It’s Time

It’s Time was Originally Posted on August 10, 2010 by lavarock

Many people use Skype and other services where computer to computer calls are free. I’m amazed at the qulity of Skype by the way.

Some of the rest of us are using Voice Over IP (VOIP) where calls are converted to and from regular voice telephone calls to an internet call inbetween.

One option available to me is extra inbound telephone numbers. I can get them pretty cheaply if neded. The cost is something like a one time set-up charge of $9.95 and monthly charge of $1.95. This number can be in prtty much any state or als oin N. Ireland, England, Scotland, Whales or Luxemborg. Now if only I wanted people to call me from there. It would be inteesting enough to have a number loca lto people over there which ends up in Hawaii. I wonder what type of telemarketers they have there? “Why YES, I’d love to change my long distance company!”

As I have said many blogs ago, soon everyone will be using the internet for phone calls, one way or another.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (the old National Bureau of Standards) operates two shortwave time radio stations. They atually also give some weather and astronomical info such as sunspot info. Perhaps you have heard them? In any event, one station is in Fort Colling and the other on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. They have a statewide number for listening so I programmed my phone system that when I dial TIME on a phone, it calls out to the phone number on Kauai and I get very accurate time.

With that said, I COULD have another extension that called Big Ben, if only Big Ben had a phone!

WWV’s time signal can also be accessed by telephone by calling +1-303-499-7111. Telephone calls are limited to two minutes in length, and the signal is delayed by an average of 30 milliseconds.

WWVH’s time signal can also be accessed by calling +1 (808) 335-4363.

You will notice that the audio on WWV’s signal is male and the Hawaii signal is female. Also the two audios are shifted so that if you listen to both at the same time, the Hawaii ID comes first and the mainland audio is second. This allows someone on the west coast who might hear both signals to be able to tell which one they are hearing (or both).

If you have a digital clock that sets itself via radio signal, it is listening to WWV on the mainland. We here in Hawaii, even with a station in our back yard, cannot use that signal to synch a clock.

I tried to keep this non technical, however if you want to investigate further, start at wikipedia with WWV and WWH. Then you can graduate to CHU Canada, and perhaps buy a showtwave receiver and see what else is out there.

As a side note, I just called both stations and had them on speakphones and heard no decernable delay between the two and was able to demonstarte the Hawaii audio first and mainland audo second.