WWVB: A Half Century of Delivering Accurate Frequency and Time by Radio

J Res Natl Inst Stand Technol. 2014 Mar 12:119:25-54. doi: 10.6028/jres.119.004. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

In commemoration of its 50th anniversary of broadcasting from Fort Collins, Colorado, this paper provides a history of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio station WWVB. The narrative describes the evolution of the station, from its origins as a source of standard frequency, to its current role as the source of time-of-day synchronization for many millions of radio controlled clocks.

Keywords: broadcasting; frequency; radio; standards; time.