9 ms·
Casio G-Shock time sync radio
- Animats 3y agoGreat technology, works fine, at least 10-20 years old now.
- _joel 3y agoTime over radio has been a thing since 1927! "A radio station at Rugby was first operated by the Post Office from 1926, with the call-sign GBR. From 19 December 1927, it broadcast a 15.8 kHz time signal from the Royal Observatory which could be received worldwide. It consisted of 306 pulses in the five minutes up to and including 10:00 and 18:00 GMT, with a longer pulse at the start of each minute. " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_from_NPL_(MSF) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_from_NPL_(MSF)
- ajhurliman 3y agoI have a wall clock that syncs with an atomic clock in Colorado, which was cool at first but I live in Arizona now which doesn’t observe daylight savings so it’s often wrong by an hour now.
- johndavidback 3y agoYes but perhaps it reminds you of fond memories? Or just makes life a little more interesting - "Hey, dentist, sorry I'm an hour late!"
- verandaguy 3y agoClearly the solution is to get Arizona to observe daylight savings!
- ajhurliman 3y agoOr mount another hour hand on it that always tracks an hour ahead of the existing one with a label on which dates it’s applicable during. That’s a clean solution right?
- bpye 3y agoAll you need is a DIP switch or something on the back to let you set the offset.
- ilyt 3y agoJust film it and display the video on monitor with 1h/23h delay, easy! /s
- angled 3y agoI have one of these in Hong Kong, which due to the mountains, doesn't get the China radio signal that reliably. https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Seiko-GP219W-Office-Satellite-Analog/dp/B077JX846T/ref=sr_1_13 https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Seiko-GP219W-Office-Satellite-... Looks great, has a quiet sweeping hand, handles DST automatically provided you set the timezone correctly.
- Grazester 3y agoI have a citizen watch with this. Tends to keep time just fine. Though so did all my other quartz watches until the battery dies
- ricc 3y agoRadio syncing is perfect for those who require accuracy down to the second.
- huhtenberg 3y agoQuartzs don't auto-adjust to DST. A minor nit, but annoying.
- tcmb 3y agoThey misspelled Mainflingen, where the German DCF77 transmitter is located, as "Mineflingen", which is basically spelled phonetically (for English speakers).
- rwmj 3y agoThe website probably had a round trip through katakana which would explain phonetic spellings.
- tcmb 3y agoCool to have this multiband technology, but what about the southern hemisphere? Assuming they have time signal transmitters, too: Do watch manufacturers have different SKUs that can receive signals in the southern hemisphere? Is it possible to have a watch that receives these signals truly worldwide?
- psychphysic 3y agoThese days you'd probably use GPS/GLONASS etc.
- firewolf34 3y agoYes, as others have stated this is an old technology. I don't really understand why this is not more common in the modern day. it's not really that expensive to implement and they did it with analog chips back in the day... Why do we have to set the time on our clock radios or on our microwaves or whatever? Why don't they just always use this Tech. I don't understand. All you have to do is allow people to store an offset for the time zone, and RTC issues are a thing of the past.
- psychphysic 3y agoIt's easy enough to implement decoding and there are packaged antenna (ferrite rod and coil) and conditioner (auto gain amplifier with Schmitt trigger output).
- V__ 3y agoIs it really not common? I don't thing I have seen a digital clock or modern wall clock which doesn't have it. I think my Microwave has it too. Onky my oven doesn't. Is it maybe more common in Europe?
- layer8 3y agoIt’s common in clocks, but not in other appliances (nor in cars).
- freetime2 3y agoI use a Phillips Smart Sleep alarm clock that doesn’t support this, despite being pretty expensive at around $100. I’m not even sure if the higher end model which costs twice as much and claims to be “connected” supports this feature.
- pjerem 3y agoI’m also in Europe (France) and during my entire life I never owned a single appliance with automatic time configuration (except for anything iot of course). I have seen this automatic radio thing once in a very old alarm clock owned by my grandfather but that was probably in the end of the 90s.
- deleted 3y ago
- psychphysic 3y agoIf you're interested in buying a Casio watch that does this they tend to be called Waveceptor, I'd recommend looking at one that's also solar powered (tough solar).
- rwmj 3y agoOceanus S100 is absolutely brilliant. Solar powered, radio time sync, titanium (so incredibly lightweight), waterproof, and looks like a dress watch. The only downside is they are only sold in Japan so you have to import them.
- mewse-hn 3y agoThere's a Lineage LCW-M100TSE that should be a bit cheaper - titanium, sapphire crystal, radio sync. Also JDM though.
- rwmj 3y agoThe ani-digital display is not as elegant (IMHO of course!)
- mhandley 3y agoI have this watch and I love it. It's incredibly light due to titanium case and strap, and very tough with sapphire glass. Solar powered, so never needs the battery changing, and always accurate due to the radio receiver. And I like that it looks good without being pretentious, or a display of wealth. It's just a Casio, but those who know, know.
- ekam 3y agoThe T200 is a great option too- you sacrifice the titanium for stainless steel but get more flexibility as the strap is removable (which IMO makes it more versatile). Beautiful dial too. I own one and I've been looking for watches with similar tinted crystal but haven't been able to find any that do it nearly as well.
- symlinkk 3y ago
- itisit 3y agoI'd be curious to see a proper signal map for this service. I've been the proud owner of a Casio Oceanus for a little over a year now. I can count on one hand the number of times the watch has synchronized via radio.
- ricc 3y agoYeah, the signal for this is rather weak so you would need to place your watch at least on a window's line of sight or, if it still doesn't work, right next to a window.
- tjohns 3y agoHere you go: https://tf.nist.gov/stations/wwvbcoverage.htm https://tf.nist.gov/stations/wwvbcoverage.htm Keep in mind antenna placement matters with these clocks. Different parts of the room can have very different signal strengths. Away from other electronics and near a window is all better.
- joeig 3y agoBack in school, we learned how basic binary protocols work using DCF77 as an example. We decoded it on a piece of paper. Good old times.
- toomuchtodo 3y agoRelated thread with local transmitters of time signal: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27769403 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27769403 https://github.com/hzeller/txtempus https://github.com/hzeller/txtempus (A DCF77, WWVB, JJY and MSF clock LF-band signal transmitter using the Raspberry Pi) ios and mac app: https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/49109/pips-a-radio-time-signal-generator-for-ios-mac https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/49109/pips-a-radio-time-s... (time sync over rf is super cool; I would be super interested if anyone has links to field surveys of time signal availability, potential gaps in coverage, and maps of said data.
- gregsadetsky 3y agoThanks for those references! I wanted to see what an SDR radio time signal detector would look like, and looking for "DCF77 sdr python" pointed me in the right direction -> [0] and [1] A bit unrelated question: there are many web SDRs that let you listen to radio frequencies/stations such as [2]. Are there web / Emscripten SDR decoders that run in-browser? i.e. a full browser listening + decoding experience? For example, decoding a DCF77 time signal, or even just morse code? [0] https://www.nist.gov/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv/wwv-and-wwvh-digital-time-code-and-broadcast-format https://www.nist.gov/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv/wwv... [1] https://github.com/henningM1r/gr_DCF77_Receiver/tree/main/python/decoder https://github.com/henningM1r/gr_DCF77_Receiver/tree/main/py... [2] http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/
- madengr 3y agoThis is mine. Select the timecode decoder: http://kiwisdr.lounix.net:8073/ http://kiwisdr.lounix.net:8073/
- gregsadetsky 3y agoAmazing, exactly what I was looking for! I've had luck on http://carinthia.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073/ http://carinthia.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073/ (the link you posted seems busy right now) I was able to use the FSK decoder, it worked really well. For those curious, the C-based decoder extensions are here [0] [0] https://github.com/jks-prv/Beagle_SDR_GPS/tree/master/extensions https://github.com/jks-prv/Beagle_SDR_GPS/tree/master/extens...
- 1MachineElf 3y agoI inherited one of these Casio Waveceptor watches from my father. It routinely will set itself to a totally random time far into the past/future. I've wondered if maybe contemporary wireless devices interfere with the time sync radio. Another possible factor is the watch itself is ~20 years old.
- ricc 3y agoMaybe it just needs a battery replacement?
- tomduncalf 3y agoMaybe Casio are using a Windows server heh (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37151220 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37151220)
- ilyt 3y agoI also remember their NTP server being near-continously unreliable and having to change the ntp sync server on every install. I wonder if that's still an issue
- creeble 3y agoIt's not totally uncommon. I have a Waveceptor and several other clocks that use WWVB. One works perfectly, most of the others are usually good, one gets off a couple of times a year (so therefore useless), and my Waveceptor has gone nuts maybe a couple of times. It seems to be all about signal strength (and a little bit about battery strength). I see at least one of those watches has GPS reception.
- gxqoz 3y agoI've used a series of them for over 20 years and never had this issue.
- jiehong 3y agoGot a Pro-Trek PRW-30, and this works flawlessly. It syncs almost every night, and takes into account DST just fine.
- topynate 3y agoI spend most of the time out of range, but the technology is simple and robust enough that you can use headphones or a phone speaker as a very, very short-range transmitter. You hardly need to sync every day, either. I've had most success with https://einoko.github.io/DCF77.js/ https://einoko.github.io/DCF77.js/
- tamimio 3y agoThat’s very cool tool, thanks for sharing that
- TrianguloY 3y agoI have an alarm clock with this system (or I think it's this, it's from Oregon Scientific) and it has this "automatic clock sync" feature. I have it disabled. Once it was set to a random time, and I lost an important meeting because the alarm didn't ring at the correct time. The usual time doesn't deviate more than a second or so every few years, when I need to change the batteries and set it again so it's useless. This automatic feature would be perfect if it acted as a "press this button to setup" or at startup, but the issue is that the messages are sent very sporadically so you either need to wait almost a full day for it to sync (clocks are not always listening, so it needs to coincide the "push" and the "listen") or set it manually.
- noAnswer 3y ago> This automatic feature would be perfect if it acted as a "press this button to setup" You press the receive button on the Casio. > but the issue is that the messages are sent very sporadically so you either need to wait almost a full day for it to sync The signal is constant. You probably had bad reception. In case of DCF77 it needs one minute to transmit "date + time + parity". I have seen my G-Shock syncing in under two minutes.
- gm3dmo 3y agoCasio are the best watches I've ever owned. Radio sync on a watch is awesome for creating "drop the mic" moments showing how far out the clocks are on a multi-million dollar machine in a datacenter despite how much the big consultancy thinks they are synced to UTP via "atomic clocks".
- vlachen 3y agoI wore a G-Shock Wavecepter while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. I recall that on both of my shipboard deployments (2004 and 2006) I was very excited to have my watch set time automatically. It indicated that I was finally nearing the U.S. East Coast. It helped to be an aircraft mechanic on night crew, as I was usually on the flight deck when it tried to set time.
- deltarholamda 3y ago>It indicated that I was finally nearing the U.S. East Coast. There is a plot device for a Tom Clancy novel in this little factoid.
- strangattractor 3y agoHave solar atomic version. Don't wear it much these days. Mostly when I travel. Been on my dresser 2 years collecting dust but gets some sun. Picked it up the other day for a camping trip. It was both charged and had the correct date and time.
- vlachen 3y agoMy battery has given up the ghost, and it's probably in a box of stuff around here. At the time, putting a new rechargable in it was impossible. I wonder if that's changed now... Edit: Neglected to mention mine was also solar
- strangattractor 3y agoMaybe keeping it charged is key. I have had mine for almost 10 years.
- vlachen 3y agoMine stopped holding a charge somewhere around the time you got yours. I recall picking it up at the PX in the summer of 2003... However, I will dig it out and see if it can be resurrected.
- p1mrx 3y agoI wish Casio would bring back the WV-300 form factor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t79GeZkTJLY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t79GeZkTJLY The closest modern replacement is the GMW-B5000, but that's quite large and expensive compared to what they were doing in 2008.
- 2-718-281-828 3y agonot working in SEA, though :/ there are some tricks with apps synthesizing a electromagnetic radio signal via speaker activity but i never got this to work.
- ilyt 3y agoI used "DCF77 Emulator" on android and had to get it very close to the phone's speaker to work
- markdoubleyou 3y agoMy Pro-Trek syncs most nights in Seattle, but only if I leave it on a window sill with 12 o'clock facing southeast.
- jcul 3y agoGood read on the accuracy of radio controlled clocks: https://tf.nist.gov/general/pdf/2429.pdf https://tf.nist.gov/general/pdf/2429.pdf
- nabla9 3y agoI have Casio GW-M5600. It's a perfect watch. - Looks like classic G-Shock. - shows correct time always (time sync) - never runs out of battery (solar charging).
- ilyt 3y agoSame with my pro-trek, aside from not working all that great indoors for sync. Apparently Garmin have some Smartwatch that actually got low enough to also be pretty much constantly on Solar only power but after owning original Pebble I kinda healed myself from smartwatch hype before the fashion for them even started...
- dingaling 3y ago> I have Casio GW-M5600. It's a perfect watch. It's very large, though. I haven't found a radio-set 'square' Casio in the Baby G-Shock range which would be a better size.
- nabla9 3y agoNo it's not. It's the size and look of classic small Casio. I bought it maybe 10 years ago. I think it's "origin" series or something like that. They still sell them in ebay for ~$100.
- friend_and_foe 3y agoI'm curious why we don't just use GPS's UTC time broadcast to set time? I understand that using GPS to track satellites and find location is power hungry, but I can't imagine that simply receiving a time and setting a clock is any more power hungry than this system.
- JCM9 3y agoGPS signals are much higher frequency and very low power and thus don’t work indoors. These HF time signals are way more powerful and can be detected inside buildings.
- iszomer 3y agoIn the interest of the previous reply, Casio's GBD-H1000 has the ability to time sync with GPS.
- friend_and_foe 3y agoYeah but it needs to be charged often. That would be a compelling use case for the radio based timing synchronization that are in less power hungry watches, and I'm curious, if this watch just had GPS for timing and none of the other features, if it's power would last as long or even half as long as the older models.
- iszomer 3y agoThe H1000 is marketed as a fitness watch and solar powered too. The GPS time sync is not an exclusive feature and I find that it isn't necessary to have it on constantly.
- tw1984 3y ago> GPS signals are much higher frequency and very low power and thus don’t work indoors. With a $20 antenna placed near the window, together with a modern receiver, it is easy to get nanosecond level of precision for GPS systems. Some receivers even have in-door precision specification. GPS not only work indoors, in terms of timing, it works actually pretty well indoors.
- tamimio 3y agoEither get Gshock GWM5610-1 which is solar and synced for good price, or get Garmin Instict Solar for all bells and whistles and also unlimited power in theory.
- DeathMetal3000 3y agoI have the all black GW-2310FB. I’ll be honest, the gray digits on black background can be a little impractical in low light (it does have a very good backlit if you press the button). But it looks awesome and I have no regrets. Love it. And for those of you that are militant about your IDE’s dark mode, this could be the watch for you too. https://www.casio.com/us/watches/gshock/product.GW-2310FB-1/ https://www.casio.com/us/watches/gshock/product.GW-2310FB-1/
- IamTC 3y agoHad the GW9400. Now using GWG2000 Works flawless in Seoul and Beijing. A month in South Bay and flawless too. There is no signal for this back home in Singapore. What I do - since we also don't know when they're gonna shut off the radio towers - is use an app on my Tab S8 Ultra, set my watch's time zone to Tokyo, leave watch right next to speaker and go do something else. After some beeps and minutes : my watch time is readjusted. No fiddling.
- wsc981 3y agoI just wish this time sync feature wasn’t limited to only Western world and East Asia. A nice feature, but not usable in Thailand, where I live.
- BHSPitMonkey 3y agoAnother comment[1] describes a simple way to sync these devices just by playing a sound from a device with a browser. I also think most (all?) timepieces with a GPS antenna will sync with good enough precision when you have line of sight to the sky.
- globular-toast 3y agoI've been using a radio controlled clock for many years. At some point I noticed it was more frequently reporting it had been unable to sync properly. I'd never noticed this before. Turned out the UK time signal had moved from Rugby to Anthorn. It really seemed to negatively impact reception.
- veave 3y agoI have one in the south of Spain and it doesn't work practically anywhere and definitely not where I sleep (since it can be set to synchronise after midnight automatically) I bought it in part because of this feature and it was quite sad. These quartz watches are good but they still drift substantially after a few months. Thankfully I heard of the DCF77 emulator app thanks to this thread and I will use it.
- saagarjha 3y agoI had one of these when I was a child. I now have an Apple Watch on my wrist, go figure.
- spookie 3y agoFor anyone in the Iberian peninsula, I've had some luck using UK's radio on mine. Be mindful to try it at night, and if the meteorological conditions allow. Hope there were more stations...
- maratc 3y agoThat was (and still is) a great technology, but in the last couple of years Casio has bluetooth-enabled watches that can sync with your phone (that is syncing with the base station, which syncs with GPS). Bluetooth adds about $10-20 on top, but works indoors and outdoors, day or night or on-demand, all around the world. (The usual Casio G-Shock time deviation is under 20 seconds per month, so there's that.)
- tempodox 3y agoMy $0.02: Junghans solar radio watch. Analog display, smartphone app. Runs up to 21 months when fully fed. Never buy a battery again. https://www.junghans.de/en/collection/watches/junghans-radio-control-solar/force-mega-solar/18143644?c=553 https://www.junghans.de/en/collection/watches/junghans-radio...
- hammeiam 3y agoYour $0.02 costs $1500
- 19h 3y agoI’m from Germany — we drove to Arizona from California a few years ago and were too late for check in which was super annoying. I got a SEIKO Astron watch that synchronizes the time via GPS after that and couldn’t be more satisfied; it also runs on solar and holds a charge of 6 months for when there’s no sun (i.e. Antarctica). This watch is so precise it’s my absolute time reference. When I’m traveling I keep my Apple Watch at home and only wear the SEIKO; the Apple Watch is pointless anyway if you’re stuck in the desert for more than a few days.