Beta is a
time signal service
A radio clock or radio-controlled clock (RCC), and often (incorrectly) referred to as an atomic clock is a type of quartz clock or watch that is automatically synchronized to a time code transmitted by a radio transmitter connected to a time s ...
in the
VLF
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3–30 kHz, corresponding to wavelengths from 100 to 10 km, respectively. The band is also known as the myriameter band or myriameter wave a ...
range in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
, operated by the
Russian Navy.
[C3 Systems of the CIS Navy](_blank)
It is controlled by
.
[. Official signal specification.] There are 6 transmitter stations, which take turns transmitting time signals and other communications.
Each transmitter has 1 or 2 scheduled sessions per day lasting 31–41 minutes, depending on transmitter, total 8 sessions in 24 hours. Beginning on the hour is 15–20 minutes of 25.0 kHz, including
morse code
Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called ''dots'' and ''dashes'', or ''dits'' and ''dahs''. Morse code is named after Samuel Morse, one of ...
station identification and time code. This is followed by 3- or 4-minute intervals of 25.1, 25.5, 23.0 and 20.5 kHz of unmodulated carrier precisely phase-locked to UTC(SU) time scale. No time code is sent during the last quarter of an hour.
The Beta network
Beta consists of the following transmitters:
Frequency usage
The time code consists of a series of signals on multiple frequencies. Transmission starts on the hour. Each time a new frequency is selected, there is 1 minute of low power while the transmitter is adjusted, then full-power transmissions begin.
The transmitters are estimated to operate at 1000 kW, achieving 30–50 kW
EIRP
Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would hav ...
. (The difference is due to the low efficiency of antennas at this frequency, which must be much smaller than the 12 km wavelength.)
The time code consists of a series of carrier pulses:
[Meinberg radio clock glossary: R](_blank)
see entries fo
an
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* Each 100 ms, a 25 ms burst of carrier is transmitted
* Each second, a 100 ms burst of carrier is transmitted
* Each 10 s, a 1 s burst of carrier is transmitted
* Each minute, a 10 s burst of carrier is transmitted
The hour or date is not coded.
Most of the stations were built in the 1970s. RJH63 and RAB99, built later, has a different transmission:
See also
* RWM
References
Further reading
VLF radio networks information
by Trond Jacobsen, with detailed transmission format information.
Time signal radio stations
Science and technology in the Soviet Union
Communications in the Soviet Union
Soviet Navy
Russian Navy
{{Time signal authorities