Projection Alarm Clocks

21 Comments

1. lare
   Posted August 30, 2010 at 8:45 am | Permalink

   so-called atomic clocks actually run from an internal crystal timer. they incorporate a 60 KHz receiver that tunes a radio data signal broadcast from Ft Collins Colorado. The clock uses the data signal to correct its internal time keeping, so that it will stay in step with the reference. Because the data is digital, it can send info on leap seconds, savings time changes, UTC hour, day and year.

   the only jamming you might be able to accomplish is to cause enough interference to block reception, but that usually is done only once a day, late at night when school is closed. When the clock misses an automatic update, it displays an error flag.

   the old fashioned "IBM" school clocks were made to synchronize to the central controller, usually in the principals office. if you could trick the controller, all the school clocks would change in step.

2. cali
   Posted September 10, 2010 at 12:33 pm | Permalink

   cramster has an answer but i don't really understand it…. sign up for free and you can see it since it is an odd problem.
   p.s. are you in ph 141 at csu? lol

3. SpeedMetal13
   Posted September 11, 2010 at 10:07 pm | Permalink

   ­AHAHA

4. Jason
   Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:57 am | Permalink

   I agree that changes to StarTran are necessary; however, I understand that Capital Metro needs time to make an educated decision in order to prevent lawsuits and other unnecessary expenditures. As an unrelated question about the 5 year capital improvement plan, why is there $30k budgeted for installing a master clock at the North Operations Facility in 2014. A single atomic clock on can be purchased for about $30 from most office supply stores. At that price, Capital Metro could install 1000 atomic clocks at the North Operations Facility for the cost of the proposed master clock. I am not sure how many employees work at that facility, but I would guess that is enough money to buy EVERY employee at that office their own personal atomic clock which they could carry with them when they are driving the bus (plus extras in case one of the drivers looses their clock!)

5. ipadfreesong
   Posted September 16, 2010 at 8:29 pm | Permalink

   Ensure you have the most accurate time with this Digital Atomic Wall Clock from Sharp®. Only $34.13

6. sd_ducksoup
   Posted October 10, 2010 at 3:48 am | Permalink

   The temperature readings are from internal electronics. Most clocks like that will give internal temps; some have the added feature of external (usually wireless) sensors for outside temps.

   The "weather forecasts" are just based on the local barometric pressure and aren't particularly accurate. For instance, rising pressure = sunny, but that could also indicate a front moving through and some rain, or falling pressure = rain, but that could mean the front is passed and the skies are clearing.

   Umm — transmit? They are designed to receive the US atomic clock broadcasts on shortwave (5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz from Ft. Collins, CO or Hawaii) and interpret the signals to reprogram the clock to the correct time once a day (usually 1 to 4 AM local time).

   You may find that the one with weather also has a relative humidity sensor. If that would be useful where you live, then it might be a reason to choose it over the other.

7. shujin
   Posted October 22, 2010 at 2:35 pm | Permalink

   Time slows the farther you get from Earth (relative to other time observers). If you take an atomic clock into space, it won’t align with a clock that remained here. Because of this, we need to use relativity in order to be able to appropriately measure GPS calculations.

8. Dan_L
   Posted October 23, 2010 at 3:36 am | Permalink

   Atomic Clock – Zion I: Zion I[Nov 09, 2010]

9. RRRMMM1111
   Posted November 6, 2010 at 2:46 pm | Permalink

   If it keeps track of time then it should be OK. My guess is the gears inside of the clock are very slacky. It seems it could be an atomic clock.

10. vintageclocks
    Posted November 11, 2010 at 3:41 pm | Permalink

    RT btw, is on Zion-I's new album "Atomic Clock"…purchase the album on iTunes! #yeee

11. Jean
    Posted November 20, 2010 at 7:46 am | Permalink

    War Free….

    Calloused minds hide in history's earth
    Smoldering words of action to birth
    While smileing is the weathered black rose
    Intellectual nuclear knowledge does grow
    Brains prestige always seek keys to know
    Push ..yes.. no..1947's atomic clock
    Trembeling a world into molten rock
    Holding emulations real devastation as its mockOh blankets pf peace smother the fires lock
    Before humankind ends in atomic shock
    Jean E. VanGorkum …1 15 2010 ….

12. slopnit
    Posted November 21, 2010 at 12:25 pm | Permalink

    this has to be the best super group ever conceived. Bassist and Gene Hoglan of the great strapping young lad and fucking Dino Cazarez on guitar. hats enough metal essence to take over the world.

13. richard
    Posted December 11, 2010 at 12:36 am | Permalink

    sad that my japanese movement in my b14 is spot on with the atomic clock while my tag and swiss army are not. both have swiss movements.

14. GothicGamerTeddybear
    Posted January 13, 2011 at 3:29 pm | Permalink

15. raislak
    Posted January 23, 2011 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for the tip. I go to Batteries Plus on Canal for all my rechargeable needs, but it never occurred to me to take it there. Duh
    Actually I went back today to have them fix or refund, but after several minutes of no one at the mini store, I walked around looking at solar watches with atomic clock setting (thinking spending $$ now will save me rebuying cheap watches every two years). But at a different mall mini shop (Dakota watches), I got waited on by someone I wish I had worked with yesterday, and I did get a new watch that didn't have all those expensive features.
    Now I got a dress up (with alarms) and work (no audio alarm) watch.

16. Dr Bob
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 3:50 pm | Permalink

    Ok, this is a source of some confusion, but basically here's the scoop:

    There are two systems of time, "Universal Time" (UT1), and "Universal Time Coordinated" (UTC). One day in UT1 is measured by one rotation of the Earth as seen from the average position of the Sun. One day in UTC is measured by 24 hours passing on an atomic clock.

    Now, when it started on January 1st, 1972, UTC was perfectly in line with UT1, and that is actually what defines an hour in UTC time – 1/24th of an Earth rotation in 1972. However, the Earth is very slightly slowing down its rotation due to the moon's tidal force. Specifically, it slows at a rate of .002 seconds a day per century.

    So, in 2072, the UT1 day will be longer by .002 seconds than the 1972 day (and by transitivity, .002 seconds longer than the UTC day, too). In 2172, a UT1 day will be .004 seconds longer than the UTC day…in 2272, the UT1 day will be .006 seconds longer, and so on.

    Now, here's where the confusion comes in: Even though the *rate* of change of the UT1 day is miniscule, it adds up to a large *total difference* in time between UT1 and UTC over the long haul. Note the important distinction in those two: rate vs. total difference.

    In other words, say that right now in 2008, the UT1 day is now .001 seconds longer than the UTC day (it's not quite that much yet, but it'll make the math easier). Let's say that the "time folks" just inserted a leap second so that right now the UT1 and UTC times are perfectly synchronized. Tomorrow, they'll be .001 seconds different. The day after tomorrow they'll be .002 seconds different, the next day they'll be .003 seconds different, and so on. It won't take very long (about 1.5 years) until they're more than half a second off, and they'll have to insert another second to synchronize the two times again.

    The point that I believe both Phil and the USNO is trying to make is that even though the rate of Earth's slowing is relatively small, that can add up to a big difference in a relatively short amount of time.

    Edited for clarity: The confusion that some people have is that they get these two concepts confused…they assume that if we have to insert 1 second every 1.5 years, then the *rate* of slowing must be 1 second/1.5 years.

    This is not true, but to produce a mathematical result that the Earth will come to a dead halt in just a few thousand years (rather than just exponentially longer days), think of this in terms of frequency rather period: When UTC and UT1 are in sync, the Earth makes 1 rotation in 86,400 sec (one UTC day). In 1.5 years, it will only make 0.999988 rotations in 86,400 sec. In 3 years, it will only make .999976 rotations in 86,400 sec. At this rate, it will take 129,601.5 years before it makes zero rotations in that time period. At least, I *think* that's how they come to that conclusion. I'm sure you could greatly shorten that time with the added fact that leap seconds will have to be added more and more frequently as UT1 runs even slower compared to UTC.

    A quick side note: this has absolutely nothing to do with the extra day inserted on leap years – that's simply due to the fact that one year is closer to 365.25 days than just 365 days. Since it's not an integer number, we need an extra day every 4 years to account for that extra 0.25.

17. thecenter26
    Posted November 19, 2011 at 5:51 am | Permalink

    Nah. You have no idea of how it was before sin. Sin caused the creation to be subject to corruption and death. What caused people to grow old and die? Shouldnt they just keep on developing?

18. Mike
    Posted November 27, 2011 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    Ok, this is a source of some confusion, but basically here's the scoop:

    There are two systems of time, "Universal Time" (UT1), and "Universal Time Coordinated" (UTC). One day in UT1 is measured by one rotation of the Earth as seen from the average position of the Sun. One day in UTC is measured by 24 hours passing on an atomic clock.

    Now, when it started on January 1st, 1972, UTC was perfectly in line with UT1, and that is actually what defines an hour in UTC time – 1/24th of an Earth rotation in 1972. However, the Earth is very slightly slowing down its rotation due to the moon's tidal force. Specifically, it slows at a rate of .002 seconds a day per century.

    So, in 2072, the UT1 day will be longer by .002 seconds than the 1972 day (and by transitivity, .002 seconds longer than the UTC day, too). In 2172, a UT1 day will be .004 seconds longer than the UTC day…in 2272, the UT1 day will be .006 seconds longer, and so on.

    Now, here's where the confusion comes in: Even though the *rate* of change of the UT1 day is miniscule, it adds up to a large *total difference* in time between UT1 and UTC over the long haul. Note the important distinction in those two: rate vs. total difference.

    In other words, say that right now in 2008, the UT1 day is now .001 seconds longer than the UTC day (it's not quite that much yet, but it'll make the math easier). Let's say that the "time folks" just inserted a leap second so that right now the UT1 and UTC times are perfectly synchronized. Tomorrow, they'll be .001 seconds different. The day after tomorrow they'll be .002 seconds different, the next day they'll be .003 seconds different, and so on. It won't take very long (about 1.5 years) until they're more than half a second off, and they'll have to insert another second to synchronize the two times again.

    The point that I believe both Phil and the USNO is trying to make is that even though the rate of Earth's slowing is relatively small, that can add up to a big difference in a relatively short amount of time.

    Edited for clarity: The confusion that some people have is that they get these two concepts confused…they assume that if we have to insert 1 second every 1.5 years, then the *rate* of slowing must be 1 second/1.5 years.

    This is not true, but to produce a mathematical result that the Earth will come to a dead halt in just a few thousand years (rather than just exponentially longer days), think of this in terms of frequency rather period: When UTC and UT1 are in sync, the Earth makes 1 rotation in 86,400 sec (one UTC day). In 1.5 years, it will only make 0.999988 rotations in 86,400 sec. In 3 years, it will only make .999976 rotations in 86,400 sec. At this rate, it will take 129,601.5 years before it makes zero rotations in that time period. At least, I *think* that's how they come to that conclusion. I'm sure you could greatly shorten that time with the added fact that leap seconds will have to be added more and more frequently as UT1 runs even slower compared to UTC.

    A quick side note: this has absolutely nothing to do with the extra day inserted on leap years – that's simply due to the fact that one year is closer to 365.25 days than just 365 days. Since it's not an integer number, we need an extra day every 4 years to account for that extra 0.25.

19. Cheryl M
    Posted December 8, 2011 at 10:22 am | Permalink

    If you can only find 1200 scientists on this planet to go along with it, then I'm not buying it.

    It would be more interesting to post how many of those 1200 and the other believers are personally doing squat about it.

    And since when are corporate CEOs authoritative on anything but how to make a buck? Especially when they pass the buck on to The Government to "do something".

    Finally, the Doomday Clock? Hahahaha, why don't you see what old episodes of Star Trek say about Global Warming while you're at it.

    EDIT: Scot D's response (see below) is actually one of the most insightful comments I've ever seen on the subject. He deserves the 10 points.

20. uqexaze
    Posted December 25, 2011 at 5:20 pm | Permalink

    Oregon Scientific – RMR383HGA-BK – Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Temperature/Humidity Atomic Clock – Black:

21. The Global News » Does anyone have an atomic clock that has been acting oddly lately?
    Posted April 3, 2012 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    What are people searching for on Google today?(hourly) 3. http://www.oosyte.com/… atomic clock