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

Power line frequency

[fustakrakich]

In the U.S. it is extremely accurate. Any analog clock with a regular synchronous motor or digital driven by line frequency will keep near perfect time if the power doesn't cut off.

There is a battery movement that auto sets DST

[Chronos56]

Clockmaker here, fix things like this for a living.

There is a simple analog battery movement with a secondary clock inside that resets the clock for DST and back again. They work well, are reasonably accurate and inexpensive. Pretty much a "replace single AA battery one a year and ignore it" movement. I have replaced several of the old "Atomic" movements with these.

If you want digital, we call them cell phones these days. :)