# My atomic clock's time is wrong **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511 "2007-01-11T04:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/21 "2007-01-12T03:05:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] The good news is that it is exactly one hour off. Jinx, “atomic” clocks are not really atomic. They just adjust themselves daily with a radio signal from an actual atomic clock (and we assume the precision of a modern clock to be enough for one day). You can buy them anywhere. RadioShack, Brookstone, Sharper Image and all those adult male toy stores are good places to start. The back pages of sciency/male-oriented magazines are also packed with ads for those. There are also “atomic” wristwatches and plenty of computer desktop utilities. You will never bo so precisely late again. [/QUOTE] Dang! Now what do I tell the boss? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/22 "2007-01-12T21:45:13Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] I haven’t checked yet to see if DST can be disabled. [/QUOTE] I believe sp/ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/23 "2007-01-12T21:46:36Z")
…so. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/24 "2007-01-12T21:59:02Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] You’ll have to make the change manually every March and November. I haven’t checked yet to see if DST can be disabled. [/QUOTE] Actually, you’ll have to change it in April and September, when the watch tries to correct for DST, and then _again_ in March and November\* when the new DST goes into effect. Our tax dollars at work. ---
**Author:** ![dsordlyerc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f0a364/32.png) [@dsordlyerc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dsordlyerc)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/25 "2012-02-20T16:04:07Z")
It’s a known fact that Iran is developing it’s nuclear capabilities not for weapons but to take over the atomic clock industry. Whoever controls the atomic clocks can control the world through time manipulation. The only safe bet is for everyone to own a sundial. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/26 "2012-02-20T16:28:00Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Just out of interest, how much would it cost to buy a real atomic clock? The Agilent 5071A Primary Frequency Standard uses a cesium beam tube to keep very accurate time. A refurbished one will run you about USD50,000. Be aware that they are finicky bastards and, when the cesium beam tube is used up (about 9 years), it costs about USD40,000 to replace. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/27 "2012-02-20T16:43:28Z")
Even a zombie is correct twice a day. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/28 "2012-02-20T18:21:32Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > And here I thought we’d have to readjust our atoms. > > I hate it when that happens. Actually, it’s the [electrons](http://www.naesb.org/pdf2/weq_bklet_011505_tec_mc.pdf). We’ve been doing it for years. Takes very large machines to accomplish it. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/29 "2012-02-20T23:09:01Z")
> [@dsordlyerc](#): > > It’s a known fact that Iran is developing it’s nuclear capabilities not for weapons but to take over the atomic clock industry. Whoever controls the atomic clocks can control the world through time manipulation. The only safe bet is for everyone to own a sundial. [moderating] There was no need to resurrect a five-year-old thread for this bit of silliness. Don’t do this again. I’m closing this thread. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/30 "2012-02-20T23:31:35Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:29, topic:387511”] [moderating] There was no need to resurrect a five-year-old thread for this bit of silliness. Don’t do this again. I’m closing this thread. [/moderating] [/QUOTE] In before close! I think you forgot something, Gary. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511/31 "2012-02-20T23:48:35Z")
Thanks, **Cheshire**. I missed that little checkbox… _Now_ the thread is closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-atomic-clocks-time-is-wrong/387511.md?page=1)