The actual NIST atomic clock is indeed in Boulder. The WWV transmitter is identified as "Fort Collins," but it's actually in Wellington.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
CBC shuts down daily time signal
- Thread starter Mark Roberts
- Start date
I remember when WWV was in Greenbelt, Maryland. Somewhere I have the serial-numbered QSL I got for my reception report on its signal during its first few days in Colorado.
Smart guy.
Seriously, I'll have to go looking for it sometime since it's probably about an hour away from me now, as long as it's a safe distance from the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center.
I remember when I got a shortwave radio, maybe 50 years ago, there were several time signal stations that I could hear. It was just a small, portable, AM-FM-SW receiver. I was in New Jersey.
I'd hear WWV fairly regularly, and once or twice WWVH from Hawaii came in. Then there was also a Canadian time signal station. And once I think I got Cuba's time signal station. That was a surprise. Why would Cuba have such a station?
I'd hear WWV fairly regularly, and once or twice WWVH from Hawaii came in. Then there was also a Canadian time signal station. And once I think I got Cuba's time signal station. That was a surprise. Why would Cuba have such a station?
The same reason any other nation might have one, such as Canada.
In much of the Caribbean, WWV has bad signals on all bands in North American summer, so nations there needed their own time signal. In fact, signal issues are why WWV has a transmitter in Hawaii.
That would be CHU. The time signal station is operated by Canada's National Research Council, from which the CBC's time signal originated.
Bell of Pennsylvania did use TI6-1212 (or any 4 ending numbers).
The World Radio TV Handbook used to have a section specifically for time-standard stations, usually a page or two. More recent editions don't appear to have it.
BPM China, JJY Japan ... I think I heard JJY a few times, but BPM was elusive. Are either still around?
Believe it or not, I have a Chinese-Canadian friend whose last name is "Chu". I've never told him about CHU. He would probably look at me as if I was crazy.
Ask him for a QSL
I regularly hear WWV and WWVH on the same frequency at the same time. I've somewhat regularly heard BPM un or on top of WWVH on 10 or 15.. and sometimes but rarely, all alone.
I even once had WWVH, BPM and PPE all on 10mhz once a few years ago from my other alaska QTH
I even once had WWVH, BPM and PPE all on 10mhz once a few years ago from my other alaska QTH
And commercial station XEQK in Mexico City, with a time check every minute and 11 five-second ads each minute.
XEQK 1350 AM, synchronized with the National Observatory. I took this picture in 1963 when living in Mexico City. .
What aired between the time checks besides the occasional ads? News headlines, like Radio Reloj in Cuba, or just ticks or beeps? BPM and JJY broadcast only time and beeps, I believe.
Dang the TOH about time signal has been a part of radio history in Canada. I always thought when I heard these sounds it's to signal to everyone that the TOH Radio Network News break is getting ready to go on the air. I had no idea it's to sync clocks to atomic time as seen in the OP.
Last edited:
What's more interesting than WWV's time signal is when Spanish-speaking hams commandeer the frequency to have some fun:
All the GPS satellites have several of their own 'atomic clocks' built in. Cell sites synchronize via GPS:
GPS.gov: Timing Applications
None of these are using NIST or NBS/WWV.
GPS.gov: Timing Applications
None of these are using NIST or NBS/WWV.
Dominion Observatory Canada. I used to set my watch to that thing. 7335khz IIRC. 10kw from a site at or near Ottawa, also IIRC.
They moved to 7850 kHz in 2009, which sucks because it's outside the range of the 41M band on most cheaper shortwave radios that don't have continuous tuning. The power was also reduced from 10 kW to 5 kW due to complaints of interference.