His reliable time sources include the national radio time signal operated by NPL, which provides the time pips on the radio, and internet time servers.

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Because of the time needed for a radio signal from Earth to reach the rover -- about 14 minutes at Mars' current position -- "We don't command the rover with a joystick or a steering wheel in real time, " Tompkins said.

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Each of the 20 transceivers or "nodes" can transmit and receive to the other 19, meaning there can be up to 380 measurements (20 times 19) of radio signal strength within a short period of time (the transceivers transmit one after the other).

ENGADGET: Researchers use wireless network to monitor breathing, could save lives

Started in late 1998, the space-alien hunt has recruited the owners of 2.5 million PCs, tapping their machines' idle processing time to search small chunks of radio telescope data for patterns that might signal intelligent life elsewhere in the cosmos.

FORBES: Sharing Power

The information was gathered via radio transmitters attached to the lambs to track their movements and signal their demise rapidly after the time of death.

BBC: Lamb radio tags 'put off' eagles