T&T: Atomic watch

[Lawrence Zeitlin]

The National Geographic Xmas gift catalog advertises an "Atomic" clip  
watch for $60 that sets the time to a thousandth of a second accuracy  
by receiving the WWV transmissions form Colorado. While I don't use  
my sextant for navigation any more, 30 years ago a watch of this  
precision would have been a welcome replacement for much more  
expensive chronometers.

What I would like to know is how far the WWV signal carries. I can  
receive WWV on a cheap shortwave receiver in upstate NY. Could I get  
it in Hawaii or in Europe? I know that there are broadcast time  
reference signals all over the world but I don't know if any "Atomic"  
watches pick them up.

All this is just for curiosity. I'm satisfied with the accuracy of my  
old Timex and I don't intend to give up my GPS.

Larry Z