First of all, a few disclaimers:
I put it in quotation marks because the only things that remain from the F-91W are the case, LCD, module holder, case back and strap. The module is a completely new thing.
I bought this chip from Crowd Supply. A SAM L22 processor assumes the timekeeping functions of the new module, taking timing data from a simple 32KHz quartz crystal. What is really innovative, however, is the addition of a thermistor.
When I bought it, I asked the developer about its accuracy and the possibility of using the thermistor for accuracy compensation, and he basically said the hardware is there, you just need the code (more developments here).
The code first came in the form of a simple count addition/suppression screen in the settings, much like you do on an Elektronika. I, for instance, set it to 20 (add 20 counts) to compensate for it running 2 seconds a day fast from the factory. But then again this was no HAQ just as the Elektronika is not HAQ; it was just a rate adjustable Casio.
But now I believe it could qualify for HAQ status. A recent pull request answered my wishes and some very cool features were introduced. Full details are here, but much like a Technochas ChN-01, it does automatically adjust the rate every time you reset the seconds AND it accounts for temperature fluctuation.
Since Nanosecond and Finetune have been available to end users (a couple of months back), my watch has gained less than a second, being worn on rotation with other watches.
My username started out as a joke, but it’s now real.
- I consider ‘HAQ’ to be ‘a watch whose manufacturer claims <10spy AND holds up to that specification in real life under a reasonably defined temperature range, USUALLY adopting some form of high frequency oscillator, temperature compensation or both.’
- I like this definition because it gives credit to serious manufacturers (should we wait a year after the release to discuss a new release because there’s real world data?) and because it excludes watches with dubious claims of accuracy that don’t really stand in practice (Bulovas and 8F Seiko). It also excludes watches with dubious claims that can in fact hold up to spec in real life but only in specific circumstances and wouldn’t if exposed to tests true HAQ are subject to, like temperature fluctuations (Elektronikas, above all).
- I still don’t know how to reconcile the COSC test with my definition of HAQ, but I do t think it’s necessary right now.
- I own a Technochas ChN-01, and even though it’s my most accurate watch so far (visually less than two seconds off since September, on and off the wrist), I know it’s not HAQ, it’s just well regulated. This Casio is different, believe me.
I put it in quotation marks because the only things that remain from the F-91W are the case, LCD, module holder, case back and strap. The module is a completely new thing.
I bought this chip from Crowd Supply. A SAM L22 processor assumes the timekeeping functions of the new module, taking timing data from a simple 32KHz quartz crystal. What is really innovative, however, is the addition of a thermistor.
When I bought it, I asked the developer about its accuracy and the possibility of using the thermistor for accuracy compensation, and he basically said the hardware is there, you just need the code (more developments here).
The code first came in the form of a simple count addition/suppression screen in the settings, much like you do on an Elektronika. I, for instance, set it to 20 (add 20 counts) to compensate for it running 2 seconds a day fast from the factory. But then again this was no HAQ just as the Elektronika is not HAQ; it was just a rate adjustable Casio.
But now I believe it could qualify for HAQ status. A recent pull request answered my wishes and some very cool features were introduced. Full details are here, but much like a Technochas ChN-01, it does automatically adjust the rate every time you reset the seconds AND it accounts for temperature fluctuation.
Since Nanosecond and Finetune have been available to end users (a couple of months back), my watch has gained less than a second, being worn on rotation with other watches.
My username started out as a joke, but it’s now real.
