FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions...

Clocks that set themselves wirelessly from the world's atomic clocks already exist! How is Mile10 Technology different?

Anyone who owns one of these clocks soon discovers that these devices suffer in low signal areas. If you are located a great distance from one of the atomic clock time broadcasting towers, the received signal level will be low making the self-setting abilities of these clocks useless. Trees, tall buildings, even the walls in your household may degrade the atomic clock signal to a level where these clocks can not function properly. These clocks also suffer from considerable delay when they are first turned on while before setting time. Also, Mile10 technology allows you to advance the clocks in your household with respect to the actual time. Want the clocks in your house to read 5 or 10 minutes fast? No problem with Mile10 Technology!

In addition, Mile10 protocol allows devices to transmit arbitrary data. This feature paves the way for future Smart Appliances to communicate!

How can Mile10 Technology be implemented?

Mile10 is a protocol standard. It may be implemented using RF Wireless communication (such as your garage door opener), inferred, line-of-site communication (Like a TV remote control), or through existing power lines (Similar to X-10 home-automation technology). Mile10 Technology may be added to any existing appliance or device by the manufacturer.

What kind of range do Mile10 enabled devices have?

Since Mile10 is a protocol standard, a particular communication medium is not specified. Ideally, Mile10 enabled household devices using RF Wireless communication would have a 20-foot to 60-foot range communication range. Prototype clocks have been built that use the standard with ranges up to 150 feet.

Will Mile10 technology only work on stationary clocks?

Mile10 technology may be used on any timekeeping device, even mobile devices. Automobile clocks and even wristwatches are also good candidates for Mile10 Technology. Need to reset the clock in your car? Just park it in the garage and it will immediately set itself to the time of your household clocks!

Where does the network of clocks receive its time?

Some clocks using Mile10 Technology may be set as the 'Master' clock in the system. All other clocks in the system are set as 'Slave' devices and continually set their time based on the Master Clock's time. Having once centralized timekeeping device for your household allows you to easily update the time of all the other clocks in your home instantly! Additionally, this master clock device may have special features other clocks in the system do not, such as Battery-Backed time or even ability to sync with the global atomic clock! (See first question) Since only one clock in the system needs to have these expensive features, the other clocks becomes much less expensive.

What if I have a clock that I don't want to synchronize with the system?

All devices with Mile10 Technology include a Non-Participation mode. In this mode it will ignore time from other clocks but still participate in the communication network. Additionally, some mobile devices that may move in-between Mile10 Networks, such as wristwatches, may include a 'Single Sync' function which allows the user to manually request that the device sync with the network once, and then continue operation in Non-Participation mode. The Mile10 protocol has the the ability to set 'Zone Codes'. By setting each device in the network to the same Zone Code, devices will ignore time from other zones. This is effective for applications where Mile10 networks may overlap (such as a neighborhood of households).