| Author |
Message |
Mentor
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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Hello, everybody ! :)
My name is Mark Harvey, and I would like a little bit of advice on
which PBS station to use for the time signal for setting the time on my
VCR. (Technically, it is a VCR/DVD combo, but I don't want to digress
too much!)
I have cable TV. My local cable company includes WNED-TV (which is
situated in Buffalo, NY) as part of the basic cable service. However,
I also recently decided to subscribe to Detroit Public TV.
For the time being, I am still using the time signal from WNED to set
the time on my VCR. But I wonder, should I switch to Detroit Public
TV? I know that they are both in the same time zone, but is one any
more accurate than the other? Or should I go with whichever PBS
station is closest to me, geographically, to get the most accurate time
signal? Or does geographic distance not make a difference in this
case?
Thanks in advance for answering my questions!
Talk to y'all later ! :)
--
Keep smiling ! Have a nice day !
Mark Harvey
AtandTRules9836NOSPAM@aol.com
* For direct replies, remove the 'NOSPAM' from my e-mail address! |
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Michelle Steiner
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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In article <1132093586.210557.238100@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"Mentor" <ATandTRules9836@aol.com> wrote:
| Quote: | For the time being, I am still using the time signal from WNED to set
the time on my VCR. But I wonder, should I switch to Detroit Public
TV? I know that they are both in the same time zone, but is one any
more accurate than the other? Or should I go with whichever PBS
station is closest to me, geographically, to get the most accurate
time signal? Or does geographic distance not make a difference in
this case?
|
It doesn't matter. The distances are too close for any consumer
equipment to be able to be off; the speed of light is just too fast. At
absolute worst, the clock may be off by one second if it catches the
signal right at the switch point from one second to another--and since
it is constantly monitoring the signal, it won't remain off for long.
--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. |
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Jack Ak
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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"Mentor" <ATandTRules9836@aol.com> wrote in message news:1132093586.210557.238100@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Hello, everybody ! :)
My name is Mark Harvey, and I would like a little bit of advice on
which PBS station to use for the time signal for setting the time on my
VCR. (Technically, it is a VCR/DVD combo, but I don't want to digress
too much!)
I have cable TV. My local cable company includes WNED-TV (which is
situated in Buffalo, NY) as part of the basic cable service. However,
I also recently decided to subscribe to Detroit Public TV.
For the time being, I am still using the time signal from WNED to set
the time on my VCR. But I wonder, should I switch to Detroit Public
TV? I know that they are both in the same time zone, but is one any
more accurate than the other? Or should I go with whichever PBS
station is closest to me, geographically, to get the most accurate time
signal? Or does geographic distance not make a difference in this
case?
|
Use a PBS station that broadcasts the time signals. Not all PBS stations
do that. It makes little difference which one you choose. Broadcast
signals travel at the speed of light even when delivered by cable. |
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Taylor
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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Mentor wrote:
| Quote: | Hello, everybody ! :)
My name is Mark Harvey, and I would like a little bit of advice on
which PBS station to use for the time signal for setting the time on my
VCR. (Technically, it is a VCR/DVD combo, but I don't want to digress
too much!)
I have cable TV. My local cable company includes WNED-TV (which is
situated in Buffalo, NY) as part of the basic cable service. However,
I also recently decided to subscribe to Detroit Public TV.
For the time being, I am still using the time signal from WNED to set
the time on my VCR. But I wonder, should I switch to Detroit Public
TV? I know that they are both in the same time zone, but is one any
more accurate than the other? Or should I go with whichever PBS
station is closest to me, geographically, to get the most accurate time
signal? Or does geographic distance not make a difference in this
case?
Thanks in advance for answering my questions!
Talk to y'all later ! :)
--
Keep smiling ! Have a nice day !
Mark Harvey
AtandTRules9836NOSPAM@aol.com
* For direct replies, remove the 'NOSPAM' from my e-mail address!
|
Buffalo sucks and so does Buffalo TV. Go for WTVS-TV56 Detroit, MI
(Detroit Public TV). |
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Mark Crispin
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:08 pm Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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I think that it is a false presumption that the time signal sent by PBS is
accurate. As far as I can tell, it is set from some operator's watch and
*not* from an accurate timebase such as GPS or WWV.
In the Seattle area, PBS sets the time at least a minute fast, compared to
time from GPS.
For what it's worth, the time that DirecTV sends to its receivers is
pretty good, although I haven't checked it against GPS time. You may have
to hunt in the menus to find the time reported to 1 second resolution
since usually it just shows hh:mm
Most CDMA cell phone networks (Verizon, Sprint, etc.) transmit GPS time.
CDMA requires a precise timebase across the entire network and usually (I
have seen exceptions with isolated rural networks) they synchronize it
with good time. That is not the case for GSM or TDMA cell phone networks,
which are generally set from an operator's watch.
-- Mark --
http://panda.com/mrc
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to eat for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote. |
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Gary Tait
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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Taylor <taylor.taylor@gmail.com> wrote in news:oUBef.2389$w84.435362
@news20.bellglobal.com:
| Quote: |
Buffalo sucks and so does Buffalo TV. Go for WTVS-TV56 Detroit, MI
(Detroit Public TV).
|
Not getting buffalo PBS, I get Detroit, I do have to say that their
Saturday night lineup sucks compared to Schedule X, for the most part. |
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Taylor
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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Gary Tait wrote:
| Quote: | Taylor <taylor.taylor@gmail.com> wrote in news:oUBef.2389$w84.435362
@news20.bellglobal.com:
Buffalo sucks and so does Buffalo TV. Go for WTVS-TV56 Detroit, MI
(Detroit Public TV).
Not getting buffalo PBS, I get Detroit, I do have to say that their
Saturday night lineup sucks compared to Schedule X, for the most part.
|
WQLN-TV54 Erie, PA airs Lawrence Welk at 7PM and Britcoms from 8-10:30
and Red Green at 10:30 for their Saturday nights.
8:00 = Keeping Up Appearences
8:30 = Waiting For God
9:00 = Fawlty Towers
9:30 = As Time Go Bys |
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Gary Tait
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:08 pm Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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Taylor <taylor.taylor@gmail.com> wrote in news:TCXef.3162$w84.582832
@news20.bellglobal.com:
| Quote: |
Gary Tait wrote:
Taylor <taylor.taylor@gmail.com> wrote in news:oUBef.2389$w84.435362
@news20.bellglobal.com:
Buffalo sucks and so does Buffalo TV. Go for WTVS-TV56 Detroit, MI
(Detroit Public TV).
Not getting buffalo PBS, I get Detroit, I do have to say that their
Saturday night lineup sucks compared to Schedule X, for the most
part.
WQLN-TV54 Erie, PA airs Lawrence Welk at 7PM and Britcoms from 8-10:30
and Red Green at 10:30 for their Saturday nights.
8:00 = Keeping Up Appearences
8:30 = Waiting For God
9:00 = Fawlty Towers
9:30 = As Time Go Bys
|
See, thats what I mean (I do apologize to those that do like Lawrence
Welk and Britcoms).
I like documentary stuff like American Experience, and a usually got
that on PBS-X, on Saturday evening, beginning with Nova at 5 or 6, then
Antiques Roadshow. |
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Brad Houser
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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|
On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 09:00:13 -0800, Mark Crispin wrote:
| Quote: | I think that it is a false presumption that the time signal sent by PBS is
accurate. As far as I can tell, it is set from some operator's watch and
*not* from an accurate timebase such as GPS or WWV.
|
That being said I would try both and see how far apart they are from each
other. If they are within a second, it doesn't matter, any more then you
should determine through a GPS or cell phone who is more correct.
Remember you should get it from the cable before it goes into the cable
box.
Brad H |
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Jack Ak
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: Which PBS station should I use for the time signal? |
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|
"Mark Crispin" <mrc@CAC.Washington.EDU> wrote in message news:Pine.OSX.4.64.0511160853000.533@pangtzu.panda.com...
| Quote: | I think that it is a false presumption that the time signal sent by PBS is
accurate. As far as I can tell, it is set from some operator's watch and
*not* from an accurate timebase such as GPS or WWV.
In the Seattle area, PBS sets the time at least a minute fast, compared to
time from GPS.
For what it's worth, the time that DirecTV sends to its receivers is
pretty good, although I haven't checked it against GPS time. You may have
to hunt in the menus to find the time reported to 1 second resolution
since usually it just shows hh:mm
.... |
DirecTV does occasional dynamic buffering on individual satellite transponders.
This can cause programming to be delayed 30 seconds to a minute, resulting
in DVR clocks being behind.
It's more likely the Seattle area operator's watch is being synchronized
to the PBS station's GPS clock signal.
Look here:
http://www.kcts.org/inside/techreport/faq/index.asp
3rd item in links: "Time Signal"
and a USA Today article...
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2004-10-22-kantor_x.htm |
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