# Increasing reception on atomic clock **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167 "2003-09-22T19:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eirik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b19c9b/32.png) [@Eirik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eirik)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/1 "2003-09-22T19:56:22Z")
Okay, I bought one of those wall clocks that’s supposed to re-set the time to the atomic signal every so often, but I’m using it in my office (in a one story steel and brick building) and can’t get reception. Can’t get good AM reception in here, either, but that’s another story. What I want to know is, is there a way to boost the reception? I know that the signal can get though, because it has managed to set one time that I’ve noticed (it turns on a signal if it was able to set the last time it tried). There is no external antenna, I presume there’s an internal one. Other than moving the clock out of the office, is there anything I can try? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/2 "2003-09-22T22:06:46Z")
Mine worked a lot better when I put in alkaline batteries & not rechargeable ones, not even fully charged rechargeables. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/3 "2004-02-19T02:29:15Z")
I have a Heath Kit clock accurate to less that a millisecond, when it is receiving WWV in Boulder CO vicinity. Problem is that it only does that when weather conditions are just right for a couple of hours to insure locking on one of the 5, 10, or 15 MHz signals. If there is a large amount of builiging materials between the clock and Boulder that would contribute to poor performance. Have you tried it in other locations, like home, or vacation site, etc? If you are not timid, open the case, find the antenna, and extend it with a length of small wire. (Radio Shack) has several types. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/4 "2004-02-19T03:01:00Z")
For those that wish to experiment with a Radio Shack atomic clock - be careful. What they call the “antenna” is actually the antenna AND the radio receiver. Electronics being a hobby of mine for decades, I just cut the darned cable and extended it (4 wires I think) and put the receiver (aka “antenna”) near a window. In spite of all that, being in the Boston area (quite a distance from Boulder, CO), conditions have to be just right to synchronize. I beleive the clock synchronizes with a low VHF signal (below 540 kHz) and requires 1 continuous minute of perfect reception. Since it only tries to synchronize 6 times per day, that 1 perfect minute may not happen for a week (Or more). ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/5 "2004-02-19T14:27:32Z")
You can orient the clock in the correct direction. It probably has a ferrite rod antenna inside (ferrite is a grey ceramic made of just the right metal oxides). This would be oriented horizontally. If your clock has one horizontal dimension much bigger than the other (say, if it’s wider than it is deep), then the rod probably runs along that bigger direction. You want the side of the rod, or the larger flat faces of the clock, oriented toward and away from Boulder. You want the ends of the rod, or the smaller flat faces of the clock, oriented 90 degrees from the direction toward Boulder. It doesn’t matter which of the two possible directions the clock faces. That is, turning it 180 degrees doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/6 "2004-02-19T15:11:36Z")
Your clock _probably_ uses WWVB. WWV/WWVH use HF (aka shortwave) 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 (WWV only) MHz WWVB transmist at 60 KhZ which is LF Info on radio clocks from NIST: [http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/radioclocks.htm](http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/radioclocks.htm) more on WWVB: [http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwvb.htm](http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwvb.htm) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/7 "2004-02-19T15:35:13Z")
Can’t you just add more atoms or something? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increasing-reception-on-atomic-clock/203167/8 "2004-02-20T00:19:51Z")
Thanks **N9IWP** I remember reading about the whole synchronization process but I should have looked it up and posted a site (as you did). Needless to say, the clock synchronizes to WWVB. and **Squink** , I like your suggestion too. I guess if it’s running a little slow, I’ll have to add some atoms. LOL