The auto set is GREAT! However, it is too bad they did not use a better radio or maybe just a better antenna! If you like tin you will love this radio. Granted its job is to wake you up, and you will move very quickly to shut this thing off. But I like to sit and listen to NPR for a few minutes before I go downstairs for coffee. I tried moving this thing around the room just to get away from the crackle, no luck. I even tried tuning in to a top 40 super station better, but we still had tin and a bit of a crackle. I live 10 miles from downtown Columbus Ohio so we are not exactly in the sticks, and the radio signals to all other radios in the house come in load and CLEAR. This radio does hold the distinction of being the first item I have ever returned to Amazon - maybe you will have better luck with it - but I doubt it. It sure would be nice if they could make an easy to set, good sounding, reasonably priced clock radio. Consider the Sony ICF-C255RC "Dream Machine"