Viking 16in. in. Analog Clock - CL-A16

Viking Electronics CL-A16 16-Inch Wireless Analog Clock

Overview

The Viking Electronics CL-A16 is a 16-inch round analog clock built for synchronized time display across commercial facilities — schools, hospitals, manufacturing floors, and multi-wing office buildings where every clock on the network needs to show exactly the same time without running wire to each unit. The CL-A16 receives a clock sync signal wirelessly over the 915–928 MHz band and, critically, retransmits it — so each clock in the system also serves as a repeater, extending coverage as your deployment grows.

Unlike wired master clock systems that require a homerun to every clock location, the CL-A16 (often searched as CL A16) builds a self-extending mesh: the signal hops from one unit to the next, meaning a single transmitter can blanket a large campus without signal degradation at the edges.

Key Features

• Built-in Frequency Hopping (915–928 MHz): Spread-spectrum transmission across the 915–928 MHz ISM band resists interference from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and industrial equipment operating in the same RF environment. In factories or hospitals with dense wireless traffic, this directly reduces missed sync events that cause clocks to drift.
• Integrated Repeater — Every Clock Extends the Network: Each CL-A16 receives and retransmits the sync signal, so you don't need dedicated repeater hardware. Deploy a second or third clock in a long corridor and coverage extends automatically — useful in steel-framed buildings or facilities with RF-absorbing partition walls.
• 3,300 ft Transmission Range: Rated to 3,300 ft in open-air conditions, giving substantial margin for typical commercial floor plans. For multi-story or signal-obstructed layouts, the repeater chain keeps sync reliable across the full footprint.
• 1-Watt RF Output (30 dBm): At 30 dBm, the CL-A16 transmits at the maximum allowed output for the 915 MHz ISM band under FCC Part 15. That's meaningful headroom over lower-power alternatives — fewer repeater hops needed to cover the same building footprint.
• Universal AC Input (90–230V): Accepts 90–230V AC, so the same SKU works on both North American 110V circuits and international 230V installations. No transformer or voltage-specific variant to manage in mixed-voltage facilities or international deployments.
• Internal Antenna: The antenna is fully enclosed — no external whip to break, bend, or interfere with flush-mount aesthetics. Appropriate for finished interior spaces where exposed hardware isn't acceptable.
• 16-Inch Clock Face: At 16 inches, the face is legible at distances relevant to large open areas — cafeterias, gymnasiums, production floors, waiting rooms. Smaller 12-inch variants exist in the CL series if the deployment is conference rooms or tight corridors.
• 0°C to 50°C Operating Range: Covers standard conditioned indoor environments. Not rated for unheated warehouses or outdoor use — if ambient temps drop below freezing, plan accordingly or select a different solution.
• FCC Part 15 Compliant: Certified for unlicensed operation in the US, so you don't need to manage spectrum licensing for the deployment. Straightforward for facilities teams to provision without RF coordination overhead.

Integration & Compatibility

The CL-A16 is designed to operate within the Viking Viking Electronics wireless clock system, pairing with a compatible CL-series master transmitter. All clocks in the CL series share the same 915–928 MHz frequency hopping protocol, meaning CL-A16 units can coexist with CL-D4 digital clocks (4-inch digit display) on the same network — mix analog and digital displays across a facility from a single transmitter.

For installations requiring clocks on both sides of a hallway or mounted perpendicular to a wall or ceiling — such as long corridors in healthcare or education facilities — the CL-DMA16 double mount housing accepts two CL-A16 units back-to-back. This accessory is the practical solution for bidirectional visibility without running independent mounting infrastructure for each clock face.

Because the RF operates in the unlicensed 915–928 MHz ISM band, no spectrum coordination with IT or telecom teams is required. The FCC Part 15 certification covers US deployment; verify local regulatory acceptance for international sites before ordering.

For facility managers integrating synchronized time displays as part of a broader public address and facility communication system, the CL-A16 pairs well with other Viking Electronics paging and notification hardware that shares the same infrastructure philosophy — distributed, wired-minimized, commercially hardened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How far can the CL-A16 transmit its clock sync signal?

A: The CL-A16 is rated for up to 3,300 ft in open-air conditions. Because each unit also functions as a repeater, signal range extends further in multi-clock deployments — each additional clock relays the sync to the next unit in the chain.

Q: Does the CL-A16 require a separate repeater device to extend coverage in large buildings?

A: No. Every CL-A16 has a built-in repeater that receives and retransmits the clock sync signal. Placing additional clocks along a corridor or across floors effectively extends coverage without dedicated repeater hardware.

Q: What voltage does the CL-A16 require?

A: The CL-A16 accepts 90–230V AC, covering both North American 110V and international 230V circuits. No external transformer or voltage converter is needed for either environment.

Q: Can I mix CL-A16 analog clocks with CL-D4 digital clocks on the same system?

A: Yes. Both models use the same 915–928 MHz frequency hopping protocol, so they operate on the same network driven by a single CL-series master transmitter. Analog and digital displays can coexist in the same facility.

Q: Is the CL-A16 suitable for outdoor or unheated warehouse installation?

A: No. The operating temperature range is 0°C to 50°C, which covers standard conditioned indoor environments. Unheated spaces subject to sub-freezing temperatures are outside the rated operating range.

Q: Is the CL-A16 FCC certified for unlicensed operation?

A: Yes. The CL-A16 is FCC Part 15 compliant, meaning it is certified for unlicensed operation in the US 915–928 MHz ISM band. No spectrum licensing or coordination with regulators is required for domestic deployments.

Ted Perry

I spec the CL-A16 when a facility needs synchronized time across a large footprint and running dedicated clock wiring isn't feasible — the 1-watt (30 dBm) RF output and built-in repeater on every unit mean you're not chasing coverage gaps with separate hardware. In a recent school district deployment, we covered three connected buildings from a single master transmitter by daisy-chaining CL-A16 units across the corridors — no dedicated repeater nodes, no new conduit runs.

Technical Highlights:

• 915–928 MHz Frequency Hopping: Spread-spectrum operation across 13 MHz of ISM bandwidth keeps sync reliable in RF-dense environments — hospitals with medical telemetry, manufacturing floors with motor drives, or school buildings saturated with student Wi-Fi all present the kind of interference that fixed-frequency clocks lose sync against.
• 30 dBm / 3,300 ft Range: 1-watt output is the FCC Part 15 maximum for this band. Combined with the repeater chain, a single transmitter site can cover a facility footprint that would require multiple transmitters from lower-power alternatives — a real cost and complexity reduction for larger campuses.
• 90–230V AC Universal Input: For integrators working across healthcare systems or university campuses with mixed electrical infrastructure (or international sites), this eliminates voltage-variant SKU management entirely. One part number covers the deployment.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 0°C to 50°C operating range is standard conditioned-space spec — plan clock placement away from loading dock doors, exterior vestibules, or any zone that drops below freezing seasonally. Storage down to -15°C is fine, but operating below 0°C is outside spec.
• The CL-DMA16 double-mount housing (sold separately) is worth calling out to end users in long-corridor environments like hospitals and schools — it mounts two CL-A16 units perpendicular to the wall so both directions of foot traffic see a clock face without separate mounting infrastructure.

The CL-A16 is the right call for large conditioned-interior deployments — K-12 schools, hospitals, multi-wing office buildings — where wired master clock infrastructure is cost-prohibitive and you need a clean, analog display with no external antenna or repeater hardware to manage.