RCA RCWS50 Wireless Weather Station with Outdoor Sensor User Guide

RCA RCWS50 Wireless Weather Station with Outdoor Sensor

User’s Guide

Getting Started

Step 1: Set Up the Outdoor Wireless Sensor
The weather station’s wireless sensor transmits outdoor weather information to the weather station. You can hang it using the notch on its back or simply place it on a flat surface. Keep the following placement pointers in mind when choosing a location for your wireless sensor:

  • Keep the wireless sensor within 98ft (30m) of the weather station. Try to minimize as much as possible the number of obstacles between the sensor and the weather station—these will decrease the wireless sensor’s range.
  • Place the wireless sensor so that it avoids direct sunlight and moisture as much as possible.
  • Avoid exposing the sensor to temperatures below –30ºF (–35ºC). Extreme cold shortens battery life and transmission range.
    To install batteries in the wireless sensor:
  1. Open the battery compartment on the back of the wireless sensor.
  2. Insert 2 AAA batteries (not included). Follow the+ and – indications printed on the compartment. Note: If the wireless sensor is going to be exposed to below-freezing temperatures, alkaline batteries are recommended.

Close the battery compartment. Once the wireless sensor has batteries, its indicator blinks every minute, which means the sensor is transmitting weather information!
Step 2: Lower the Weather Station’s Arm
The weather station has a rotating arm on its right side that serves as the weather station’s stand when you lower it to the position
shown here.

Note: You can also lay the weather station flat on a surface or hang it using the notch on its back.
Step 3: Power the Weather Station
 Your can power your weather station by installing 3 AAA batteries (not included) or by plugging the power adapter into an AC outlet.
To install batteries

    1. Open the battery compartment on the back of the weather station.
    2. Insert three AAA batteries (not included). Follow the + and – indications printed on the compartment.
    3. Close the battery compartment.
      Note: When the weather is running on batteries alone (i.e.., when it’s not plugged in), the display will time out after 8 seconds to extend battery life. To turn the display back on, press the SNZ-LIGHT button.
       Precaution: Always remove old, weak or worn-out batteries promptly and recycle or dispose of them in accordance with Local and National Regulations.
      To use the power adapter:
      1. Plug the included power adapter into the DC 5V jack on the right side of the weather station.
      Plug the other end into a working AC outlet.
      TIP: Installing batteries is a good idea even if you’re plugging your weather station in for power. Batteries will make sure your settings (like time and alarm) are saved even if there’s a power outage.

Step 4: Link the Weather Station with the Wireless Sensor

Once your weather station is powered, it starts establishing a link with your wireless sensor. The reception indicator ( ) in the OUTDOOR section of the weather station’s display flashes while the weather station and wireless sensor are linking. The linking process can take up to 3 minutes.
Note: To manually start the weather station linking procedure with the wireless sensor, press and hold the CHANNEL button on the back of the weather station for 3 seconds.
Once the two are linked, the reception indicator disappears from the weather station’s display and the weather station shows the current outdoor temperature and humidity.
Wireless Sensor Troubleshooting
If your weather station display is having trouble establishing a consistent connection with the wireless sensor, try the following steps to resolve the connection issue.
Try moving the wireless sensor and weather station closer to each other. The maximum distance for a reliable connection is 98ft (30m).
Avoid placing the weather station or sensor close to large metal objects or household appliances. These can interfere with the wireless link.
Make sure the weather station and wireless sensor are communicating on the same wireless channel. By default, they are both set to channel 1. Confirm that the OUTDOOR section of the weather station display says 1 next to the reception indicator ( ). Then check the channel switch on the wireless sensor. This switch is behind the batteries in the sensor’s battery compartment.
The weather station and wireless sensor offer different wireless channels. If you’re experiencing interference on one of the channels, set the weather station and wireless sensor to a different channel. The channel switch on the sensor is located inside the battery compartment, behind the batteries. Remove the compartment door and batteries, and set the switch to the next channel. Then replace the batteries and compartment door. Press and hold the CHANNEL button until the channel shown in the OUTDOOR section of the display matches the channel you chose on the sensor ( 1 , 2 , or 3 ).
To manually start the weather station linking procedure with the wireless sensor, press and hold the CHANNEL button on the back of the weather station for 3 seconds. To make the wireless sensor link instantly to the weather station in linking mode, remove the sensor’s batteries then put them back in quickly.
Step 5: Set the Date and Time


  1. Press and hold the MODE button on the back of the weather station to enter time/date set mode. The hour digits blink.
  2. Use the UP and DOWN buttons on the arm to adjust the hour. Press the MODE button to set the hour and move to the minutes.
  3.  Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the minutes. Press the  MODE button to set the minutes and move to the year.
  4. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the year. Press the MODE button to set it and move to the month.
  5. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the month. Press the MODE button to set it and move to the date.
  6. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the date. Then press MODE to set it and move to the weekday language setting.
  7. Press the UP or DOWN button to switch between languages available for weekday (English, by default). Press MODE to choose your preference and exit time/date setting.

Everyday Use

Setting Alarm 1 and Alarm 2

  1. Press the MODE button on the back of the weather station to go to the Alarm 1display. 6:00 AL1 appears on the display.
  2.  Press and hold the MODE button until the hour digits start blinking.
  3. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the hour for Alarm 1. Press the MODE button to set it and move to the minutes.
  4. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the minutes for Alarm 1. Press the MODE button to finish setting Alarm 1.
  5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 for Alarm 2 if desired.

To turn alarm1 and/or alarm 2 on/off: Press the ALARM once to turn on Alarm 1 only. Press ALARM a second time to turn on Alarm 2 only. Press ALARM a third time to turn on both Alarm 1 and Alarm 2. Press ALARM a fourth time to turn off both alarms.

Notes:

  • The alarm sounds for two minutes when activated.
  • Press SNZ/LIGHT to activate snooze. The alarm indicator remains on the clock display. Press any other button to turn the alarm off.
  • Press and hold SNZ/LIGHT to change the interval you want for each SNZ/LIGHT press.

Switching Temperature Display Between Celsius and Fahrenheit
By default, the weather station displays temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
To switch between degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius: Press the UP button on the arm of the weather station.
Setting Max / Min Alerts for Temperature
You can set up the weather station so that it alerts you when it registers a maximum or minimum temperature beyond limits that you set.
To set max / min alerts for humidity and temperature:

  1. Press and hold the ALERT button on the back of the weather station until the outdoor temperature starts blinking.
  2. Use the UP and DOWN buttons on the back of the weather station to set the maximum outdoor temperature alert you want. Press ALERT to set it.
  3.  Use the UP and DOWN buttons on the back of the weather station to set the minimum outdoor temperature alert you want. Press ALERT to set it.
  4.  Use the UP and DOWN buttons on the back of the weather station to set the maximum indoor temperature alert you want. Press ALERT to set it.
  5. Use the UP and DOWN buttons on the back of the weather station to set the minimum indoor temperature alert you want. Press ALERT to finish setting min/max alerts.

To turn max / min alerts on and off: Press the ALERT button on the back of the weather
station repeatedly until you see the alert you want to turn on. Then press the UP or DOWN button to turn it on or off.
To show the max/min temperature alerts for weather station and outdoor sensor: Press the ALERT button on the back of the weather station to cycle through them.

  • One press displays the maximum outdoor temperature alert.
  • Two presses displays the minimum outdoor temperature alert.
  • Three presses displays the maximum indoor temperature alert.
  • Four presses displays the minimum indoor temperature alert.
  • Five presses displays the current humidity and temperature registered by the weather station and wireless sensor.

Tour of the Weather Station Alarm Clock

Wireless Sensor
Battery compartment holds 2 AAA batteries (not included) to power the wireless sensor. 1-2-3 switch (not shown, inside the battery compartment) sets the wireless channel for transmitting the wireless sensor’s data to the weather station. Notch hangs on a nail or tack to attach the sensor where  you want to install it.
Indicator blinks every minute to show that the sensor is powered on and transmitting

Back Panel

MODE button switches the display between clock and alarm 1/2 display. Press and hold to adjust the item displayed (time or alarm 1/2).
ALARM cycles through the alarm settings: Alarm 1 on, Alarm 2 on, Alarms 1 and 2 on, Alarms off.
CHANNEL cycles through the different channels for outdoor wireless sensors. Press and hold to manually start the linking procedure with a wireless sensor on the currently selected channel.
ALERT cycles through the alerts for maximum and minimum temperature you’ve currently set in the following order: max indoor temperature alert, min indoor temperature alert, max outdoor temperature alert, min outdoor temperature alert. Press and hold to enter temperature alert setting mode.
SNZ / LIGHT button snoozes the alarm when it’s sounding and activates the display backlight when the clock is running on battery power. Press and hold to set the snooze interval.
Battery compartment (not shown) holds 3 AAA batteries (not included) to power the weather station.


Arm
UP and DOWN buttons adjust the current time, date, or alarm time when setting. UP switches the temperature reading between Celsius and Fahrenheit in regular display mode and turns temperature alerts on and off in alert setting mode. DOWN switches between 12- and 24-hour time display in regular display mode and turns temperature alerts on and off in alert setting mode.
SNZ / LIGHT button snoozes the alarm when it’s sounding and activates the display backlight when the clock is running on battery power. It also goes through the brightness settings for the display. Press and hold to adjust the amount of time for snoozing the alarm.
DC 5V jack (side, not shown) connects to the provided power adapter to power the weather station.

Display

Forecast shows the weather station’s estimated forecast based on the ambient outdoor temperature and humidity.
COMFORT indicates whether the air is humid, good (comfortable), or dry.
AM/PM indicates the time displayed is AM or PM (does not apply to 24-hour format).
Time digits show the current time or alarm time (or setting values when adjusting). AL1 or AL2 appears when an alarm is set.
DAY shows the day of the week.
DATE and MONTH show the current date.
OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE and HUMIDITY shows the current temperature and humidity registered by the wireless sensor.
The TREND indicator shows if the temperature has gone up, down, or remained steady in the past hour.
The wireless reception ( ) and channel indicator ( 1 , 2 , or 3 ) show which wireless channel the weather station is using to communicate with the wireless sensor. The symbol indicates the weather station is scanning through the channels for information from multiple wireless sensors. If the battery of the wireless sensor is low, the low battery symbol will appear in this area.
TEMP ALERTS show if HI (max) or LO (min) temperature alerts have been set. The appears next to alerts when they’ve been set.
INDOOR TEMPERATURE and HUMIDITY shows the current temperature and humidity registered by the weather station.
The TREND indicator shows if the temperature has gone up, down, or remained steady in the past hour.
TEMP ALERTS show if HI (max) or LO (min) temperature alerts have been set. The appears next to alerts when they’ve been set.