Decoding Radio Time Signal From An Atomic Clock MSF UK 60kHz 

Here in germany we´re using 77 kHz. Greetings to UK :-)

At the tone, zero hours, fifty three minutes, universal coordinated time deeeeet doodoodoodoo..... that’s a perfect imitation of WWV FT. Colin’s Colorado. lol

I've used the same app to decode the 60.khz WWVB signal in Colorado from Virginia.

Thank you for your videos!

Great videos all around, got the clock receiving CHU Canada, I live 20 miles from the transmitter. I will check the other stations. Thank you

In United States here in Maryland. I used WWV in Ft. Collins Colorado 5000khz. Thanks for the video!

In one of my videos I built such a transmitter myself. So the these signals are now available in Australia as well as in California (according viewers comments) ;-)

Worked good here in Minnesota, USA on WWVB 60 kHz. Fun to see how it works and decode it on the computer.

First viewer :-) Always very happy to watch your videos and learn :-) Btw, hello from the Philippines

Thanks for the interesting video! I do use the same software as you with an SDRplay-RSPdx SDR and a Wellbrook ALA1530LN loop antenna. Here in Switzerland, I can receive 3 solid clock signals. The strongest one (used in most of continental Europe) is DCF 77.5 KHz. from Germany, the 2 others are the BBC on 198KHz. and France Inter on 162KHz. All can be decoded using "Clock" software without any problems! Unfortunately, MSF on 60KHz. is jammed by some local interference. Cheers!

thank you for sharing

Their is also the BBC Radio 4 transmitter on 198kHz. I've done a unit using an STFM32F405 with a tuned ferrite rod antenna feeding directly into one of the ADC inputs. The firmware down samples to baseband I/Q, frequency/phase locks onto the carrier and demodulates the phase shift encoded time data. I use the carrier to lock a 10MHz OCXO rather than using the usual GPS route. These transmissions are EXTREMELY handy ! .. as also mentioned, it's the same with the french TDF on 162kHz which also carries phase shift encoded time data, that's also extremely strong and VERY handy here in the UK.

I live in the western US and used sdr# and Clock to receive a CHU Canada frame from almost 2000 miles away today.

Banks don't use the accurate time signal to calculate interest. It is required by law to time stamp trades. In some jurisdictions the time stamps on trades must be accurate to within 3 seconds or the trade is voided. Additionally, an accurate time signal is required within networks of all types. The audio recording industry needs not time but frequency (also derived from MSF and others like it) in order to align all their machines that sample incoming audio. Often the recordings are accompanied by timecode which is derived from the time receiver in the studio.

i listen to WWV here in the US on 10 mhz, signal is very strong, no antenna needed at all. they also announce the time too.

WWV in Fort Collins can be received from 2.5, 5, 10, 15 MHz. Proving time of day in UTC. From the National institute of Standards and Technology. WWVH is Hawaii. On 2.5

I've written code that decodes the UK MSF signal on Ardunio as a learning exercise. Most clocks that use the signal require 2 consecutive minutes of error free transmission, this is because the parity checks are simple so it is possible to get several errors and then the parity check still passes, and end up with a silly time. So by obtaining two minutes of reception where the parity check is correct AND the second received time signal is a minute ahead of the one immediately prior means errors are very unlikely and the device can be certain the time is correct. We should use this method when we use the time signal for our own uses. Subsequent resyncs to correct for drift can just wait a full minute and then use that to resync. This is why sometimes it takes ages for clocks to get the time on first power up, (because it is harder to get two consecutive minutes error free) then after that they are okay when all they need to do is correct for drift.

I saw the signal on the Netherlands websdr at 60khz

but ,how to know SDR and Dec lantency ?

Interesting. Actually DCF77 is very popular across EU, including Eastern Europe. Still, there is another transmitter in France, which seems to be largely unknown, but transmits at bigger power levels (~10 times) than DCF77. It is called TDF and the signal is phase modulated. The frequency is 162kHz. It seems better alternative. I have plans to DIY receiver for it... sometime in the future..

I ve managed to decode both MSF & DSF, using RSP1A. Free version of CLOCK does not allow you to sync your PC so I tried Spectrum Lab with success (it only supports DCF). Propagation delay from DCF to my QTH in Athens is about 6ms but the total delay I measured (compared to NTP servers) was around 400ms due to processing delay of the audio. I don't know if there is an offset you can put in order to overcome this problem. Maybe using a conventional receiver is a better choice to obtain accurate sync with this method. 73 de sv1fxo Christos

When the clock came from Rugby it had power of 60kw and I had a very strong signal in Watford but since it's moved to Anthorn at only 17kw (almost a quarter of the power) it is almost impossible to receive due to local interference most likely caused by overhead power line's I wonder what bright spark decided to move it to Anthorn at almost a quarter of the power must live in an electrically quite place with today's electrical noise it needs more power not less

Can’t seem to pick this one up, I am using a 27mHz antenna, but my watch pics up the signal easy hummm

It’s a 59 here , 73 PD1JDW

The clock and calendar within Ubuntu seem close enough.

I got it decoding the DCF77 signal from Mainflingen Germany. Does the software also synchronizes the build in pc clock? I manually changed the pc clock to put it a few minutes off, but it never synchronized back to the right time.

nice channel `73 de YO2MMJ

Wow this is crazy. I just got a new watch that can sync time on its own. I was just thinking if anyone has try it grab the data.

Can you please tell me what MSF stands for? I have tried looking on the Internet, but no luck.

Since you have to get the signal through the air, dont you lose accuracy the farther you are from the source?

WHAT IS THIS PERSON TALKING ABOUT? My battery ran out now replaced, my clock seems stuck on 8.00

Did you say you are using a half-wave antenna? That would be around 2.5km at 60kHz, surely?

Can somebody explain the following please? If the MSF time signal is broadcast on ~60 kHz, then why is the Clock application showing 567.1 Hz - that equates to 0.567kHz?