Radio Time signal from Rugby

[methyl]

My battery-powered "radio controlled" travel clock is showing no signs of find a time signal transmitter and has spent the week ticking through January since I replaced the batteries last Sunday to try to convince it to change to BST. I've tried taking it for a 50 mile drive but it still thinks it's January.

Anybody go the same problem or do I just have a faulty clock?

[HowardKennitby]

If you are expecting a signal from Rugby you will have a long wait, however your clock should still work. Have you tried removing the batteries and starting again? Are you sure you put the batteries in the right way round?

[alexanderd]

have you changed the batteries before because my watch has quite a complicated procedure before it will even look for a signal when I change the batteries

[buildersmate]

This is true - it comes from the the VLF transmitter at Anthorn in Cumbria.

[HowardKennitby]

^

That was a little short on detail. Time signal has been transmitted from Anthorn in Cumbria since 1/4/2007. All timepieces capable of receiving the signal should still be working.

[supapapa]

My clock stopped at 12

[wiltsman]

My radio clock seems to have mind of its own. Last week, before the clocks changed, it decided to go slow by three hours. I disconnected it from the power and took the batteries out, then reversed the procedure setting it up again. It showed four flashing dashes for two days, then suddenly started working again! I woke up on Sunday morning to find it was still working perfectly having adjusted to BST. Strange things these radio controlled clocks!

I would try removing and putting the batteries back in again a few times, see if that helps. If it's still under guarantee take it back to the shop.

[HowardKennitby]

as an aside can someone tell me - is it AN-THORN or ANT-HORN?

[wiltsman]

I would have thought An-thorn. Thorn/e coming from Old English or Old Norse words, relating to a thorn bush.

[supapapa]

I have just found an M-set button I pressed and held this button until the correct time and now it`s ticking away. I will let you know how it goes.

[gingejbee]

If you look at this link, you'll find that the MSF signal isn't being transmitted at the moment.


http://www.npl.co.uk/...-services/msf-outages

[HowardKennitby]

Well, if Methyl comes back all will be clear.

[methyl]

Thank you gingejbee especially, and other posters. I can't imagine why this is not nationwide news. I suppose I can wait a week to find out what time it is.

In past years I used this super-accurate portable clock as a reference for setting the car clock, the central heating clock, the cooker clock, the mobile phone clock and numerous other house clocks. But this year it failed.
I rang the speaking clock which probably cost more than my portable clock.

[gingejbee]

methyl; glad to shed some light on it! Some watches and clocks will continue to work properly as they are able to receive the European signal from Mainflingen, Germany.

[methyl]

Though largely irrelevant. My Northern Europe travel clock has switched with no issue. Thankfully there was no problem because the instructions are in Dutch.