[time-nuts] GPS clock error.

[Magnus Danielson]

On 04/13/2011 05:27 AM, Max Robinson wrote:
> This morning at 10 AM CDT my GPS clock read 8 PM July 5th.  My wife
> reported that the time had been 2 hours off at 6 AM local time. She
> didn't notice if it was AM or PM. The parabolic dish icon was missing
> from the display. I manually set the time and date but when compared to
> my two WWVB clocks it was clear it was in holdover mode. I waited about
> 3 hours then removed the batteries and reinstalled them. I set the time
> zone and left it to it's own devices. It set itself correctly in about
> 10 minutes and the dish icon was back. I wonder what happened. Could
> their have been a shortage of satellites that caused the receiver to
> lose lock?

Not very likely. With 32 birds in the sky, there is no lack of them, 
it's the maximum amount normal GPS receivers can handle.

> Why wouldn't it reacquire on it's own? If I had been a little
> more patient would it have reacquired on its own? I'm sure no one knows
> the answer to the last question. Speculation is welcome.

If the GPS receiver or the presentation computer hangs is two different 
things. I guess the later would be more likely.

Cheers,
Magnus