The “atomic” clocks on the consumer market are in fact radio-controlled clocks that take a time signal from an actual atomic clock, usually operated by a government agency. A consumer atomic clock will always be at least as good as an ordinary clock, because it uses a traditional quartz clock as a backup. However, any potential extra benefits from the atomic aspect can be limited by geography and atmospheric conditions. These limitations can in turn limit the financial value of paying extra money for a clock with an atomic time feature. Writer Bio
