How to use the online alarm clock
As you finish up and head out, set the alarm for 11:43 pm so you can catch the BBC Radio 4 Shipping Forecast without lingering by the radio. It gives you a clear cue before the schedule moves towards 12:00 am, leaving you free to gather your things, lock up and leave.
Your Shipping Forecast depends on hearing the alert, so test the selected sound now, while you still have time to notice if the volume is low or the phone is muted. Keep the page active and your device awake after that check. If you close the browser or allow the device to sleep, the alarm may not sound for the forecast, leaving you without the reminder you expected.
Once you are on your way, allow a little flexibility for the late-evening journey rather than treating quiet roads as a guarantee of a quick trip. Roadworks, reduced public transport services and longer waits for a bus or train can still affect travel near midnight. Check the likely journey time before leaving, then place the phone where the 11:43 pm alert will remain audible without distracting you on the road.
Common questions
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 11:43 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.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
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