Radio Controlled clocks not receiving signal in UK

EddieA · March 30, 2012, 07:40:53 PM

I noticed that my alarm clock which relies on the British MSF signal wasn't showing the reception signal earlier this week. I had bought a new cordless phone last weekend so disconnected that in case it was interfering. No joy. Tried a new battery, ditto. Took the clock outside and hit the button to force a connection, guess what?

If you are suffering the same problem this is evidently the cause from a web search tonight:-

The service is expected to be off-air continuously until the evening of Tuesday 3 April, then to be off-air during the daytime only on Wednesday 4 April to Friday 6 April, and normal operation restored from the Friday evening.

Link,
http://www.npl.co.uk/science-technol...es/msf-outages

MinZaPint · March 30, 2012, 07:47:51 PM

And I was worried about the pasty tax!

EddieA · March 30, 2012, 07:59:01 PM

Don't Panic...

Too late!!!

I have tried to attach a link to a photo with a billboard showing;-

'Beer shortages soon - please panic buy' but can't seem to work out how to

MinZaPint · March 30, 2012, 08:10:40 PM

Don't try and frighten me if you look at my recent posting you'll see that I've got 6 beer vans delivering to me and I've just left Wetherspoons 100 yds away and they seem to have enough stock to see me through tomorrow

Pete Mc · March 30, 2012, 08:31:02 PM

I've got one of those Casio Ediface watches as worn by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Weber from the Red Bull F1 team.It too is radio controlled,however,it hasn't stopped or owt so I wouldn't have known.
The watch itself is absolutely fantastic,weighs a ton,looks great and expensive,which it is at £250 ish.I bought it for myself for my 40th birthday nearly three years ago.Its never off my wrist.It also has a solar panel on its face so it never needs a battery replacement and keeps impeccible time,although this will be down to it resetting itself every hour,between 1 and 5 in the morning
Although it probably won't do this till tuesday now.
Oh well,we'll see how it keeps time for now.

Pete

SymonC · March 30, 2012, 08:51:56 PM

Quote from: EddieA on March 30, 2012, 07:59:01 PM
Don't Panic...

Too late!!!

I have tried to attach a link to a photo with a billboard showing;-

'Beer shortages soon - please panic buy' but can't seem to work out how to

This one?

jonclox · March 30, 2012, 08:52:19 PM

When these clock/watch movements started to become available in the UK I was still a working horologist and saw the problems that could spring up with it if the UK handled it wrongly.
The UK transmitter to control them started up it had limited range and no alternative back up transmitter. Its always had maintenance problems and that means its often 'off air'

I believe that many of the 'big name' watch and modern clock brands receive signals from a European transmitter which has back up always available and is transmitter via satellite which gives fantastic coverage of the earths surface.
I will try and find out the 'trades' views on the UK system is today but last time I heard was about 6/7 years ago and it was not very complimentary

Pete Mc · March 30, 2012, 09:08:21 PM

It s funny you should mention this Jon,I've just had it off my wrist for a minute,and on the back it says Multi Band 6 Wave Ceptor.
I think the wave ceptor thing is something that Casio made up to make it sound a bit more impressive than it is,but the multi band 6 is most likely what you're referring to.
Still,damn impressive things they are and in the size of a wrist watch.
One day we'll be seeing n gauge loco's with sound.
Oops we already are.

Pete

Newportnobby · March 30, 2012, 09:16:53 PM

Still - at least you have time on your hands

Yup - the taxis here

edwin_m · March 30, 2012, 09:56:49 PM

A GPS receiver can also put out an accurate time signal.

EddieA · March 31, 2012, 10:04:57 AM

Quote from: SymonC on March 30, 2012, 08:51:56 PM

This one?

That's the very one, cheers!

Malc · March 31, 2012, 10:32:48 AM

I was working in Lisbon, Portugal a couple of years ago and my oppo bought out with him a new alarm clock that he was enthusing about. Normally he never got down to breakfast before we left for work, except for one morning when he was there first. Apparently his wonderful alarm clock switched away from Rugby during the night and locked on to a German signal. Portugal is on GMT, Germany is GMT+1

Mustermark · March 31, 2012, 12:32:19 PM

I had a waveceptor watch in the UK. It received Rugby and Frankfurt. When i moved to the US i found it does not register the Denver signal. My new Citizen receives all known signals, so wherever i travel now it is supposed to work.

Hopefully all your UK timepieces keep time well enough while the system is down. Or you might be more than a few millionths of a second late everywhere!

Bikeracer · March 31, 2012, 01:21:17 PM

I wondered why my clock never altered itself when summertime came,managed to alter it okay.
I've had it some years now and have lost the instructions,it's always a gamble if it works after I put a new battery in.

Allan

EddieA · March 31, 2012, 07:50:07 PM

Yup, it seems that it is only the UK transmitter that is down just now so if you have a modern device that can lock onto signals from other Countries you should be OK.

But if you are a dinosaur like me it is interesting how accurate some old radio clocks are when they don't get a regular update!

The bumph says that my timepiece (some 7 years old) has 'an quartz device to keep your clock accurate even when it cannot receive the radio update'. As of today, after a few days of no signal, it is now some 10 seconds out...

Not a problem as I only use it as an alarm clock. Also it only cost around a tenner.

At least I know now that it is not faulty so just have to wait for the signal to come back.

(Also I have enough beer, and petrol, to see me through the next week. Going to stock up on pasties (cold) tomorrow)