What Is Radio Controlled Timekeeping About?
In this modern day and age you no longer have to keep checking your clock to see if it is the right time, with modern technology, you know it will be 100% accurate.
Often (wrongly) called atomic clocks, a radio controlled clock acts as a receiver for a signal sent by an atomic clock on whichever continent you are situated.
In the United Kingdom the signal is controlled by the National Physics Laboratory (NPL) situated at Anthorn in Cumbria, this MSF signal covers the whole of the UK up to 1500 KM from the source.
The signal not only transmits hours, minutes and seconds, but also the day, date, month and year as well as automatically adjusting for BST or GMT.
Other time signals are sent from Boulder, Colarado (USA), Munich (Europe), mount Otakadoya (Asia), some of these signals are transmitted to other countries with a plus or minus code to synchronise with the different time zones.
If there are difficulties in receiving a signal it is often due to local factors, such as large steel structures, power lines etc.
or the receiver may be situated too closely to background interference such as a fluorescent tube, TV, monitor or electric cabling embedded in the wall.
Modern technology has meant that receivers can even be fitted in to wrist watches as well as clocks of all kinds.
Even traditional looking analogue clocks may still hold a radio controlled movement, as well as ultra modern styled digital clocks.
They can be battery or mains powered and with an LCD, LED or analogue display.
Many makes of clock such as Seiko, London Clock Company or Precision supply a range of radio controlled clocks, but I am surprised that more manufacturers don't embrace what will eventually become the norm in all time keeping devices.
Most continents (except for Australia and Antarctica) have access to a radio controlled time signal, covering most of the world but these signals are all transmitted on different frequencies.
There are some global radio controlled receivers which can be switched to receive the signal on different continents, but most timepieces will only receive the signal from the transmitter that they were designed for, hence a clock bought in the USA is not always compatible for use in Europe and vice versa, so if you need radio controlled timekeeping in different countries, always check the specification of the model you are buying first.
Often (wrongly) called atomic clocks, a radio controlled clock acts as a receiver for a signal sent by an atomic clock on whichever continent you are situated.
In the United Kingdom the signal is controlled by the National Physics Laboratory (NPL) situated at Anthorn in Cumbria, this MSF signal covers the whole of the UK up to 1500 KM from the source.
The signal not only transmits hours, minutes and seconds, but also the day, date, month and year as well as automatically adjusting for BST or GMT.
Other time signals are sent from Boulder, Colarado (USA), Munich (Europe), mount Otakadoya (Asia), some of these signals are transmitted to other countries with a plus or minus code to synchronise with the different time zones.
If there are difficulties in receiving a signal it is often due to local factors, such as large steel structures, power lines etc.
or the receiver may be situated too closely to background interference such as a fluorescent tube, TV, monitor or electric cabling embedded in the wall.
Modern technology has meant that receivers can even be fitted in to wrist watches as well as clocks of all kinds.
Even traditional looking analogue clocks may still hold a radio controlled movement, as well as ultra modern styled digital clocks.
They can be battery or mains powered and with an LCD, LED or analogue display.
Many makes of clock such as Seiko, London Clock Company or Precision supply a range of radio controlled clocks, but I am surprised that more manufacturers don't embrace what will eventually become the norm in all time keeping devices.
Most continents (except for Australia and Antarctica) have access to a radio controlled time signal, covering most of the world but these signals are all transmitted on different frequencies.
There are some global radio controlled receivers which can be switched to receive the signal on different continents, but most timepieces will only receive the signal from the transmitter that they were designed for, hence a clock bought in the USA is not always compatible for use in Europe and vice versa, so if you need radio controlled timekeeping in different countries, always check the specification of the model you are buying first.
