Ask Slashdot: Alternatives To "Atomic" Clocks?

Tony Isaac writes: "Atomic" clocks that you can buy in stores synchronize time using the WWVB shortwave band from NIST in Boulder. The problem is, this signal is notoriously weak, making these clocks very sensitive to interference by other RF or electronic devices, or less-than-ideal reception conditions. In many locations, these clocks are never able to receive a time signal, making them no better at timekeeping than a cheap quartz clock. There are other ways to synchronize clock time: NTP over WiFi, GPS, or cellular. The cheapest clocks that use NTP over Wi-Fi cost around $400. Really? And while there are plenty of GPS-enabled smartwatches in the $100 price range, there don't seem to be any similar wall clocks. Are there any reasonably-priced wall clock alternatives, that use something other than shortwave to set the time?

Comments

Sundial

[fustakrakich]

No wait, it's still atomic

Re:Sundial

[fahrbot-bot]

As alternatives to atomic clocks, sundials would probably be best for daylight hours.

At night, the shadow is on the underside of the sundial - duh.

Re:lolwhat

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe submitter lives in Alaska. Up there you set the time by counting the number of moose mating calls per minute.

I had a subatomic clock

[island_earth]

... but I kept losing it.

schmitt trigger

[goombah99]

You kids. in my day we used a schmitt trigger, a resistor, and a capacitor to keep time and we glad to have it. My grandfather used to feel his pulse and bang on a hollow log, so we had it easy. Atomic clocks. Luxury!