My kids are also repeating my catch phrases. Also, they’re asking for more watches of their own. And when I say, “Okay, let’s think of something for back-to-school or your birthday,” they say, “But, dad! You keep getting watches for yourself when it’s not a special occasion!” I can’t win. My next TH-cam video might be about a kids’ watch.
I just bought a GW-9400 Rangeman. I had no luck when trying to receive the radio signal next to a south facing window. Moved the watch to a kitchen window (facing NW, towards Colorado, per your suggestion). It received the signal right away (I set the watch four hours ahead so I didn't have to wait. The watch readjusted itself to the correct time, of course, after receiving the radio signal). I'm in Katy, near Houston, Texas. ~1100 miles from Fort Collins. The force is strong with this one. Thanks.
Received my first radio-controlled Casio Pro Trek watch last Christmas. It feels like magic having a watch that is always synchronized. No problem with reception here in Scandinavia.
From my own experience: your own body is the greatest antenna extender. My 9400-1 has been getting synchronized 1-2 times a week, lying in the best possible place near my bed. Once I started to keep the watch on my wrist 24/7 I've missed 1 (literally one) synch passing 6 months.
Hey Greg, I' ve dicovered your channel recently and I find it very technical and comprehensive. I actually own an SEIKO ASTRON and one CASIO G-SHOCK Bluetooth connected and both give me a great satisfaction. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
Hallo Greg, there is one more thing to check if you don't receive a signal. I bought a Casio WVA470, module 5053, used, in the Netherlands from a man who sold it real cheap. Luckily it was not broken. He probably didn't know, but his home area was set for Tokyo Japan. Yeah that won't work! When I set my hometown for Berlin, I had no problem receiving the Mainflingen radio signal. If, living in Australia and other parts of the world, without a support tower, you can always download an app on yout iPhone that gives you the signal from the Internet. I don't need it and don't have the app, but it works! I have seen a video on TH-cam about the topic. Thanks Greg, we, your fans are very pleased with your video's!
When all else fails and you happen to own an iOS device (iPhone, iPad) , get the CLOCK WAVE app. It works on all my radio controlled watches and clocks (Casio, Citizen, etc.). Syncs perfectly wherever you are. Tried and tested, even works in countries not supported by Multiband 6!
I have used the radio watch sync app for this on Android, works nice. Although, compared with the DCF77-signal, it seems to set the time a couple of tenths of a second behind (measured with the AtomicClock app on both Android and iPadOS).
I too am a great fan of Radio Controlled watches and have quite a few Casios, Citizens and Jughans. It is great to know that they always tell you the RIGHT time & date, and auto change to and from DST. As regards difficult reception - another tip is to buy, from a radio hobby type store, a ferrite rod antenna tuned (by the correct winding and capacitor) to the 60khz frequency (for USA & UK or for 77.5Khz in Europe) and lay it on top of your watch, close to and parallel to the internal antenna. This will boost reception by induction, as the 100mm long external rod will pick up far more signal than the little internal watch antenna. I use this technique to successfully boost the reception for my 2 Junghan watches here in the UK, as they can only pick up the German DCF signal, which is some 865km / 540 miles from my home.
Another radio controlled timekeeping method to look into is the RDS (Radio Data System) or RBDS (Radio Broadcast Data System) in the US. They allow FM stations to embed information in their normal broadcast transmissions, which includes a CT code (clock time and date). As a result the transmissions are usually more clearly receivable since the transmitters are closer. The tradeoff is that the CT code isn't constantly updating itself to an actual atomic clock from the NIST like WWVB is. Although the RDS/RBDS standard does provide accuracy down to within 100ms of actual atomic time. RDS/RBDS is common in car radios nowadays, and also in some other products, like Emerson's "SmartSet" clocks. This topic is a whole other rabbit hole to go down, Greg. Perfect for your channel!
I just love Multiband 6 and the fact that we have available the option to automatically synchronize our watches to an atomic tower. That's a privilege.
One of the reasons I bought my Casio protrek was because it had MB6. When I fist got it a few months ago I couldn’t get it to receive and update the time. I’m in NYC high rise (very far from CO) on the 14th fl and luckily my windows face west. Now I leave my watch on the window sill at night and I find my watch updates at about 12am consistently. If I leave it by the window.
Hi, I just bought a casio g-shock multi band 6.and iam learning how to operate my watch here this Chanel it's a very good one to learn this men it's very honest, and clear to explain ,thanks.
Hi Greg , long distance subscriber from Nova Scotia that is at the very outer edge of reception of the Colorado WWVB. Reception is OK it seems in the summer but during the winter months falls off. My solution was to download an app called Clock Wave from the Apple App Store, You set your watch next to your phone or IPad and turn the Multi Band 6 watch to do a manual search, then turn your iPad volume up and press go on the app. Whatever black magic happens sets your watch to the radio tower of your choice, which in my case is Fort Collins WWVB. Works on all my radio controlled Casio watches. Something you might want to review on your channel.Cheers Mike.
It converts electromagnetic waves to sound waves for the conversion. Your explanation of modernity and why it may interfere with watch or clock sync is well founded.
'...Propogation: Sound waves are longitudinal, meaning that the vibrations occur parallel to the direction of propogation (travel). Electromagnetic waves are transverse, meaning that the vibrations occur perpendicular to the direction of propogation.Medium: Sound waves are physical, so the oscillations are formed from vibrating solid liquid or gas, so require a medium to travel through. Electromagnetic waves cause oscillations in electric and magnetic fields, so do not require a medium.Speed: Sound waves travel at about 300 m/s (but is dependent on the medium) , whereas Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light, i.e. around 300,000,000 m/s...' www.mytutor.co.uk/answers/42240/GCSE/Physics/What-are-the-differences-between-sound-waves-and-electromagnetic-waves/
Hey, Greg, love your channel and enthusiasm; I’ve got a 5610 as well (out in the SFBA) so reception at the house is hit or miss, but, I learned from another YTer that if you stick your Gshock on a metal bar or rod and have it act as an antenna, it does help increase the probability of the MB6 syncing each night.
Omg thankyou so much ! I have a bedside clock that would not pick up the time signal (UK) . I paused your video and unplugged the electric tooth brush -- Result it works
I picked up a couple of used Casio watches (model 3749 and 4379) recently from a UK charity shop (known as thrift stores in the US) for £6 each. I didn't realise until I examined them at home that they are Wave Ceptor type which pre-dates the Multi-Band 6 technology. My watches can sync with either the Mainflingen signal in Germany and the Cumbria (until 2007 located in Rugby, UK) in the UK. The watch specifications suggest that they are sensitive enough to pickup a signal from up to 1500km away, which is impressive. They both cope with changes to DST in the UK. They run well accept the 4379 which has a second hand that occasionally sticks, which I believe is a known problem with this model - a tap on the side seems to unstick it. I'm not a watch collector by any stretch, and the last time I wore a watch regularly was when I was a child over 40 years ago but I'm enjoying these :)
I live in New Jersey. My watches are about 4 feet from the window that faces almost due east. Most days, I have zero issues with my watches syncing. Once in a blue moon, one of them will miss but most of the time it’s all good. Not sure of the hate.. agreed that prices can sometimes be a little much for what it is. But I love it.
I live in North Florida and my house is about 1500 miles in a straight line from Fort Collins. All I have to do is set my multiband 6 watches on a windowsill facing west at night and it works like a charm.
Both my GW-B5600 square G and GW-9400 Rangeman receive time updates every night here in central Saskatchewan, Canada. I use them to adjust all my other watches and clocks.
I'm in NJ and I've owned Casio watches with Multiband 6 for over 10 years. It took me a while to find 3 spots in my house that receive a signal every night.
I want to take this time to thank you for your video and information about wireless charging devices. I purchased an atomic clock that I have on my nightstand. It never was able to connect WWVB tower(s) After watching your video, mainly the wireless charging devices I found out why. I had a Qi charging device right next to the clock for my cell phone. After I moved it out of the room my clock was able to connect on the first try! Thanks again.
You gave a very helpful tip on how to help get radio controlled watches to receive the signal. I recently bought a Citizen radio controlled watch and I was having trouble connecting it to-the signal. I hung the watch on a metal light bar over night and bingo the next morning it had connected. Thanks for the tip Greg.
I just got me Casio watch with multibsnd. It connected every night. I love this feature and live casio. Got my first Casio for Christmas, its February and I have 10 now. Thanks for the good videos you have.
Good video. I have a cheap Casio waveceptor watch and have had good luck with it receiving WWV. I am in Massachusetts and I put the watch in a south facing window (should be SSW though) every night. It almost always resets from the signal, usually on the first try. Just followed the Casio guide that came with the watch.
Most of the time I came here just to listen to you talking about stuff. You said you worked with a radio station, and I suspect you're a radio deejay/presenter with that great voice you have :D
The Casio MB 6 system is intended to rely on opportunistic synchronization events. The fact that the watch may be unable to receive the LW/LF OTA time signal from certain locations is expected. It's like any other wireless OTA time sync system. People need to keep in mind that current internet based time services still need connectivity and that if they're able to get that everywhere in their home a/o property it's because the wireless signal is being repeated and amplified locally. IIRC that's how the LW/LF system is adapted for settings w/ poor reception as well, an amplifier is employed. So there isn't actually a huge difference, though LW/LF is likely to be more reliable if the US sees a major black-out event or some other incident that knocks out the internet. Don't get me started on internet watch reviewers.
Thanks for all the information and your time, I live in Northen California I have a couple of multiband 6 AWG M100s including one from Japan, I get great reception here even do my house was build in 1920 and the inside walls are made with plaster ( which gets applied over metal lath ) but so far so good I love my multiband 6 watches they are more accurate than a Rolex and they are pretty affordable.
My G-Shock square is the perfect watch. The atomic clock works for me (I live in Florida), and one glance at it tells me everything I want to know (day, date, exact time), all hassle free. If you want a status symbol or a piece of jewelry, you have a million choices. If you want a precision tool, get a G-Shock.
Hi Anderson. I am in Habana Cuba and every night my Casio watches get the signal and I tell you more. Due to my job I have been to the eastern part of Cuba and places so far from Fort Collins like Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa which are out of the signal range right in those places my radio controlled watches have received the signal.Amazing
@ Marlon Diaz Pino. It is interesting that you can receive the USA time signal from WWDB (Ft.Collins, Colorado) in Cuba because I saw a map either in the owners' instructions manuals that come with some radio-control watches or on the internet that indicated that all of Cuba (except perhaps the most northwestern tip of Cuba) is outside the range of the WWDB transmitter, and yet many months ago, I saw a different map either on some internet website or in an instructions manual for a radio-control watch that indicated that half of Cuba (the western half) can receive the USA time signal. Yet another map indicates that the WWDB time signal can reach as far south as some areas on the west coast of South America and as far east as some areas on the west coast of Africa. I would imagine that those areas in South America and western Africa can only receive the time signal from WWDB when the atmospheric conditions are perfect. Supposedly, WWDB's signal can only be received in Hawaii and Alaska periodically ( in Hawaii supposedly only about once every 3 days to once-a-week).
Watch Geek has a video up about hanging a multiband-6 watch from a bicycle in his apt., which worked. Lots of viewers wrote all kinds of success stories going from poor or no reception to successful reception. Things like metal rods, curtain rods, door handles, steel wire, aluminum baseball bats...almost anything metal seemed to work. Seems counter-intuitive, but lots of folks swear by this.
WWVB's 60 kHz signals are almost entirely groundwave only. Very little bounces off the ionosphere (skywave). The ionosphere is almost completely absorptive at those low frequencies.
Hey I'm in Sherwood Park Alberta, Canada and I get my radio reception update regularly every night around 1:00 am ish no problem at all. Take a look on a map and see how far away I am from Colorado....Luv that feature as the one feature I believe a watch should be is "Accurate Time"...you can't get anything more accurate than radio atomic time. Luv your videos and keep it going, Casio is the best!! Cheers from Canada
The phenomenon you are describing that concerns metal structures is called Faraday cage/shield. Basically no electromagnetic field, including radio waves, gets into a Faraday cage, that is a construction that is built of metal and has any kind of electric charge (which is always there).
I have a Waveceptor and a G-Shock with Multiband 6. No problem with reception in San Francisco, particularly if I wear one of those watches overnight. Then reception has been 100%. Recommend you do a review of that app someone mentioned, because I also live in Hawaii where there is no reception for Multiband 6.
My G-Shock GW-M5610U watch would not synchronize in my room at night automaticall for over a week, when it was just sitting in my room, until I started wearing the watch to bed. Then it worked perfectly. I speculate that my body amplifies the signal reception for the watch. Now, I can reliably get an automatic synchronization as I sleep, but manual ones seem to be harder to get because you have to have a steady L signal. I doubt really wasn't too sleep worth the watch on at night. I'm have to try the pipe technique.
One problem with long wave reception is the radio noise that is more and more widespread (Wi-Fi, bluetooth, 3G etc.). Some of my AM radios used to work fine where I live, now they're hardly usable. No wonder that a smaller receiver like the one hidden inside a watch has now harder time getting proper long wave reception.
I had seen the video you are talking about and almost dropped the idea of buying a Casio watch. After discovering your channel I immediately ordered gw6900 :)
I do my morning walk around 445 am and found a few hot spots around my route. I do a manual sync 3 times a week without problems. It takes maybe 2:30 at a solid level 3. I think it's awesome. I'm on the west coast in San Jose California. Just as an experiment, I purposely messed up the time on my multi 6 and did a sync. First the hours adjust correctly then minutes and seconds in a sequence. Co🎉olest thing I ever saw !!
Casio doesn’t have to start making non radio setting watchers so they can charge less.....they already do !!! Any way, love the channel, great videos..... thanks for taking the time to make the videos 👍👏👏😀
I have a G Shock GW-1100 and a GW-5600, Both sync perfectly here in Devon in the UK. I do wish that "time teller" would stop moaning about it, It's such a good feature.
Where in Utah, Greg? We're in Spanish Fork. I have a couple of Casio atomic watches and they all sync fine. I really thought being on the other side of the Wasatch range would block things and cause problems, but it didn't.
Hey Greg, I enjoy your channel. I downloaded an app on my Apple phone called Clock Wave. It seems to boost the signal and can readily get the atomic six thing happening a lot easier.
I have multiband five and six here in the UK and sitting on my PC desk they sync up at 2.03 every morning.But as you were talking I manually set the multiband five to receive mode and it has now received a signal at 11.00 am BST,but I bet tomorrow that both watches will show reception at 2.03 am. Your upstairs is essentially a Faraday cage........................
I used to live in a sheetmetal clad Quonset hut type home. I always parked my G-Shock with multi-band on a dresser near the bedroom window. The watch rarely failed to obtain a signal. The main exceptions were during overnight thunderstorms.
That was a great piece of information on Radio wave reception and its propagation effects, Greg! No one can explain any simpler than what you have done! I am in Malaysia; purchased a Japanese made Citizen RC clock for $5 but using it manually as my country is way out of bounds for the wave reception! I am experimenting with trying to connect a ground connection and an antenna wire to the Ferrite coil winding inside the clock hoping it may work to receive Radio waves from Japan or China. Hope to see all your other videos and thanks a lot Greg! Keep up the good work sharing your knowledge and experiences! Maha
I even get signal down here in Mexico, and most buildings in here are made of concrete and reinforced with steel so I just put my watch near the window.
I'm about maybe 1000 miles westward near Chicago and live in a brick one story. I receive the WWVB signal pretty well and consistently at night on an alarm clock and on a wall mounted analog display clock in another room, enough to keep them in sync. I do have a wireless charger and a lot of other electrical and wireless equipment, but I rarely use the charger, which detects when something can be charged with it. So, maybe I'm just lucky or something, but for me WWVB seems pretty reliable.
*_You’re right. But trust me, when these Wave Ceptors & Multi Band 6 Casios don’t automatically receive the radio signal, it drives some of us mad 😡🤯. We prefer not to sync them manually._*
You can get WWVB emulator on play store if you don't have apple phone. And than you can set your watch anytime. I live on the east coast and reception for the watch is spotty at best but the app gives you level 3 no matter where you are.
I just wanted to say thank you I live in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and I have 25 multi man six watches and I have no problem getting the Signal from . Colorado every night.Yeah do a watch review.!!!
I own 22 G-Shocks and the majority have MB6. I live right outside of Washington, DC and my reception is pretty sketchy. Some nights it works, some nights it doesn't. I use the Clock Wave app pretty often. What I am seeing from Casio now is more use of Bluetooth and their app. I just received the GST-B200 and it only uses Bluetooth. It is also seamless and very fast. I wonder if Casio is putting more emphasis on Bluetooth because there is no guarantee how long the radio beacon will transmit in North America?
Not a prayer in my New York City apartment. I had to go up to the roof at 2am and stand there for 15 minutes, and the watch synced, once. I returned the GWM5610.
If you have a newer house with the radiant foil on the roof sheeting to reflect the infrared energy and keep you hose cooler; it make any radio including your cell phone signal to be week. So put your watch on a window sill. That is where I put mine.
I live in Kamloops, BC, Canada. I'm 2,192 km from Fort Collins. I have a g-shock multiband 2. I'm on the 12th floor facing direct east. My watch successfully synchs approx 3-5 times per week. I leave it in the window. Pretty cool imo.
I live in the East San Francisco Bay area. I used to get a Signal maybe once a week. To boost the signal I use a piece of three-quarter inch steel cut 1 inch wide. I put that inside the band of the watch and now I never miss a signal.
Really late comment here, but I have two casios, one multiband 6 and the other multiband 5, and I can recieve WWVB almost every night... in Medellin, Colombia, almost 3.000 miles away from Fort Collins!
Multiband 6 is why I buy these watches. Modern Low-E windows (and tinted car windows) have very thin metallic tint layers to block heat transmission that also can impede radio transmission. Radio interference is dependent on the characteristics of the circuit. It depends on the frequency and the design. Not everything causes interference. There are FCC regulations against these interfering emissions, but many low cost devices are not properly designed or tested for interference. Try different brands of equipment and avoid those that cause interference. Plasma TVs are quite bad. Some grow lights. Some LED lights. Not all. There are apps for phones and there are DIY boxes that people build that simulate WWVB and other time transmitters and get time from GPS or the internet and generate a weak signal that can set a watch or clock within a few inches or feet.
Thank you. I put two wireless chargers for an electric toothbrush and an electric flosser on a timer. The timer turns off the chargers overnight when my three Casio Multiband watches look for a time signal. Bingo! One night and all three have synced their time with Colorado. (I live in Ottawa, Canada.) What a great video!
Obviously he has a good thing going with his channel. I’m just disappointed that he’s creating so much doubt about Multiband 6 with his massive reach. How many folks who would have a great Multiband 6 experience will completely avoid getting those watches based on one man’s opinion?
Whatever watch reviewer, who Greg Anderson refers to in this excellent video discussion of the radio signal reception problems that radio-control watches and clocks can experience, was criticizing Casio Multiband 6 watches must not be a true watch lover because a true watch lover appreciates the great Multiband 6 watches that Casio has manufactured, especially their G-Shock and Ediface watches!
Love all yr videos esp on thr gshocks. I have a question on mb6..how about those that staying far away from those 6 stations like those staying in South east Asia? .It will not be working right?
Hi greg, I like your videos. Are you left handed? I noticed you wear your watch on your right hand. I'm asking because I'm left-handed myself and I've always Wear my watches on my left hand. Should I on my right hand? What do you think?
Even in Miami I never had problems getting a signal. Just followed Casio's instructions and put on window sill at night. Also, there are some phone apps that can help people that don't get the signals
I think it's weird how when it's on my wrist when I sleep it syncs in a no signal or level 1 reception, but when it's got a consistent level 2 or 3 it doesn't sync haha. Still love it, just a weird thing. I'm originally from Utah and never had any issues, live on the East coast and it's still doing well.
Hey Greg, you gonna make a vid about what happened recently to the WWVB south antenna? It got damaged in a storm back in April and I think that’s the reason my Franklin clock isn’t setting itself. Any tips?
Interesting, but you didn’t mention simply crappy WWVB receivers in Casio watches. I literally have zero sources of interference, an old Casio Atomic watch AND live kinda on the outer edge of coverage in NYC. Back when I first got that watch years ago, I found it was kinda intermittent getting synced EXCEPT sitting right in front of a set of southern facing windows. This “spot” was 100% reliable, it synced every night, usually on the last signal at 5:30AM EST. Enter a brand new 5600... forget about it. Won’t sync at all. In front of those windows is part of my terrace, so I went out there and tried to manually sync it. Once or twice I seemed to get a L1 for signal strength. Very annoyed, but my 5600 is also BT so I have it syncing with my phone. Seems obvious the receiver is simply bad when a 8 year old atomic watch syncs perfectly.
Find the source. Place it high up on that side in a window. Australia has no atomic clocks and a lot of other countries don't Remember that you can set it when you want to. Go outside and set it
Multiband 6 is awesome ... reception is great here in England. My G-Shock steels pick up the signal through the 2feet thick stone walls of my (very old) house. Tough Solar isn’t that good here though ... need to wait for the half a dozen sunny days a year ;)
I remember hearing John Cleese talking about the climate in England and he talked about that one day in the middle of the year that was lovely... and that day is called “summer”.
Some atomic clocks have better receivers than others. I have one atomic clock that has received the signal fine for the last 30 years. My newest one will not receive a signal (although it did so one time) even when in the same part of the house as my 30 year old one. I live in South Florida.
Point watch in direction of the tower. Put watch face down with 12 o'clock on top. This has never failed my 6 casios that are MB6 and I'm on the east coast.
Hola Greg. La señal del wwvb es muy poderosa. Algunos de mis relojes con mb6 reciben señal, agunos dias del mes. Increiblemente yo vivo en Chile. Saludos.
I had the multiband 6 work once! It was shipped from Japan to New Jersey and on the way here, it sync once! I don't live in a metal concrete building but it is mountainous near New York City. Why is it not working around here if it bounce off everywhere?
i love my Casio watches. I've had the 'atomic sync' versions since they first came out. I now have a multi band 6 watch, however I have not been able to get it to sync for a long time even if I sit outside at midnight. The watch shows L3 for signal strength, but it will not sync. My travel clock will not sync either no matter what I do. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to a communications research lab where I worked, so I don't have a receiver that can tune to 60Khz to check the signal strength and integrity of the time signal.
I have some trouble spots around our rechargeable night lights that come on automatically when there’s a power failure. If there’s any kind of new gadget around the house you’d wonder how it’s affecting the WWVB receivers. I wonder what would happen if you shut off the main circuit breaker to your place for a few hours over night (if it’s safe to do so, of course).
@@GoodTimekeeper I took my two watches outside at midnight in my back yard, so there so not be anything interfering unless it's the power lines at the back of the yard. I have really poor cell reception here as well, don't know why. Even the cell company is confused. I'm trying to find an LF radio receiver so I can tune to 60Khz and check the signal quality but the only thing I can find are '60Khz receiver kits'.
Turkiye kocaeli multiband 6 sinyalini gece aliyorum 2200 km saati cok seviyorum. Saat sevgisi anlatilmaz yaşanir. Sizde bunu anlatirken icinizde yasiyorsunuz
My kids when they hear " I'm Greg Anderson" they say "Welcome to the Time Keeping Show". Haha! I guess I've been watching a lot of your videos. 😂
My kids are also repeating my catch phrases. Also, they’re asking for more watches of their own. And when I say, “Okay, let’s think of something for back-to-school or your birthday,” they say, “But, dad! You keep getting watches for yourself when it’s not a special occasion!” I can’t win. My next TH-cam video might be about a kids’ watch.
@@GoodTimekeeper I give my adult kids watches. LOL I just gave my daughter two Gs.
I get clocks all the time for Christmas, birthdays or just because. (I love clocks lol)
I just bought a GW-9400 Rangeman. I had no luck when trying to receive the radio signal next to a south facing window. Moved the watch to a kitchen window (facing NW, towards Colorado, per your suggestion). It received the signal right away (I set the watch four hours ahead so I didn't have to wait. The watch readjusted itself to the correct time, of course, after receiving the radio signal). I'm in Katy, near Houston, Texas. ~1100 miles from Fort Collins. The force is strong with this one. Thanks.
Greg Anderson has a very good story telling voice. Very pleasant to watch and listen to.
Received my first radio-controlled Casio Pro Trek watch last Christmas. It feels like magic having a watch that is always synchronized. No problem with reception here in Scandinavia.
There are millions of Casio fans out there, so you can easily get millions of fans ;)
From my own experience: your own body is the greatest antenna extender. My 9400-1 has been getting synchronized 1-2 times a week, lying in the best possible place near my bed. Once I started to keep the watch on my wrist 24/7 I've missed 1 (literally one) synch passing 6 months.
*_Yep. Who would want to sleep without a Casio G-Shock anyway? 🤷🏾♂️_*
Hey Greg, I' ve dicovered your channel recently and I find it very technical and comprehensive. I actually own an SEIKO ASTRON and one CASIO G-SHOCK Bluetooth connected and both give me a great satisfaction. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
Hallo Greg, there is one more thing to check if you don't receive a signal.
I bought a Casio WVA470, module 5053, used, in the Netherlands from a man who sold it real cheap.
Luckily it was not broken. He probably didn't know, but his home area was set for Tokyo Japan.
Yeah that won't work! When I set my hometown for Berlin, I had no problem receiving the Mainflingen radio signal. If, living in Australia and other parts of the world, without a support tower, you can always download an app on yout iPhone that gives you the signal from the Internet. I don't need it and don't have the app, but it works! I have seen a video on TH-cam about the topic. Thanks Greg, we, your fans are very pleased with your video's!
When all else fails and you happen to own an iOS device (iPhone, iPad) , get the CLOCK WAVE app. It works on all my radio controlled watches and clocks (Casio, Citizen, etc.). Syncs perfectly wherever you are. Tried and tested, even works in countries not supported by Multiband 6!
I have used the radio watch sync app for this on Android, works nice. Although, compared with the DCF77-signal, it seems to set the time a couple of tenths of a second behind (measured with the AtomicClock app on both Android and iPadOS).
My multiband 6 Casios and Citizen have always been fine, in the UK, France, Italy and also Florida and Arizona
I too am a great fan of Radio Controlled watches and have quite a few Casios, Citizens and Jughans. It is great to know that they always tell you the RIGHT time & date, and auto change to and from DST.
As regards difficult reception - another tip is to buy, from a radio hobby type store, a ferrite rod antenna tuned (by the correct winding and capacitor) to the 60khz frequency (for USA & UK or for 77.5Khz in Europe) and lay it on top of your watch, close to and parallel to the internal antenna. This will boost reception by induction, as the 100mm long external rod will pick up far more signal than the little internal watch antenna.
I use this technique to successfully boost the reception for my 2 Junghan watches here in the UK, as they can only pick up the German DCF signal, which is some 865km / 540 miles from my home.
Another radio controlled timekeeping method to look into is the RDS (Radio Data System) or RBDS (Radio Broadcast Data System) in the US. They allow FM stations to embed information in their normal broadcast transmissions, which includes a CT code (clock time and date). As a result the transmissions are usually more clearly receivable since the transmitters are closer. The tradeoff is that the CT code isn't constantly updating itself to an actual atomic clock from the NIST like WWVB is. Although the RDS/RBDS standard does provide accuracy down to within 100ms of actual atomic time. RDS/RBDS is common in car radios nowadays, and also in some other products, like Emerson's "SmartSet" clocks.
This topic is a whole other rabbit hole to go down, Greg. Perfect for your channel!
I just love Multiband 6 and the fact that we have available the option to automatically synchronize our watches to an atomic tower. That's a privilege.
No it's a right as YOU HELPED PAY THE COSTS
Yes. It's financed by your tax money.
One of the reasons I bought my Casio protrek was because it had MB6. When I fist got it a few months ago I couldn’t get it to receive and update the time. I’m in NYC high rise (very far from CO) on the 14th fl and luckily my windows face west. Now I leave my watch on the window sill at night and I find my watch updates at about 12am consistently. If I leave it by the window.
Hi, I just bought a casio g-shock multi band 6.and iam learning how to operate my watch here this Chanel it's a very good one to learn this men it's very honest, and clear to explain ,thanks.
Hi Greg , long distance subscriber from Nova Scotia that is at the very outer edge of reception of the Colorado WWVB. Reception is OK it seems in the summer but during the winter months falls off. My solution was to download an app called Clock Wave from the Apple App Store, You set your watch next to your phone or IPad and turn the Multi Band 6 watch to do a manual search, then turn your iPad volume up and press go on the app. Whatever black magic happens sets your watch to the radio tower of your choice, which in my case is Fort Collins WWVB. Works on all my radio controlled Casio watches. Something you might want to review on your channel.Cheers Mike.
It converts electromagnetic waves to sound waves for the conversion. Your explanation of modernity and why it may interfere with watch or clock sync is well founded.
'...Propogation: Sound waves are longitudinal, meaning that the vibrations occur parallel to the direction of propogation (travel). Electromagnetic waves are transverse, meaning that the vibrations occur perpendicular to the direction of propogation.Medium: Sound waves are physical, so the oscillations are formed from vibrating solid liquid or gas, so require a medium to travel through. Electromagnetic waves cause oscillations in electric and magnetic fields, so do not require a medium.Speed: Sound waves travel at about 300 m/s (but is dependent on the medium) , whereas Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light, i.e. around 300,000,000 m/s...'
www.mytutor.co.uk/answers/42240/GCSE/Physics/What-are-the-differences-between-sound-waves-and-electromagnetic-waves/
Hey, Greg, love your channel and enthusiasm; I’ve got a 5610 as well (out in the SFBA) so reception at the house is hit or miss, but, I learned from another YTer that if you stick your Gshock on a metal bar or rod and have it act as an antenna, it does help increase the probability of the MB6 syncing each night.
Omg thankyou so much ! I have a bedside clock that would not pick up the time signal (UK) . I paused your video and unplugged the electric tooth brush -- Result it works
I picked up a couple of used Casio watches (model 3749 and 4379) recently from a UK charity shop (known as thrift stores in the US) for £6 each. I didn't realise until I examined them at home that they are Wave Ceptor type which pre-dates the Multi-Band 6 technology.
My watches can sync with either the Mainflingen signal in Germany and the Cumbria (until 2007 located in Rugby, UK) in the UK. The watch specifications suggest that they are sensitive enough to pickup a signal from up to 1500km away, which is impressive. They both cope with changes to DST in the UK.
They run well accept the 4379 which has a second hand that occasionally sticks, which I believe is a known problem with this model - a tap on the side seems to unstick it.
I'm not a watch collector by any stretch, and the last time I wore a watch regularly was when I was a child over 40 years ago but I'm enjoying these :)
That's a good deal on those two watches, Wish I could find that sort of deal in charity shops
I live in New Jersey. My watches are about 4 feet from the window that faces almost due east. Most days, I have zero issues with my watches syncing. Once in a blue moon, one of them will miss but most of the time it’s all good. Not sure of the hate.. agreed that prices can sometimes be a little much for what it is. But I love it.
Due East faces Europe! Due West is where the US signal is coming from.
You are my favorite watch youtuber.
I live in North Florida and my house is about 1500 miles in a straight line from Fort Collins. All I have to do is set my multiband 6 watches on a windowsill facing west at night and it works like a charm.
Both my GW-B5600 square G and GW-9400 Rangeman receive time updates every night here in central Saskatchewan, Canada. I use them to adjust all my other watches and clocks.
I'm in NJ and I've owned Casio watches with Multiband 6 for over 10 years. It took me a while to find 3 spots in my house that receive a signal every night.
I want to take this time to thank you for your video and information about wireless charging devices. I purchased an atomic clock that I have on my nightstand. It never was able to connect WWVB tower(s) After watching your video, mainly the wireless charging devices I found out why. I had a Qi charging device right next to the clock for my cell phone. After I moved it out of the room my clock was able to connect on the first try! Thanks again.
Good reception in South Carolina with two multi band 6 G-Shocks. Thank you for the video.
You gave a very helpful tip on how to help get radio controlled watches to receive the signal. I recently bought a Citizen radio controlled watch and I was having trouble connecting it to-the signal. I hung the watch on a metal light bar over night and bingo the next morning it had connected. Thanks for the tip Greg.
I just got me Casio watch with multibsnd. It connected every night. I love this feature and live casio. Got my first Casio for Christmas, its February and I have 10 now. Thanks for the good videos you have.
Good video. I have a cheap Casio waveceptor watch and have had good luck with it receiving WWV. I am in Massachusetts and I put the watch in a south facing window (should be SSW though) every night. It almost always resets from the signal, usually on the first try. Just followed the Casio guide that came with the watch.
Most of the time I came here just to listen to you talking about stuff. You said you worked with a radio station, and I suspect you're a radio deejay/presenter with that great voice you have :D
The Casio MB 6 system is intended to rely on opportunistic synchronization events. The fact that the watch may be unable to receive the LW/LF OTA time signal from certain locations is expected. It's
like any other wireless OTA time sync system. People need to keep in mind that current internet based time services still need connectivity and that if they're able to get that everywhere in their home a/o property it's because the wireless signal is being repeated and amplified locally. IIRC that's how the LW/LF system is adapted for settings w/ poor reception as well, an amplifier is employed. So there isn't actually a huge difference, though LW/LF is likely to be more reliable if the US sees a major black-out event or some other incident that knocks out the internet.
Don't get me started on internet watch reviewers.
hey, your channel is growing fast. we love the great topics - keep up the interesting reviews !
Thanks for all the information and your time, I live in Northen California I have a couple of multiband 6 AWG M100s including one from Japan, I get great reception here even do my house was build in 1920 and the inside walls are made with plaster ( which gets applied over metal lath ) but so far so good I love my multiband 6 watches they are more accurate than a Rolex and they are pretty affordable.
My G-Shock square is the perfect watch. The atomic clock works for me (I live in Florida), and one glance at it tells me everything I want to know (day, date, exact time), all hassle free. If you want a status symbol or a piece of jewelry, you have a million choices. If you want a precision tool, get a G-Shock.
Screw the multiband 6 haters. 😁
They're one band short of a multi band.
Hi Anderson.
I am in Habana Cuba and every night my Casio watches get the signal and I tell you more. Due to my job I have been to the eastern part of Cuba and places so far from Fort Collins like Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa which are out of the signal range right in those places my radio controlled watches have received the signal.Amazing
@ Marlon Diaz Pino. It is interesting that you can receive the USA time signal from WWDB (Ft.Collins, Colorado) in Cuba because I saw a map either in the owners' instructions manuals that come with some radio-control watches or on the internet that indicated that all of Cuba (except perhaps the most northwestern tip of Cuba) is outside the range of the WWDB transmitter, and yet many months ago, I saw a different map either on some internet website or in an instructions manual for a radio-control watch that indicated that half of Cuba (the western half) can receive the USA time signal. Yet another map indicates that the WWDB time signal can reach as far south as some areas on the west coast of South America and as far east as some areas on the west coast of Africa. I would imagine that those areas in South America and western Africa can only receive the time signal from WWDB when the atmospheric conditions are perfect. Supposedly, WWDB's signal can only be received in Hawaii and Alaska periodically ( in Hawaii supposedly only about once every 3 days to once-a-week).
Watch Geek has a video up about hanging a multiband-6 watch from a bicycle in his apt., which worked. Lots of viewers wrote all kinds of success stories going from poor or no reception to successful reception. Things like metal rods, curtain rods, door handles, steel wire, aluminum baseball bats...almost anything metal seemed to work. Seems counter-intuitive, but lots of folks swear by this.
The bike works for me and for my 7 atomic g shocks every night
Yes, works for me in SoCal. Literally have my Casio on my faucet handle tonight to sync.
Love your channel Greg! Please keep up the great work you are doing.
WWVB's 60 kHz signals are almost entirely groundwave only. Very little bounces off the ionosphere (skywave). The ionosphere is almost completely absorptive at those low frequencies.
Hey I'm in Sherwood Park Alberta, Canada and I get my radio reception update regularly every night around 1:00 am ish no problem at all. Take a look on a map and see how far away I am from Colorado....Luv that feature as the one feature I believe a watch should be is "Accurate Time"...you can't get anything more accurate than radio atomic time. Luv your videos and keep it going, Casio is the best!! Cheers from Canada
The phenomenon you are describing that concerns metal structures is called Faraday cage/shield. Basically no electromagnetic field, including radio waves, gets into a Faraday cage, that is a construction that is built of metal and has any kind of electric charge (which is always there).
I have a Waveceptor and a G-Shock with Multiband 6. No problem with reception in San Francisco, particularly if I wear one of those watches overnight. Then reception has been 100%. Recommend you do a review of that app someone mentioned, because I also live in Hawaii where there is no reception for Multiband 6.
My G-Shock GW-M5610U watch would not synchronize in my room at night automaticall for over a week, when it was just sitting in my room, until I started wearing the watch to bed. Then it worked perfectly. I speculate that my body amplifies the signal reception for the watch. Now, I can reliably get an automatic synchronization as I sleep, but manual ones seem to be harder to get because you have to have a steady L signal. I doubt really wasn't too sleep worth the watch on at night. I'm have to try the pipe technique.
One problem with long wave reception is the radio noise that is more and more widespread (Wi-Fi, bluetooth, 3G etc.). Some of my AM radios used to work fine where I live, now they're hardly usable. No wonder that a smaller receiver like the one hidden inside a watch has now harder time getting proper long wave reception.
I had seen the video you are talking about and almost dropped the idea of buying a Casio watch. After discovering your channel I immediately ordered gw6900 :)
I do my morning walk around 445 am and found a few hot spots around my route. I do a manual sync 3 times a week without problems. It takes maybe 2:30 at a solid level 3. I think it's awesome. I'm on the west coast in San Jose California. Just as an experiment, I purposely messed up the time on my multi 6 and did a sync. First the hours adjust correctly then minutes and seconds in a sequence. Co🎉olest thing I ever saw !!
Aside from practical knowledge about watches, you gave me the courage to wear my red hoodie I got as a present. 😁👊👊👊
Casio doesn’t have to start making non radio setting watchers so they can charge less.....they already do !!! Any way, love the channel, great videos..... thanks for taking the time to make the videos 👍👏👏😀
I have a G Shock GW-1100 and a GW-5600, Both sync perfectly here in Devon in the UK. I do wish that "time teller" would stop moaning about it, It's such a good feature.
Where in Utah, Greg? We're in Spanish Fork. I have a couple of Casio atomic watches and they all sync fine. I really thought being on the other side of the Wasatch range would block things and cause problems, but it didn't.
I love multiband 6. I live in the South of Spain a long way from Germany and it works well.
Do you think the full metal squares might be more susceptible to interference compared the regular resin ones?
Hey Greg, I enjoy your channel. I downloaded an app on my Apple phone called Clock Wave. It seems to boost the signal and can readily get the atomic six thing happening a lot easier.
I have multiband five and six here in the UK and sitting on my PC desk they sync up at 2.03 every morning.But as you were talking I manually set the multiband five to receive mode and it has now received a signal at 11.00 am BST,but I bet tomorrow that both watches will show reception at 2.03 am.
Your upstairs is essentially a Faraday cage........................
I used to live in a sheetmetal clad Quonset hut type home. I always parked my G-Shock with multi-band on a dresser near the bedroom window. The watch rarely failed to obtain a signal. The main exceptions were during overnight thunderstorms.
A really thorough and well-explained video. Thanks! I've subscribed.
That was a great piece of information on Radio wave reception and its propagation effects, Greg! No one can explain any simpler than what you have done! I am in Malaysia; purchased a Japanese made Citizen RC clock for $5 but using it manually as my country is way out of bounds for the wave reception! I am experimenting with trying to connect a ground connection and an antenna wire to the Ferrite coil winding inside the clock hoping it may work to receive Radio waves from Japan or China. Hope to see all your other videos and thanks a lot Greg! Keep up the good work sharing your knowledge and experiences! Maha
I even get signal down here in Mexico, and most buildings in here are made of concrete and reinforced with steel so I just put my watch near the window.
I'm about maybe 1000 miles westward near Chicago and live in a brick one story. I receive the WWVB signal pretty well and consistently at night on an alarm clock and on a wall mounted analog display clock in another room, enough to keep them in sync. I do have a wireless charger and a lot of other electrical and wireless equipment, but I rarely use the charger, which detects when something can be charged with it. So, maybe I'm just lucky or something, but for me WWVB seems pretty reliable.
You can also download clock sync app from Apple store and sync your gshock
*_You’re right. But trust me, when these Wave Ceptors & Multi Band 6 Casios don’t automatically receive the radio signal, it drives some of us mad 😡🤯. We prefer not to sync them manually._*
You can get WWVB emulator on play store if you don't have apple phone. And than you can set your watch anytime. I live on the east coast and reception for the watch is spotty at best but the app gives you level 3 no matter where you are.
I just wanted to say thank you I live in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and I have 25 multi man six watches and I have no problem getting the Signal from . Colorado every night.Yeah do a watch review.!!!
I own 22 G-Shocks and the majority have MB6. I live right outside of Washington, DC and my reception is pretty sketchy. Some nights it works, some nights it doesn't. I use the Clock Wave app pretty often. What I am seeing from Casio now is more use of Bluetooth and their app. I just received the GST-B200 and it only uses Bluetooth. It is also seamless and very fast. I wonder if Casio is putting more emphasis on Bluetooth because there is no guarantee how long the radio beacon will transmit in North America?
Not a prayer in my New York City apartment. I had to go up to the roof at 2am and stand there for 15 minutes, and the watch synced, once. I returned the GWM5610.
If you have a newer house with the radiant foil on the roof sheeting to reflect the infrared energy and keep you hose cooler; it make any radio including your cell phone signal to be week. So put your watch on a window sill. That is where I put mine.
I live in Kamloops, BC, Canada. I'm 2,192 km from Fort Collins. I have a g-shock multiband 2. I'm on the 12th floor facing direct east. My watch successfully synchs approx 3-5 times per week. I leave it in the window. Pretty cool imo.
I live in the East San Francisco Bay area. I used to get a Signal maybe once a week. To boost the signal I use a piece of three-quarter inch steel cut 1 inch wide. I put that inside the band of the watch and now I never miss a signal.
Really late comment here, but I have two casios, one multiband 6 and the other multiband 5, and I can recieve WWVB almost every night... in Medellin, Colombia, almost 3.000 miles away from Fort Collins!
Hi Greg I' m loving the content of your channel and I'm looking at buying one, but what's the main difference between WVAM630/640 Thank You
Posted on you other thread that mentions radio-control issues: try removing metal window screen between your watch/clock and Ft. Collins.
Multiband 6 is why I buy these watches.
Modern Low-E windows (and tinted car windows) have very thin metallic tint layers to block heat transmission that also can impede radio transmission. Radio interference is dependent on the characteristics of the circuit. It depends on the frequency and the design. Not everything causes interference. There are FCC regulations against these interfering emissions, but many low cost devices are not properly designed or tested for interference. Try different brands of equipment and avoid those that cause interference. Plasma TVs are quite bad. Some grow lights. Some LED lights. Not all.
There are apps for phones and there are DIY boxes that people build that simulate WWVB and other time transmitters and get time from GPS or the internet and generate a weak signal that can set a watch or clock within a few inches or feet.
Thank you. I put two wireless chargers for an electric toothbrush and an electric flosser on a timer.
The timer turns off the chargers overnight when my three Casio Multiband watches look for a
time signal. Bingo! One night and all three have synced their time with Colorado. (I live in Ottawa,
Canada.) What a great video!
Clouds. Do they strengthen or weaken the longwave signals?
I consider my self to live in somewhat poor conditions to receive WWVB but I can still get a reliable signal after enough trial and error.
Haha, I know the video you are talking about! I disagreed with him as well. I love my Wave Ceptor.
Obviously he has a good thing going with his channel. I’m just disappointed that he’s creating so much doubt about Multiband 6 with his massive reach. How many folks who would have a great Multiband 6 experience will completely avoid getting those watches based on one man’s opinion?
Whatever watch reviewer, who Greg Anderson refers to in this excellent video discussion of the radio signal reception problems that radio-control watches and clocks can experience, was criticizing Casio Multiband 6 watches must not be a true watch lover because a true watch lover appreciates the great Multiband 6 watches that Casio has manufactured, especially their G-Shock and Ediface watches!
He knows a lot about other brands of watches but it seems like he’s a bit lazy in finding out about Casios.
Love all yr videos esp on thr gshocks. I have a question on mb6..how about those that staying far away from those 6 stations like those staying in South east Asia? .It will not be working right?
Hi greg, I like your videos. Are you left handed? I noticed you wear your watch on your right hand. I'm asking because I'm left-handed myself and I've always Wear my watches on my left hand. Should I on my right hand? What do you think?
Just a brilliant channel, great content
Even in Miami I never had problems getting a signal. Just followed Casio's instructions and put on window sill at night. Also, there are some phone apps that can help people that don't get the signals
Thank you Craig another nice video
I think it's weird how when it's on my wrist when I sleep it syncs in a no signal or level 1 reception, but when it's got a consistent level 2 or 3 it doesn't sync haha. Still love it, just a weird thing. I'm originally from Utah and never had any issues, live on the East coast and it's still doing well.
Same. Mine almost never sync unless I wear the watch to bed. Now when I want them to sync, I just wear it to bed and it does it.
Hey Greg, you gonna make a vid about what happened recently to the WWVB south antenna? It got damaged in a storm back in April and I think that’s the reason my Franklin clock isn’t setting itself. Any tips?
Interesting, but you didn’t mention simply crappy WWVB receivers in Casio watches. I literally have zero sources of interference, an old Casio Atomic watch AND live kinda on the outer edge of coverage in NYC. Back when I first got that watch years ago, I found it was kinda intermittent getting synced EXCEPT sitting right in front of a set of southern facing windows. This “spot” was 100% reliable, it synced every night, usually on the last signal at 5:30AM EST. Enter a brand new 5600... forget about it. Won’t sync at all. In front of those windows is part of my terrace, so I went out there and tried to manually sync it. Once or twice I seemed to get a L1 for signal strength. Very annoyed, but my 5600 is also BT so I have it syncing with my phone. Seems obvious the receiver is simply bad when a 8 year old atomic watch syncs perfectly.
Returned my atomic watch to the dealer. Too much hassle.
Find the source. Place it high up on that side in a window. Australia has no atomic clocks and a lot of other countries don't
Remember that you can set it when you want to. Go outside and set it
I worked in a store where radio clocks not work so we took them outside to get time and bring them in later. Customers not told what we did.
Multiband 6 is awesome ... reception is great here in England. My G-Shock steels pick up the signal through the 2feet thick stone walls of my (very old) house. Tough Solar isn’t that good here though ... need to wait for the half a dozen sunny days a year ;)
I remember hearing John Cleese talking about the climate in England and he talked about that one day in the middle of the year that was lovely... and that day is called “summer”.
It worked out perfectly for me and I live in New York
Some atomic clocks have better receivers than others. I have one atomic clock that has received the signal fine for the last 30 years. My newest one will not receive a signal (although it did so one time) even when in the same part of the house as my 30 year old one. I live in South Florida.
Point watch in direction of the tower. Put watch face down with 12 o'clock on top. This has never failed my 6 casios that are MB6 and I'm on the east coast.
agree this is a must the further you get from Colorado and surprised he never mentioned it
Ho pigiato push the reset button and now the clock is out play! What' I can do? Please. Mi piaceva , funzionava bene da anni. Consigli . Thanks!
Interesting. I have a wireless charger dock for my phone on my nightstand. This may explain why my watches nearby often do not get a signal...
Hola Greg. La señal del wwvb es muy poderosa. Algunos de mis relojes con mb6 reciben señal, agunos dias del mes. Increiblemente yo vivo en Chile. Saludos.
Hi Sir, Can you create a content about those who own radio controlled watch outside the range of towers?
Why is my watch still saying "ERR" even when it picks up a steady L2-L3 signal?
I had the multiband 6 work once! It was shipped from Japan to New Jersey and on the way here, it sync once! I don't live in a metal concrete building but it is mountainous near New York City. Why is it not working around here if it bounce off everywhere?
It should work in NJ just fine. You may need western exposure. Jersey is on the near limit.
i love my Casio watches. I've had the 'atomic sync' versions since they first came out. I now have a multi band 6 watch, however I have not been able to get it to sync for a long time even if I sit outside at midnight. The watch shows L3 for signal strength, but it will not sync. My travel clock will not sync either no matter what I do. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to a communications research lab where I worked, so I don't have a receiver that can tune to 60Khz to check the signal strength and integrity of the time signal.
I have some trouble spots around our rechargeable night lights that come on automatically when there’s a power failure. If there’s any kind of new gadget around the house you’d wonder how it’s affecting the WWVB receivers. I wonder what would happen if you shut off the main circuit breaker to your place for a few hours over night (if it’s safe to do so, of course).
@@GoodTimekeeper I took my two watches outside at midnight in my back yard, so there so not be anything interfering unless it's the power lines at the back of the yard. I have really poor cell reception here as well, don't know why. Even the cell company is confused. I'm trying to find an LF radio receiver so I can tune to 60Khz and check the signal quality but the only thing I can find are '60Khz receiver kits'.
Turkiye kocaeli multiband 6 sinyalini gece aliyorum 2200 km saati cok seviyorum.
Saat sevgisi anlatilmaz yaşanir.
Sizde bunu anlatirken icinizde yasiyorsunuz