Conference noted::windows95

    Not new technology, either. I've had one for about two years now.

    Note there are two watches out (plus variations in different
    packaging).
    
    The original watch works with Windows 3.1 and 95 ONLY.
    
    The newer DataLink 150 works with Windows NT as well.
    
    The new software can drive the old and new watches but the old watches
    will never work on NT.
    
    The newer watches have more storage and a few more features.  The main
    feature I care about is NT support and using a mineral crystal instead
    of scratchable soft plastic.
    
    See http://www.timex.com
    
    Steveg

    works ok with Outlook?  I only ask because their web pages only mention
    Schedule+ (which I abandoned long ago)
    

    Works just fine with Outlook...
    
    Note, you do need to load the "Timex DataLink Wizard" from the
    additional goodies part of the Office97 CD. Doing so gives you another
    option on the File\Export dialog box.

    Also works with Ecco 4.01 (the world's best PIM), which also has
    integrated support for the Pilot. So if you're insufferably
    attracted to toys like some people, you can scribe your meetings
    into the Pilot as they're called, autosynch the Pilot with Ecco with
    a single button push, and then download the meetings into your
    watch.
    
    Be aware, though, that it's a lot harder justifying showing up late
    for meetings with all that electronic assistance...

    	 have to ask:
    
    2 separate watches now, one for 3.1Win, one for NT/95 (if I skimmed
    .3 correctly).
    
    	o what sort of display do you get when the watch GPFs?
    
    	o do you have to press 3 watch stems simultaneously to get a watch
    	  reboot?
    
    	o do you press [watch-stem watch-stem watch-stem] to switch between
    	  time zones?
    
    
    Inquiring minds and all that...

    re: .7
    
    It's one watch for Win 3.1/Win95 and one watch for all versions (Win
    3.1/Win95/Win NT)
    
            o what sort of display do you get when the watch GPFs?
    
    It's a Timex.  It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  No GPFs.
    
            o do you have to press 3 watch stems simultaneously to get a
    	      watch reboot?
    
    See question 1.
    
            o do you press [watch-stem watch-stem watch-stem] to switch
    	      between time zones?
    
    No you hit the "Previous" button.  Momentarily holding it shows you the
    "other" time zone while holding it for a few seconds swaps the "main"
    and "other" timezone settings.  You can use other buttons to change
    time offsets and timezone names.  It doesn't automatically do daylight
    savings time but the PC application can do it for you when you update
    the watch after the timezone shift.
    
    The new watch has downloadable applications.  You can even get one to
    keep track of golf scores.
    
    
    

    But you still can't e-mail Dick Tracy from it.

    I guess it's safe to tell this story...
    
    the office geek ran out almost two years ago & bought the dick tracy
    watch when it first came out... 
    every time we met him in the hall for the next 3 weeks he would
    automatically whip up his right wrist, display his watch, and proceed
    to tell us his life's story PW and PW; (PreWatch and PostWatch), and
    how his life was so much better now, and he was *so much better* about
    being on time becuz of the dick tracy watch.
    it got to be a real pain to walk into his cube becuz every time
    somebody did, he *had* to download his schedule into his watch as well
    as update/keep current his watch time. -- and this bozo did this every 
    twenty minutes... sheesh.
    
    It was time for Revenge Of The Normals...
    
    I wrote a nifty little VB program that changed the PC time some random
    amount, and then chained to the watchlink program. I stuck it on his PC
    with the icon (thoughtfully extracted from a DLL), and sat back to
    watch the fun.
    
    I won't bore you with the rest of the story, except to say that he just
    couldn't understand how running the watchlink could mess up his
    schedule, AND his PC's time so badly..

    
    	You are a terrible person, Bob.
    
    
    	That's as bad as the time my mother left her keys in her car in a
    	supermarket parking lot and I moved it a couple rows away and sat
    	over in the far corner and watched the fun as she tried to figure
    	out how her car got where it was and whether it actually was her
    	car.
    
    	I don't think I've ever laughed harder than that.
    

    you realize we're both prob'ly gonna go to Heck for these sorts of
    shenanigans, but ya gotta admit, it sure keeps life from being
    boring...

    I think I may have downloaded a virus into my watch. It keeps
    sneezing...

    
    	So just change "Mark event with SNEEZE.WAV" to "Mark event with
    	BEEP.WAV".
    

    I think mine came down with the same virus, it's snotting all over my
    sleeve...

    T-Zone in Sunnyvale has the $20 adapter for the TIMER watches to let
    LAPTOPS send the signals/flashes out. Hooks to a serial port and has a
    flashing LED. Comes with Software.
    
    Mark

    re .16
    
    I've seen it in CompUSA and Egghead as well.

The Timex DataLink watch is nature's way of telling you you make too much
money, or have *way* too much time on your hands... :^)

-- Ken Moreau
   who is happy with his notebook PC, cellular phone, and Pilot with
   IntelliSync to keep the PC and the Pilot coordinated, and who refuses
   to buy the modem/e-mail upgrade for the Pilot...

    Actually, I got cause I HATE setting watches all the time.
    
    If the PC time is accurate (say using NTP or similar) then the watch is
    automagically set correctly.
    
    The rest of the features are gravy that get rarely used.
    
    My old watch died anyway so this was not completely a "I need a new
    toy" syndrome (tho I've been known to sucumb to that as well).
    
    Steveg

    RE: -.1
    
    In September 97, The US-NIST timesource in Colorado is turning on their new
    football field sized antenna that broadcasts Time Sync signals about a
    1000 times stranger than currently is done. I saw a few write ups from
    the consumer electronics show (CES) where watch makers are taughting
    this new antenna as making AUTOMATICALLY SET watches for $10 or less
    more than current models. They will just build a small antenna into the
    watch itself. The new signal is so strong (it's in a band all by itself
    so very little noise), that even a tiny antenna can automatically
    lock-on..
    
    FYI.
    
    Mark

    Great. Now my fillings will tell me when it's time to visit the
    dentist...

    Cool. and when all the kids here in Colorado arrive with 3 heads and 19
    arms I can force a class action suit on the Atomic Clock folks...
    
    

>       <<< Note 2876.22 by BSS::PROCTOR_R "PC....Politically Corrupt" >>>
>
>    Cool. and when all the kids here in Colorado arrive with 3 heads and 19
>    arms I can force a class action suit on the Atomic Clock folks...
    
    At least they'll arrive on time.

    >  <<< Note 2876.20 by JULIET::HARRIS_MA "Networks Sales Exec" >>>
    
    > ...  where watch makers are taughting
    
    
    Nite alert... that's "touting". "taughting" is what is currently
    performed in public schools, and is a clear indication of why Johnny
    cant spel to goode.
    
    {just kidding... of course}.

FYI, I finally found more about the upgrade by poking around on the NIST web
site.

They are upgrading WWVB from 13KW to 40 KW.  This is not incredibly high power. 
For example, WABC in NYC broadcasts at 50KW, as I recall.

Interestingly, though, the frequency of WWVB is 60KHz.  Yes, that is "K", not
"M".  If this were movement in air rather than electromagnetic fields, a bat
could probably hear it, if not a dog!

Burns

    Yes, the wattage goes up to 40KW, but the antenna is massive! I read
    then got some old army surplus stuff recently for the transmitter 
    which provided them the means to do most of this upgrade...
    
    Mark

50KW is the max for a commercial radio station. Not that WWVB would
be constrained by such rules. What is the wavelength at 60KHz? I think
it's 5KM. How long is a 1/4 wavelength antenna at that frequency?
That's about 3/4 mile. No wonder the antenna is massive!

Dave

    > ... That's about 3/4 mile.  No wonder the antenna is massive!
    
    So this means that my watch with the spiffy antenna is gonna drag on
    the ground behind me?
    
    {some of you Timex readers can *stop* thinking what you are thinking...}
    *8)

You have the choice of transmitting a weak signal and forcing everyone
to use honking-huge antennae on the recievers, or transmitting a strong
signal and getting by with wimp antennas on the recievers. You can tune
an antenna with electronic components but it isn't as efficient as one
that is the right size.

Dave

    re: .28 by BSS::PROCTOR_R
    
    >> So this means that my watch with the spiffy antenna is gonna drag on
    >> the ground behind me?
    >> {some of you Timex readers can *stop* thinking what you are
    >> thinking...}  *8)
    
    I don't have one of those watches, but I suspect I'm thinking that
    which you say they shouldn't be thinking.
    
    :-P

    re .-1... I offer the following:
    
    >  <<< Note 2876.29 by CADSYS::GROSS "The bug stops here" >>>
    
    > You can tune an antenna with electronic components but it isn't as 
    > efficient as one that is the right size.
    
    I rest my case.

    A 60HZ transmitter transmits along the curve of the earth, and the
    signal can be picked up by submarines under water.  Transmitter
    usually needs to be 1/4 wavelength, but receiver can be smaller -
    as mentioned earlier.  Supposedly in WW2 the Germans used a 60HZ
    transmitter to send messages to their spies in England.  
    
    

WWVB is 60 Khz, not 60 Hz.  I believe that USNavy still uses 60-ish Hz signals
to communicate with submarines, albeit at pretty low data rates.

Burns

    If the transmitter of a 60 hz signal needs to be 1/4 wavelength...
    that's:
    
    	One wavelength = (186000 miles/sec)/(60/sec) = 3100 miles
    	1/3 wavelength = 3100 miles/4 = 775 miles
    
    That's quite a tranmitter!  How big is Germany?

    re -1
    
    Doesn't need to be -- just works better that way.
    
    And by the way, 1/4 wave is for a vertical radiator working against
    ground.  A horizontal radiator would like to be 1/2 wave.
    
    Tony