What is it About Hams and Clocks?
tom lish II (N6AJR)
on
January 2, 2006
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What is it about Hams and Clocks? I just noticed that in the shack I have 1 atomic digital clock, 3 regular digital clocks, (2 Zulu one local time), 3 round analog clocks, (1 Zulu, 2 local), and 2 alarm clocks, (both local time).
I dare say that most hams have at least 1 "extra" clock in their shack. You need at least one for local time, and one for the UTC, Zulu, Greenwich, or what ever you call it. But how many do you actually have in your shack? (We will give you a freebee; don't count your wristwatch.)
The funny part of it is my log is on my computer, and it auto logs the correct Zulu time. So go figure.
So I guess its "Time" to say "Watch" out for time, as it will pass quickly no matter how many clocks we have. Use each minute as if it was your last, for some day it will be.
Take Time to Watch your children grow; take Time to Watch the flowers bloom. Take Time to put up that new antenna. And take Time to enjoy your friends and family.
Only one thing I really hate, is when you have to set the clocks, for Day light savings time twice a year, and isn't it always after the power goes out, and you set all the clocks in the house (kitchens seem to grow clocks, too), and as you set the last clock, the power blinks just long enough to wipe out all the clocks, again.
And remember, that flashing "1200" on the VCR is accurate twice a day, and you can hide it with a bit of electrical tape, or call it an art deco night light…
I guess its time to get the clock out of here, seasons greetings to all!!!
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC8VWM on January 2, 2006
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Now that you mention it. I do in fact have many clocks around here and I also happen to be a ham.
Very interesting. I wonder what this connection is all about and I am even more curious to find out why?
It's strange but your observation is quite true for some apparent reason...
In fact I have even collected antique clocks.
I suppose as a ham I always like to know how things "tick" inside?
73 Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K7LRB on January 2, 2006
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Hi Tom!
You need at least one clock for every coaxial switch in you shack. (Take a look at Tom's shack!)
Here in Arizona we don't change the clocks for DST so I suggest you move to Arizona, everyone else is!
Happy New Year!
73,
de Larry
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W5ONV on January 2, 2006
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I have an 1150 Sq. foot small home and I have 11 working clocks in it. 3 in the radio room, 3 in the living room,1 in each bathroom, 2 in the bedroom and 2 in the connected garage.Only 1 is set to GMT.I am not really sure why I have so many, I just do.
Have a Happy 2006 and 73's Jim
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC8VWM on January 2, 2006
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I have an 1150 Sq. foot small home and I have 11 working clocks in it. 3 in the radio room, 3 in the living room,1 in each bathroom, 2 in the bedroom and 2 in the connected garage.
-----
I just did the math on my Eznec antenna software and found out than an 1150 sq. foot home can't physically accomodate that many clocks without completely replacing the drywall and ceiling tiles with clocks.
Also the take off radiation angle didn't look too promising either.
:)
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K8BBE on January 2, 2006
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Glad to hear I'm not the only one that likes clocks and Ham Radio. I have at least eleven clocks in my room that strike, play a song then strike, or talk to you. Believe me when I say, I don't use vox on HF. I realy also know when to ID. 73's and keep up with the collection. Charlie K8BBE
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WL7CMG on January 2, 2006
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"Does anybodybody really know what time it is?....Does anybody really care?.....hi....remember that? Guess I'm showing my age again because I remember when Chicago came out with that great album. Believe it or not I only have one little Timex digital travel clock sitting on the shelf. Don't really think I'd have any more room for more than that. I don't know....I don't think I like time that much anyway....just always seems to be slipping away. BTW...How come time tells me I should be thinking "older" than I do? Oh well...like the song says..."does anybody really care?"
73s & Mind Your Time....hi!!!
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by WB2WIK on January 2, 2006
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I only have one clock in the shack. It's set to UTC, so I don't ever have to worry about resetting it twice a year.
My wristwatch is set to UTC also. Confuses the hell out of people glancing at my watch to see what time it is.
I have five computers in the house, and they're all set to UTC, also.
Keeps the kids on their toes.
But if anyone should ever stop you on the street to ask for the time, here's something you might say:
"I am deeply grieved and greatly humiliated, but for some unforseen circumstance, one over which I have no control, the innermost workings of my chronometer are of such discordance with the great sidereal movements that I cannot, with any degree of accuracy, foretell the correct time."
That's what my sixth grade English teacher used to say if anyone asked him.
WB2WIK/6
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by KL7IPV on January 2, 2006
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Only Steve would advise giving that kind of answer. I have the computer clock, an analog clock on local time and an old Heathkit digital clock on GMT. I am not as "sick" or as dedicated as some others I guess. LOL
73,
Frank
KL7IPV
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by WA9SVD on January 2, 2006
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The man (or woman) who has one clock knows what time it is. The man (or woman) who has more than one is never sure...
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by RobertKoernerExAE7G on January 3, 2006
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I used to have those dual clocks from MFJ.
I switched to computer logging, and never bothered to refill the batts in the MFJ unit.
Last time my watch ceased functioning, I wondered why I needed a watch--at least one clock in every room, plus in my car and in my motorcycle.
When the power goes out, I reset clocks, based upon the time displayed in either my computer, or the time displayed in my satellite receiver.
I cannot remember the last time I set a clock to WWV.
73
Bob
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KJ4EY on January 3, 2006
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A different angle! After being ham for 20 years I married a "Clock" lady! We have at least 20 (I lose count) through out our home. Seems she has a stack of boxes in the corner that somehow seems to grow although I never see her buy one. Sounds like a ham buddy I used to know. Time waits for no man.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K3GI on January 3, 2006
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I have three clocks in the shack. Two digitals on the wall at the operating station. One for local and one for UTC. As that shack is also my home office, there is another analog clock on the wall that is in front of my desk. I also have GeoClock on the computers and an NIST program to update the computer clocks. Also have 6 watches that I reset once a month to WWV.
Lee, K3GI
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by K5DVW on January 3, 2006
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I have one analog clock with dead batteries. It's exactly correct twice per day.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W4CX on January 3, 2006
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Hi Tom. I think you unwittingly answered your own question! The personality type which attracts us to ham radio is one of inquisitiveness. We are serious analytical animals....we want to measure everything. This includes time, frequency, weather patterns, schematic diagrams, propogation patterns, musical patterns and WHY we have so many clocks!
See the pattern?
Grins and 73, Darrell W4CX
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W4CX on January 3, 2006
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What I really want to know is why there's no clock in my FT857 and FT897!
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K5FZ on January 3, 2006
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Hmmm maybe I'm not a real ham...no clocks in the shack...unless you count the computer(which has a small clock in the corner set to local time....my logging program converts this to UTC), and my '756pro which also has a small clock in the lower right corner of the display set to UTC. In the whole house, there are only 3 other clocks...one on the mantle in the living room and one on the nightstand by the bed...and the one blinking 12:00 on the VCR/DVD...
Happy New Year,
Rich
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by KG2V on January 3, 2006
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One wind up clock - currently not running - that's it, other than the clocks on the PCs.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KE5ELS on January 3, 2006
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Well I Hang My Head Low,
In My Shack / Office I Counted 21
And Thats Counting My Logger Page on My Computer, 2 Are UTC Time, 4 Are Set To States Time Zones, 2 Are Pocket Watches, 1 Is My Cell Phone,
I Use The State Time Zone Alot Because Of My Job,
But I Do Belive I Have Too Many Clocks.
I Guess When I First Started Getting Ready
To Get My Ticket Last Year
I Thought I Needed To Keep Informed
Of The Time On The Other End
Of The Person I Was Talking To.
Learn Later That UTC Is The Way To Go.
Time For A Yard Sale.
Thats All The Time I Have,
73s
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by KG4RUL on January 3, 2006
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No freestanding clocks in the shack. I use the computer clock and keep it synced using my GPS receiver.
Dennis KG4RUL
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by WILLY on January 3, 2006
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by KG4RUL on January 3, 2006
"No freestanding clocks in the shack. I use the computer clock and keep it synced using my GPS receiver."
- - - which reminds me.
There are others, but so far Dimension4 is the one I like the best.
If anyone is interested: www.thinkman.com/dimension4
Either automatic, or manually run it occasionally. Super easy.
73
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by WA9SVD on January 3, 2006
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AE7G on January 3, 2006
I used to have those dual clocks from MFJ.
I switched to computer logging, and never bothered to refill the batts in the MFJ unit.
Last time my watch ceased functioning, I wondered why I needed a watch--at least one clock in every room, plus in my car and in my motorcycle.
When the power goes out, I reset clocks, based upon the time displayed in either my computer, or the time displayed in my satellite receiver.
I cannot remember the last time I set a clock to WWV.
73
Bob
==========
I have yet to own, find, or even see a computer that keeps REALLY accurate time! Some slightly fast, some slightly slow. And if you use "software" to update your computer's clock when connected to the Internet, depending upon your connection speed, your ISP and other factors, you may still be off by at least a second or two. Of course, that's often "good enough," especially if your are setting a clock that only displays hours and minutes. (After all, what's a few seconds amoungst friends or Hams?)
With a little (or a lot) practice, one can synchronize a clock to within a few milliseconds (i.e., imperceptible difference) of the WWV signal, both due to propagation effects and human response time. But if you have to re-sync multiple clocks based on only one WWV reception, chances are all will be a little "off" when you are through.
NOW, the question is:
Did everyone (not using an "atomic clock" sync'd to WWVB) remember to add the "leap second" this past Saturday?
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by AH6FC on January 3, 2006
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Good post!
It's an electronic gadget thing.
I have two - one on my computer and one on my proIII, except for QSLs/logs, I try not to keep track of time any longer. In former days I had 3 - 4 in the shack, i.e. different time zones, local, zulu, etc.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KD6NIG on January 3, 2006
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I'm worse with having to know the temprature. Every time I see a cool looking weather station type thingy, I seem to acquire it. The latest one I got and brought to work has indoor and outdoor, with a bar graph for each.
The coorelation is that most of them have clocks. I'm guilty of only having 4, but of the 4, 2 of them have outdoor sensors. Its always 2-3 degrees warmer in my backyard than my front yard.
The fact I know this is....scary :)
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by K7PEH on January 3, 2006
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On the notion of keeping accurate time...
Among those clocks in our house that I need to change at least twice a year for DST are the digital clocks on our range unit and on our microwave.
First, let me explain that these are twin appliances that are designed to go together. The clock on the range unit is a digital display as part of the electronic control of the stove and oven. The clock on the overhead microwave is on its control panel about 2 feet higher.
I hate having two blue-green colored digital clocks in the same view. But, the worst thing about this is that they are almost never accurate to the same second. One will change its second digit before the other one so for the most part they are always showing different times. Since they are digital, this lack of accuracy shows up. People notice it when they come to our house. Oh, they don't say anything but I can tell what they are thinking.
Also, they are not the same color of blue-green. They differ by several reasonable shades of color. And, these are appliance twins -- designed to be together. I know my neighbors are laughing at me. I just know it.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by AG4RQ on January 3, 2006
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My clock inventory:
5 watches for me
7 watches for my wife
2 clock radios
1 wind-up alarm clock
2 electric alarm clocks
1 clock in my PC
1 clock in my answering machine
1 clock in my fax machine
1 clock in my caller ID
1 clock in my cell phone
2 stitchery clocks
1 oven clock
1 clock in my VCR
1 clock in my car
1 clock in my wife's car
28 timepieces total
As for what's in the shack, my shack is in the bedroom.
Shack clock inventory:
5 watches for me
7 watches for my wife
2 clock radios
1 wind-up alarm clock
2 electric alarm clocks
1 clock in my PC
1 clock in my answering machine
1 clock in my fax machine
1 clock in my caller ID
1 clock in my cell phone
1 stitchery clock
23 timepieces total
After listing all the timepieces in my home, maybe it's time to think about holding some auctions on eBay!
Now that I'm through with the clocks, should I start on my radio inventory? BTW, all radios count - broadcast radios, SW radios, weather radios, ham radios, CB radios, FRS, etc., etc., etc. ...
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by KB7LYM on January 3, 2006
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Confusius SAID......
A man with no clock does not know what time it is.
A man with two clocks is never sure what time it is.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Look at the bright side..
http://blog.myspace.com/mouwut
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by N5XM on January 3, 2006
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Only 4 here...that way I don't have to break my neck to check when a QSO starts and ends!
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W7WIK on January 3, 2006
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I have one clock in the shack. It's set to local time, but when I log a contact I simply add in my head for UTC.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by NY7Q on January 3, 2006
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NO CLOCKS
NO TIME
Just sitting here drinking my MOOSE DROOL, and rocking in my chair.
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by KC8VWM on January 3, 2006
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At the tone, 11 hours 25 minutes Coordinated Universal Time...
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KB0ETC on January 3, 2006
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Lets see how may I have:
3 Rolex watches in the safe in my office (unless one is worn for the day) - 2 Submariners set for Local Time and one GMT set for Local and UTC.
Icom 756PROIII - Clock x 2 (UTC and Local)
Two: Atomic Travel Clocks (UTC and Local)
Vintage Yaesu QTR-24 World Time Clock
Three computers (work notebook, notebook for rig control, and personal PC)
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by AE6IP on January 3, 2006
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In the shack, there are five computers with clocks, all set via NTP; two radios with clocks, each set by hand to UTC; an "atomic" clock that also has indoor/outdoor display, set to UTC; and an analog clock, embedded in an award the wife won, with a dead battery.
If you discount the gear that came with built-in clocks, that's one working clock and one dead clock.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by G0GQK on January 3, 2006
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You want to know the reason why you and others who replied have so many clocks ? Because you have too much money floating around and you don't know what next to spend it on, so you keep buying things you don't really need. That's why !
G0GQK
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by K4JF on January 3, 2006
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I have 2 clocks in my shack. One on local and one on UTC. There is no need for more.
And, being retired, I don't wear a watch, even though I own several. That is a matter of personal statement! Someone asked me the time a few weeks ago, and I said "I think is it November".
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by K4JF on January 3, 2006
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I have 2 clocks in my shack. One on local and one on UTC. There is no need for more.
And, being retired, I don't wear a watch, even though I own several. That is a matter of personal statement! Someone asked me the time a few weeks ago, and I said "I think it's November".
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W5ONV on January 3, 2006
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Tic-tock,tic-tock,tic-tock,tic-tock,tic-tock.
What is Moose Drool ?????? Is it good ?????
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W9OY on January 3, 2006
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I use only one clock....the one in the VCR
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by KG6WLS on January 3, 2006
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What time is it where you live?
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/timer.pl
http://www.worldtimezone.com/
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/
or if you're really into time:
http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/time.html
73
Mike
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by N9VAO on January 3, 2006
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Moose Drool is good. Just like Floppin Crappie up here in northern Wisconsin.
I have 4 clock's in the shack....
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by K8MHZ on January 3, 2006
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Never thought of this 'till now...
I have 8 in my shack, 9 if I plug in the VCR.
Oh..there's another one, on a little shortwave radio, so that brings it up to 9 or 10.
My reason is, I like them all for different reasons, or they are built into something, like the Caller ID box.
How many people know why Coordinated Universal Time is abbreviated UTC? I was told once, and forgot. If someone knows and could post it here I think it is good trivia.
To answer the question, "What is it about hams and clocks?". Think about it, isn't ham radio a...'hands on' hobby?
73,
Mark K8MHZ
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by NB3O on January 3, 2006
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The only one in my shack is a Cuckoo (clock).
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by W6TH on January 3, 2006
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.
In the shack I have 9 clocks and on my wrist a Rolex.
Will I buy more?
Time will tell.
W6TH
.:
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WA4UF on January 3, 2006
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Hmm.... (* looks around the shack *) Nope, don't have a single solitary stand-alone real live hardware clock. I've got local and UTC displayed on my X window desktop.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WK2X on January 3, 2006
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I've got an old palm m130 that now sits permanently in its hotsync cradle. I use a software package called TimeSync to keep its clock in sync with my computer, and another freeware app called BigClock that runs on the palm to display UTC in a large font. I keep my XP box synced up with my Linux NTP server using XP's internal ntp client (w32tm or something like that), which I've tweaked a bit using a program I wrote myself to manipulate the registry entries. My Linux box syncs with one of the US Naval observatorie's time servers a few times a day using good old ntpd.
Whew! To make a long story short, all I gotta do is hit the hotsync button on my palm when I sit down to operate, and I have a big honkin' UTC clock right next to the radio on the desk with pretty darn good accuracy.
If I'm curious about the local time, I either look at my cell phone display or the smaller portion of BigClock's display which shows local time.
So no real clocks, but a bunch of computers in the shack.
73 de WK2X
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by KB9WWL on January 3, 2006
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I always thought Universal Coordinated Time being abbreviated UTC had something to do with it being a French acronym. Pretty sure I read that somewhere. I could be wrong though...
73,
Ben
KB9WWL
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC0VCU on January 3, 2006
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Let's see, d-a-clock on the nightstand d-a-clock on top of stereo, d-clock in stereo, clock/calendar in camcorder, clock on vcr, clock in PVR synced via ntp to server in livingroom. clock on phone, (not maintained) clock in CID box (not maintained) half a dozen watches in CST and CDT settings, drifting. clock in primary computer, display includes both CST and UTC. Two atomic alarm travel clocks. Idle laptop with a clock, not maintained. laptop with a clock synced to ubuntu time server. two expired pagers with available clocks. Three cell phones which each display the time per their carrier's time signal from the cell tower. two gps receivers which each display the local time as well.
That's the shack/bedroom.
Obviously the clock in the server in the livingroom, running ntpd, synced to navy, currently a stratum 13, but I just installed the software, and that should improve. clock in workstation in living room. clock on vcr (not maintained) clocks in various routers, (not maintained). Atomic clock on wall. Couple of PDAs on a shelf.
In the kitchen, clock on the microwave. Clock on the radio on the cabnets, small digital clock with a dead battery on a shelf.
No clocks in bathroom, unless I am there with a watch, cell phone, or some combination of one or more of either or each. Clock on car stereo in car. Unknown number of clocks in storage, none maintained.
Several devices in the house have clocks that are never set or viewed. For example my dvd player has a clock (used to determine where in the video it shoule be) that simply keeps track of how long the DVD player has been on.
Pretty much every computer ever made has some sort of a clock in it. Even if it does nothing more than tell the CPU it's time to start another processor cycle.
Not all clocks are the result of having too much money. Some are embeded in equipment that needs that clock for one of it's features. The VCR is a good example. Without a clock, you will have to come up with some other mechanism of scheduling it to record your shows. Ultimately you will have to use a clock of some sort, even if it is to ask someone else to start the recording when the show is about to start.
Also some clocks may have been received as gifts. I suppose those could be sold to increase the available cash in the household, but that's sort of like selling off the boat anchor because you bought an all-mode all-band qrp rig. Start selling off equipment because you no longer have space for it per your idea of what is appropriate space usage.
73
-Rusty -kc0vcu
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KK7WN on January 3, 2006
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Until monks needed clocks to determine when to pray people generally made do with the natural time pieces, the sun, moon and the seasons!You only needed to know when to go to sleep, get up and plant and harvest the crops. I suspect that an obsession with clocks generally is related to the need to psychologically feel in control. Clocks indicate when tasks and activities need to be undertaken to accomplish some purpose. Apart from this, I suspect that one's interest in types of clocks is related to individual's likes and dislikes . Nerds like atomic clocks,water clocks and clocks that deal with time in more abstract ways.Folks who are more nostalgic probably prefer older types of timepieces.People with a more artistic bent peobably collect clocks that are art deco, etc.People who are retired can get away with clocks that only measure the days of the week! Is it time yet? Bob KK7WN
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KA0GKT on January 3, 2006
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A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never quite sure...
There are two clocks in my shack. One is the computer clock, set to MST, which is netted to NBS on an hourly basis; the other is a digital 24-Hour clock set to UTC which nets itself to NBS via WWVB overnight. They are always within a second of each other.
73 DE KAØGKT/7
--Steve
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by NT4XT on January 3, 2006
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LOL!
My Log has a clock displaying Local + UTC.
My Rig has the same, Pegasus.
Then there's the local time on the Task Bar.
Then there's a US Maritime Commission Replica behind me. On the side, a little MFJ digital 2 zone clock/In-Out-door Thermometer. The stereo has one. On my wrist (and I sleep with it) is another chronometer. My beeper generally with me, displays the time. And so does my cell phone usually in my pocket on weeknights. So...
In the shack- are now nine clocks, although I've needed to replace the battery in the Replica or months.
In the house:
Nine plus...
Kitchen has Atomic clock, oven clock, microwave clock, and coffee machine clock, and I keep those all synched, plus the backup beeper which displays the time always, oh, and a moon phase planting/harvesting farmer's clock = 6.
Family room has VCR, plus cable-box clock, dining nook has a computer there it displays the time on Taskbar, oh, a very cool Wind Chime alarm clock, too, and the answering machine does too= 5. Upstairs are stereos, radio alarm clocks, battery alarm clocks... seven chronometers not counting perhaps a couple pounds of wrist watches and wind-up travel alarm clocks.
Total active house-hold clocks here: 30. And I live in a small house.
But I do have an obsession with knowing what time it is, perhaps, generally speaking, ham types tend to have more measuring devices than the average person, and clocks are prevalent and most easily obtained. I feel completely lost without my wristwatch.
You know, come to think of it I can't walk past the clocks in Wal-Mart or Target without pausing to look and feeling some quirky urge to throw one or two of them in the cart. If the clock isles came with sales people, I'd probably have a couple dozen more clocks and my house would look like some kind of bizarre Pink Floyd song.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WF7A on January 3, 2006
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I once bought a collector's wristwatch from Fossil that was literally a small sundial (complete with gnomon) mounted to a leather strap. Lovely as it was, I ended up returning it because it only worked half the time.
I wonder if it's truly a ham thing to be a clock watcher...which I'm _really_ bad at; I'll look at a clock or watch scores of times during the day and when I pass a jewelry section in a store, I have a burning urge to stop and see the watches in the counter.
Okay, trivia question: from which movie did this line come from?
"You have all the time in the world, George."
The first one with the answer gets bragging rights here. :D
(I know the answer)
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K7PEH on January 3, 2006
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The movie "The Time Machine", the original one (1960) with Rod Taylor playing the character of George (H.G. Wells) and his friend, played by Alan Young, David Philby.
The scene was at the end of the movie when David suggests that George had all the time in the world to do what he wanted to do.
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WA9SVD on January 3, 2006
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When I boot up my packet computer, it says the date is 1980. Does that mean I get an extra 26 years to make different mistakes?
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by N0IU on January 4, 2006
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The best accessory I have added in the past couple of years has been one of those "atomic clocks" from Wal-Mart. What a bargain! For about $30 I have a clock that marches in perfect time with Ft. Collins plus I can tell what the temperature is inside my shack and outside... at the same time! It even tells me if it is going to sunny or rainy based on changes in the barometric pressure.
I keep it set to "normal" time, but I keep the clock in the rig (Icom 756 Pro) set to UTC. It seems to do a decent job of keeping up, but I do have to tweak it every couple of months. The clock in the computer is quite a different story. Most of my operating is on the weekend so I have gotten into the routine of setting the clock first thing Saturday morning before I make any contacts and that way I know I will be somewhat accurate when I log all those rare DX contacts.
I don't have to worry about the time when I am working the digital modes because almost every QSO ends when the other station tells me the date and time the QSO was logged. I suppose they do this just in case I don't have any clocks in my shack at all!
Happy New Year!
Scott N0IU
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by NS6Y_ on January 4, 2006
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Hm, a cheapo Radio Shack clock-radio that's a lousy clock, blinks "12:00" all day, but it's a pretty lousy radio too, yet I listen to it all day lol.
One of those WWV clocks on the wall, because at least something's dead-on around here, otherwise I tend to not reset for daylight savings time and half the year my clock's off by an hour. A guest looked at my old wall clock in shock and said 'Is that clock right??' and I said No, it's not that late, I just never reset it. Then I went right to Fry's and got my atomic one, ya know, atomic clocks don't lie...
The clock in my computer, kept in discipline by the server it gets its info from....
And an old radium-dial clock that I got for $1 from a friend, I got it for its radioactivity and it's spicy indeed, but it's also a great alarm clock, has a real alarm and it's easy to set, set the alerm, pull the little post out, and know I'll get up.
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by NS6Y_ on January 4, 2006
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I really need another clock set to UTC, and I'd wear a watch except they give me a rash. But here's the creepy part, if I don't use a clock and just go on my own, I can tell the time and be dead on, maybe off by a minute. Someone will ask me what time it is and I'll tell them and it will be dead on when we check a watch, or a clock, cell fone, etc. Weird. So I try not to do that, but I myself may count as another clock lol.
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by NS6Y_ on January 4, 2006
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http://www.leapsecond.com you guys have fun now....
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC7JDS on January 4, 2006
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Ho Hum,
Another article from someone with too much time on their hands.
LOL!!
B Woodman
kc7jds
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K9KEJ on January 4, 2006
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The real issue the way I see it is this--
Doesn't matter how many clocks a person has, he or she will be late regardless!
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by NY7Q on January 4, 2006
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MOOSE DROOL is a very fine dark beer. FAT TIRE beer is just as good when you are sitting in a rocking chair listening to the birds and bees chirp.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by N5UV on January 4, 2006
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As Ford Prefect sez in the "HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Time is an illusion...lunch-time double so...
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KE6GLW on January 4, 2006
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I'd like wall clocks that display sidereal and solar time...
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K7PEH on January 4, 2006
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As Ford Prefect sez in the "HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy" Time is an illusion...lunch-time double so...
Edgar Allen Poe says that time is a runic rhyme...
...Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells,
To the sobbing of the bells,
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
...
The Bells by Edgar Allen Poe
Apparently I have too much time today.
peh
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by N0IU on January 4, 2006
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Or as the Electric Light Orchestra says if you play the introduction to "Fire On High" backwards (which is something you can't do with a CD)...
The song is reversible, but time is not.
Turn back, turn back, turn back, turn back
Scott N0IU
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by W6SN on January 4, 2006
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WA9SVD said:
"I have yet to own, find, or even see a computer that keeps REALLY accurate time! Some slightly fast, some slightly slow. And if you use "software" to update your computer's clock when connected to the Internet, depending upon your connection speed, your ISP and other factors, you may still be off by at least a second or two. Of course, that's often "good enough," especially if your are setting a clock that only displays hours and minutes. (After all, what's a few seconds amoungst friends or Hams?)"
---
Actually, I find that to be untrue. If you use a real OS, not one bogged down by all the spyware crud and other stuff that Micro$oft gives you, you can manage to sync your clock relatively accurately:
# ntpdate -q time.nist.gov
Looking for host time.nist.gov and service ntp
host found : time.nist.gov
server 192.43.244.18, stratum 1, offset -0.000422, delay 0.08600
I'd say that's close enough...
73,
Jason
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KI4FD on January 4, 2006
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OK, I will go along wid de fact that we love clocks,
well, shoot, I got a clock or 2 in every room and
5 five, in the shack. But, you must realize the reason
I have so many is I don't wear the time on my arm.
Happy to all, de t. bone
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by N6AJR on January 4, 2006
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I just realized something else to do with time. I live about a mile from Travis Air Force Base, and every day at 1630 local they play the Star Spangled Banner as they lower the flags on base, and I always look at the clock when they start. they are usually 1 minute past atomic time .. I guess I do have too much Time on my hands.....
I find all of the comments intriuging.. tom
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KD2E on January 5, 2006
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I have everyone beat!
But I'm a bit embarrassed about it!
Including computers and rigs, about 40 in the shack/basement...and that's not where all the clocks are at!!
Bunch of converted to atomic types all over the house, bunch of '70s vintage LED type, do you count unbuilt heathkit clocks??
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KD7YVV on January 5, 2006
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Now for real fun....
http://www.deathclock.com
I've been thinking that when I die, I should come back
long enough to email the webaster my exact time of death, along with 3 words: "you were wrong" :)
And now for the 964,847,022 seconds I have remaining....
I think I'll take about 30 of them and enjoy a good laugh. BTW, it even tells you the month, day and year
you'll be going where no ham has gone before.....
--KD7YVV, Kirkland, WA
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC8VWM on January 5, 2006
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I live about a mile from Travis Air Force Base
I always look at the clock when they start. they are usually 1 minute past atomic time.
-----
Apparently, for some reason I am starting to think about a travelling speed of sound math quiz now.
73 Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K3TJ on January 5, 2006
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WA9SVD.... My Msys BBS seems to think its 1996. I wonder if yours and mine are related?
Regards, Ed k3tj
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WB4API on January 6, 2006
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I have a MFJ dual, two atomic, one wall and a digital alarm clock to get the Twin boy's up for school plus the PC clock and 4 more in the rest of the house!!! Atomic clocks are the only one's that have the same time!! I love this site. I may just delete qrz from my favorire's!!!!
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KG4RRN on January 6, 2006
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I have three clocks in the shack, a atomic clock, a Big LED alarm clock and a SpongeBob Squarepants alarm clock, so I suppose you are right.
We live in a large house, and we have 6 bedrooms, and I can assure you that there is at least one if not two in each room, so counting the kitchen (there are 2) and each microwave (2) along with the living room, the caller IDs (2) AND all of those = grand total of ....
22 clocks in the house.
Beat that!
KG4RRN
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WF7A on January 6, 2006
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KD7YVV wrote: >>Now for real fun....http://www.deathclock.com <<
Now I'm in trouble: according to the clock I should've died two years ago...but thanks to the preservatives and chemicals in all the bowls of Cap'n Crunch I ate when I was a kid, I'm still here!
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WA8MEA on January 6, 2006
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Here all along I thought it was ham radio operators and weather instruments....
Besides the clock on the 'puter, and the clock on my Sangean shortwave...the only clock here in my shack is an MFJ 24 hour digital display.
Now excuse me while I go check my NEXRAD.
73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC8VWM on January 6, 2006
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I have three clocks in the shack, a atomic clock, a Big LED alarm clock and a SpongeBob Squarepants alarm clock.
----------
Anyone who owns a Spongebob nopants clock obviously doesn't wear any undersquare...
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K7PEH on January 6, 2006
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I am not sure how many clocks and watches I have but as of today I have one more. So, today I have N+1 time pieces.
I got my retirement from work watch today, engraved and all. I took an early retirement severance package from work last month because it was too good to pass up.
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by AA4LR on January 6, 2006
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I don't see what the obsession with clocks is. My friend K4JCW had a whole bunch of clocks because he would BUILD them. He had a number of cool digital clocks all based on Intel 8051 microcontrollers. My favorite was a pseudo-analog dial using two rings of 60 LEDs and one rig of 12 LEDs.
In the shack I have exactly ONE clock. It is a Hayes Chronograph circa 1983. I pulled it from a refuse bin when I worked at Hayes in 1985. It needed a fuse replaced and has been working just fine for 20 years now.
It keeps pretty good time, and has battery backup. Setting it is a royal pain, since you have to hook it up to a computer through the serial port (a commodity that is becoming increasingly rare), and send specially formatted AT commands.
The Chronograph is set to UTC, which saves all that anguish twice a year about changing clocks.
I've been looking at UTC clocks for over 35 years now, so I no longer need one set to local time. I just mentally subtract 4 or 5 hours to get the local time.
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WA9SVD on January 6, 2006
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by W6SN on January 4, 2006
WA9SVD said:
"I have yet to own, find, or even see a computer that keeps REALLY accurate time! Some slightly fast, some slightly slow. And if you use "software" to update your computer's clock when connected to the Internet, depending upon your connection speed, your ISP and other factors, you may still be off by at least a second or two. Of course, that's often "good enough," especially if your are setting a clock that only displays hours and minutes. (After all, what's a few seconds amoungst friends or Hams?)"
---
Actually, I find that to be untrue. If you use a real OS, not one bogged down by all the spyware crud and other stuff that Micro$oft gives you, you can manage to sync your clock relatively accurately:
# ntpdate -q time.nist.gov
Looking for host time.nist.gov and service ntp
host found : time.nist.gov
server 192.43.244.18, stratum 1, offset -0.000422, delay 0.08600
I'd say that's close enough...
73,
Jason
-------------
Jason: Operating System not withstanding, ANY time sync service WILL be at the mercy of the ISP latency and overhead, as well as connection speed. That's not to say that it can't be quite accurate, but there WILL (at least on occasion) be delays that occur; a person (IRL) CAN often set a clock to within a few ms. of the time transmitted by WWV and received on a radio, even considering propagation delays. (Of course, THAT is splitting microhairs.)
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WA8MEA on January 6, 2006
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Heck, my 11 year old son has a SpongeBob SquareTrouser's clock. I think it's more attractive and has better features than my MFJ clock.....
73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC8VWM on January 7, 2006
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Other gear for the serious ham:
http://www.gracobaby.com/assets/images/product/KTPT4540_z.jpg
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K6SGH on January 7, 2006
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I have many clocks in my shack: a nixie clock (www.nixieclock.net) 2 in the radio, 1 from china with Mao's face on it (makes a lot of noise too) a 24 hour dial clock, several other digitals too. And, everytime my wife comes into the shack she says, "you got so many clocks and none have the correct time!" oh well.
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by K0JEG on January 7, 2006
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K7PEH Quote:"I got my retirement from work watch today, engraved and all. I took an early retirement severance package from work last month because it was too good to pass up."
Congrats on the retirement. Hope the watch is one of these:
http://www.tokyoflash.com/viewwatch76C1morse-code-watches.html
Very cool. My current favorite watch, although a little too geeky for outdoor use... :)
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by G0VUH on January 7, 2006
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Clocks/time the amateur radio operator! Yes they do go together don't they? I have three beautiful large clocks in the shack under each clock they say "London" " New York" and " Sydney" with correct times. Helps me quite a lot when working HF and knowing the times around the world and looks quite nice as well.
73s Andy
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by N4VET on January 8, 2006
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Yes, HAMS do have a lot of clocks and for a lot of us it turns into a second hobby.
The ones I like the most are ships clocks.
I am in constant search at flea markets.
In fact I just added a new Chelsea Ships Radio Room clock showing silent times to listen for distress calls. However, I had to buy this one at a store.
Found one of the only dealers by searching the web and it was a long search to find one still made that was new and not a reproduction.
I did not get the one reviewed on EHAM for $14.95 but if you do not know what I am talking about check out the review on EHAM under clocks and it will give you an idea of how the face is set.
The real ones will have a second hour hand to set GMT time.
I paid a little more to get a real one but I figure I can pass it on to my son one day and by that time the value will have gone up.
This type of clock will become more rare now that most ships use GPS instead of CW or SSB to send out S.O.S's.
My new clock should be here by Friday.
Now to convince my wife that it has been on the wall all this time Hi Hi.
Now, if anyone out on the reflector wants to start a collection don't forget the more of them you have the more of them you have to wind up once a week.
As you get older you might want to consider Quartz movements.
No winding!
Dan N4VET
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by WA9SVD on January 9, 2006
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Just an observation:
My station/desk clock, which I usually use for logging, is an LCD digital clock from the late, great, "Creative Computing" magazine's 10th Anniversary; THAT was about 1984 or so. It DOES work in 24 hour mode, remembers the date, and is accurate enough to the minute that I only have to reset it every six months or leap year/second, which ever comes first.
It has FAR outlasted a lot of other fancy clocks and watches.
But as the saying goes, "...it still keeps ticking." Or whatever. They just don't make them like they used to.
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by N4VET on January 10, 2006
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When young we wind our clocks at daybreak.
At middle age we wind at lights last rays.
When old we wind our clocks at midnight and give thanks for one more day.
Dan/N4VET
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KQ6IY on January 10, 2006
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My new xyl loves clocks, I bought her a Black Forest cuckoo clock for Christmas and she loved it, that makes 3 clocks in the front room plus the obligatory 3 in the shack taking care of local, Zulu and one clock to actually look like a nice clock.
Anyone keep Zulu on a Grandfather clock? ;-)
btw she gave me a ft-8800r for Christmas
mmmm.... nice
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One clock, many displays
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by KC7GR on January 12, 2006
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About three years ago, I got tired of having multiple clocks that were never in sync with each other.
I did something about it. Some judicious shopping around on Greed-bay located a Symmetricom GPS-locked network time server (an NTS-200), which took care of all the computers on our LAN simply by configuring each one to listen for SNTP packets.
Some further modifications to the unit gave me 10MHz and 1PPS outputs. The 1PPS output was then routed to a slave clock which, besides being set for local time (the NTS200 displays UTC by design), has an encoder built in which puts standard IRIG-B time code out on a 1kHz audio carrier. The 1PPS is used to trigger the 1S count on the slave clock, thus it is in lock-step with the master source.
The carrier is routed via regular RG58 coax to two remote displays which decode the IRIG signal, and put it up on big LED displays.
The end result of all this is a pair human-visible time displays, and numerous computer clocks, all in lock-step with each other and accurate to Stratum-1 standards (within microseconds of the atomic used to drive WWV). Better yet, when DST rolls around, I need only change ONE station clock (the slave displays follow it) when DST rolls around.
The same GPS antenna feeding the NTS-200 also feeds an HP Z3801 frequency standard. This serves as an external reference for whichever instrument happens to need it at the time.
The system works great overall. The only thing I need to do it right now is rebuild a little pulse-stretcher circuit I made for the first slave clock. The 1PPS reference out of the NTS-200 are only about 100uS wide, and the slave clock is old enough that it needs that pulse to be a lot wider. My initial circuit used a 555 timer. The next design will use a much faster (and more reliable) monolithic multivibrator IC.
Who says there are no tinkerers left in hamateur radio? ;-)
Keep the peace(es).
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RE: What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by KC8VWM on January 12, 2006
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have three beautiful large clocks in the shack under each clock they say "London" " New York" and " Sydney"
------
Great!.. I know the time in every one of those places but now only of I actually knew where each of those places were located?!
:)
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What is it About Hams and Clocks?
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by VA7HV on January 31, 2006
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What a riot you just instilled at my shack. A wise man once said a man with one watch knows the time, a man with more than one is never quite sure what the correct time is! So I counted.. and counted.. WOW, 10 visible, and another 8 or so clocks watches, and chimed devices set to go off at pre-determined times. To remind me of what, god only knows. Oh I also have about a dozen watches in my bedroom, for all occasions and when its Daylite savings time here, I have a whole days worth of activities set to go. All in all I think in this house we have approximatly 30 time keeping devices, EXCLUDING the near 15-18 watches between my wife and I. Thanks for a good laugh.
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