At the tone, zero hours, fifty three minutes, universal coordinated time deeeeet doodoodoodoo..... that’s a perfect imitation of WWV FT. Colin’s Colorado. lol
In one of my videos I built such a transmitter myself. So the these signals are now available in Australia as well as in California (according viewers comments) ;-)
Their is also the BBC Radio 4 transmitter on 198kHz. I've done a unit using an STFM32F405 with a tuned ferrite rod antenna feeding directly into one of the ADC inputs. The firmware down samples to baseband I/Q, frequency/phase locks onto the carrier and demodulates the phase shift encoded time data. I use the carrier to lock a 10MHz OCXO rather than using the usual GPS route. These transmissions are EXTREMELY handy ! .. as also mentioned, it's the same with the french TDF on 162kHz which also carries phase shift encoded time data, that's also extremely strong and VERY handy here in the UK.
Thanks for the interesting video! I do use the same software as you with an SDRplay-RSPdx SDR and a Wellbrook ALA1530LN loop antenna. Here in Switzerland, I can receive 3 solid clock signals. The strongest one (used in most of continental Europe) is DCF 77.5 KHz. from Germany, the 2 others are the BBC on 198KHz. and France Inter on 162KHz. All can be decoded using "Clock" software without any problems! Unfortunately, MSF on 60KHz. is jammed by some local interference. Cheers!
Banks don't use the accurate time signal to calculate interest. It is required by law to time stamp trades. In some jurisdictions the time stamps on trades must be accurate to within 3 seconds or the trade is voided. Additionally, an accurate time signal is required within networks of all types. The audio recording industry needs not time but frequency (also derived from MSF and others like it) in order to align all their machines that sample incoming audio. Often the recordings are accompanied by timecode which is derived from the time receiver in the studio.
WWV in Fort Collins can be received from 2.5, 5, 10, 15 MHz. Proving time of day in UTC. From the National institute of Standards and Technology. WWVH is Hawaii. On 2.5
Interesting. Actually DCF77 is very popular across EU, including Eastern Europe. Still, there is another transmitter in France, which seems to be largely unknown, but transmits at bigger power levels (~10 times) than DCF77. It is called TDF and the signal is phase modulated. The frequency is 162kHz. It seems better alternative. I have plans to DIY receiver for it... sometime in the future..
When the clock came from Rugby it had power of 60kw and I had a very strong signal in Watford but since it's moved to Anthorn at only 17kw (almost a quarter of the power) it is almost impossible to receive due to local interference most likely caused by overhead power line's I wonder what bright spark decided to move it to Anthorn at almost a quarter of the power must live in an electrically quite place with today's electrical noise it needs more power not less
That’s a good question, but this is why most countries have their own time transmitter I guess. Although radio waves do travel at the speed of light so there will not be must of a delay 👍
The delay is about 5.8 microseconds per mile and will be variable if you're monitoring a station by skywave as the reflection zone in the ionosphere moves up and down and the path length changes.
I ve managed to decode both MSF & DSF, using RSP1A. Free version of CLOCK does not allow you to sync your PC so I tried Spectrum Lab with success (it only supports DCF). Propagation delay from DCF to my QTH in Athens is about 6ms but the total delay I measured (compared to NTP servers) was around 400ms due to processing delay of the audio. I don't know if there is an offset you can put in order to overcome this problem. Maybe using a conventional receiver is a better choice to obtain accurate sync with this method. 73 de sv1fxo Christos
I got it decoding the DCF77 signal from Mainflingen Germany. Does the software also synchronizes the build in pc clock? I manually changed the pc clock to put it a few minutes off, but it never synchronized back to the right time.
I’m using a multiband EFHW for 80 to 10 but I unscrewed the outer part of the PL259 so just the centre was connected. Made it into essentially a long wire with no Balun. But I guess you can receive such low frequencies just using a normal LW ferrite antenna like you see in radios etc
Can somebody explain the following please? If the MSF time signal is broadcast on ~60 kHz, then why is the Clock application showing 567.1 Hz - that equates to 0.567kHz?
The software is monitoring the audio coming from the SDR receiver program. Note that the SDR frequency is tuned slightly low at 59.433 kHz. That will cause the 60 kHz carrier to generate an audio tone at 60,000 - 59,433 = 567 Hz. That's the tone the software is decoding. If you were to set the receiver right on 60 kHz, you'd hear nothing because it would be decoding at 0 Hz.
Here in germany we´re using 77 kHz.
Greetings to UK
:-)
No it is not 77 kHz. The Frequency in Germany is *77.5 kHz* (to be more precise) ...
At the tone, zero hours, fifty three minutes, universal coordinated time deeeeet doodoodoodoo..... that’s a perfect imitation of WWV FT. Colin’s Colorado. lol
Love it! 👍🤣
First viewer :-) Always very happy to watch your videos and learn :-) Btw, hello from the Philippines
Welcome 🙏 I’m glad you like my videos :)
In one of my videos I built such a transmitter myself. So the these signals are now available in Australia as well as in California (according viewers comments) ;-)
Just realised I’m subbed to your channel, just watching the cheap spectrum analyser video. 👍
I've used the same app to decode the 60.khz WWVB signal in Colorado from Virginia.
Worked good here in Minnesota, USA on WWVB 60 kHz. Fun to see how it works and decode it on the computer.
Their is also the BBC Radio 4 transmitter on 198kHz. I've done a unit using an STFM32F405 with a tuned ferrite rod antenna feeding directly into one of the ADC inputs. The firmware down samples to baseband I/Q, frequency/phase locks onto the carrier and demodulates the phase shift encoded time data. I use the carrier to lock a 10MHz OCXO rather than using the usual GPS route. These transmissions are EXTREMELY handy ! .. as also mentioned, it's the same with the french TDF on 162kHz which also carries phase shift encoded time data, that's also extremely strong and VERY handy here in the UK.
In United States here in Maryland. I used WWV in Ft. Collins Colorado 5000khz. Thanks for the video!
Great videos all around, got the clock receiving CHU Canada, I live 20 miles from the transmitter. I will check the other stations. Thank you
Thanks for the interesting video! I do use the same software as you with an SDRplay-RSPdx SDR and a Wellbrook ALA1530LN loop antenna. Here in Switzerland, I can receive 3 solid clock signals. The strongest one (used in most of continental Europe) is DCF 77.5 KHz. from Germany, the 2 others are the BBC on 198KHz. and France Inter on 162KHz. All can be decoded using "Clock" software without any problems! Unfortunately, MSF on 60KHz. is jammed by some local interference. Cheers!
Banks don't use the accurate time signal to calculate interest. It is required by law to time stamp trades. In some jurisdictions the time stamps on trades must be accurate to within 3 seconds or the trade is voided.
Additionally, an accurate time signal is required within networks of all types. The audio recording industry needs not time but frequency (also derived from MSF and others like it) in order to align all their machines that sample incoming audio. Often the recordings are accompanied by timecode which is derived from the time receiver in the studio.
Thank you for your videos!
I live in the western US and used sdr# and Clock to receive a CHU Canada frame from almost 2000 miles away today.
WWV in Fort Collins can be received from 2.5, 5, 10, 15 MHz. Proving time of day in UTC. From the National institute of Standards and Technology. WWVH is Hawaii. On 2.5
thank you for sharing
I saw the signal on the Netherlands websdr at 60khz
but ,how to know SDR and Dec lantency ?
Interesting. Actually DCF77 is very popular across EU, including Eastern Europe. Still, there is another transmitter in France, which seems to be largely unknown, but transmits at bigger power levels (~10 times) than DCF77. It is called TDF and the signal is phase modulated. The frequency is 162kHz. It seems better alternative. I have plans to DIY receiver for it... sometime in the future..
Did you ever get around to it? :)
When the clock came from Rugby it had power of 60kw and I had a very strong signal in Watford but since it's moved to Anthorn at only 17kw (almost a quarter of the power) it is almost impossible to receive due to local interference most likely caused by overhead power line's I wonder what bright spark decided to move it to Anthorn at almost a quarter of the power must live in an electrically quite place with today's electrical noise it needs more power not less
Can you please tell me what MSF stands for? I have tried looking on the Internet, but no luck.
It's a radio license call sign, like WWV. It doesn't stand for anything. It identifies the station.
Since you have to get the signal through the air, dont you lose accuracy the farther you are from the source?
That’s a good question, but this is why most countries have their own time transmitter I guess. Although radio waves do travel at the speed of light so there will not be must of a delay 👍
@@TechMindsOfficial Its going to be a lot more accurate than syncing the time from the internet.
@@Eon119 Given that most SDR radios have an xx ms latency, a good NTP server can potentially provide higher accuracy.
The delay is about 5.8 microseconds per mile and will be variable if you're monitoring a station by skywave as the reflection zone in the ionosphere moves up and down and the path length changes.
I ve managed to decode both MSF & DSF, using RSP1A.
Free version of CLOCK does not allow you to sync your PC so I tried Spectrum Lab with success (it only supports DCF).
Propagation delay from DCF to my QTH in Athens is about 6ms but the total delay I measured (compared to NTP servers) was around 400ms due to processing delay of the audio.
I don't know if there is an offset you can put in order to overcome this problem.
Maybe using a conventional receiver is a better choice to obtain accurate sync with this method.
73 de sv1fxo
Christos
Can’t seem to pick this one up, I am using a 27mHz antenna, but my watch pics up the signal easy hummm
I got it decoding the DCF77 signal from Mainflingen Germany. Does the software also synchronizes the build in pc clock? I manually changed the pc clock to put it a few minutes off, but it never synchronized back to the right time.
Note to self: No update of the PC system time in limited version. I should have read better :)
Did you say you are using a half-wave antenna? That would be around 2.5km at 60kHz, surely?
I’m using a multiband EFHW for 80 to 10 but I unscrewed the outer part of the PL259 so just the centre was connected. Made it into essentially a long wire with no Balun. But I guess you can receive such low frequencies just using a normal LW ferrite antenna like you see in radios etc
Multi-turn loop antennas are better at these low frequencies.
The clock and calendar within Ubuntu seem close enough.
Wow this is crazy. I just got a new watch that can sync time on its own. I was just thinking if anyone has try it grab the data.
It’s a 59 here , 73 PD1JDW
WHAT IS THIS PERSON TALKING ABOUT? My battery ran out now replaced, my clock seems stuck on 8.00
Can somebody explain the following please? If the MSF time signal is broadcast on ~60 kHz, then why is the Clock application showing 567.1 Hz - that equates to 0.567kHz?
I believe that's the audio frequency of the tone you're hearing.
The software is monitoring the audio coming from the SDR receiver program. Note that the SDR frequency is tuned slightly low at 59.433 kHz. That will cause the 60 kHz carrier to generate an audio tone at 60,000 - 59,433 = 567 Hz. That's the tone the software is decoding. If you were to set the receiver right on 60 kHz, you'd hear nothing because it would be decoding at 0 Hz.
nice channel `73 de YO2MMJ