3 ms·

I can think of a number of viable business models. It has a strong following without any marketing, and surrounding industries rely on tech for radio controlled

I can think of a number of viable business models. It has a strong following without any marketing, and surrounding industries rely on tech for radio controlled clocks etc. Private industry could easily profitably operate it, however the core technology - the atomic cloc - is nuclear weapon grade technology, which is simply unavailable to anyone but the government.

m0zg 8y ago
Not true. You can buy a rubidium atomic clock module for a little under $2K: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14830 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14830. I believe cheaper options are also available.
- m0zg 8y ago
  Cheapest I was able to find quickly is $1107.23: https://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=rubidium https://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=rubidium
jbangert 8y ago
Atomic clocks show up on surplus auctions/stores somewhat frequently (they’re called a Caesium frequency standard, e.g. the HP 5071). There’s a few reports of enthusiasts keeping them running at home (http://leapsecond.com/ptti2003/tvb-Amateur-Timekeeping-2003.pdf http://leapsecond.com/ptti2003/tvb-Amateur-Timekeeping-2003....) I’m sure HP/Agilent/others will gladly sell you the newer state of the art modes as well (although as high precision, very low volume devices they’ll be fabulously expensive); if an industry consortium wants even more precision you could staff a research team and shave off a bit more frequency error. However, I think for industry it’s cheaper to use GPS receivers instead of supporting a powerful transmitter (and its use of value able spectrum). GPS can keep incredibly accurate time.
- EricE 8y ago
  "GPS can keep incredibly accurate time." Sure, as long as the satellites are up and you have line of sight. Aside from hostile actors, space debris, solar storms and other threats exist. We shouldn't take for granted that our satellites are just always going to be there. https://io9.gizmodo.com/what-would-happen-if-all-our-satellites-were-suddenly-d-1709006681 https://io9.gizmodo.com/what-would-happen-if-all-our-satelli...
wl 8y ago
I've worked at private companies where we've had cesium atomic clocks in the lab. I've owned a rubidium atomic clock. I'm not saying that shutting down WWVB/WWVH/WWV isn't foolish, but atomic clocks are readily available to anyone who wants to pay. Cesium is high five figures and rubidium is often available for under $1,000.

m0zg 8y ago

Not true. You can buy a rubidium atomic clock module for a little under $2K: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14830 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14830. I believe cheaper options are also available.

m0zg 8y ago
Cheapest I was able to find quickly is $1107.23: https://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=rubidium https://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=rubidium

jbangert 8y ago

Atomic clocks show up on surplus auctions/stores somewhat frequently (they’re called a Caesium frequency standard, e.g. the HP 5071). There’s a few reports of enthusiasts keeping them running at home (http://leapsecond.com/ptti2003/tvb-Amateur-Timekeeping-2003.pdf http://leapsecond.com/ptti2003/tvb-Amateur-Timekeeping-2003....) I’m sure HP/Agilent/others will gladly sell you the newer state of the art modes as well (although as high precision, very low volume devices they’ll be fabulously expensive); if an industry consortium wants even more precision you could staff a research team and shave off a bit more frequency error. However, I think for industry it’s cheaper to use GPS receivers instead of supporting a powerful transmitter (and its use of value able spectrum). GPS can keep incredibly accurate time.

EricE 8y ago
"GPS can keep incredibly accurate time." Sure, as long as the satellites are up and you have line of sight. Aside from hostile actors, space debris, solar storms and other threats exist. We shouldn't take for granted that our satellites are just always going to be there. https://io9.gizmodo.com/what-would-happen-if-all-our-satellites-were-suddenly-d-1709006681 https://io9.gizmodo.com/what-would-happen-if-all-our-satelli...

wl 8y ago

I've worked at private companies where we've had cesium atomic clocks in the lab. I've owned a rubidium atomic clock. I'm not saying that shutting down WWVB/WWVH/WWV isn't foolish, but atomic clocks are readily available to anyone who wants to pay. Cesium is high five figures and rubidium is often available for under $1,000.