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jreboll

Feb 23, 2012, 1:39 AM

Post #1 of 17 (5059 views)

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Atomic clocks

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Here in Texas I always use my atomic clock that I have here at home. If I take it with me to our home in the Lake Chapala area will it function? Does the signal reach all the way down there?

johanson / Moderator


Feb 23, 2012, 2:00 AM

Post #2 of 17 (5058 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Atomic clocks

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Where does the signal come from ?

stevebrtx

Feb 23, 2012, 5:52 AM

Post #3 of 17 (5051 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Atomic clocks

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It's iffy at best for several reasons, it comes from Colorado which is a loooong ways from here, we're sitting up against mountains to our north, and, due to the construction of our casas, primarily brick, concrete and steel, the signal has a hard time. I have three on the weather station(s) and in 4.5 years only once did one of them lock on. One of my greatest battles with the wireless stations is getting them to receive consistently, I never had an issue with the same equipment in Texas. It might, or might not work, you'll only know when you're here, not much help I know, but it is what it is.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

fordmexico

Feb 23, 2012, 6:04 AM

Post #4 of 17 (5048 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Atomic clocks

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My basic Oregon Scientific weather station has a radio controlled clock (Atomic Clock is generally a misnomer) that receives its signal from the NIST radio station near Fort Collins, CO. Placement in our home does affect its reception. It works best when placed near a window facing north. Keep in mind that Mexico changes from standard (winter) to daylight savings (summer) time on different days than the USA which will affect synchronization.

For more on radio controlled clocks check out this link to the National Institute of Standards and Technology website.

http://www.nist.gov/...rp40/radioclocks.cfm


(This post was edited by Rolly on Feb 23, 2012, 8:11 AM)

stevebrtx

Feb 23, 2012, 7:24 AM

Post #5 of 17 (5037 views)

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Re: [fordmexico] Atomic clocks

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That was the one time my OS locked on, it was sitting temporarily near a second story N window, unfortunately to connect it to the PC it has to sit with two brick walls between it and N, so it's out of the question.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

jreboll

Feb 23, 2012, 9:31 AM

Post #6 of 17 (5019 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Atomic clocks

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Thanks for the info. Sad to say there is a two-story building north of my house.

RickS


Feb 23, 2012, 10:51 AM

Post #7 of 17 (5013 views)

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Re: [fordmexico] Atomic clocks

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"...NIST radio station near Fort Collins, CO"...

My radio controlled clock at home works just fine. Of course I can look out my windows and actually SEE the towers just north of my house. Ironically most of the population of Fort Collins is oblivious as to the function of those towers!

joaquinx


Feb 23, 2012, 11:28 AM

Post #8 of 17 (5008 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Atomic clocks

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Is there really a big demand for this accurate of clock in Mexico? Nothing here occurs on time.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

YucaLandia


Feb 23, 2012, 11:30 AM

Post #9 of 17 (5005 views)

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Re: [RickS] Atomic clocks

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Hey Rick,
It's quite an array.

I can see their lights from the deck on my west Ft Collins home when the leaves are off the trees.
Do you fish the reservoir just east of the towers? Nice trout.

Our clocks here in Merida get the signal, if pointed north from a second story room.
Enjoy,
steve
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Feb 23, 2012, 11:32 AM)

stevebrtx

Feb 23, 2012, 11:45 AM

Post #10 of 17 (4997 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Atomic clocks

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Good point, I wear my wristwatch once a year when I go home, there's always a guy at the LCS entrance trying to sell watches, I just laugh and shrug my shoulders.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

johanson / Moderator


Feb 23, 2012, 4:29 PM

Post #11 of 17 (4976 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Atomic clocks

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My most accurate clocks are via satellite (Shaw Direct) and via my Telcel phone. They're not as accurate as an atomic clock, but they're accurate enough for this old ruco.

rockydog85251

Feb 23, 2012, 4:39 PM

Post #12 of 17 (4974 views)

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Re: [johanson] Atomic clocks

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Is this clock one of those that you plug in & then set the time zone that you are in with buttons on the back and it will then set itself to the correct time? If so, we have one and it works just fine here in Comala, Colima and its in front of our flat screen TV, near a window but no towers in sight. Maybe it is by satellite of some sort?
Willie

YucaLandia


Feb 23, 2012, 5:10 PM

Post #13 of 17 (4968 views)

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Re: [rockydog85251] Atomic clocks

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The signal in our hemisphere is a high power low frequency 60 kHz RF broadcast.
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

rockydog85251

Feb 23, 2012, 5:55 PM

Post #14 of 17 (4961 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Atomic clocks

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My husband insists that our clock is about 3 min. slow, compared to times shown on the guide on the TV and the computer time shown on the display. Could this be correct? Should they all be the same?
Willie

YucaLandia


Feb 25, 2012, 9:18 PM

Post #15 of 17 (4906 views)

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Re: [rockydog85251] Atomic clocks

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http://www.time.gov/widget.html

If your clock(s) is off from this (note the posted network delay), then your clock is not sync-ing with the NIST signal.

-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Feb 25, 2012, 9:20 PM)

John Shrall

Mar 1, 2012, 4:25 PM

Post #16 of 17 (4804 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Atomic clocks

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I have a Casio solar powered atomic watch and the signal from Ft Collins does indeed get to Ajijic. I know this because of the difference in Daylight Savings Time start/end dates. On the day the US changes time, the watch flips forward in March and backward in October. I have to change the city source to Denver during the 4 weeks when Mexico doesn't conform to US standards.

Axience123

Nov 20, 2012, 3:03 AM

Post #17 of 17 (1845 views)

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