Casio Wave Ceptor is a line of radio watches by Casio. Wave Ceptor watches set themselves to the correct time by receiving time signals from various government time services around the world. These signals transmit the time measured by atomic clocks accurate to one second in millions of years; by synchronizing daily with the signals, the Wave Ceptor watches achieve high accuracy, running with quartz timekeeping accuracy between synchronizations. Some radio watches, including some Wave Ceptors, are solar-powered, supported by a rechargeable battery with a lifetime of about 10 years; such a watch should keep perfect time for about ten years with no adjustment. Some models have a fully digital display; others have hands to indicate the time.
Radio-controlled watches require no setting of time, date, or daylight saving time; they attempt automatic synchronization at least once every 24 hours, usually in the middle of the night. Free-running Wave Ceptors, like other commercial quartz timepieces, are typically accurate to better than 15 seconds per month; daily synchronization ensures 500 ms per day accuracy. Watches a long distance from a time signal transmitter although within the stated range may be unable to receive the signal.
The number of receivers which the watches can tune to vary according to watch model; most current watches can tune to several signals around the world. In Europe the claimed reception range is approximately 1,500 kilometres.
Video Casio Wave Ceptor
Locations
Casio watches synchronise to radio time signals from one or more of six low frequency time signal transmitters:
Japan
Watches can tune in to two locations:
The 40kHz signal from JJY at Mount Otakadoya, near Fukushima (Ohtakadoyayama).
The 60kHz signal from the Haganeyama Transmitter at Mount Hagane (Haganeyama).
China
Watches tune to the 68kHz signal from BPC at Shangqiu. This is the newest additional signal; older multi-band 5 watches cannot receive this signal.
United States
Watches tune to the 60kHz signal from WWVB at Fort Collins.
United Kingdom
Watches tune to the 60kHz MSF at Anthorn.
Germany
Watches tune to the 77.5kHz DCF77 at Mainflingen.
As an example, Casio Wave Ceptors using modules 3353 and 3354, such as the WVA-440, can tune to signals from both DCF77 (Germany) and MSF (UK). The two submodels use the same electronics module, but with a soldered jumper selecting preferential tuning first to DCF77, or to MSF. This is default behaviour after a factory reset; the user can choose to use either one of the two transmitters with either module, although this limits use when travelling within Europe.
Maps Casio Wave Ceptor
Multi-Band 6
A radio watch that can tune to all six signals is known as a multi-band 6 watch. Some of the Casio G-Shock watches are multi-band 6.
Other radio watches
Japanese manufacturers Seiko and Citizen Watch, and German manufacturer Junghans, also make radio-controlled watches.
See also
- Atomic clock
- Radio clock
References
External links
- Official website
- Description of radio watch technology Casio website
- Manuals for Casio watches
Source of article : Wikipedia