Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!sharkey!clmqt!lopez!flash
From: flash@lopez.UUCP (Gary Bourgois)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: NBS time broadcast
Message-ID: <723@lopez.UUCP>
Date: 28 Jul 89 03:26:13 GMT
References: <3799@ncar.ucar.edu>
Organization: Great White North/UPLink, Marquette, MI
Lines: 37

> ...
>>So the question... anyone know how this works and how/where it is broadcast?

I have seen several clocks using the NBS signal, made for the BROADCASTING
industry.

BUT the best and simplest system (THE ONE I USE) is to tune your shortwave
receiver to WWV, The National Bureau of Standards TIME STATION.  They are
loud and clear 24 hours a day on one of these standard frequencies:

2.5
5
10
15
20

Megahertz....    

In addition to the time, the station provides other information, including
solar terrestrial conditions (affects reception, power grids, computers)
North Atlantic Weather...  AND an audio pitch of 440hz so you can tune your
piano (middle C)

The radio frequencies of the actual transmissions are accurate to cesium
standards (a couple parts per million or so), and can be used to calibrate
your digital radio equipment.

Nifty station!

Time announcement is given once every minute.  Just issue the time command,
and sit there with your finger on the return key and smush it at the
appropriate beep.

Do all the clocks in your house with WWV...  There is nothing so nifty as
seeing the VCR, Microwave, Wristwatch, Computer display, etc all blink over
at the same second.  (however, after a few days, varying factors will cause
them to go out of synch, and it will drive you insane...)