Operation Guide 2696/2832(B)

How a Radio-controlled Watch Works

Reception Range

This watch is designed to receive the standard time calibration signal of Japan (JJY) or of the United States (WWVB). The signal that is received depends on the current Home City setting.

What is a radio-controlled watch?

Your radio-controlled watch is designed to receive a time calibration signal that contains standard time data, and adjust its current time setting accordingly.

 

 

Signal is received

Transmitter

Long-wave

using built-in antenna.

time

 

 

 

 

calibration

 

 

signal

 

Calibration Signal

• The Japanese calibration signal (Call Sign: JJY) is maintained by

the independent Japan Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

Communication Research Laboratory (CRL). It is a long wave

signal transmitted 24 hours a day from the Mt. Otakadoya

transmitter (40kHz) located in Tamura-gun, Fukushima Prefecture,

and from the Mt. Hagane transmitter (60kHz) located on the

border between Saga Prefecture and Fukuoka Prefecture.

• The U.S. calibration signal (Call Sign: WWVB) is transmitted by

•For information about selecting a Home City, see “Selecting Your Home City”. For information about city codes, see the “World Time City Code List”.

Home City

Transmitter

 

 

TYO

Either the Mt. Otakadoya signal (40kHz) or the Mt. Hagane signal (60kHz)

 

 

LAX, DEN, CHI, NYC

Fort Collins, Colorado signal

 

 

 

 

Watch decodes

 

 

received data

 

Signal data

and converts it to

 

time data.

 

 

 

Decode

 

Cesium

Time data

Time is adjusted

 

atomic clock Watch

Internally

according to time

data.

 

 

After the watch receives the Standard Time signal, it performs internal calculations to determine the current time. Because of this, there may be an error of up to one second in the displayed time.

the National Institute of Standards and technology from Fort

Collins, Colorado.

Note that transmission of the standard wave may be interrupted occasionally due to maintenance, lightening, etc.

Transmitter Location

1000km

500km

 

Mt. Otakadoya

500km

(40kHz)

Mt. Hagane

 

 

(60kHz)

1000km

•Under optimum conditions, the calibration signal should be receivable up to 1,000 kilometers from the transmitter. Note that the wave is relatively weak at distances greater than 500km, so reception may be poor at long distances.

Transmitter Location

3000km

1000km

Fort Collins

•Under optimum conditions, the calibration signal should be receivable up to 3,000 kilometers from the transmitter. Note that the wave is relatively weak at distances greater than 1,000km, so reception may be poor at long distances.

•Geographic contours, nearby buildings, the season, the time of day, can even make reception impossible even when you are within range of the transmitter.

•Best reception is possible late at night.

Location

Reception is difficult and may even be impossible in the locations described below. Avoid such locations when performing signal reception.

•You should think of your watch operating like a radio or TV when it is receiving the calibration signal.

Receiving the Calibration Signal

There are two methods you can use to receive the time calibration signal.

•Auto receive (Reception is performed automatically at midnight, 2:00, and 4:00 each morning.)

•Manual receive (You initiate reception using a button operation.)

•If reception is not successful for any of the normal auto receive operations shown above, auto receive is performed one more time at 5:00 a.m.

•The watch is set up for auto receive at the factory, so all you need to do is to place it in a location that allows good reception each night.

❚Time Required for Reception

A calibration signal receive operation takes anywhere from about two to six minutes.

•Note that when “FREQ.A” (Auto Select) is specified as the transmitter selection mode, signal reception can take up to 12 minutes.

•See “Configuring Transmitter Selection Mode Settings” for more information.

❚To perform manual receive
❚Receive Icon

The receive icon cycles from

Receive Icon

“Unstable” through “Stable” as

 

shown below while reception is in

 

progress. How far it cycles depends

 

on the signal strength. Keep the

 

watch in a location where reception

 

is stable while reception is in

 

progress.

 

Among or near buildings

Near high-voltage lines

❚To position the watch for optimum
reception

Hold down the D button for about two seconds.

Receive icon

Inside a vehicle (automobile, train, plane, etc.)

Next to a household appliance or office equipment (TV, speaker, fax, computer, cell phone, etc.)

Remove the watch from your wrist and place it somewhere so its top (12 o’clock side, where the antenna is located) is facing approximately in the direction of the signal transmitter. Keep the watch away from metal objects.

Resin band

• The watch will beep and reception will start. The “” icon flashes on the display while signal reception is in progress.

❚ To interrupt reception

Press the Dbutton.

Receiving Indicator

Unstable

Stable

• Even under optimum reception conditions, it can take about 10

seconds for reception to stabilize.

•

Use the receive icon to check reception status and to

 

determine the best location for signal reception.

•

Note that weather, the time of day, surroundings, and other

In a location where there is radio interference (construction site, airport, etc.)

Near mountains

Metal band

•All other buttons besides D are disabled during signal reception.

When reception is successful

The watch terminates reception and adjusts the current time. Next it beeps and then displays the date and time the adjustment was performed.

•The “” icon on the display also indicates successful signal reception. The “” icon is cleared from the display each day at 3:00 a.m.

Reception Error (ERR Indicator)

factors can all affect reception.

If you are experiencing problems with reception, move away from the types of locations described above to a location with better reception, and try again.

•Orienting the watch so it is sideways to the transmitter makes it more difficult to receive the signal.

•Do not move the watch while it is receiving the calibration signal.

The watch does not adjust its current time setting, and displays “ERR” when signal reception is unsuccessful for some reason.

•The display will return to the normal timekeeping screen automatically if you do not perform any operation for about one or two minutes.

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