Time Beacons

A time beacon is a special type of beacon that transmits time data on a continuous basis. Time data is derived from atomic clocks - clocks that maintain an accuracy to within one billionth of a second per day. A number of time scales are generated, including UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) often of most use to radio amateurs.

Use for Amateurs

• Calibrating local VFO frequencies for receivers and transmitters (WWV is an exact, precise 10MHz reference frequency)
• Aligning SSTV software to computer clock speed so as to reduce/eliminate slant on received pictures.

Time beacon facilities

Canada

• CHU in Canada (3.330MHz, 7.85MHz, 14.670 MHz)

China

• BPC in China (68.5kHz)

France

• TDF in France (162kHz)

Germany

• DCF77 in Germany (77.5kHz)

Japan

• JJY in Japan (Frequency 40kHz and 60kHz)

Switzerland

• HBG Switzerland (75kHz)

United Kingdom

• MSF in the United Kingdom (60kHz)

USA

• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technlogy); WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado and WWVH in Hawaii USA. (2.5 MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz, 15MHz, 20MHz)
• NIST also operates WWVB (60kHz) from the Colorado location only

Related pages

• Bands
• Beacons
• Time

Operating procedures
Operation	Callsigns and ITU prefixes * Codes and Alphabets * Modes * Morse code * Nets * UK licensing * Terminology
DX and Contesting	Awards and Certificates * DXCC * DX cluster * Field day * Gridsquares * Logging * QSL and QSL Bureaus * Records - Distance
Emergencies	Emergency Frequencies * ARES * IRESC * SATERN * Weather spotting
QRP	Trail-Friendly Radio
Utilities	Beacons (/B) and Time Beacons