OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ATOMIC CLOCK TIME SIGNAL
•This clock radio is designed to receive and decode the U.S. Atomic Clock time signal transmitted from station WWVB. This station is operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is located near Fort Collins, Colorado at latitude 40°40’28.3”N and longitude 105°02’39.5”W. The time signal is broadcast continuously on the long wave band at a transmission frequency of 60kHz.
•Although the signal can be received anywhere in the continental United States, the southern portions of Canada and the northern portions of Mexico, the greater the distance from Fort Collins, the weaker the signal becomes. The most difficult area for reception is the northeastern coastal region of the USA. In addition to the distance from Fort Collins there is also a high level of interference in this area. This area is also in range of station MSF in Teddington, Middlesex, England. Station MSF is also transmitting at 60kHz and the signal from this station can interfere with signal from station WWVB, especially in the area from Maine to New York.
•Automatic time setting is never instantaneous, even if your home was located next door to the transmitter. The Atomic Clock time signal consists of a ‘stream’ of information that normally takes between two and three minutes to receive and be decoded before the clock in this radio can set itself. Also if the signal is subjected to interference during reception the clock will be unable to decode the information and set itself. In some cases if the signal was ‘corrupted’during reception the clock might actually display an incorrect time. However when the signal is finally received correctly and the information decoded the clock will correct itself automatically.
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