help me find an alarm clock

Calica · January 2020

I have four non-negotiable requirements:

No glowing display (or a display that can be turned off completely, not just dimmed)
Lets me use a custom alarm sound file (not a radio station)
Is not an app
Is not a smart speaker or other listening device

Nice to have, but not dealbreakers: adjustable snooze, analog clock face.

I'm at wit's end. There are hundreds of apps that do what I want, but I can't have my phone in my bedroom. It's too much of a temptation.

Halp?

DevoutlyApathetic · January 2020

Phew, that's tough. Really my first thought is your last gen phone with the data/wifi/distractions intentionally crippled. Even then that pretty much relies on your wifi pass not being memorized which isn't a thing that happens for me.

Zilla360 · January 2020

You could use an FM clock/alarm radio and tune it to an FM frequency broadcasted by a nearby Raspberry Pi Zero W broadcasting an MP3 file of your choice on a continuous loop.

FM radio turns on at specified time, sound file of your choice is playing as a radio station. Voila!

Iruka · January 2020

How far away does your phone have to be?
https://www.amazon.com/Soundfreaq-Sound-Rise-Classic-White/dp/B07BVVV6MT

this analog clock Bluetooth speaker, but you say "custom sounds" and not "custom songs" so I'm not sure if music is what you are looking for. I have no idea how well this thing works and how far the bluetooth signal will reach though. If you need to lock your phone in the basement, might not work. This would also work if you go through the trouble of creating a radio station though.

Orogogus · January 2020

Maybe this one on Amazon?

https://smile.amazon.com/GAX-Voice-Activated-Recordable-Decoration-Pinkandwhite/dp/B07JHRVKHZ/

Calica · January 2020

Iruka wrote: »

How far away does your phone have to be?
https://www.amazon.com/Soundfreaq-Sound-Rise-Classic-White/dp/B07BVVV6MT

this analog clock Bluetooth speaker, but you say "custom sounds" and not "custom songs" so I'm not sure if music is what you are looking for. I have no idea how well this thing works and how far the bluetooth signal will reach though. If you need to lock your phone in the basement, might not work. This would also work if you go through the trouble of creating a radio station though.

I don't really want to leave my phone plugged in all night either.

Donovan Puppyfucker · January 2020

Sounds like you're going to need to knock something up out of a Raspberry Pi Nano.

discrider · January 2020

schtasks.exe :rotate:

Inquisitor77 · January 2020

Here's a customizable medical clock that might work, given your description:

https://smile.amazon.com/MedCenter-Interactive-Personalized-Reminder-Adapter/dp/B001DTYJ04

Tofystedeth · January 2020

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

Phew, that's tough. Really my first thought is your last gen phone with the data/wifi/distractions intentionally crippled. Even then that pretty much relies on your wifi pass not being memorized which isn't a thing that happens for me.

I use a flip phone from 2006 in airplane mode as my alarm clock. The battery lasts about 2 weeks, it automatically updates for DST by toggling airplane mode for a couple seconds, it's rugged enough to be fumbled off my end table, can do custom or at least selectable alarm sounds, and supports M-F and weekend alarms.

Solvent · January 2020

Can I just say, thanks for your question. Because I am tackling a similar problem, that seems like it should be far easier to solve than it is. My thought is: get old phone off a second-hand site, turn off all wifi/network communications.

There's stuff on Amazon if you look hard, but nothing from a brand you'd trust, only stuff with clearly faked reviews, which makes me nervous.

see317 · January 2020

I'm curious what sounds you're trying to wake up too.
My alarm clock fits most of your criteria aside from custom sounds, but it does have a number of white/nature noise settings that can be used as the alarm (as well as the standard alarm and radio station options).

I don't have the make/model on hand but if that's what you're looking for I can get it for you later.

WiseManTobes · January 2020

I forget the policy on linking direct to products, but I was curious and googled "Mp3 alarm clock", and finding a ton on amazon for 15-40$, lots with full dimming options, the ability to add your own alarm noise via usb/blutooth, and tons of other options. ( I might get the one I'm looking at and I wasn't even needing a new alarm clock rofl)

edit: oo gradual volume settings! so alarm starts gentle and grows , instead of blasting you off the hop

Calica · January 2020

see317 wrote: »

I'm curious what sounds you're trying to wake up too.
My alarm clock fits most of your criteria aside from custom sounds, but it does have a number of white/nature noise settings that can be used as the alarm (as well as the standard alarm and radio station options).

I don't have the make/model on hand but if that's what you're looking for I can get it for you later.

I used a progressive wake singing bowl alarm app for a while, and it was the least irritating thing I've found so far to wake up to (other than my circadian rhythm, which wakes me without fail between 12:30 and 1:30 pm if I let it).

WiseManTobes wrote: »

I forget the policy on linking direct to products, but I was curious and googled "Mp3 alarm clock", and finding a ton on amazon for 15-40$, lots with full dimming options, the ability to add your own alarm noise via usb/blutooth, and tons of other options. ( I might get the one I'm looking at and I wasn't even needing a new alarm clock rofl)

edit: oo gradual volume settings! so alarm starts gentle and grows , instead of blasting you off the hop

Huh. Maybe I've been using the wrong search terms. Thanks!

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