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0 pointsamelius2mo ago0 comments

Same here. I wish there was an easy way around it (that doesn't require me to play sysadmin in my spare time).

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In the 80s my uncle had digital clocks that used an antenna to tune into the atomic clock time signal that (was/is?) broadcast nationwide. I've long wished that it was incorporated into stoves, microwaves, essentially everything that isn't an internet device (yet... sigh)

Sadly I think the actual antenna and hardware were relatively large since it's a long wave signal, but maybe with SDR it'll all fit on the head of a pin these days.

raron2mo ago

> atomic clock time signal that (was/is?) broadcast nationwide

Probably DCF77 or WWVB.

> I think the actual antenna and hardware were relatively large since it's a long wave signal

Casio has some normal sized wristwatches that synchronizes to DCF77, it would definitely fit into a stove, microwave, or basically anything.

jaggederest2mo ago

I believe it was a longwave broadcast so probably WWVB which would apparently imply a 60mm antenna, but it was a standard old school "GE digital clock radio" form factor so size wasn't at a premium.

jasonwatkinspdx2mo ago

> Sadly I think the actual antenna and hardware were relatively large since it's a long wave signal, but maybe with SDR it'll all fit on the head of a pin these days.

Unfortunately there's no real way to cheat physics as far as shrinking a wavelength goes. With RF antennas about the best you can do is a major dimension 1/10th the frequency of interest.

namibj2mo ago

There are many DCF77 receivers in Germany that are contained in a square box that's barely large enough for a AA battery; the rest of the square contains the motor/gears and the electronics/receiver (incl. a ferrite loopstick antenna).

The wavelength is around 3.8km...

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jaggederest2mo ago

Sadly I think the actual antenna and hardware were relatively large since it's a long wave signal, but maybe with SDR it'll all fit on the head of a pin these days.

raron2mo ago

> atomic clock time signal that (was/is?) broadcast nationwide

Probably DCF77 or WWVB.

> I think the actual antenna and hardware were relatively large since it's a long wave signal

Casio has some normal sized wristwatches that synchronizes to DCF77, it would definitely fit into a stove, microwave, or basically anything.

jaggederest2mo ago

I believe it was a longwave broadcast so probably WWVB which would apparently imply a 60mm antenna, but it was a standard old school "GE digital clock radio" form factor so size wasn't at a premium.

jasonwatkinspdx2mo ago

> Sadly I think the actual antenna and hardware were relatively large since it's a long wave signal, but maybe with SDR it'll all fit on the head of a pin these days.

Unfortunately there's no real way to cheat physics as far as shrinking a wavelength goes. With RF antennas about the best you can do is a major dimension 1/10th the frequency of interest.

namibj2mo ago

The wavelength is around 3.8km...

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse