Time Beacons
Related wiki pages : Bands, Beacons
Introduction
Time beacons transmit 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
| 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 |