© 1999 Naissan Innovations, LLC. All rights reserved.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. How come AtomTime always sets my clock off by an hour (or some increment)?
  2. Why does the Time Server window report a time hours different than the Local PC time, but yet the difference is only a few seconds? I think I need a time server in my time zone!
  3. The license key you sent me doesn't work!?
  4. What is the proper way to upgrade the AtomTime98 software?
  5. AtomTime98 sometimes reports "Time format not supported" even though I'm using the default servers?
  6. Can you make AtomTime automatically start my Dial-Up Networking connection?
  7. Can you make AtomTime hangup my Dial-Up Networking connection after it sets the time?
  8. Will AtomTime work with America Online?
  9. I am using America Online, but whenever I run AtomTime it tries to start up the Dial-Up Networking connection -- why?
  10. Does AtomTime work with CompuServe?
  11. Will AtomTime work with AT&T WorldNet?
  12. Why AtomTime doesn't work at my company?
  13. Does AtomTime98 support proxy servers that require a username and password?
  14. Do you support SOCKS proxy?
  15. How about WinGate proxy servers?
  16. What does Proxy error 500 mean?
  17. What is a proxy server? What is proxy authorization or proxy authentication?
  18. What is the actual address of the Atomic Clock time server?
  19. When I click on the X on the upper right corner, the application doesn't close!?
  20. I changed some setting and now when I start AtomTime98 it seems to do something then exit. How can I fix this?
  21. Does Atomtime work with Windows NT? How about Windows 3.1? And the Mac?
  22. Isn't AtomTime98 freeware?


  1. How come AtomTime always sets my clock off by an hour (or some increment)?
    You have one of these problems:
    1. You are running v1.0 of AtomTime95. Please download a copy of AtomTime98.
    2. Your Windows Date/Time settings have the wrong time zone or daylight savings time setting. Click here for instructions on how to check your time zone settings. This is the most common error!
    3. You are running a version of AtomTime95 before v1.2 and are NOT using the default time server.
    4. You are using a proxy server and have specified proxy port 13. This is wrong. Port 13 is the daytime port for the proxy server (which means you get the proxy server's time, not the Atomic Clock site). Correct the proxy port number.
    5. You are using AtomTime95 in a time zone that doesn't observe daylight savings time. Download the latest version of AtomTime98.
    6. You are using a time zone that Microsoft did not implement correctly (they set the wrong daylight savings time information in some cases). Click here to download TZEDIT, a Windows 95 program from Microsoft that allows you to edit the time zone settings.
    These scenarios really should solve your problem. Atomtime98 with the default Atomic Clock time servers and time zone settings properly defined should work perfectly, regardless of where in the world you live.
    Note: I have received a number of reports that some European countries (usually GMT, GMT-1 or GMT+1) are finding that the Windows 95 time zone settings aren't correct. In particular, I have found that the time zone labeled (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time; Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Lisbon seems to be one hour off. Try using a different named time zone (with the same GMT offset) or using the previously mentioned TZEDIT program to correct the problem.

  2. Why does the Time Server window report a time hours different than the Local PC time, but yet the difference is only a few seconds? I think I need a time server in my time zone!
    Most true clock servers, like the Atomic Clock in Boulder, CO, report their time in UTC/GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). By default, AtomTime98 displays the actual server time. AtomTime98 takes into account the GMT timing and uses your time zone settings to calculate the time difference. If you'd like to see the times reported in local time, change the Display settings (click
    here for details). Also, verify that your Windows Time Zone is set correctly (see question above).

  3. The license key you sent me doesn't work!?
    In every case so far, this has simply been a matter of the user not entering all of the license data. When you get your license data, you will get four pieces:
    • license key (hexadecimal number)
    • name (the name it is registered to)
    • date (the date of the license key)
    • license type (single user or site license)
    You must enter/set all four pieces. In most cases, people are simply not setting the date. Another common problem is with the license key value -- please note that any 0's in the license key are zeroes, not the letter O. Finally, please ensure you are setting all of the license data before contacting us.
    Example:

  4. What is the proper way to upgrade the AtomTime98 software?
    Step 1: Uninstall the old version of AtomTime98 (you'll find the Uninstall item in the AtomTime group on your Start menu).
    Step 2: Download the new version of AtomTime98.
    Step 3: Run the new version to install it.
    Note: The license key and settings will be preserved between installations so you shouldn't have to re-enter license data if you follow these directions exactly.

  5. AtomTime98 sometimes reports "Time format not supported" even though I'm using the default servers?
    This message was only displayed in versions prior to v2.1. Upgrading to v2.1 should resolve this issue (or display a more accurate error message). Please download the latest version of AtomTime98.

  6. Can you make AtomTime automatically start my Dial-Up Networking connection?
    Actually, Microsoft Windows can control this automation. Windows will automatically start up an Internet connection when it detects an application requesting one. To make sure this setting is turned on:
    For Windows 95
    Open the Control Panel, open the Internet icon, click on the Connection tab, and turn on the checkbox that says 'Connect to Internet as needed'. Then make sure it has selected the connection you want to use. Also open your Dial-Up Networking folder and select the menu bar choice Connection and choose Settings. On the subsequent dialog panel, you can set various options to make the connection process even more automated.
    Note: Microsoft quietly released Dial-up Networking 1.2 in August. This is a major enhancement over the base software that came with Windows 95 and makes automating the connection much easier. I found a copy over on:
    Frank Condron's World O'Windows.
    For Windows 98
    Open the Control Panel, open the Internet icon, click on the Connection tab, and turn on the radio button that says 'Connect to the Internet using a modem'. Then click on the 'Settings' button on that same line. Make sure the Dial-Up Settings are correct, such as it has selected the connection you want to use. Also open your Dial-Up Networking folder and select the menu bar choice Connection and choose Settings. On the subsequent dialog panel, you can set various options to make the connection process even more automated.

  7. Can you make AtomTime hangup my Dial-Up Networking connection after it sets the time?
    Sure -- just open the AtomTime98 settings and turn on the Dial-Up Networking, Close when done feature (click
    here for details).

  8. Will AtomTime work with America Online?
    Yes! BUT, you must have AOL for Windows 95 (not AOL for Windows).
    To check if you have the right version, simply do this: In AOL, click on the Help menu bar option, then click on the 'About America Online' choice. If the subsequent dialog box does NOT say 'for Windows 95' in it, you have the wrong version.
    Reason: Only AOL for Windows 95 uses a 32-bit WINSOCK that allows 32-bit Internet apps, like Atomtime98, to work. Last I checked, the keyword get95 will take you to the new Windows 95 version of AOL. Once you are using the right version of AOL, then you'll just need to make sure you are signed on to AOL first, before running AtomTime98.
    Additional note: Do not turn on the proxy server settings -- America Online does not require a proxy server!

  9. I am using America Online, but whenever I run AtomTime it tries to start up the Dial-Up Networking connection -- why?
    Windows 95 has detected that a 32-bit WINSOCK application (AtomTime98) is requesting access to the Internet. Your current Control Panel settings are such that Windows 95 automatically starts a PPP connection. To disable this feature: open the Control Panel, open the Internet icon, click on the Connection tab, and turn off the checkbox that says 'Connect to Internet as needed'.

  10. Does AtomTime work with CompuServe?
    YES! BUT, you have to configure CompuServe to use the Win95 dialer and establish a true PPP connection. Click
    here to download a ZIP file that contains a detailed Win95 help file by Alex Adkins, describing how to configure the Win95 dialer for a PPP connection to CompuServe. I think you need the Microsoft Plus package to get the Win95 dialer.
    Note: On CompuServe you can GO INETRES or GO WIN95FORUM for more details and assistance.

  11. Will AtomTime work with AT&T WorldNet?
    YES! BUT, you have to configure it to use the Win95 dialer and establish a 32-bit Winsock connection. Click
    here to jump to a site that contains instructions on setting up the Win95 dialer with AT&T WorldNet.

  12. Why AtomTime doesn't work at my company?
    Most likely, you are running behind a proxy server. A proxy server filters TCP/IP traffic, only allowing certain requests to proceed. AtomTime uses port 13 (daytime port) to gather its statistics. Luckily, AtomTime98 contains support for nearly all of proxy servers on the market. (Some proxy server are configured by default to block port 13.)

  13. Does AtomTime98 support proxy servers that require a username and password?
    YES! It should prompt you for a username and password as long as you have configured your proxy server settings. Click
    here for notes on the Proxy Server settings.

  14. Do you support SOCKS proxy?
    Well, no and yes. AtomTime does not have direct support for the SOCKS proxy, but there is a program called
    SocksCap which you can supposedly use with any Winsock app (like AtomTime98) to passthrough a SOCKS proxy.

  15. How about WinGate proxy servers?
    Yes, but you must configure a TCP mapping service (or mapped linked ) to the time server site. One set of example steps to do this is:
    Assuming your WinGate proxy server is called 'wingate',
    
    1) Set up a mapped TCP connection in WinGate with the following mappings:
    	Accept connections on port: 37
    	Enable default mapping to: time-A.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov on port 13
    2) Set up Atomtime98 as follows:
    	Route via HTTP proxy server: wingate
    	Port: 37
    

  16. What does Proxy error 500 mean?
    This is a generic error from the proxy server, that in almost all cases means that the proxy server is blocking outgoing and incoming requests on port 13. Ask the site networking adminstrator to unblock port 13 in the proxy server restrictions.

  17. What is a proxy server? What is proxy authorization or proxy authentication
    A proxy server acts as a security agent, allowing only authorized requests to pass through a firewall. Most work environments use a proxy server of one form or another. Proxy authorization or proxy authentication is when an application is forced to use a username/password combination to gain access to the proxy server. You'll know if you have this beast if you have to enter a special username/password each time to start an Internet application like Netscape or Internet Explorer. Again, its only something you'd find in a work enviroment (usually).
    Note: Services like AT&T WorldNet, America Online, and CompuServe do NOT use a proxy server nor do they require proxy authorization.

  18. What is the actual address of the Atomic Clock time server?
      time-A.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov
    AtomTime uses port 13 to access this clock.

  19. When I click on the X on the upper right corner, the application doesn't close!?
    You have enabled an Update Interval option which means AtomTime98 is now running in the background. You should notice an AtomTime icon in the System Tray area. When using one of the Update Interval settings, the X button simply closes the display but leaves the application running in the System Tray. (Try the volume control System Tray application -- it works the same way.) If you want to exit AtomTime98, either click on the Exit button or right click on the System Tray icon and pick Exit from the menu. (Click
    here for more details on this setting)

  20. I changed some setting and now when I start AtomTime98 it seems to do something then exit. How can I fix this?
    You have most likely turned the Update Interval setting to Once and Exit. With this feature enabled, AtomTime98 will simply start up in the background, perform a time check, update the clock and immediately exit. To turn this feature back off, simply double click on the AtomTime98 icon in the System Tray area as it is starting up. The main display window will appear and you can change the setting. (Click
    here for more details on this setting)

  21. Does Atomtime work with Windows NT? How about Windows 3.1? And the Mac?
    Windows NT 3.51: No, sorry. NT 3.51 had some problems with Win95 display controls; NT 4.0 resolves those problems.
    Windows NT 4.0: Yes!
    Windows 3.1: No.
    Macintosh: No.

  22. Isn't AtomTime98 freeware?
    No, sorry. AtomTime98 is now shareware. If you plan to keep using AtomTime98, you must purchase a license. See the
    Registration section for details.