ATOMIC CLOCK DEMISE?

Considering a G Shock w the atomic clock function.  Came across vid from Time Teller from a few years ago wherein he stated that the atomic clocks were likely to be phased out by 2019.  Obviously timing was wrong but is that still a real possibility? 

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FULL ARTICLE: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/atomic-clock-NIST-F1

QUOTE:

"..An atomic clock is the most accurate type of timepiece in the world, designed to measure time according to vibrations within atoms. NIST-F1, the United States' standard atomic clock, is said to be so accurate that it would neither gain nor lose a second in over 30 million years. Atomic clocks are used to coordinate systems that require extreme precision, such as Global Positioning System ( GPS ) navigation and the Internet. A group of atomic clocks located in a number of places throughout the world is used in conjunction to establish Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC )."

CONCLUSION:

Since the atomic clock is vital to GPS, and to UTC, I doubt it will ever be phased out. Just my opinion. I am open to being proven wrong. 😀

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Ah, I see what's going on. FULL ARTICLE: https://www.voanews.com/a/time-may-be-running-out-for-millions-of-clocks/4554376.html

This article is dated September 02, 2018 11:38 AM

It says that "...President Donald Trump’s administration wants to shut down U.S. government radio stations that announce official time, a service in operation since World War II."

Thus, it was not a matter of atomic clocks being obsolete or replaced by newer tech, it was an issue of government spending and budget cuts.

I AM NOT GOING TO DISCUSS POLITICS HERE. I don't want politics intruding on my nice, relaxing watch-collecting hobby.

But I will say that since this move was being proposed by an administration that is no longer in power, and since the current administration has not addressed the matter, I'd say the atomic clocks are going to remain status quo, at least for the time being.

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I think that the atomic clocks have been superseded by the more accurate optical clocks.

https://physicsworld.com/a/new-optical-timekeeper-is-ten-times-more-reliable-than-caesium-atomic-clocks/

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Thank you so much for the enlightenment.  I tend to agree with both of your conclusions (GPS & Admin change) and as such the radio corrected watch shall remain in the running!

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tempus

I think that the atomic clocks have been superseded by the more accurate optical clocks.

https://physicsworld.com/a/new-optical-timekeeper-is-ten-times-more-reliable-than-caesium-atomic-clocks/

Well, according to your article, "...Optical clocks have not been more widely adopted because they tend to have “dead times” when a time signal cannot be obtained. This dead time degrades the long-term stability of the clock signal, making it impractical for use as a time standard." ...

Having said that, I'm sure that eventually, once the technology is perfected, optical clocks may indeed replace atomic ones. HOWEVER, the key word here is "replace"; I don't think we'll ever stop broadcasting the true time over the radio, because too many devices rely upon it. 😀

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TwiceTollingClock

Well, according to your article, "...Optical clocks have not been more widely adopted because they tend to have “dead times” when a time signal cannot be obtained. This dead time degrades the long-term stability of the clock signal, making it impractical for use as a time standard." ...

Having said that, I'm sure that eventually, once the technology is perfected, optical clocks may indeed replace atomic ones. HOWEVER, the key word here is "replace"; I don't think we'll ever stop broadcasting the true time over the radio, because too many devices rely upon it. 😀

You had stated:

Since the atomic clock is vital to GPS, and to UTC, I doubt it will ever be phased out. Just my opinion. I am open to being proven wrong.

I was merely pointing out that work is underway to replace the underlying technology used by the current atomic clocks (ie - cesium atoms) with a more accurate optical clock technology. I never suggested that it would result in stopping the broadcast signal, or impacting devices that currently rely on the atomic clock signals, nor did the OP. 

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tempus

You had stated:

Since the atomic clock is vital to GPS, and to UTC, I doubt it will ever be phased out. Just my opinion. I am open to being proven wrong.

I was merely pointing out that work is underway to replace the underlying technology used by the current atomic clocks (ie - cesium atoms) with a more accurate optical clock technology. I never suggested that it would result in stopping the broadcast signal, or impacting devices that currently rely on the atomic clock signals, nor did the OP. 

You are correct. My bad for misunderstanding. 😃

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In the US, NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology) continues to operate the Fort Collins, CO radio station WWVB, and has no current plans to cease operation.

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv

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I'm glad that someone finally mentioned it!  Good eye 

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AFChris

In the US, NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology) continues to operate the Fort Collins, CO radio station WWVB, and has no current plans to cease operation.

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv

Ok until next time their budget is scrutinized, then we’ll have to hear again about how life will cease to exist without their services.

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One hiccup is daylight savings time, my atomic G is alway off by an hour until I reset it. but then it resets itself

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Whitesalmon

One hiccup is daylight savings time, my atomic G is alway off by an hour until I reset it. but then it resets itself

Interesting.