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graveybrains t1_ixoai2h wrote

Reply to comment by yertle38 in Alarm clock lasted over two decades and somehow knows when daylight savings is still by VapeMySemen

If anyone wants to nerd out a bit, this is the radio station it’s listening to:

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwvb

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JerryBoBerry38 t1_ixoho21 wrote

And the station WWV (no B on the end) broadcasts the signal on several high frequency bandwidths. If you have a shortwave radio you can listen to those.

How I've set my watches since the late 80's.

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv

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loganwachter t1_ixou18h wrote

There’s also a number you can dial to get the time. I use it to make test calls to verify phones are working at work. (202)762-1401

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ArseholeAlexa t1_ixowb07 wrote

That is so weird, I have that number saved in my phone, and I decided to call it tonight and the computer is not picking up and saying “on the beep, the time is————-“

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loganwachter t1_ixowe3w wrote

I’ve noticed recently it’s been ringing for about 20 seconds and then answers.

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ArseholeAlexa t1_ixown4a wrote

HUH. It just worked after you posted and I called it back.

“US Naval Observatory master clock, at the tone, Eastern Standard time, 22 hours 29 minutes 30 seconds”

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loganwachter t1_ixowqt3 wrote

Just called from one of my phones. Rang forever. Called from the other and it answered immediately. Seems it has a mind of its own.

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ArseholeAlexa t1_ixowz2m wrote

“22 hours 32 minutes exactly.”

Welp, it seems to be working just fine. It must have a small queue of phone calls coming in.

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MDCRP t1_ixqu8de wrote

Or it got the reddit hug

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mr_john_steed t1_ixpfmlk wrote

I tried it and just heard a voice whispering "SEVEN DAYS". Is that bad....?

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jam3s2001 t1_ixqe9j3 wrote

You will find out in a week, I guess. Might be best to avoid any old wells in the meantime.

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milesbeats t1_ixqip9k wrote

Is this popcorn you are speaking of ??

You can spell out P.O.P.C.O.R.N on any handset I remember regardless of area code and you get the time

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ArseholeAlexa t1_ixqjnfv wrote

I’ve never heard of the popcorn thing before. I have no idea.

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milesbeats t1_ixqk3o6 wrote

I'm not even fucking with you this was a huge deal .. it was hella fun... What time is it .. then we would sneak to a phone and call popcorn ... The current time is ... Lol memories

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ArseholeAlexa t1_ixqm769 wrote

Well shoot, it was shut down in 2007. That’s sad as heck.

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ipsumdeiamoamasamat t1_ixq35ev wrote

I didn’t know this existed. We used to have a local version of it, but the telephone company ended that years ago.

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awarmguinness t1_ixroz7p wrote

There was a number like that growing up, I could dial WEATHER for the weather and 777-4647 for the time, it would say "Calling long distance? Make a list of what you want to talk about, you'll save more in less time. The time is..." Still remember that shit....

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loganwachter t1_ixrphfv wrote

That would’ve been a locally controlled device in a phone central office near you. Ours was 774-9998 and the one at my grandparents house was 764-0105 I think. Both had different advertisement messages but the timekeepers voice was identical.

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goetheschiller t1_ixs86r3 wrote

Interesting! I wonder if the “at the tone” takes into account the inherent delay in the signal.

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XS4Me t1_ixpt17z wrote

> wrist watches

To be fair, wrist watches are now a days more jewelry than time keeping devices.

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tatanka01 t1_ixpxh8o wrote

>To be fair, wrist watches are now a days more computer than time keeping devices.

FTFY

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Gernafax t1_ixoezlt wrote

My jam

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Hank_Fuerta t1_ixp6jgd wrote

Lone Star?

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Legato895 t1_ixpbdu5 wrote

Raspberry

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TadeusTaD t1_ixpov5p wrote

Now that's a r/unexpectedSpaceballs worthy thread

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politepauly t1_ixplbbw wrote

I LOVE THIS. Buyitforlife for sure. I get so pissed off at apple and ms and tesla etc.

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JPAchilles t1_ixplra0 wrote

I think you meant to reply to another comment

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skyecolin22 t1_ixpd51l wrote

This is the most detailed government webpage I've ever seen, and I appreciate that even as someone who doesn't understand radio signals all that well

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EarlPeck t1_ixrru5d wrote

That’s NIST for you check out their e-commerce store.

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Gabetanker t1_ixponfl wrote

If nist.gov would ever shut down for a day, the country would probably collapse

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Snoo75302 t1_ixpxuc3 wrote

I have a watch that connects to this. Casio wave ceptor.

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BigEmu9286 t1_ixoq5pa wrote

How do you know

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FilteringOutSubs t1_ixoxybb wrote

There aren't that many time signals in the US. Also, it's in the clock's instructions

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[deleted] t1_ixp9cla wrote

[deleted]

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noroadsleft t1_ixpdxyy wrote

Seems to be an earlier version of this clock:

The clock in the OP seems to be a Model 13131A2, which has its manual linked on the Manuals tab ("Legacy Product 13131A2").

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FilteringOutSubs t1_ixqyvsq wrote

No where in the picture do I see that. I googled the clock brand and looked at the model pictures for a minute, then I looked at that model's information/instructions.

Also again, there are not that many time signals in the US; if there is a clock updating from a radio signal in the US, it's probably the WWV.

And to be thorough, I say US because the clock shows a continental US outline.

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The_alchemist667 t1_ixp6x9f wrote

Man you know whats so cool is ive been learning to produce edm music and been learning a lot about how the synths work and it uses the same terminology like pulse width modulation and such but relating to soundwaves.

Kinda cool how sin wave terminology can apply to so many different things

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PhilipMewnan t1_ixr06w6 wrote

I live pretty close to those, they’re really beautiful at night blinking red on the horizon

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50MillionNostalgia t1_ixrf8ae wrote

This is such a mind trip. I watched a recommended YouTube video at like 2 am last night about NIST. It was the first time I’ve ever heard of it and had no idea it existed. Was interesting af and now I open reddit today and the first thread has this as the top comment. Insane….feels like The Truman Show

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graveybrains t1_ixrhtlq wrote

And, in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

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BitsAndBobs304 t1_ixrjz2d wrote

there's a classic Terence Hill & Bud Spencer movie where the villain has a bomb that will... delete all numbers. like, the existence of numbers. to which they reply things like "it'll be impossible to figure out what's happening during a football game!" "it'll be impossible to order pizza delivery!" .

now I'm picturing a hacker deciding to destroy the world by... messing with the satellite radios that sync people's alarm clocks, on the day of the daylight savings change.

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