There have been ramblings about budget cuts shutting down the radio signal that our watches use to set the correct time. Any recent news about this? My Oceanus and I would like to know. Thanks.
I don't know if they could do this---since so many instruments are now calibrated to it's signal...???
LOL. Since when did anyone saying '... I don't know if they could do this...' stop the Con Artist in Chief? For what its worth @bryan123: my two G-shocks that use the Atomic Radio signal are still receiving it. Hope this continues! L'chaim! Moshe ben David
I see a post-apocalyptic movie coming out of this: "The Land That Forgot Time"--starring John Cameron Swayze (if you got the reference, send me 10% of your SS check)
Where did you "hear" it? I know it's been rumored due to budget cuts, but I've read nothing definite.
It seems that WWVB, the station that broadcasts the time signal (there are actually 3 stations), is not specifically addressed in the budget proposal, leading some to speculate that it is not at risk. However, Congress will have the final say on the proposed budget cuts, anyway. I don't guess we'll have too long to wait...I think a lot of the public would be negative to this particular budget proposal if they knew it could impact their everyday lives.
Here is a short write up which has a little info. https://swling.com/blog/2018/08/information-from-the-nist-regarding-possible-closure-wwv-radio-stations/ If it shuts down I'll probably build my own transmitter to sync devices within my home, not terribly difficult, and already a some projects around the net.
Methinks some out of the box thinking is needed. For example, maybe some private sector or even non-profit group to take it up to operate said stations. I think it would be neat if a veteran's group, especially one comprised of former techs from, say, the US Navy... Why especially US Navy veterans? In my manufacturing and consulting days, we knew a plant was especially well cared for if the electronics and calibration techs were US Navy veterans. Think about it. Unlike say Army or Air Force, techs from the Navy KNEW how to take care of things and improvise... after all, if you're on a ship in the middle of the ocean you don't just send down the street to the nearest Radio Shack or industrial supply house for parts...! Any veterans on here connected to a group? L'chaim! Moshe ben David
NIST’s full Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget request to Congress calls for the agency to “discontinue the dissemination of the US time and frequency via the NIST radio stations in Hawaii and Fort Collins, Colorado.” The agency noted, “These radio stations transmit signals that are used to synchronize consumer electronic products like wall clocks, clock radios, and wristwatches, and may be used in other applications like appliances, cameras, and irrigation controllers.” The specific cut, which would come from the NIST Fundamental Measurement, Quantum Science, and Measurement Dissemination budget, would amount to $6.3 million.