNIT. Evidently it is very weak.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Worked for almost a year - no problem. When I had to replace battery, I couldn't get the indoor to pick up the signal from the outdoor. Replaced batteries in both units- no luck. When I went back [...] to look for another unit, I was told that sometimes the order in which you put the batteries in determines whether one part "reads" the other.Went home and removed, then re-installed the batteries from the outside unit and, to my surprise, it's been working fine. Go Figure!
Bought this when my 15 year old wired thermometer finally bit the dust. (Boy do I miss that one!) Unit does not work no matter how close the main unit & sensor unit are. Worked for all of 2 minutes then refused to contact each other no matter how many times I reset both units. Would not recognize the temp even when main unit & sensor were an inch apart. Returned today for the more expensive unit - so far so good, but it's only been an hour!
The outside sending unit worked for only a short time. Replacing the battery did not help at all.
I bought it in January '07 and the outside sending unit worked for only three months. I installed new batteries but nothing would bring it back to life.
Have used it to monitor temp of outdoor dog house. Has worked just fine for 3 months, with transmit distance of at least 50 ft. Use AAA lithium bats in sensor.
I have owned my sensor for just over a year. There is a 30 foot distance between the sensor and the display unit. I am really surprised by all of the negative reviews as I have had no functional problems. I only have two minor complaints: There is no picture of the low battery indication in the instruction manual so it is difficult to tell which battery is low (indoor or outdoor), and the screws on the outdoor unit are so small that a jewellers screwdriver is required.
I'm not sure what you other reviewers are talking about. This item works great and took me about 2 minutes to put the batterys in and set up. I would recommend this to anyone.
This product is great for the few minutes that it works. It stopped working so I changed all the batteries. Worked for a short bit of time but now it won't communicate with the outside receiver. I returned it, just to get another one that doesn't work. It's a very frustrating product!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Have to agree. It's as bad as any product I've ever bought. The two pieces will NOT communicate with each other. I've tried multiple locations and differing distances; line-of-sight, and not. It doesn't work.
I wish I had read these reviews BEFORE I bought this piece of junk. My old Radio Shack indoor/outdoor worked great for years until the batteries leaked. This is going back to the store today!
Remote station does not communicate with base station. The communication range appears to be about 5 feet. This unit is going back.
We needed to replace our 15 year old Radio Shack unit - but it won't be this one! Manual says that remote sensor must face and be in front of main unit. Old sensor did not have those restrictions and worked great until recently. This one's going back to the store...
The sensor and main unit don't cooperate. The sensor often goes out. This even after fresh batteries. It all works well when the sensor is transmitting but it is exceptionally sensitive to distractions which cause the unit to go blank. Not good.
Returned it. Updates take 18 minutes. My old one (I broke the sensor) updated every minute or so.
Very useful device. I'm monitoring temperatures in the attic. If I use it outdoors I will place the sensor unit in a freezer bag to keep the electronics water proof.
GARBAGE! DOES NOT WORK!!!
Great--if you only need it for a month or so of use!
It works great. We have tried it with the senor in our RV our freezer and outside on the patio. It works great in every location. Good value for the price.
What a piece of JUNK!!! As another reviewer pointed out, this device has a range of about 3 inches. Totally worthless!
Works great so far. Not sure on battery life yet. It's only been 6 weeks since I bought it. We'll see....
The screws for the battery cover are no problem if you know how to work a simple hand tool. I've had the same NEW batteries in both units for over a month now with no problem. My only problem was trying to find somewhere to mount the outdoor sensor. If it's for outdoors, then I don't think and LCD is needed and the sensor could be smaller and maybe waterproof.
The sensor and the receiver will not takl to each other if seperated by more than three inches. Yes, 3 inches. I am taking the thing back. Do not buy.
Works great for me, I get a regular temperature update through 2 floors. Not sure how it will do on battery life yet, I am using rechargable NiMH AAA. I know NiMH do drain faster over time so I may end up replacing them with lithium cells or something. Min/max temp is nice - I wish it had an alert feature..
Christmas day I put the first set of batteries in the outside unit and two days later it was dead. I put another set in and overnight it was dead again. I'm returning it and hope to get my money back instead of another poorly made product.
The sensor that goes outside to monitor temperature and send info to the main unit is not waterproof and can get moisture damage.
I have just returned a faulty model of this thermometer and received another non-worker! Simply foreign junk that will ruin Radio Shack's reputation with me. I am a very long-time customer with a high regard for Radio Shack products--But many more products such as this thermometer and you will lose me!
Getting the product going wasn't any problem. It is a little early for me to rate reliability, but it seems to be well made for sure. It is doing what I wanted it to do.
I'm returning this product so I can't provide any details other than the difficulty involved in simply putting in the batteries. I stripped the screws in the back of the thermometer on my first attempt to add batteries. My question...why would you have a product that requires batteries with such small and hard to reach screws? Product may be okay, good luck putting in the batteries.