How long have you been
in business?
We were one of the first exclusive
online atomic clock businesses. We have been in business since November
1999 and have sold thousands of atomic clocks and watches to customers
all over the US. We have earned the heavily sought "Top
Service" label in Yahoo Shopping! with over a 97% customer
satisfaction. We plan to continue to be a leader in the field in
the many years to come! |
How do atomic
clocks/watches work?
The government owns and operates an
"atomic clock" which is located in Colorado. This atomic clock
keeps precise time by dropping atoms. It is the most accurate clock in
the world and is considered the official US time. The clock is hooked up
to a huge radio antenna which sends out a strong radio signal across the
entire contiguous US.
Our clocks tune into that radio frequency, decode the signal,
and automatically set their time to the US atomic clock. The clocks automatically
search for the signal at least once a day in order to keep precise time.
For more information and a coverage map please go here: http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwvb.htm |
Will I be able to pick
up the time signal where I live?
The government recently upgraded the
signal strength from 27,000 watts to 50,000 watts, therefore the signal
currently covers the entire continental US. The signal is weakest
on the east coast (the I-95 Northeast Corridor) so it may take a little longer to pick up the signal
there, and in rare cases some people have not been able to pick up
the signal (mostly in commercial metal/brick enclosed buildings with few
windows). If you plan to set up some clocks in a brick office building or school we recommend trying out one (just to make sure you can pick up the signal) before you outfit the whole building with atomic clocks. Overall, 98% of our customers have been able to pick the signal. |
How long does it take
to pick up the signal?
Each case varies depending on the strength
of the signal at the time you set up your clock, the clock or watch you
have, and your location. In most cases people are able to pick up the
signal within a day (usually during the first night when the signal is
the strongest). |
Will I be able to
return the clock if I can't pick up the signal?
Yes. If after 7 days you have followed
the instructions and still have not been able to pick up the signal you
may return your clock for a full refund. |
Do your clocks work in
Alaska or Hawaii?
Unfortunately not. The signal
does not reach outside the continuous 48 states. |
Do your clocks work
outside of the US, like say in Europe?
Unfortunately not. These clocks were
designed only to pick up the US time signal therefore they only work in
the US. |
What about Canada and
Mexico?
The signal does penetrate into
areas of southern Canada and Northern Mexico but unfortunately we do
not ship outside the US at this time. |
How do I set my time
zone?
Each clock is different but in
each case you can set each clock & watch to any one of the 4 major
US time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Western). When you get your
clock, you put in the batteries, set the time zone, and that's it! The
clock will take care of the rest. It is also possible to display
different US time zones other then the one you are in (convenient if you
want four clocks to display the 4 US times zones all at the same time). |
Do the clocks run on batteries
and if so how long do they last?
Most of the clocks run on AA or
AAA batteries. The
batteries in the watches and wall clocks usually last about 2 years. The
batteries in the digital clocks usually last about a year. |
