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Board » Technical Support » Time zone bug

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I'm currently in Astana (UTC+7), instead of Brussels (UTC+2). What I do is I just change the clock of the computer, instead of changing my time zone. So I just move the clock forward 5hrs, while the time zone remains Brussls-Paris, otherwise Outlook starts to mess up my appointments.
But when I look at the UTC clock in the Sailonline clock, it gives me UTC as Astana time minus two hours. Example:
It is now 1500hrs in Astana, 10000hrs in Brussels, 0900 UTC. The clock tab on screen of the client gives 1300hrs as UTC. When I give a delayed command, I see in the list of timed commands that there the correct UTC is used.

So let me guess: the time tab calculates UTC by taking the time of the PC and the time zone the PC is set against and then calculates the offset? WHile the timed commands use the actual time of the server? So if your computer and the server are out of synch, your delayed commands could be too?

Rammed another island today, but that is because the predictive position in this game is still a game of pure chance.
Do you have Windows Vista?
There you can have 3 clocks if you left click on the time in bottom right of screen; Set (leave) your main clock @ Brussels time. set 2nd clock @ UTC and the third whereever you travel to and are at in the world.

Try it.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
ybw_Kingfisher said @ 2009-09-01 09:06:22:
Example:
It is now 1500hrs in Astana, 10000hrs in Brussels, 0900 UTC. The clock tab on screen of the client gives 1300hrs as UTC.
The problem may lie in the Brussels - UTC bit. 1000 Brussels is 0800 UTC, not 0900.
On second thought,I checked at http://tinyurl.com/ox3a6g (www.timeanddate.com) and it lists Astana as UTC+6 hours.

To comment on your technical bit of the question, all times are UTC both on the client side as well as the server side.
This is done to eliminate any time conversions.
So there is no relation between the time displayed and the computers clock.

The bigest factor in a incorrect delay is weather updates. They have a big influence on the speed and direction if on TWA.
And there is a certain amount of error in the predicion line, due to rounding of numbers.

Some of the interface like the prediction line, can give the impression to be exact but they do have some margins to take into account on the longer delays.

--- Last Edited by Jeroen Tiel at 2009-09-01 11:11:45 ---
I am a ex-admin of SOL who joins in from time to time.
To comment on your technical bit of the question, all times are UTC both on the client side as well as the server side.
This is done to eliminate any time conversions.
So there is no relation between the time displayed and the computers clock.
Not so: I can give you a screenprint which shows 12:00 UTC on the main clock and a delayed command to be implemented at 09:30, so which technically is long passed.

The bigest factor in a incorrect delay is weather updates. They have a big influence on the speed and direction if on TWA.
And there is a certain amount of error in the predicion line, due to rounding of numbers.

Some of the interface like the prediction line, can give the impression to be exact but they do have some margins to take into account on the longer delays.

--- Last Edited by Jeroen Tiel at 2009-09-01 11:11:45 ---


So any delayed course change is an exercice in pure luck, rather than navigational skill?

No its not just pure luck, as I explained there are some factors that can throw off a delayed command. On the short run they are reliable and on the long run they can be a bit less acurate.

Its just a factor to take into account when you use them.
I am a ex-admin of SOL who joins in from time to time.
For those in the Antipodes it would be useful to see the date displayed with the time, so we can be sure actual time difference with local time. Especially handy for starting as a mix up in days/nights can waste places quickly.
Had we started a race at: 09:09 on 09-SEP-09 we would have been without too much confusion!!
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
a bit too much luck with all those 9's

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