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BBC Network Radio Time and Frequency Standard and Its Role in the Provision of the Greenwich Time Signal.

ADA521283

Publication Date	1990
Personal Author	McIlroy, J.
Page Count	9
Abstract	The BBC has broadcast the Greenwich Time Signal (GTS) on its networks since 1924. Up to February 1990 this signal was generated by the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) in England and the BBC was informed that the RCO was moving its location to Cambridge and might not be able to continue to provide the Greenwich Time Service. The BBC in its role of a public service broadcaster believed that a long tradition of providing a time signal to its listeners should be upheld, and US such decided to seek alternative methods of provision. In parallel with the activity an in-house requirement arose to re- engineer time switch equipment and provide new facilities for digital audio project. As both requirements have a common engineering core, a decision was taken to design and procure a Time and Frequency Standard that could generate the Greenwich Time Signal to the same specification adhered to by the RGO, and provide additional time and frequency facilities. This paper discusses initially the concept of time and time frequency dissemination as used in a broadcast network, and follows on to present the details of an engineering solution to the requirements of BBC Network Radio. Trends in international broadcasting and the commercial telecommunications market place point toward approx. the increased use of digital audio for studio networking and terrestrial links. The synchronization requirements in this field we more stringent than that incurred in analogue distribution. This paper will consider what timing systems are needed in these applications and how these requirements are satisfied in the BBC Time and Frequency Standard. Finally this paper will present a fringe benefit of the BBC Network Radio system. This is the ability to obtain UTC time from the system using a mo&m dial up method from any location in the world. This facility is currently under evaluation within the BBC; and if considered viable will be available to other organizations and companies in the near future.
Keywords	Radio broadcasting Communication and radio systems Marketing Networks Distribution Frequency standards Sound Synchronization(Electronics) Telecommunications Time signals Timing devices Cores Digital systems Solutions(General) Greenwich time signal Gts(Greenwich time signal) Rgo(Royal greenwich observatory) Bbc radio Bbc(British broadcasting company)
Source Agency	Non Paid ADAS
Corporate Authors	British Broadcasting Corp., London (England).
Supplemental Notes	See also ADA239372. Presented at the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (22nd) held in Vienna, VA on 4-6 December 1990. Published in the Proceedings of the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (22nd), p401-408, December 1990.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Conference paper.
NTIS Issue Number	201020

BBC Network Radio Time and Frequency Standard and Its Role in the Provision of the Greenwich Time Signal.

BBC Network Radio Time and Frequency Standard and Its Role in the Provision of the Greenwich Time Signal.
ADA521283

Publication Date	1990
Personal Author	McIlroy, J.
Page Count	9
Abstract	The BBC has broadcast the Greenwich Time Signal (GTS) on its networks since 1924. Up to February 1990 this signal was generated by the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) in England and the BBC was informed that the RCO was moving its location to Cambridge and might not be able to continue to provide the Greenwich Time Service. The BBC in its role of a public service broadcaster believed that a long tradition of providing a time signal to its listeners should be upheld, and US such decided to seek alternative methods of provision. In parallel with the activity an in-house requirement arose to re- engineer time switch equipment and provide new facilities for digital audio project. As both requirements have a common engineering core, a decision was taken to design and procure a Time and Frequency Standard that could generate the Greenwich Time Signal to the same specification adhered to by the RGO, and provide additional time and frequency facilities. This paper discusses initially the concept of time and time frequency dissemination as used in a broadcast network, and follows on to present the details of an engineering solution to the requirements of BBC Network Radio. Trends in international broadcasting and the commercial telecommunications market place point toward approx. the increased use of digital audio for studio networking and terrestrial links. The synchronization requirements in this field we more stringent than that incurred in analogue distribution. This paper will consider what timing systems are needed in these applications and how these requirements are satisfied in the BBC Time and Frequency Standard. Finally this paper will present a fringe benefit of the BBC Network Radio system. This is the ability to obtain UTC time from the system using a mo&m dial up method from any location in the world. This facility is currently under evaluation within the BBC; and if considered viable will be available to other organizations and companies in the near future.
Keywords	Radio broadcasting Communication and radio systems Marketing Networks Distribution Frequency standards Sound Synchronization(Electronics) Telecommunications Time signals Timing devices Cores Digital systems Solutions(General) Greenwich time signal Gts(Greenwich time signal) Rgo(Royal greenwich observatory) Bbc radio Bbc(British broadcasting company)
Source Agency	Non Paid ADAS
Corporate Authors	British Broadcasting Corp., London (England).
Supplemental Notes	See also ADA239372. Presented at the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (22nd) held in Vienna, VA on 4-6 December 1990. Published in the Proceedings of the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (22nd), p401-408, December 1990.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Conference paper.
NTIS Issue Number	201020