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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 $100 price range, there don't seem to be any similar wall clocks. Are there any reasonably-priced wall clock alternatives, that use something other than shortwave to set the time?
No wait, it's still atomic
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
"Are there any reasonably-priced wall clock alternatives, that use something other than shortwave to set the time?"
Buy an Amazon fire for under 50$ 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-)
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.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
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. :)
... but I kept losing it.
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!
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Better still, make a Pi into a Stratum 1 server:
http://www.satsignal.eu/ntp/Ra...
$400? No way!