PRECISE FREQUENCY CALIBRATION USING TELEVISION VIDEO CARRIERS

Edward E. Burkhardt

Abstract:	The availability of inexpensive and quick precise frequency calibration methods is limited. VLF and GPS do offer precise calibration. However, antenna placement, cost of equipment, and calibration time place many restrictions on the user. The USNO maintained line-10 television Time of Coincidence (TOC) of station WTTG, channel 5, Washington, DC requires a frequency stable video carrier. This video carrier, 77.24 MHz, is controlled by the same cesiun beam standard controlling the TOC of line-10. Excellent frequency comparisons against this video carrier have been accomplished at 95 miles (153 km). With stable propagation and a three foot wire antenna, a part in 10 can be determined in a few minutes. Inexpensive field equipment with a synthesized 1 kHz offset from the video carrier offers parts in 1011 calibrations in a few minutes using an oscilloscope as a phase comparator.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 22th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting December 4 - 6, 1990 Sheraton Premiere Hotel Vienna, Virginia
Pages:	231 - 234
Cite this article:	Burkhardt, Edward E., "PRECISE FREQUENCY CALIBRATION USING TELEVISION VIDEO CARRIERS," Proceedings of the 22th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Vienna, Virginia, December 1990, pp. 231-234.
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