How to use the online alarm clock
Waking at 9:14 pm gives you a moment to shake off sleep before the evening BBC News bulletin. Set the alarm for this time if you want a clear prompt to sit up, find the remote and become properly alert before watching. The programme should be finished well before 10:00 pm, leaving the rest of the evening open without making the round hour your starting point.
The BBC News audio needs to stand apart from whatever is already playing in the room. Check the alarm volume against the television, music or conversation rather than trusting the level used earlier in the day; background noise can easily cover a brief signal. Your BBC News bulletin reminder cannot sound after this page is closed or while your phone or computer is asleep, so keep the browser active and use a separate alarm if missing the programme would disrupt your plans.
Coming round after an evening sleep can feel more difficult in a dim room, especially when the screen is the only bright object nearby. Before resting, leave a small lamp ready to switch on at 9:14 pm, or set suitable room lighting to come on near the alarm. A gentle pool of light makes it easier to find your glasses, remote and drink without flooding the room with glare just as the bulletin begins.
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 9:14 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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