[HATS] Cheap Time

[Ron L. Sparks]

I know there are more accurate sources than WWVB, but none cheaper right
now.  If you are at all serious about WWVB timing then hoof it on down to
your local RadioShack.  Their website shows a sale:

"Desk Alarm Clock Sets Itself With Atomic Accuracy  $19.97
Reg. Price $29.99  Cat.#: 63-968"

Once you have one of these gems, use it as is or get over to Larry
Cochrane's site:

http://www.webtronics.com/wwvbsdr.html

And get busy breadboarding the simple circuit in Fig. 2.  You will then have
1 pps output and the digital data for decoding WWVB.  All for about $25.
Can't do better than that for a WWVB unit.  Should give you accuracy to 100
mS or better.  Good enough for many purposes.

BTW, the decoding info for the digital data (0.2s = 0, 0.5s = 1, 0.8s =
frame marker) is at:

http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwvb.htm

The whole thing will run on a 12 v supply.

Ron, AG5RS

---
Send e-mail to 'listar@stevens.com' with subject:

  'unsubscribe hats'  to unsubscribe from this list
  'subscribe hats'    to subscribe from this list
  'help'              for more information