How to use the online alarm clock
You are finishing what you are doing and heading out to meet a train at King’s Cross. An alarm set for 2:49 pm marks the moment to put things away, check that you have your ticket and leave without stretching one last task. With 3:00 pm approaching, those eleven minutes can cover the final walk to the door and any small delay on the way.
A station departure leaves little room to discover too late that the signal is faint or unexpected. A short test beforehand confirms how the alarm sounds and whether the volume is suitable in the room where it will run. The train reminder only works while this page stays open and the computer remains awake; once either stops, there will be no signal telling you to set off. Keeping the page visible after the test also makes the remaining time easy to check.
Leaving for King’s Cross just before 3:00 pm makes a quick drink more practical than starting a full midday meal. Water or a cup of tea already poured can fit into the final few minutes, provided it does not delay packing up. Food that needs heating, several utensils or time to sit down is better left until later; a small snack that travels cleanly is the simpler option if the train journey overlaps with lunch.
Common questions
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.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
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 2:49 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.
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