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How to Set the Zone on an Atomic Clock

Atomic clocks work by reading a special radio signal; the clock reads the time contained in the signal, generated in the United States by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and synchronizes its time against the radio signal. Atomic clocks have the benefit of great precision--they are accurate to within milliseconds of the official clock maintained by the U.S. government. However, the signal is based on a universal time, so to arrive at the proper local time, atomic clock owners must set the proper time zone on their devices.

Things You'll Need

Atomic clock

Instructions

- 1
  Ensure that the clock is powered on and is capable of receiving the radio signal that carries the time signal. Many clocks have a display signal that indicates whether they can read the signal.
- 2
  Locate the time-zone selector switch on the clock. On many models, the selector switch is on the back of the clock.
- 3
  Move the switch to indicate your current time zone.
- 4
  Set the Daylight Savings Time switch, if your clock is equipped with one. A DST switch will automatically adjust the clock's time during DST changes in the spring and autumn.
- 5
  Inspect the clock. Many clocks, particularly those with digital displays, will indicate the current time zone and DST status. If the clock is properly set, return it to its normal place.

Astronomy