TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 14.39 DATE: September 28, 2014
SUBJECT: TRY NEW BATTERIES
Some electronic pieces of equipment use their battery power source for more than just one function. A good example is the new digital electronic clocks that automatically update and set their time every day around midnight. At around midnight every night the VLF (Very Low Frequency) receiver is turned on and receives, or tries to receive, the 60 kHz National Bureau of Standards Time Standard Frequency. If the receiver receives the signal, it synchronizes the digital clock with the national time standard, and it is good for another day.
What happens if the batteries in the digital clock start getting week? Well, the clock goes on working, but the VLF receiver is unable to receive the 60 kHz national standard time frequency, and in turn is unable to re-synchronize the digital clock. The clock uses much less current then the receiver to operate, so the clock just keeps on running. The best thing to do is change the batteries in the clock and see what happens.
More than likely you will have cured your clock problems. Other electronic equipment might have similar problems; in this any case try a new set of batteries before doing anything else.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV