WWVH Kauai, Hawaii - 1988

A quick tour from 1988 of the "National Bureau of Standards" (NIST) Time and frequency standard shortwave station WWVH on Hawaii's Kauai island, conducted by their chief engineer Nobo Hironaka. See the wacky mechanical/magnetic/cylindrical playback machine for time announcements, and the world-famous Atomic Clock. Plus walls and walls of shortwave transmitters! A treat for xmitter geeks.

[@patton303]

This dude is scary smart. He's dumbing it down a little because he's being modest.

[@StringerNews1]

Cool to see the magnetic drum player. To think that's how I used to hear the voices on WWV when I first tuned in c. 1970! And WWVH had the same voice as the Bell System announcements. "The number that you have dialed... ...has been disconnected..."

[@SuEnRoD]

We used portable cesium beam time standards in the USAF back in the early to mid 80's to re-insert time into a SLFCS (Survivable Low Frequency Communications System) so it could keep synced up with the transmitters. It was one of the Comm systems for the Titan II missile complex's around Wichita Kansas. Cool video!!

[@chuggachuggawoowoo]

I talked to this guy in around 1991. I requested information because I picked up WWVH while I was in the northeast. He was very excited to know that the signal had gone that far. He sent me a large envelope with a booklet about the station and a lot of other interesting information about the National Bureau of Standards.

[@vader2774]

chuggachuggawoowoo sounds like a guy that’s doing what he loves

[@stdorn]

I'm amazed anyone could pick it up in the US with Fort Collins on the same frequency! cool.

[@cameraman655]

@@stdorn Heard frequently here in Texas back in the 90s. I have their QSL somewhere in my attic.

[@cmandrell]

@@stdorn i have picked up both at the same time

[@poggy205]

@Asher Gus 🤦‍♂️

[@CannaCJ]

How cool. I can't help but imagine that this was the best day of the videographer's year.

[@candace6637]

Thanks! I used to tune into WWV and/or WWVH while "op checking" aircraft HF radios. It actually never dawned on me that the woman on WWVH was the same one I heard on the phone (Jane Barbe)!

[@setxbubba9641]

OMG...look at the ATC cart machines!!!!!

[@QUIZFILTER]

Wow thank you so much for this! Very cool to see the inner workings of a piece of technological history & my childhood nostalgia... love it!!!

[@maxdutiel]

3:00 the racks that contain Jane look like they are just telephone equipment racks.

[@meechmushrooms]

This is cool! Wow, 1988... It has updated technology now, I think. Still, thanks for this tour! It's as if you knew in '88 that you would someday upload this to TH-cam! Lol :)

[@mandolinsara]

Thank you for sharing!

[@tpobrienjr]

Note the dial telephone on the console in the transmitter room.

[@kimjong-un4411]

I heard it too

[@stdorn]

I haven't seen cart type tapes in several decades. Very cool I have never seen a drum recorder like that.

[@erikk77]

Can they make time go backwards? I'd like to undo some bad decisions.

[@heinzgronau]

I am still waiting for the time signal to reach my atomic wrist watch in Kailua Oahu. Please boost the power !!!

[@RonaldVaughan]

LOL!!!!

[@mariostar13]

You don't get signals out in those areas.

[@stargazer7644]

That time signal for your watch is coming from WWVB in Fort Collins Colorado.

[@HamRadioLiveShow]

I’d love to use this on my TH-cam podcast that teaches ham radio as well as broadcast radio. We have many shortwave viewers that watch the show. This would be a fantastic look back. I’ll make sure to credit your channel and put a link to it in the description section.
Larry
de K7HN

[@roachtoasties]

I was expecting to see a radio station studio with a D.J. announcing the time every minute. By the way, do you happen to know what time it is? :/