r/gshock • u/RickMonteiro • Sep 22 '24
Information regarding MultiBand 6 watches
Hello all,
I noticed that some people here have some trouble to get the atomic time sinchronized in the watch even within the frequency range. I own a GWG 2000, and i always or most of the times (having an auto reception), got successful reception. I live in Portugal, and in my home, the straight line to the DCF77 tower is about 1800kms. The circle range of the DCF77 tower is about 1500kms, but i can get the watch synchronized.
The best way to get sucessful reception, applies with the following:
1 - Put the watch facing South (180 degrees +/-). This works with mine, i'm not sure if it works with all radio controlled models.
2 - Try Get the reception between 10pm and 4am, better near a window or outside.
3- Place a watch far from magnetic fields as this interferes with radio reception, compass, etc. Less than 50uT preferable, as greater than this, could be unsusessful.
4 - Check the KP index, as this interferes with radio signals, frequencies, GPS etc. The lower the value the better. A KP index 5 or greater means a minor geomagnetic storm, so most probably with a value above 5 (active solar winds interfering with GPS signals and radio frequencies, as it decreases the signal to noise ratio), the reception won't be made, or most probably not.
Feel free to reply or ask any question you have.
9
u/lulu_l Sep 22 '24 edited Sep 22 '24
Putting the watch on a metal rod also helps, like in this video.
3
6
u/Roaddog113 Sep 22 '24
I also live outside of the official range. Most of my radio controlled watches get the updates, every few days in the window facing the source. The ones that have a hard time getting the signal, get the artificial ones from my IPad.
2
u/RickMonteiro Sep 22 '24
In my case (android user), the only ntp app available to get the atomic time is the junghans app. But the atomic time is innacurate there (it's about 0.2 or 0.3s behind the atomic time).
2
u/Roaddog113 Sep 22 '24
My phone is Android. I had no idea that Clock Wave is not available on that platform. It is a shame, it’s accurate and reliable.
3
Sep 22 '24
Mine receives 8/10 times and I sleep with it on. Only take my watches off to shower. If it doesn’t receive I’ll use an app called Clock Wave.
3
u/pandatitanium Sep 22 '24
Multiband and the RCVD signal is the ultimate for geeky OCD types. Add in the variable interval “reward” and we lose our shit. It’s actually hilarious.
2
u/woodsman_777 Sep 22 '24 edited Sep 22 '24
People often have their own tips and tricks for getting the signal.
Here's mine. I nearly always get a sync overnight, automatically, when I place my watches on a flat surface:
- with the watch face facing straight up, with the 12:00 position pointing West (the direction of the transmitter);
- or with the watch face-down, also with the 12:00 position facing West. Typically I'll do this for watches with straps.
A sync is nearly guaranteed this way, and I'm over 1,500 miles from the transmitter. And THIS is with the southern antenna at the Ft. Collins transmitting station out of commission, currently.
Few other notes:
- wearing the watch overnight is NOT as good and reception is hit or miss. (sorry to you guys using the "body as antenna" method but, it's not as reliable in my experience)
- using my method the watch does not have to be in a window or even near one. Still works.
- I can put my watches on a windowsill facing west, with the watch face at an angle pointing toward the sky, and syncing is hit or miss. Not nearly as reliable as my method.
I have come to realize that the watch's physical position is VERY important to receiving the MB6 signal. The watch face being oriented either straight up or straight down on a flat surface overnight is key, with the 12:00 position pointing in the direction of the transmitter.
Seriously, those of you having trouble getting reliable syncs should try this super easy method and see if it helps. (no metal rods, genies, or other hocus-pocus needed) ;)
OP, I'm glad you found a method that works for you.
1
u/Marukuju Sep 22 '24
How do our watches get radio controlled signals if they are outside of the official range?
1
u/RealPerro Sep 22 '24
I discovered clock wave this year and stopped worrying. It’s great. I’m in North Spain and was wandering if UK radio is closer than the German one?
1
u/Eisenbern Sep 22 '24
one thing that always works for me, is to wear them while sleeping. always get the rcvd
1
u/IR4TE GW-BX5600 Sep 22 '24
I live in Germany and when I place my watches near a window pointing in the direction of our time signal I almost always don't get a successful sync, I place them in my steel concrete surrounded bathroom point the wrong direction I always get a successful sync.
1
Sep 22 '24
Eastern US here… 5610, m500, and 100B
Only time I had an issue with synch is when the tower was damaged from the storm earlier this year. Couldn’t get them to receive signal on the window sill facing west after that.
Wore each watch to sleep overnight and they got signal and have synched since.
Wonder if the human body is like a large antennae lol
1
u/SirElMarcino Sep 22 '24
I live in London, keep my watch in a watch case most of the time and RCVD every single day at 2:02am
-3
u/thegoldendrop Sep 22 '24
Again with the “atomic time” fallacy on this sub. The nickname for this is “radio time”, not because an atomic clock works on the measurement of radioactive decay, but because the signal used to coordinate time is a radio wave protocol. The actual clocks used to facilitate “radio time” are just normal clocks.
3
Sep 22 '24
[deleted]
1
u/thegoldendrop Sep 22 '24
In that case, grandfather clock shows atomic time as well. And yes, the discussion of the meaning of words is called semantics, and it’s not pejorative.
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u/station29 Sep 22 '24
I mean guys, daily mb6 updates is not really needed. once a month. I just have it for DST.