Computer clock

Raduga 3.5 works great. I wish I could say the same for my computer's clock. I know there are lots of utilities to automatically sync a computer with the atomic clock via the Internet, but I'd rather keep the on air computer disconnected from the Internet for security reasons.

I've found a company called Spectradyne who makes a device to sync computers via a GPS system. Their web site doesn't say, but I'm guessing it isn't exactly cheap. Has anybody used this, or do you know of a more cost effective approach?

Re: Computer clock

You can use a free program, such as Dimension4 (http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/) to synchonize your computer time with a time server on the Internet.

I think Windows XP has a similar service that synchronizes the computer times of all Windows computers in a local network. But I don't know how that works.

Re: Computer clock

I know of several programs that use the Internet to synchronize time, but I was trying to avoid an Internet connection. I'm sitting at my desk looking at an "Atomic Clock" that synchronizes with the National Bureau of Standards via RF. It only cost $20 US, and works very reliably. There must be something similar for computers.

Re: Computer clock

I've tried to find such a piece of software for a long time. In my case, I wanted to synchronize the clock on the "bip" sounds heard each hour on Radio France International. This only involved an FM card receiving the radio, and a simple voice recognition system running in the background. All I needed was the windows command line to set the seconds to 00. If you could provide me with it, I can do it.

As for the atomic clock, that's another problem, it requires a specific card which isn't sold anywhere, it would involve HF hardware. There's a market out there, any daring investors ?

Many Raduga users who carry satellite delivered news programs could synchronize with their network clock using a voice recognition software.
Another possibility would be to ask CNN Radio in Altanta if they use such systems.

Olivier

Re: Computer clock

> All I needed was the windows command line to
> set the seconds to 00.

I have just made such a tool :)

Re: Computer clock

There is a device that will do it at this web site:

http://www.spectracomcorp.com/netclocksts.html#top

I'll wager that it costs considerably more than Raduga!

Re: Computer clock

To synchronise raduga i use this system : http://www.gudeads.com
It's a DCF 77 atomik clock receiver for pc, it works since 6 month and i've a 100% signal quality for france every time(bretagne - brittany).
I buy this system at http://www.radiospares.com.

Re: Computer clock

Stephane's discovery is exactly what I'm looking for, but I doubt that I can pick up the German transmission in Texas. Does anybody know of an American version that will pick up WWV's atomic clock?

Re: Computer clock

Yeap, congratulations to Stéphane (bravo mon gars!) for finding the solution to our clock problem... The GPS version is sold for 260 euros, about 220 dollars, which is CHEAP for a system that sets the PC on time all the time.

Olivier

Re: Computer clock

a parallel version is buy by www.conrad.nl
but it's not working on win xp
search by "dcf"

Re: Computer clock

I use About Time, go http://www.arachnoid.com/abouttime/index.htm
Careware = freeware, works like a charm, from the man who has designed Arachnophilia. Have a box cutting out to BBC Internatial services over the satellite, 5 minutes news on top of the clock, faultless - acquire time every 6 hours. The application also works as a time server for all other boxes over the network. If you are worried to leave Internet access on the PC, Format the boot partition as NTFS and apply access restrictions to the Explorer directory for the user logging onto Raduga. Out of reach, out of mind.

Re: Computer clock

In Belgium i bought an DCF clock. Its cheap (71.89 Euro)(French product) and it has an permanent update of the time on your pc trough an com1 or com2 port on the pc. It works perfect. It takes his time from the time-radiotransmitter in Germany.
The seller can you reach buy alfaparts@online.be , his name is Guy

Re: Computer clock

In Belgium i bought an DCF clock. Its cheap (71.89 Euro)(French product) and it has an permanent update of the time on your pc trough an com1 or com2 port on the pc. It works perfect. It takes his time from the time-radiotransmitter in Germany.
The seller can you reach buy alfaparts@online.be , his name is Guy

Re: Computer clock

Raduga 3.5 & 3.1works great. But, I ask everybody how do you broadcast on the air the exact time from your computer's clock.

Is easy when schedule time file to play at exact time, i.e. at 09:00*_9:00.mp3 at 9:00 AM, but you are going to cut a song that probably started at 8:59 AM.

Can someone give me an idea how to broadcast the time (and the exact one) after the song/*.alb/playlist ends, taking the computer's clock and related correct sound file.

Re: Computer clock

The GPS method is good and cheap (149.00 for a GPS reciever with USB cable to hook to computer).

Radio Shack.

Re: Computer clock

The GPS method is good and cheap (149.00 for a GPS reciever with USB cable to hook to computer).

Radio Shack.