How to use the online alarm clock
As you hand over the evening watch, set the 10:21 pm alarm so the next person knows when to listen to the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4. That leaves a clear point for changing responsibilities before 11:00 pm, without relying on someone to notice the clock during the handover.
Because the broadcast may be heard through headphones, check where the alarm audio is being sent before leaving it with the next listener. A connected wireless pair can take the sound without anyone in the room noticing, particularly if the headphones were used earlier and left nearby. Set a sensible volume, then play a brief test while the intended output is still connected. The Shipping Forecast may be missed entirely if this page stops running or the phone or computer goes to sleep, so a separate alarm is safer when nobody will remain beside the screen.
A handover at 10:21 pm can disturb people who have already settled for the night, especially when doors are open and sound carries through the house. Keep the alert close to the person taking over, use a moderate tone rather than repeated loud ringing, and agree beforehand who will silence it. This keeps the evening reminder useful without waking everyone else before the 11:00 pm bulletin.
Common questions
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 10:21 pm?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
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