How to use the online alarm clock
Before handing the watch over, you need to make sure the next person hears the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4. An alarm set for 7:51 pm gives them time to settle by the radio, check the volume and be ready before 8:00 pm, without leaving the changeover to memory alone.
Keep the alarm page open while responsibility passes to the next person, and leave the computer or phone awake with its sound audible. Closing the browser ends the alarm, so the Shipping Forecast could be missed even though 7:51 pm was set correctly. If someone else takes charge, tell them that the alarm depends on the page continuing to run; a separate radio alarm is sensible when nobody will remain near the screen.
During an evening handover, a bright display can draw attention away from the radio controls and written notes. Lower the screen brightness to suit the room, switch on a warmer display setting if available, and place the screen slightly to one side rather than directly in your line of sight. At 7:51 pm, the digits only need to stay visible enough to confirm that the alarm is running while the next person prepares to listen.
Common questions
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 7:51 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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