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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 $100 price range, there don't seem to be any similar wall clocks. Are there any reasonably-priced wall clock alternatives, that use something other than shortwave to set the time?
"Are there any reasonably-priced wall clock alternatives, that use something other than shortwave to set the time?"
Buy an Amazon fire for under 50$ or any cheap tablet and use one of the clock apps.
it is not about being that accurate. it is about being accurate and no need to set it ever.kinda convenient
As cheap as 50$ on ebay, some are GPS-disciplined. Small, available. About the same tech currently on the GPS satellites themselves.
If you don't need real hands, you can buy inexpensive Android tablets for $25. Or buy a $300 tablet with a cracked digitizer for $30 (make sure the display is fine) and stick it in screensaver mode. (You can use a bluetooth mouse to operate it.)
Oh, don't do this if you're married and the clock is for one of the "good" rooms. B-)
Changing the time twice a year, how fucking lazy are you?
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
I think the problem that you're having with finding such a device is that it's simply not necessary at this point. People use their phones and such for the time. If they're buying an alarm clock, it's generally accurate enough as is, and if they're putting a wall clock up they're doing it for the ambiance as much as having the time available.
GPS indoors is iffy anyways.
I think it's sort of a step backwards when a meeting is nearing the end, someone asks what time it is, and we all have to dig something out of our pockets.
We could all leave them on the table, but they're often a distraction. It's hard to check the time without obviously checking the time, or worse your email.
We went from pocket watches, to wrist watches, back to pocket watches and lost wall clocks somewhere in there.
It's a minor convenience, but so were wrist watches in the first place.