Radio controlled watch stopped

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 10:52
Radio controlled watch stopped - scot22

I have a precisionclock wriswatch. Since changing the battery ( market stall ) the hands have moved to 12.00 and stopped. Told to wait until signal found. Still waiting. I appreciate watches will be different but any ideas please ? Not able to return to markey unfortunately and don't expect would do anything anyway.

Edited by scot22 on 05/11/2014 at 10:53

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 14:04
Radio controlled watch stopped - Bromptonaut

I assume it uses the time base from the UK National Physical Laboratory's MSF signal.

Although still referred to as Rugby the transmitter there was demolished some years ago and it comes from a site at Anthorn in Cumbria. One effect of this is that the signal is now weaker in South and East.

Try leaving watch on a window cill overnight as signal propagation is usually better in darkness. Optimally, a window looking towards NW (or wherever Cumbria is in relation to you). NPL advice on reception problems is here:

www.npl.co.uk/science-technology/time-frequency/pr...s

The signal goes off air from time to time for maintenanance but nothing is scheduled in next fortnight:

www.npl.co.uk/science-technology/time-frequency/pr...s

Edited by Bromptonaut on 05/11/2014 at 14:07

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 14:43
Radio controlled watch stopped - scot22

Thank you for your prompt, knowledgeable and helpful advice. The ability of forums to spread information, depending on people like yourself, is amazing. Many Thanks

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 16:45
Radio controlled watch stopped - bathtub tom

Have you tried switching it off and switching it back on again?

Sorry, but that's the usual advice I get.

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 17:47
Radio controlled watch stopped - Armitage Shanks {p}

Do you mean pulling the winder crown fully out? On all my battery powered watches that stops the hands and, presumably disconnects the battery from the mechanism. Re signal, I get one every 24 hours but mine watch tellsme what strength signal it got, on a 3-2-1 scale - I usually get a 3, sometimes nothing. I have taken it out of the signal area for a week at a time and it is +/- 2 seconds even with no signal so perectly acceptable for normal life.

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 21:02
Radio controlled watch stopped - scot22

Thanks for all of the helpful information/suggestions. Unfortunately no success so I'm beginning to suspect that he caught or disturbedsomething in the mechanism. Such is life !

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