[time-nuts] New WWVB format...

Burt I. Weiner biwa at att.net
Wed Sep 26 15:49:25 UTC 2012


I'm sure most of this group has seen the information put out by NIST 
regarding the changes to the WWVB format.  But, for those who may not 
yet have seen this, here's a link to it:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cBhjUH41xVccWM9P8EU4JqzmFNevFgDUFkRcgfLyry1Rn3HqMV5iDqYDgsd2pM1-Vq3nhF9WERTjVF_WmRjAezjU9CCrAda_8RqV/NIST-Enhanced-WWVB-Broadcast-Format.pdf

The results of this change will apparently no longer allow WWVB to be 
used as a high accuracy frequency standard signal.  This does not 
seem to be much of an issue considering the availability of the GPS 
signals all over the world.

I use GPS as my frequency reference for my "Off-Air" broadcast 
frequency measurement service.  Some broadcast stations also use GPS 
as a reference for their transmitters.  I'm sometimes asked why I use 
GPS as a reference when it is not recognized by NIST as the U.S. 
Frequency Standard?  Other than explaining the capabilities of GPS as 
a reference, I don't have a real answer for their specific 
question.  I have publications from NIST showing the accuracies 
obtainable using GPS, but it still does not appear to be an 
"Official" U.S. Frequency Standard.  So, I guess my question is, when 
will NIST officially recognize GPS as, at least an alternate, U.S. 
Frequency Standard?  Have I missed something?

Thanks,

Burt, K6OQK

Burt I. Weiner Associates
Broadcast Technical Services
Glendale, California  U.S.A.
biwa at att.net
www.biwa.cc
K6OQK 





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