NIST Eyes East Coast Version of WWVB

01.18.2008

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology is considering setting up a U.S. East Coast low-frequency radio station broadcasting NIST time in binary code format to complement the present NIST 60 kHz, WWVB broadcast .

“The proposed new East Coast broadcast will operate with the same time code format as the present WWVB signal, however at a different carrier frequency, potentially at 40 kHz,” John Lowe, the WWVB station manager, told RW.

Eight years ago, the power of the WWVB broadcast out of Colorado was increased from 13 kW to 50 kW and has since been increased to 70 kW, he said; but “even at this power level there are locations on the East Coast that have difficulty consistently receiving the time code.”

Some advocates say an East Coast broadcast would make the time code easier to receive, increase sales of radio-controlled clocks and spur development of radio-controlled timing devices in appliances and other consumer products. Lowe is seeking comments about the possibility and asks that readers write to him. His e-mail address is lowe@boulder.nist.gov.