SHARP Digital Alarm Clock with Keyboard Style Controls, Battery Back-up, Easy to Use with Simple Operation, Black Case with Red LED Display

I was looking for a simple desk clock that runs of AC and uses the 60 Hz mains frequency as a time base. The reason for the latter is because the electricity company keeps this really accurate, you will never have to correct the clock (as is often the case with clocks having an internal quartz reference). Quartz based clocks always drifts over time, not so for this clock. Also, those atomic clocks (as an alternative) were not an option for me, as the NIST radio signal for that (from Ft Collins, CO) is too weak where I live. Apart from the fact that those clocks cost at least twice as much.There is a battery backup in this clock that keeps an internal oscillator running when there is a power outage, two AAA batteries can be placed in the clock for that. Contrary what some reviewers have reported as a "defect", these batteries are only there to keep the internal oscillator running during an outage so you won't have to re-adjust the clock after a power outage. These batteries will NOT keep the display illuminated. That is not why these batteries are there, even the video reviewer had not grasped that fact I noticed.I recommend to use old-fashioned carbon-zinc batteries for this backup function, as alkaline-based batteries always start to leak corrosive electrolyte after a while. This will destroy your radio in the process. This leakage happens even when alkaline batteries are hardly used I have noticed, they are terrible in that aspect. Use carbon-zinc instead (often called "heavy duty" batteries)This is in fact my only gripe about this radio, it should have been designed for a lithium coin cell battery instead of the two AAA batteries. Lithium batteries never leak an have an extremely low self discharge.Another nice-to-have would have been a daylight- saving time switch, but not a big deal.Adding it all up, this is a buy I can recommend. The clock is built well and has good brightness (settable by the user)

I needed something small, unobtrusive and inexpensive and this fit the bill perfectly. I can’t say I love the way it looks but it’s small and doesn’t take up much room at all. I have it tucked away on a lower shelf of my bedside table. The numbers are large, bright and therefore easy to see. Keeps time and so far haven’t had any issues. I do wish it came in white but other than that I have no complaints. I’ve alway had great luck with Sharp products and was happy to find this little gem. Highly recommended.

It's perfect! I have sensory issues including light sensitivity. I tried an LED alarm clock and it actually kept me up. I knew I needed to go back to an old fashioned one and this is perfect! I don't use the alarm so I can't speak on that but I am sure it's fine. If you're looking for an old school less bright alarm clock this is a great price and product

Very good. Easy to use.

This is a very simple clock to set up. Also the numbers are large and in red so they cannot be missed. Have not used the alarm so cannot speak to that function. Also you will know when the power goes out if you are gone as it will blink as the electricity cuts it off. Good to know for several reasons. Nice clock.

Best alarm clock I’ve bought. I got this because I want to wake up. The alarm is so annoying and loud it will wake you up under any circumstance, No power? No worries it will still wake you up because you can add 2 AAA batteries to have backup power. You can see the time miles away and weights nothing. Some people will complain that you can only set one alarm, that is fine because you only need one and the snooze button. This alarm clock is meant to wake you up in the mornings with no excuse. I love mine and I’m not planning to replace it any time soon.

I didn't need the directions. Yay! If it was in a hotel room, I could use it. Yay! Hold down time, while using hour button and then minute button to set time. Hold down alarm and same. Well labeled off/on button for alarm. Has red light to indicate that the alarm is set. PM is clearly marked. Uses AAA batteries for back-up. Why are other ones so difficult?

I really liked this clock. I definitely liked the design, and it seemed to have everything that I was looking for. It had a longer-than-normal snooze function - 9 minutes, and seemed to have an unlimited amount of snooze cycles. The illumination was adjustable from dim to normal to bright. The clock and the alarm were both extremely easy to set. I finally thought that I had found my clock. But then I had the opportunity to use the alarm. Wait . . . did I hear something? Wait . . . let me listen again. Oh, I think that might be my alarm!!!Like most alarm clocks, this clock utilizes a speaker in order for the alarm to resonate. Where is the most logical place for the speaker to be located? Oh yeah -- let's place it on the bottom of the clock so that the sound is directed toward and into the surface of whatever the clock is sitting on and gets totally muffled - that sounds like a plan. Who designs these things, anyway! Obviously, someone who has never needed or used an alarm clock and has no idea of its purpose. Well, I thought I would work around this by attempting to elevate the clock enough so that the speaker was unimpeded in order for the alarm to sound as it was meant to. That helped - somewhat - but not enough to wake me up from a deep sleep. After fiddling with different solutions in an attempt to make this clock work for me, I just decided that it wasn't worth it. No matter what I did, it didn't make that much of a difference. I soon realized that the location of the speaker wasn't the only problem. The main problem was that this alarm has very little volume, and nothing is going to change or improve that.Therefore, I have no recourse but to return this clock and continue my search.