Archive for the ‘atomic clock radio’ Category
The ATOMIC CLOCK RADIO and its History
The idea of the ATOMIC CLOCK RADIO has been around since the mid 1950’s but wasn’t originally thought of for civilian use. It was originally a way for the military to synchronize all of its clocks to an infallible source. Despite what the name implies it is not powered by plutonium or anything radioactive at all. The atomic part of it refers to the method for keeping accurate time.
An ATOMIC CLOCK RADIO keeps its time by using an Atomic Resonance Frequency Standard. This is the most accurate standard to date for keeping time and is now used worldwide. The idea for using this method in order to measure time was first suggested in the late 1800’s. The technology to allow this theory to be put into practice was developed in the 1930’s and the first atomic clock was made in 1949.
However this was an early test model and wasn’t as accurate as quartz clocks of the time. But this first model served as the building block for the advances to come. Today our clocks have many more features than they did back in the 1950’s. The first notable difference is that most of them now use digital displays.
While an ATOMIC CLOCK RADIO can use both old fashioned hands and a digital display to show the time neither has an advantage over the other now. It is purely an aesthetic appeal and does not impact the performance of your unit. The alarm that is standard on all clocks has gone through some changes as well. A few clock radios may have old fashioned bell alarms installed in them but most use a speaker.
This speaker is tied into the ATOMIC CLOCK RADIO and is the same speaker that you listen to music on. You can either set it to play the sound of a bell, or turn on your favorite radio station at the appropriate time. In recent years radios have started to evolve farther than this. Some of them are built into other appliances in order to save on space and promote multiple functions.
Atomic clocks are also the foundation of GPS technology and without them the systems would not function. They are also integral to almost any part of our society that requires exact timing and regulation. Satellite based systems make the heaviest use of this due to the fact that their transmissions have to be timed perfectly. Of course if you want to look at something more down to earth you can examine factories and utility services.
Clocks have been a part of human history for a very long time. We depend on them now more than ever to help organize the chaos of our daily lives. Even though the technology may have changed the idea is still the same. As technology increases they will continue to get smaller, and able to handle even more functions.
So if you’re wondering how important your ATOMIC CLOCK RADIO is think of this. Without them people wouldn’t be getting out of bed for work, satellites wouldn’t function on time, and many of our systems would be less efficient. All of this was the result of simply wanting a faster accurate way to tell time.
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I bought one of those atomic clocks when I was training to deploy with my unit in Fort Hood. When I got to Iraq, it didn’t work. I think its because there isn’t a relay station transmitting the signal there. So odds are, it won’t work in India unless they have a station that is transmitting in your area. However, the clock will keep time, it just won’t set itself.
Posted in atomic clock radio | 3 Comments »
Here are some clock kits:
http://electronicsusa.com/ck1k.html
http://www.techkits.com/
http://www.hobbytron.com/ClockKits.html
There are probably some free schematics for clocks out there on the internet too if you are an experienced kit builder.
Posted in atomic clock radio | 1 Comment »
bob is wrong, all "atomic" clocks require a local source of timing which is crystal based. they only check the atomic clock at Ft Collins once or twice in a 24 hour period and use that to correct their settings. The better clocks fine tune the crystal frequency to keep it in closer alignment between daily adjustments. The deciding factor on battery vs ac power is determined by the display requirements. Analog hands or LCD can be battery operated. Continuous LED or fluor discharge illumination display requires ac power.
Posted in atomic clock radio | 3 Comments »
As everyone knows, cellphones set themselves and keep very accurate time. However, I’m still not sure HOW they get the time in the first place.
I always thought cellphones picked up on the time signal broadcast by the atomic clock (WWV radio station) in Colorado, or a similar atomic clock elsewhere (for those not in the U.S.) But someone else recently suggested to me that cellphones used a signal being broadcast from a GPS satellite (or more than one; I don’t actually know how many GPS satellites there are).
Does anyone know conclusively whether cellphones set themselves by the atomic clock, or by GPS satellite? Thank you.
Cell phones have had downloaded time since digital phones service started. Prior to that you had to set it. Digital service started before phones had GPS access. The time is set by the service provider. They probably receive their time from WWV.
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Posted in atomic clock radio | 2 Comments »
I’ve had no luck hunting this down, any help would be greatly appreciated.
The watch is digital, and recieves radio signals daily with the correct atomic clock time.
There seems to be two places that sell it and for $20, just get another one. They don’t seem to have their own site.
http://www.heartlandamerica.com/browse/item.asp?product=silicon-scientific-digital-atomic-watch&PIN=32634&SC=WIB20001
Posted in atomic clock radio | 1 Comment »
I’m looking at a couple atomic clocks, like the La Crosse Technology WS-8256U-AL or the Oregon Scientific JM889NA-S.
First, how do they get temperature readings? I’m looking for something that has an internal thermometer, without a separate wireless thermometer.
Second, I noticed that one of the atomic clocks I mentioned has weather forecasts — where does it get this data from?
Finally, since both models I mentioned are the same price (on Amazon.com at least) is there any reason to go with one or the other, aside from the obvious fact that one has the added feature of weather data?
BTW: Do these atomic clocks just receive, and not transmit? I’m just making sure here.
Someone who knows the answers can get 10 points! THANKS!!!!
The temperature readings are from internal electronics. Most clocks like that will give internal temps; some have the added feature of external (usually wireless) sensors for outside temps.
The "weather forecasts" are just based on the local barometric pressure and aren’t particularly accurate. For instance, rising pressure = sunny, but that could also indicate a front moving through and some rain, or falling pressure = rain, but that could mean the front is passed and the skies are clearing.
Umm — transmit? They are designed to receive the US atomic clock broadcasts on shortwave (5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz from Ft. Collins, CO or Hawaii) and interpret the signals to reprogram the clock to the correct time once a day (usually 1 to 4 AM local time).
You may find that the one with weather also has a relative humidity sensor. If that would be useful where you live, then it might be a reason to choose it over the other.
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I have a radio controlled atomic clock, which is supposed to be as accurate as you can get, when it comes to time. I have two computers, and one of them is the same time as the clock, but the other one is always 2 minutes & 25 seconds off! This wouldn’t be a big deal, but I work at a job where things have to happen every hour on the hour, and I’m constantly having to reset the clock on the computer, to match the atomic clock, so that the computer will start on time automatically. Any suggestions?
windows 2000/XP has the option to sync your time to an internet server but i don’t think that will work so well, maybe if your computers are part of a domain controller then they’re time will always be exactly the same.
to enable internet time double click on the time in of the startmenu task bar. click the tab INTERNET TIME and check the box AUTOMATICALLY SYNCRONIZ WITH AN INTERNETTIME SERVER.
see if that works otherwise try nettime although it is outdated.
http://nettime.sourceforge.net/
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There are only 4 buttons: PT MT CT ET on the back. There is no model number but it does have "U. T. S. WWVB Radio Control." There is also a little round hole with two tiny prongs recessed in it. It did not pick up the recent day light savings time change. I need to know how to set it or get a copy of the instructions.
This clock does not seem to be able to correct for the new date changes in DST. It will probably fix itself in a few weeks when the "old" DST is supposed to kick in but… I found a link on amazon so you can overide it in the meantime.
1) Pull the battery and wait a few minutes.
2) Put battery back in – time will set to 8:00 (or possibly something different). 4, 8, or 12
3) After it stops spinning, Press the "leverage button" (just above an to the left of the time zone buttons and battery) and the clock hands will spin. (It does not look like a button, its a lever)
4) Release the leverage button when the correct time is reached.
5) Supposedly, this new time will track correctly and keep accurate time.
It took me a few tries to get it right.
Good Luck
Posted in atomic clock radio | 2 Comments »
 The second Galileo satellite, GIOVE-B, is equipped with the most accurate clock ever to be flown in space.
GIOVE B will be launched from Baikonur on 27 April.
You can download the higher quality post of this video from here:
http://a1862.g.akamai.net/7/1862/14448/v1/esa.download.akamai.com/13452/wmv/atomic_POD_en_19-04-08_wmphigh.wmv
Duration : 0:2:48
(more…)
Technorati Tags: active, Atomic, clock, esa, galileo, gps, hydrogen, isotope, RADIO, space, time
Tags: active, Atomic, clock, esa, galileo, gps, hydrogen, isotope, RADIO, space, time
Posted in atomic clock radio | 5 Comments »
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