The G6URP Speaking Clock

The purpose of this page is to introduce a little nostalgia - back before the days of radio controlled clocks and mobile phones, the GPO Speaking Clock, otherwise known as TIM, was invaluable for anyone who wanted to set a watch or clock accurately.

The original apparatus was huge and filled an entire room, but technology marches on and the same thing is now possible on a small printed circuit board plugged into a small PABX exchange.

A recent project of the THG was to recreate the original "feel" of the clock as it used to be in the past, in this instance with the voice of Pat Simmons, who was "TIM" from 1963 until 1985, when she was replaced by the voice of Brian Cobby.

I run one of these clocks and it is available on 020 7043 1320 (+44 20 7043 1320 from outside the UK) or, if you've access to a VoIP (Voice over IP) phone system (Sipgate, or a network that links to Sipgate) the SIP ID is 1431320, so please give it a call. If you're calling from a compatible SIP-based network, the call will also be free..! It's synchronised to the MSF radio signal*, so should be accurate..!

Please note that the clock will only stay on line for 30 seconds at a time and then cut off. I'm sorry about this, but due to the way the firmware in the system was originally programmed, there is no way that it can be altered.

* Important note: Since the MSF time signal previously transmitted from Rugby was moved to a new transmitter at Anthorn, Cumbria, I have occasionally experienced loss of synchronisation. As this is beyond my control, please accept my apologies in advance for any inaccuracy of the time signal. Please email me here if you notice that the clock is not correct.
Disclaimer: The clock has no connection with either the genuine BT clock or the THG and is provided purely for entertainment, so please do not complain to either of these in the case of inaccuracy.

Also note that dialling the SIP ID on its own from a Sipgate account other than a UK one (say a German Sipgate number) will not work, but if you use the full UK geographic number (in the international format as shown above) then it will connect fine, the call will still be free :-)

Note also that if you call from another VoIP network using a peering arrangement, check with that provider for the format to be used, or you may be charged..! For example, to call from a Gradwell account, you would dial the Sipgate prefix **777 followed by the number in international format but without leading zeros, i.e.**777442070431320.

You can also dial using the full SIP address of 1431320@sipgate.co.uk if your system permits.