NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Timekeeping and sight time records
From: Victor Garand
Date: 2005 Mar 11, 10:32 -0700
From: Victor Garand
Date: 2005 Mar 11, 10:32 -0700
I have run across an
interesting alternative(backup) for accurate timekeeping which also
includes a simple approach to the problem of accurate sight time
records.
Casio makes a number of what they call "atomic"
timepieces which are based on the automatic or manual reception of the WWV
signal in the North American market (Frankfurt for that region, Japan for that
region etc).
The model which I decided on is the MTG930DA-8V
wrist watch which includes the "atomic" feature, is solar powered, rated G
shock, waterproof and has a push button time record feature with a capacity of
storing up to 30 records (amongst other features). http://www.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.content&catalog=§ion=&product=MTG930DA%2D8V&content=Technical%20Specs
Although the watch is certainly not a slim model, I
have found it practical to wear and use.
Inquiries to Casio indicated that
synchronization with WWV is at 10 Megahertz. As indicated in URL http://164.214.12.145/pubs/pubs_j_rna_qresult_ch2.html?qmethod=geo_loc&rid=12769&area=1
identical WWV signals transmitted from Fort Collins at 10 Mhz are also
transmitted from WWVH in Hawaii. This opens the possibility that when out of
range of Fort Collins and in range of WWVH the signal from Hawaii would be
recognized as a valid signal by the timepiece's receiver. This could provide
access to the same synchronization signal over most of the North Pacific. I
have an inquiry out to Casio design in Japan and I hope to hear from them
in the near future regarding this possibility.
As with Casio products in general, the cost is
usually a pleasant surprise. In this case, the timepiece I obtained was
US$150 from Casio on the internet.
Would appreciate hearing any comments from users of
this or similar products.
Any users in Hawaii or experience with the
timepiece in Hawaii?
Victor Garand
N 55°36.95'
W 117°06.37'
N 53°31.38'
W 113°36.22'
N 49°10.88'
W 123°56.57'
