How to use the online alarm clock
You are halfway through an early canal job when the 6:20 am alarm tells you to break off and open the lock for the first boat. That leaves time to finish the immediate task, check the gate area and be ready before 7:00 am, without relying on a hurried glance at the clock.
Water, engines and activity along the towpath can easily mask a quiet alert, so the alarm volume needs to match the background noise around the lock. Choose a clear sound, raise the media volume and test it before returning to the job. Keep the browser running and the phone awake until 6:20 am; otherwise the lock reminder cannot sound and the first boat may be left waiting.
Moving between a dim shelter and the pale early light can make a bright screen uncomfortable to check. Position the phone where the time is visible without holding it close, reduce glare and avoid repeatedly looking at it while working. A brief screen check after setting the alarm confirms that 6:20 am is shown, then the audible signal can handle the reminder.
Common questions
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.
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.
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