WWVH is the callsign of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology's shortwave radio time signal station located at the Barking Sands Missile Range, in Kekaha, on the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. 21°59′16″N 159°45′47″W / 21.98778°N 159.76306°W
WWVH is the Pacific sister station to WWV, and has a similar broadcast format. Like WWV, WWVH's main function is the dissemination of official U.S. Government time, through exactly the same methods as found on WWV's signal.
To minimize interference with the WWV broadcasts on the same frequencies, WWVH's broadcasts on 5, 10 and 15 MHz are directional, pointed primarily west. Despite this strategy, in certain places, particularly on the west coast of North America; and at certain times, due to ionospheric conditions, the listener can actually hear both WWV and WWVH on the same frequency at the same time. The information modulated on the carrier is modified to reduce confusion if both are received simultaneously. In particular, voice announcements on one correspond to silent periods on the other. WWVH uses a female voice ( Jane Barbe) to distinguish itself from WWV, which uses a male voice. WWVH time signals can also be accessed by telephone.
Station | Year in service |
Year out of service |
Radio frequencies |
Audio frequencies |
Musical pitch |
Time intervals |
Time signals |
UT2 correction |
Propagation forecasts |
Geophysical alerts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WWV | 1923 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
WWVH | 1948 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
WWVB | 1963 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
WWVL | 1963 | 1972 | ✔ |
WWVH antenna coordinates [2] | |
---|---|
2.5 MHz | 21°59′20.9″N 159°45′52.4″W / 21.989139°N 159.764556°W |
5 MHz | 21°59′10.8″N 159°45′44.8″W / 21.986333°N 159.762444°W |
10 MHz | 21°59′18.2″N 159°45′51.3″W / 21.988389°N 159.764250°W |
15 MHz | 21°59′15.3″N 159°45′50.0″W / 21.987583°N 159.763889°W |
WWVH broadcasts its signal on four transmitters, one for each frequency. The 2.5 MHz transmitter puts out an ERP of 5 kW, while the other transmitters use 10 kW of ERP. The 2.5 MHz antenna is one half- wavelength tall, and radiates in an omnidirectional pattern. The remaining antennas each consist of two elements one half-wavelength tall and horizontally separated by one quarter-wavelength. The signal radiating from one element is in quadrature phase with respect to the signal from the other. This results in a cardioid radiation pattern with a maximum gain directed west.
The WWVH signal is extremely similar to the WWV signal, but some changes have been made to reduce confusion if both are heard at once: [2]
WWVH identifies itself twice each hour, at 29 and 59 minutes past the hour. The text of the identification is as follows:
National Institute of Standards and Technology Time. This is radio station WWVH, Kauai, Hawaii, broadcasting on internationally allocated standard carrier frequencies of 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 megahertz, providing time of day, standard time interval, and other related information. Inquiries regarding these transmissions may be directed to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Radio Station WWVH, Post Office Box 417, Kekaha, Hawaii 96752. Aloha.
Reception reports sent to that address will on request be answered with a QSL card. [3]
WWVH's time signal can also be accessed by calling +1 (808) 335-4363. [4]