Historical data

[jeffreyinberthoud]

Wile doing some reserch I found this data that might be of intrest to those in northern CO , Im guessing these are the multiple towers on the north end of town. toward the end they have some old pics

http://tf.nist.gov/timefreq/general/pdf/1718.pdf


the Document seems rather old is it still used for the same purpose?

(Mods feel free to relocate I felt that since this was a colorado site it would be ok to ask here)

 

[Warbirdhunter]

Jeff do you think they could of been a part of Aviation in anyway? I am no expert but NW0U would know better. Of course I could be way way off. Just an idea.

 

[GrayJeep]

That brochure is describing WWV.

The first two letters of the Morse Code that used to be learned by shortwave listeners were W and V from the time stations at 5, 10, 15 and 20 Mhz identifying itself.

Now they ID by voice.

WWV towers are still there (and still transmitting) north of Ft. Collins. The red anti-collision lights on all the towers blink simultaneously making them easy to pick out on a dark night.

While the frequency standard stations used to also set a timekeeping standard, the really precise time standard now is via GPS rather than shortwave stations.

 

[jeffreyinberthoud]

tower hisory

:roll:I know what it is or was its the Atomic clock transmitter I bet

 

[GrayJeep]

:roll:I know what it is or was its the Atomic clock transmitter I bet

I think the clock is/was kept at NBS in Boulder. WWV was the remote transmitting site because there was lots of room for really tall towers.

They still transmit time info, it just isn't the coolest, bestest from outer space time.

 

[scanlist]

Least we forget that the VLF 60 KHz WWVB also is present at the Wellington transmitter site which is used for synchronizing "atomic" watches, wall clocks and alarm clocks that consumers use among other things.

Sure it's really old school but is still used in the 21st century.

 

[soundchaser]

I think the clock is/was kept at NBS in Boulder. WWV was the remote transmitting site because there was lots of room for really tall towers.

They still transmit time info, it just isn't the coolest, bestest from outer space time.

I remember reading someplace on their website, that another reason the location was chosen was that the soil had good grounding characteristics.

 

[Spud]

WWV info

WWVB began operating from the Wellington site, north of Fort Collins in 1963 and the rest of the WWV station transmitters were move there from the Maryland location in 1966. I remember monitoring the new signals from Corpus Christi, Texas and receiving their new QSL card in January 1967. The front of the QSL card had an image of the high plains with indians on horseback and the back had the usual confirmation information and a brief statement about the new location. WWVB is still the sync signal for all the "atomic" clocks that are so common in homes and businesses around the U.S.

The spud.

 

[poltergeisty]

Funny, I always thought my atomic clock got its signal from WWV. Never heard of WWVB.

 

[Spud]

Wwvb

WWVB operating on 60 KHz does not have any voice announcements. The transmission is pulse width modulated using a binary coded decimal format that provides the year, day of year, hour, minute, second, and flags that indicate the status of Daylight Saving Time. The effective radiated power is 70 KW from two top-loaded monopole antennas at the Wellington site. In addition to the sync for the "atomic" clocks and wristwatches, it is also used for network time synchronization and frequency calibrations.

The public used to be able to tour the facility but that was discontinued years ago. Back in the early 80s, you could still drive into the site and look at the antennas and buildings, but that too has been discontinued. Now the best you can do is view the site from the county road that runs along the south property line.

The spud.

 

[GrayJeep]

The public used to be able to tour the facility but that was discontinued years ago. Back in the early 80s, you could still drive into the site and look at the antennas and buildings, but that too has been discontinued. Now the best you can do is view the site from the county road that runs along the south property line.

The spud.

I remember being surprised that you could just drive thru the gate and onto the property. (in the '80's)

Was working with some Japanese engineers in the early '09's. One of them was a ham. He knew WWV quite well.

So for our lunch break one day we drove up there to have a look around at the world-famous (to hams) location.

It was a very unique cultural and teambuilding experience