Casio Wave Ceptor


The Wave Ceptor series is a line of radio-enabled watches by Casio. Wave Ceptor watches synchronise with radio time signals broadcast by various government time services around the world. These signals transmit the time measured by atomic clocks accurate to one second in millions of years. By synchronizing daily with the signals, the Wave Ceptor watches achieve high accuracy, using a quartz crystal to keep time between synchronizations. Some radio watches, including some Wave Ceptors, are solar-powered, supported by a rechargeable battery. The display of the models ranges from fully digital, analog and analog-digital. Some later models, described as Hybrid Wave Ceptors, support GPS for information on both time and location, in addition to broadcast signals.
Radio-controlled watches require no setting of time, date, or daylight saving time adjustments, as they attempt automatic synchronization several times every night. Without synchronisation, Wave Ceptors, like other commercial quartz timepieces, are typically accurate to ± 15 seconds per month; daily synchronization ensures 500 ms accuracy.
Most Wave Ceptor watches have a signal strength indicator which shows if the time signal is strong enough to correct the time set. The number of receivers which the watches can tune to vary according to watch model; most current watches can tune to any one of several time signal towers around the world. In Europe, the claimed reception range is approximately 1,500 kilometres.

Locations

Casio watches synchronise to radio time signals from one or more of six low frequency time signal transmitters. The 60kHz signals from different transmitters are not compatible with each other; a watch designed for WWVB only cannot receive MSF.
Japan
Watches can receive signals from two JJY transmitters:
The 40kHz signal from Mount Otakadoya, near Fukushima.
The 60kHz signal from the Haganeyama Transmitter at Mount Hagane.
China
Watches receive the 68kHz signal from BPC at Shangqiu.
United States
Watches receive the 60kHz signal from WWVB at Fort Collins.
United Kingdom
Watches receive the 60kHz MSF at Anthorn.
Germany
Watches receive the 77.5kHz DCF77 at Mainflingen.
As an example, Casio Wave Ceptors using modules 3353 and 3354, such as the WVA-440, can tune to signals from both DCF77 and MSF. The two submodels use the same electronics module, but with a soldered jumper selecting preferential tuning first to DCF77, or to MSF. This is default behaviour after a factory reset; the user can choose to use either one of the two transmitters with either module, although this limits use when travelling within Europe.

Multi-Band 6

Casio Multi-Band 6 watches can tune to any of the six signals of the low frequency radio towers. Some of the Casio G-Shock line of watches have Multi-Band 6 technology. The earlier Multi-Band 5 system could not receive the signal of the Chinese radio tower.

Other radio watches

Japanese manufacturers Seiko and Citizen Watch, and German manufacturer Junghans, also make radio-controlled watches.