I really do not preset the time when heat should come on. I set it manually daily. Unit has nice large displays and is easy to set daily. There may be cheaper units that do not have preset features, but I will keep this one in case I want to use it in the future. Company's tech people are big help in setting up the unit.
The instructions are not very good for a DIY person. The light is frustrating, it doesn't stay on long enough and there doesn't seem to be a way to change it.
The thermostat does what it is supposed to do, and is easy to mount.