[Meteor-Scatter] Keeping accurate PC-time

[Peter Frenning, OZ1PIF]

When running the WSJT program (and presumeably also HSCW programs), it's
very important to keep the PC's clock reasonably accurate, better than +- 1
second, especially when using the JT44 mode!
I have tried to work other amateurs, whose timing was more than 10 seconds
off, with easily predictable failure!

Many many users - including  myself - have experienced problems with
computers loosing time while running WSJT (which does some extremely heavy
duty calculation), in effect making the clock "go slow" to the tune of
several seconds pr hour.

One solution proposed, which certainly works if you have an "always on"
connection to the internet, is to use a time checking/correcting tool like
"AboutTime" (http://www.arachnoid.com (freeware)) or others avilable on the
net.

If you - like me - have to dial (and pay for) every time you connect to the
internet, this is not an optimal solution! I have bought a DCF-clock which
connects as a dongle to the LPT1 port on your computer (allows pass-through
of data to the printer), and uses the DCF77 time-server transmitter in
Frankfurt, Germany to keep the PC-time accurate to within appr. 1/32th of a
second. This works reliably (according to the vendor) up to 1500Km from the
transmitter, i.e. most of Europe)

The best feature of it is the price: 14.95 Euro! It's available from Conrad
(http://www.conrad.de) product nr.: 967602 -  14
(No affiliation with Conrad, just a satisfied customer)

I even use the "AboutTime" program in it's server mode to keep the clock
accurate in all three PCs in my home!

Vy 73 de OZ1PIF, Peter

**********  OZ1PIF **************
email: oz1pif(no-spam-filler)@get2net.dk
http://hjem.get2net.dk/oz1pif
Ph. +45 4619 3239
Snailmail:
Peter Frenning
Ternevej 23
DK-4130 Viby Sj.
Denmark
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