Radio Controlled Clock gone bonkers!!

[Robsey]

Had a strange issue today, which I cannot find any explanation for.

I have a 1994 Cavalier Mk3 (Vectra-A), fitted with a 2005 Vectra-C CD70 Navi and Graphic Display.

My wife has a 2005 Vectra-C also fitted with CD70 Navi but with a Colour Display.

Now then, I got in my Cavalier at 2:10 pm (this afternoon) to get some food shopping.
Looked at my display, which said 9:40 am - 3rd November 2011 ???
Check my radio settings - yes auto synchro is on, and set to a BBC station.
Now I live 10 minutes drive from the supermarket, but the clock did not correct itself at all. - very strange!!
I got back in at 2:40 pm to go back home... radio still showing nearly six months and 4 1/2 hours behind.
Suddenly at 2:42pm, it corrected itself.
I thought it was odd, but thought little more of it.

Then this evening, I drove the wife's friend home in the Vectra-C....
guess what?? - This too was showing the same wrong date and time..
still 3rd November 2011, and again 4 1/2 hours behind.

I drove her friend home - 25 minutes away... time still wrong.

set off back, and thought...

"I wonder if turning off the car and turning it back on again will sort the clock"?
Well I did this, and within 2 minutes it corrected itself.

Anyone else have this issue??
Or just me in wildly wet and windy Manchester.?
I know these atomic clock thingies can transmit the wrong time, but I was not driving the cars at the same time - approx 6 1/2 hours between journeys.
My none radio controlled clock in the Cavalier was not affected. (Fuel computer display).

[Big Dave]

I know these atomic clock thingies can transmit the wrong time, but I was not driving the cars at the same time - approx 6 1/2 hours between journeys.

The signal is sent via the RDs from radio stations. It might well be the radio station had a wobbly. Were both stereo's tuned to the same station?

Few years ago whenever I listened to on of the independant stations in my area the clock changed to being an hour slow as they hadn't updated the RDS signal for the clocks going forward. It was like that for nearly a week every time I listened to that station. As soon as I changed station, switched off and on the stereo, the correct time was displayed again within 3 mins of the stereo being switched back on.

[Robsey]

No - The wife's vectra was tuned to a local station, whereas mine is regularly tuned to a BBC station (I hate adverts!!).

I spoke to a friend who has 3 radio controlled clocks in his home in Hereford, and all of his clocks were affected also.

The clocks have all behaved perfectly since.

[erni3wi5e]

Nowt better than the ole turn it off n on again.. We sometimes have the same issue with the GPS/INU on AH-64D's they sometimes just get full/distorted memories. Pilot dicks hate it when they call us over n we just say "turn it off n on again please Sir."