Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

"ChrisCoaster" wrote in message
...
On Sep 16, 7:34 pm, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:


WWVB is a whole different beast from WWV/WWVH. :) I never had a use for or
a
way to tune into WWVB until after I moved out of range. :)

Actually the only difference between VH and VB is the frequencies VB
is carried on - down where the whales are listening. :) But it's the
same thing - tick tones and minute and hourly beeps.

WWVB has digital information and no voice announcements. All binary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWVB

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

"Bob Dobbs" wrote in message
news:4ab1aff9.1468062@chupacabra...
Brenda Ann wrote:
Remember when crystal
control used to mean excellent frequency control and stability?

Compared to mechanical escapement devices it was an amazing
breakthrough, such that 'quartz' became a buzzword of quality.
Back in the early 60s I dreamt for a quartz watch like the kind I threw
so many away when I started to get the solar atomic versions.

Yes, at one time, quartz watches used to be the mark of excellence, but,
like everything else, when they went to mega-mass production, the quality
control went to hell. Now, if you get a good mechanical watch from the days
of yore, there's a good chance it's considerably more accurate.

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

On Sep 16, 8:51*pm, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:
"Bob Dobbs" wrote in message

news:4ab1aff9.1468062@chupacabra...

Brenda Ann wrote:
Remember when crystal
control used to mean excellent frequency control and stability?

Compared to mechanical escapement devices it was an amazing
breakthrough, such that 'quartz' became a buzzword of quality.
Back in the early 60s I dreamt for a quartz watch like the kind I threw
so many away when I started to get the solar atomic versions.

Yes, at one time, quartz watches used to be the mark of excellence, but,
like everything else, when they went to mega-mass production, the quality
control went to hell. Now, if you get a good mechanical watch from the days
of yore, there's a good chance it's considerably more accurate.

The Bulova "Accutron" was my first 'electronic'
Wris****ch and it still had 3-Hands H:M:S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accutron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf_fn3IgawY
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/obje.../1963-306.aspx

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

ChrisCoaster wrote:
On Sep 16, 7:34 pm, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:

WWVB is a whole different beast from WWV/WWVH. :) I never had a use for or a
way to tune into WWVB until after I moved out of range. :)

Actually the only difference between VH and VB is the frequencies VB
is carried on - down where the whales are listening. :) But it's the
same thing - tick tones and minute and hourly beeps.

-CC


The schedules are significantly different. Plus WWVB has a chic
announcer, whereas WWV is a dude.

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

ChrisCoaster wrote:
On Sep 16, 7:34 pm, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:

WWVB is a whole different beast from WWV/WWVH. :) I never had a use for or a
way to tune into WWVB until after I moved out of range. :)

Actually the only difference between VH and VB is the frequencies VB
is carried on - down where the whales are listening. :) But it's the
same thing - tick tones and minute and hourly beeps.

-CC

I'm sorry, I meant WWVH. Very early in Duckburg. WWVB is what my clocks
tune into in the middle of the night.

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

dave wrote:

ChrisCoaster wrote:
On Sep 16, 7:34 pm, "Brenda Ann"
wrote:

WWVB is a whole different beast from WWV/WWVH. :) I never had a use for or a
way to tune into WWVB until after I moved out of range. :)

Actually the only difference between VH and VB is the frequencies VB
is carried on - down where the whales are listening. :) But it's the
same thing - tick tones and minute and hourly beeps.

-CC


The schedules are significantly different. Plus WWVB has a chic
announcer, whereas WWV is a dude.

No, it's WWVH that has the woman announcer. WWVB has no announcer.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

Brenda Ann wrote:
"Bob Dobbs" wrote in message
news:4ab1aff9.1468062@chupacabra...
Brenda Ann wrote:
Remember when crystal
control used to mean excellent frequency control and stability?
Compared to mechanical escapement devices it was an amazing
breakthrough, such that 'quartz' became a buzzword of quality.
Back in the early 60s I dreamt for a quartz watch like the kind I threw
so many away when I started to get the solar atomic versions.

Yes, at one time, quartz watches used to be the mark of excellence, but,
like everything else, when they went to mega-mass production, the quality
control went to hell. Now, if you get a good mechanical watch from the days
of yore, there's a good chance it's considerably more accurate.



Yeah,
That is why I still wear a Casio from 1981. It won't break and it keeps
time to about 5 seconds a month. 4 battery chances, 4 wrist straps, and
it keeps on going. I have even taken it diving (free air, about 25 feet)
and fallen off my boat many times (mostly planned).
It ain't broke so why buy a Chinese junker. Mine says proudly "Made in
Japan"

Bill Baka

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

ChrisCoaster wrote:
On Sep 15, 4:27 pm, Bill Baka wrote:

What's the big deal?

Bill Baka
_________________
I'm not sure who this question is for, but I'll say the "big deal" is
that the general public doesn't care or feel the need for such an
accurate source of the time of day. At least half the population in
total probably think shortwave was something last used on the
Titanic! Let alone know what band WWVB/H broadcasts on.

-CC

It was a response to someone who just had to have the time to a few
milliseconds, for whatever reason.
I didn't ask the question.

Bill Baka

Shortwave Time Signals - Where have they gone?
 

On 9/17/09 10:38 , Bill Baka wrote:
Brenda Ann wrote:
"Bob Dobbs" wrote in message
news:4ab1aff9.1468062@chupacabra...
Brenda Ann wrote:
Remember when crystal
control used to mean excellent frequency control and stability?
Compared to mechanical escapement devices it was an amazing
breakthrough, such that 'quartz' became a buzzword of quality.
Back in the early 60s I dreamt for a quartz watch like the kind I threw
so many away when I started to get the solar atomic versions.

Yes, at one time, quartz watches used to be the mark of excellence,
but, like everything else, when they went to mega-mass production, the
quality control went to hell. Now, if you get a good mechanical watch
from the days of yore, there's a good chance it's considerably more
accurate.



Yeah,
That is why I still wear a Casio from 1981. It won't break and it keeps
time to about 5 seconds a month. 4 battery chances, 4 wrist straps, and
it keeps on going. I have even taken it diving (free air, about 25 feet)
and fallen off my boat many times (mostly planned).
It ain't broke so why buy a Chinese junker. Mine says proudly "Made in
Japan"

Bill Baka


In 84, I bought a quartz watch at Wal-Mart for $4. It kept
perfect time. I set it twice a year, at the change, and that was it.

My house got robbed in '87. They took it. Damn.

Today, I wear an automatic mechanical Seiko. Not quite as
accurate, but it never needs batteries, keeps excellent time, and I
can read it in the dark without my glasses.

Interesting how things come around.

On the west coast of the United States, I regularly hear WWV and WWVH on 5, 10, and 15 mHz. I occasionally pick up CHU on 3.33 and 7.85 mHz. Most of the time, I use an Eton E5 receiver with an indoor wire antenna hung along my ceiling (on the top floor of an apartment building).

What kind of antenna are you using?