.,-.;,

.'-ti

'JM

^^

t*.;:

^^#'

• J* .^:

'•^i'-^v'-'

'- \ •
REFERENCE

N B S

V

U) NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 674

^''fff AU O* *

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/National Bureau of Standards

Report On

The 1975 Survey of Users of

the Services of Radio Stations

WWY and WWYH

/OO

.6/5753

. no,(o7i

. /975,

'
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The National Bureau of Standards' was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology

and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts

research and provides: (1) a basis for the Nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and government, (3) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to promote public safety. The Bureau consists of the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials Research, the Institute for Applied Technology,

the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, and the Office for Information Programs.

THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the United

States of a complete and consistent system of physical measurement; coordinates that system

with measurement systems of other nations; and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry,

and commerce. The Institute consists of the Office of Measurement Services, the Office of Radiation Measurement and the following Center and divisions:

Applied Mathematics — Electricity — Mechanics — Heat — Optical Physics — Center

for Radiation Research: Nuclear Sciences; Applied Radiation — Laboratory Astrophysics ° — Cryogenics" — Electromagnetics" — Time and Frequency".

THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to improved methods of measurement, standards, and data on the properties of well-characterized

materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and Government; provides

advisory and research services to other Government agencies; and develops, produces, and

distributes standard reference materials. The Institute consists of the Office of Standard

Reference Materials, the Office of Air and Water Measurement, and the following divisions:

Analytical Chemistry — Polymers — Metallurgy — Inorganic Materials — Reactor

Radiation — Physical Chemistry.

THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY provides technical services to promote

the use of available technology and to facilitate technological innovation in industry and Government; cooperates with public and private organizations leading to the development of

technological standards (including mandatory safety standards), codes and methods of test; and provides technical advice and services to Government agencies upon request. The Insti- tute consists of the following divisions and Centers: Standards Application and Analysis — Electronic Technology — Center for Consumer

Product Technology: Product Systems Analysis; Product Engineering — Center for Building

Technology: Structures, Materials, and Life Safety; Building Environment; Technical Evaluation and Application — Center for Fire Research: Fire Science; Fire Safety Engineering.

THE INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY conducts research and provides technical services designed to aid Government agencies in improving cost effec- tiveness in the conduct of their programs through the selection, acquisition, and effective utilization of automatic data processing equipment; and serves as the principal focus within

the executive branch for the development of Federal standards for automatic data processing

equipment, techniques, and computer languages. The Institute consists of the following

divisions: Computer Services — Systems and Software — Computer Systems Engineering — Information Technology.

THE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION PROGRAMS promotes optimum dissemination and

accessibility of scientific information generated within NBS and other agencies of the Federal Government; promotes the development of the National Standard Reference Data System and

a system of information analysis centers dealing with the broader aspects of the National Measurement System; provides appropriate services to ensure that the NBS staff has optimum

accessibility to the scientific information of the world. The Office consists of the following

organizational units: Office of Standard Reference Data — Office of Information Activities — Office of Technical

Publications — Library — Office of International Relations — Office of International Standards.

1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, DC. 20234.

- Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302.
Report On the 1975 Survey of Users of the

Services of Radio Stations WWV and WWYH

(o7^»

J.A. Barnes

R.E. Beehler

ATIOHAL BUUEAl'

Cnr BTANCAKDH

UBSABT

DEC 3 1 1975

QtlOO

no. ^r-y

H

Time and Frequency Division

Institute for Basic Standards

National Bureau of Standards

Boulder, Colorado 80302

*ti»^

\

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Rogers C. B. Morton, Secretary

John K. Tabor, Under Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

WS NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director

1 1 Issued October 1975
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS TECHNICAL NOTE 674

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech Note 674, 91 pages (Oct. 1975)

CODEN: NBTNAE

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office , Washington, D.C. 20402

(Order by SD Catalog No. 013.46:674) $1.50
Contents

Page

1. Introduction 1

2. General Features of Results 6

3. Specific Results 14

4. Some Frequently Expressed Suggestions/Comments 16

Appendix - Responses from Users of WWV/WWVH Al

Figures

Figure 1 Letter from Time & Frequency Div. Transmitting Questionnaire . . 2 Figure 2 Questionnaire, side 1 3 Figure 3 Questionnaire, side 2 4 Figure 4 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSES 8 Figure 5 NUMBER OF RESPONSES FOR EACH USER CATEGORY 9 Figure 6 USE OF FACILITIES 10

Figure 7 WEEKLY CALLING RATE TO (303) 499-7111 11

Figure 8 FRACTIONAL USE OF TELEPHONE (303-499-7111)

BY GEOGRAPHICAL REGION 12

Figure 9 USE OF THE BROADCAST FREQUENCIES 13

Figure 10 USE OF SERVICES FOR EACH USER CATEGORY 15

111

REPORT ON

THE 1975 SURVEY OF USERS OF THE SERVICES

OF RADIO STATIONS WWV AND WWVH

J. A. Barnes

R. E. Beehler

The users of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) radio stations

WWV and WWVH were surveyed by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to the station mailing list, published

in some periodicals, and its availability was announced on the stations themselves and publicized in other periodicals. More than

12,000 completed questionnaires were returned, which revealed,

am^ng other things, that the 5, 10, and 15 MHz transmissions were

the most used frequencies; 25 MHz was the least used. Of the

information contained on the broadcasts, the voice time-of-day

announcement was the most important, and the DUTl values the

least important. In general the returns were very supportive of

the services, with only two of the more than 12,000 responses advocating a complete shutdown of the broadcasts.

Key Words: Frequency; questionnaire; standard frequency and time broadcasts;

time. , ^ ^ , 1. Introduction

For over 50 years now the National Bureau of Standards has broadcast from its stan- dard frequency and time signal station, WWV, and for over 25 years from station

WWVH. Since 1966, WWV has been located near Ft. Collins, Colorado, and broadcasts on

the frequencies of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 MHz, while WWVH has been located on the

island of Kauai, Hawaii, since 1971 and broadcasts on the frequencies of 2.5, 5, 10,

15, and 20 MHz.

In addition to providing standard time and frequency information, radio stations

WWV and WWVH provide weather announcements, propagation forecasts, geophysical alerts,

and other information. A detailed description of the services provided can be found

in reference [1]

With the advent of the energy crisis in the fall of 1973, the monthly costs of

electricity to power the Hawaiian radio station more than doubled in the course of a few months. In early 1974, power costs were estimated at about $100,000 per year for

WWVH alone.

As a consequence of this state of affairs, it was proposed to reduce the power

radiated from WWVH by 50 percent on the frequencies of 5, 10, and 15 MHz. These frequencies were selected because the greatest savings could be realized with them—not

because they were the least used. Comments concerning this proposal were solicited

by inserting announcements on the broadcasts themselves.

There were several hundred responses purporting to represent "hundreds of thousands" of users of the broadcast services, and many letters were sent directly to U. S. Congressmen and Senators. Almost every letter received objected strongly to the

proposed power reduction.

As a result of this exercise, two decisions were made: (1) We would not (at

that time) reduce power by 50 percent at WWVH on 5, 10, and 15 MHz; and (2) we would

explore more broadly the question of cost and energy savings at both stations WWV and

WWVH.

In order to understand what parts of our services were used and who was using

them and for what purposes, it was decided to sample the users by means of a questionnaire. By this means it was hoped that it would be possible to identify some parts

of the services which could be discontinued at a net savings in both cost and energy

and yet have little impact on the users. Of course, it was also recognized that the

questionnaire provided an opportunity to learn other things about our services and

the users of our services.

A questionnaire was designed (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3), and much of its analysis

was built into computer programs before its availability was announced. Significant

features in the design of the questionnaire were taken to be:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

Boutdsr. Colorado 0O3O3

January 8, 1975

Dear Participant:

In response to government-wide efforts to reduce operating costs and con- serve energy, we are considering various alternatives for operating radio

stations WWV and WWVH. Interested listeners to these stations are being

asked to provide information, via the enclosed questionnaire, which will

help us set priorities and guide our decision-making processes with

respect to these services. Examples of possible changes include the elimination of some broadcast frequencies from WWV and/or WWVH or reductions

in transmitted power on some frequencies.

As a result of greatly increased energy costs at our Hawaiian radio

station, WWVH, we have already solicited comments from users regarding a proposed 50 percent reduction of power at 5, 10, and 15 MHz from WWVH

only. We have received so many objections to this proposal that we have

decided to explore other possible means of cost and energy reductions. It

is hoped that the responses to this questionnaire will allow us to provide

the services needed most within our financial constraints and at an efficient level of energy use. Thus, it is very desirable that you provide us with thoughtful responses to the enclosed questions. Please fold the

questionnaire in thirds with the return address on the outside and staple

or tape it closed and mail. No postage is necessary if mailed within the

U. S. However, a postage stamp is necessary if a reproduced copy of this

questionnaire is mailed.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

ames A. Barnes, Chief

ime and Frequency Division

Enclosure

Figure 1
«» </l > t O •H

I- •*

a.°- • «

li. o "^

Co

i::

Co

a

UJ>

Ulz

llUJ

a:<

o:

UlzHuzo

1/1

>-

-1

1-z

111 o

Ulc

u.

Uloo>

>-<o

u.o

Ulz

tUlooaomV<o

u.o

UlzH

(/I ^u

1-ozou

Ul

U)1 Ulzo >z

UlO

Ul

IT

U.o<z<

inUl<>

1-o n

UlI

1-<

Ul 2

ina

Ul

-1<o

Ul o m

1-tn<o

Ul

ITo

u.zo<<

a.o

o:

»-z<

>- 1- (T a

Ul o > a.zz

_1 z

Ul < > 1- •- a

t- o < Q. -1 z

Ul

M

o: z3

1- 1- < z I < » 1-

ui a. z o o a

in z

h-Z

>- <

(r tui a: > oaz

Uloo>><a

u.o

Ulz

Uloouao

CQ

>-<o

u.o

Ulz muKoZou

Ul«1 Ulzo

>-uz

Ulo

Ul

ITU.aE<oz<

1- V)

Ul3

-1<>

1-o

a:UlI

1-<

Ul X

in

o:UlJ<o

Ul 13

1-<n<u

Ul

q:o

u.zo

t-<<aoa

CL

V)

10Ul

-1UlmD

-1<Z

la

a:<z

Ul

1-<DO

Ulo< 2< Ul I 1-

1- <

Ul o a Ul o Q z < r

i-13Z

Ula

t-

<n

-I<z

to

Ul >- z u

-• z

(- Ul

U. o O Ul

(t

u< a

a. o O N u o u z < <

CNJ

0)

D>

Ul>

Ulz

>-

-1Ul

a:<

in

Ulz

Ulzom

>-

-1t-z

Ula

Ul

a:

u.

NIX

Ul o m o inCM

t-z<

>• t- a n

Ul o > azz > 1- J z

Ul < > K " a H O < a. J z

Ul « a z H 1- < z I < S H

ui

n z o o a m zZ

>- < a »- Ul a > oas

1^Iz

rg in o to o

<M CM

LlZ

>-J

Ul<

V)

Ulz

»-< 1-Ulzo

in

>-

fiz

UlO

Ul

(E

U. >X

X>XX Z <TV o«» Ia'-

Uln JO

Uiro

D

ID!

ID Zr- a

<K

M

^'

X CO o
o >

I- z

I/I CDz

o M o

a J »- z \a 3 o < *^ z

lU N u s H V) o v> o z >< < UJ _l z - o y (A Z z Ul < »- < o z H z H a (A

1- o 10 o < t- <

z < >« >- z a U

< X H Irt m Ul Ul z »-# < »^ t- K

t- u. m U) (- J M I/) O

o o o z < < -1 o u. a a. o o o -1 z

Ul o z N M UJ z

z < o z »- o 1- K z o

H (T o < z < o: tf) ~ <!- — •-

•1 « I

Doz D

,_ (- o t- VI a: u. o tf) o 4/) <J o O z D z 3 »-• o »« Ul >- Q ^^ O in UJ UJ (X u a Z z >- t- 10 3 < 1- o o z < 3 z >- z »- a. in z z a o o (t < o V) 3 IT U) o C < M < o O Ul m H 1- z Ul LU 3 1- (- -J u. a z • < < < o o

I O < •^ 3 Ul ^^ O -J c o s

1- >- u J > Z z < a. CD IS > (- >

•^ »4 »4 < o N Ul in V t- < o

x: UJ u. Z u X z z u Q o UJ M <J o

<J fsi ^1 K o o »4 a z a <fl »« -1 UJ •-« m - •• < z IT < 3 (E z o X cr m K »- a o H a *- o a <n Ul 3 z

(J UJ < - • < Ui U z a < > Z in 1- J > > 5 > i^ J UJ < »4 UJ ^* Z p^ UJ <J o o o o < > UJ -1 - z -1 Z o Ul 10 < o o UJ z < t- UJ 10 V) OL 3 o Ul < (T a: UJ < UJ _l I m

Q. U 3

Doz n

1/) _

o 1- < H z _l

Ul Q. 10 z X

UJ Ul Ul

10 >

z _l Ul o o (/) a. > <

lO z u

UJ -I

a: _l a.

ir <

3 z to o o Ul

>- 10 >

C7;

^'^f^^ opeJOioQ 'Jdpjnog

uoisiAiQ AouanbdJj pue diu/2

spjepuejs JO nsdjng leuoiiefj

913-W03

?)0bl3l\M0n iO INBmUVdBO °8Ti QlVd S33:i ONV BOViSOd

ODES ••n M»»|Jd JO* *J|»u»d

8S3NI£>ne ItfOIJilO

aouaiTiiMoo do xNaiAiibVciaa 'sn
1. Meaningful information content,

2. Explicit statements concerning the vulnerability of services if inadequate

support is received,

3. Ease of computer processing,

4. Self-addressed, postage-free mailing.

The distribution of the questionnaire was handled by four general means, which are considered separately below.

1. Mailing lists

The Time and Frequency Division maintains an active mailing list of people who

are expressly interested in any impending changes in our services. Copies of

the questionnaire were mailed to this mailing list as well as to those who wrote

to us concerning the proposed 50 percent power reduction at WWVH. The total

from these lists was about 1,500.

In addition, we were able to use mailing lists compiled by the North American

Yacht Racing Union (10,000), the National Weather Service (2,600 U. S. ships),

and the Cruising Club of America (900) .

2. Announcements of availability of the questionnaire

The availability of the questionnaire and its importance were announced on both

stations WWV and WWVH three times each hour from January 20, 1975, to May 1,

1975. Thus, the stations themselves were used to sample their own users. The availability of the questionnaire and its importance were also publicized in

various editorials and comments in several magazines and journals.

It is known that such announcements appeared in the following publications:

Publication Date Circulation

Science Trends

Pacific Shipper

Electronic Design

Boulder Daily Camera (story/editorial)

IEEE Spectrum

Sea Secrets

Ham Radio

NBS Standard (story/editorial)

American Horologist & Jeweler

Electromechanical Design

Sea Technology

Society of Broadcast Engineers Signal

Wiliki o Hawaii (Hawaiian engineering

publication)

3. Publication of the questionnaire itself

2-75 7,000

3-75 5,000

3-75 77,500

3-75 22,000

3-75 155,000

3-75 1,500

3-75 44,000

3-75 1,300

3-75 12,000

3-75 32,600

4-75 30,500

4-75 Unknown

4-75 2,135

Several periodicals agreed to publish the questionnaire directly as a separate

page. Unfortunately, several of these periodicals elected not to use the selfaddressed, postage-free aspects of the questionnaire, and the percentage of

responses from those publications was significantly smaller than from those

which published the complete questionnaire. It is known that the questionnaire

appeared in the following periodicals:

Publication

Industrial Communications

QST

CQ

Surgical Business

IEEE Grid

NBS Dimensions

Independent Jeweler

Geophysics

New Zealand DX Times

Notice to Mariners

Date Circulation

1-75 1,300

3-75 114,000

3-75 81,000

3-75 10,000

3-75 9,000

3-75 10,000

3-75 7,300

4-75 8,600

4-75 350

4-75 12,000
4. Other

Questionnaries were also distributed by several other miscellaneous methods,

including handouts at the NBS display at IEEE Intercon in New York (1,000

copies) , handouts at four different offices of the American Radio Association

AFL-CIO (700 copies) , and mailings to Department of Commerce Labs employees in

the local Boulder, Colorado, area (1,750 copies). All in all, a total of

12,050 completed questionnaires have been returned.

It is perhaps worth noting that 2 3 percent of the returned questionnaires indicated that they " officially " represented more than their own personal use of the

services. Most of these participants merely indicated that they were representing the interests of the company which employed them. In a few cases actual

numerical estimates of those officially represented were given. If one assumes

that these numbers are representative of the entire 23 percent indicating

"official" representation, then one obtains a figure many times greater than the

12,050 number of returned questionnaires.

2. General Features of Results

In this Section, the general features of the questionnaire are discussed.

Many of these general features could have been predicted fairly well in advance; and,

thus, one of the major consequences of this Section should be an establishment of

confidence in the results. More specific and detailed results are provided in the

next Section.

An examination of the questionnaire (Figs. 2 and 3) reveals that many of the

questions provide a four-level response format. A high level of use, importance, or generally favorable response is always to the left on the questionnaire, while low

levels or unfavorable responses are toward the right. For much of the analysis which

follows it is useful to provide a single numerical value which in some sense reveals

the consensus response for a given population (e.g., a specific user group) responding

to one of the questions. This numerical score is computed by assigning the weights 3,

2, 1, 0, to the four levels of response in sequence from left to right and averaging

the weighted responses to a given question relative to the specific population.

Within any population (e.g., user group) there are questionnaires for which no response is made to a given question, although this was not frequent. For example,

it appears that occasionally a respondent might simply check that he uses, say, 10 MHz

frequently but not bother to check a use rate for any of the other frequencies. In

the analysis a non-response is normally (for questions 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7) taken to be

equivalent to a check at the extreme right (weight zero) of a given question in the

four-level response area. Such assumptions do not appear reasonable in questions

dealing with interference (question 4), signal strength, and accuracy (question 8).

Thus, when a single numerical score is reported relative to questions 1, 2, 3,

6, and 7, its numerical value must lie between zero and three. Values near zero imply little use or importance of the service, while values near 3 imply high use or importance . For a specific user group the smallest numerical value assigned was 0.24, while

the largest was 2.86. It is clear that in both of these examples a strong consensus

(since they are near the extremes) has been revealed, negative in the first case and

positive in the second.

The fact that there is a wide range of responses from question to question, yet

a good level of agreement on a specific question, provides significant confidence in

the results and suggests that the questionnaire was taken seriously by the participants.

Indeed, it was the purpose of the cover letter accompanying the questionnaire (Fig.

1) to stimulate concern over the important services and ensure a discriminating

response. The questionnaire appears to be successful in this regard.

Out of the total of 12,050 returned questionnaires, only two encouraged a total

discontinuation of all services.

It is worth mentioning that the correlation of "use" responses (questions 1 and

6) is so close to "importance" responses (questions 2 and 7) that this analysis is

confined principally to the "use aspects. This procedure minimizes potential

distortions in the analysis that could have resulted from use of an erroneous version

of the questionnaire early in the survey in which the option "Standard Frequency" was inadvertently omitted from the list of terms under "Importance" in question 7.

6
Geographical Distribution of Responses

Figure 4 reveals the geographical distribution of the completed responses (question 5) . It is interesting to note that every continent is represented (including

Antarctica) in the list. Thus, this adds credence to the idea that WWV and WWVH

provide a world-wide service. As one would expect, of course, most of the users

are in the Western Hemisphere, near the stations where reliability is much higher.

User Classification

In question 9, the participant was asked to classify himself into one of 14 categories. In retrospect it is now obvious that there were three important categories which were overlooked: (1) private citizen, (2) watchmaker/jeweler , and

(3) amateur radio operator. Unfortunately, most of these have been grouped together under the heading of "other."

Figure 5 shows how the users classified themselves. It should be noted that

several participants checked more than one category, and thus the sum of the

classifications is greater than the number of responses. Also, it should be

noted that a maximum of three user categories was transcribed to punched cards

for analysis. Relatively few responses contained more than three user categories.

Relative Use of WWV, WWVH, and Telephone Time

Figure 6 shows the relative use of WWV, WWVH, and the telephone number (303) 499-7111.

The numerical values were computed on the to 3 basis as applied to question 3 and

discussed above. While it is obvious that WWV is the most-used service which is

provided, it is interesting to look at the actual use rate of the telephone time-ofday service—the least-used service. Figure 7 shows the growth in calling rate (in

thousands of calls per week) to telephone number (303) 499-7111, The present calling rate is nearly equivalent to one million calls per year and according to Fig. 6 should be small in its use relative to either WWV or WWVH.

While on the subject of the telephone time-of-day service, it is interesting to

look at the percentage of respondents within a given geographical area who make

either "sometimes" or "frequent" use of the telephone time service. These results

are shown in Fig. 8; and, as one would expect, the Mountain Standard Time Zone

has the highest percentage use, since it includes the toll-free Boulder-Denver

local area. Nonetheless, there is a significant long-distance use of this service.

Relative Use of the Various Broadcast Frequencies

As one could easily predict from various considerations. Fig. 9 shows that the

broadcasts at 5, 10, and 15 MHz are the most used. This is predictable on the

basis of three considerations: (1) during the present, low sunspot phase, propagation at these frequencies is more reliable; (2) the greatest transmitted

power from the radio stations is at these frequencies; and (3) many commercial

receivers receive only these frequencies.

If one were to curtail any of the carrier frequencies, Fig. 9 would strongly suggest 25 MHz and possibly 20 MHz. One might, however, want to retain a flexible

position when we again approach a period of sunspot maxima. Also, the 20 MHz

from WWVH is unique in the Pacific Basin, since JJY, Japan, broadcasts on 2.5,

5, 10, and 15 MHz only.

Interference

Users were asked to indicate how often they experience "harmful interference

between NBS broadcasts and other time/frequency transmissions." Of the total

responses to this question- (11480) about 3 percent checked "frequently," and

about 9 percent checked "often." As expected, problems are much less severe within the U. S. , although 14 percent of users in the Eastern Time Zone reported

harmful interference either "frequently" or "often." This compares with the

19-25 percent for users giving their geographical locations as either the entire

*This regular commercial telephone number is connected directly to the WWV format

generation equipment at Ft. Collins, Co. Users thus have direct access to the

complete WWV broadcast format without needing a radio receiver.
o

o

GO

LjJ

GO

CD

Q_

CO

LU

OH

UC5

CD

I—

13

PQ

I I

CO

I—

<c

LU

CD

o

•*

o X'X*Z*X*X*I o XvX'tvt'X o XvX*»"»*I*X CO ^$xg$S

X**'»*X*t*X*»

;:::-:x::X:::::

vX'X'X'X*

•*•*•"•"•"•*•"•"•"•

•jxjxw^^

o :•:•:•:%•:•:•:•:": :•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•: o

o *-*•;•;•;•;•;•;•;•; gijlx::::;:::: OJ

;I;.;^X;IvX;

::§::::::::::::::

•X'I\vX*'\* ;•;•;•;•;•;•;•;•;•;• /V.\V.*.\V

I*X*X**'X'X .;.;.;.;.;.;.;.;.;.; •;•*•;•;•*•;•v.% o ;;>CvX%%;X ;XvX%v:;X ;X;X;*;;%;>> t%%V*%%"A% o »'X*'*I*X*I'X *C*t'I'!*I*t*I*^\*' '•^•*•*•*•••*•*•*• '•'•'1%'I'XvI' o ;.;X;*vX\v ;»;»;»^>;«;«;»;»;* !*I't*X*X*X'' :•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:

I*«*-*I't***I*I*I*I

:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:

:i:iS$SJS^

x*i*i*i***.***r*i ijijixoi^

•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:::: J>:|>:|:J:|x|:J >XvX"Xv*' ::•:::•:•:•:•:•:::• \*.'.*»%*»*«*»'«J ,•." ''•••:x;z*,*;

*•'••**•*•"•"•'••*

xj:jxj:jxj:j: W^M

:•:•:::•:•:•:•:•:•:

:j:i:j:j:$^S^

•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:• ;;XvX;X;X vI%vX**' .v.v.v.%v. !•!•%!•!•!•!•!•!•! ••••VASV »!»X»!»!*X*X-y

SiiSjSSj: ^M

ai

s-cr

UJ LlJ LU UU l>0 z •z. ^ ^ z

o o o o < rvj r^ M rvi LUO

LxJ LjJ LU LU O

(_) o

Q.
NUMBER OF RESPONSES FOR EACH USER CATEGORY

1000 2000 3000 4000

OTHER

NAVIGATION

PLEASURE BOATING

COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY

GOV'T: MILITARY

GOV'T: CIVILIAN

STANDARDS LAB

SHIPPING/BOATING INDUSTRY

AVIATION/AEROSPACE

UNIVERSITY

EQUIP. MANUFACTURING

SEISMOLOGY/GEOPHYSICS

TELEPHONE INDUSTRY

ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY

^^^bJJil 1 1 1 Ml I t I 1 1 1 1 1.

1 . U . 1 1 1 1 I II 1 1 1 I I I.I 1

1

1 1 1

1

I 1

1

1 1 1 I III I 1 1 1 I I I I I I'l 1 1 1 II I I I M^^ 1 1 1 1

1

1 1 1 1 1 1

I

TTTTTTT1

•

I I I II 11 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 I I 1

1

1 1 1 1 I'l I 1 1 1 1

1

1 1 1 1 1

1

.M.I

.

I

1

1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii I 1 1 I I 1

1

^T'yys'K's

ft^A^Mifcl H 11 1 1

^••WWT^^BFiS

imiiiiiiii

Fioure 5
oo

UJ

LU O

1/1

LU

C£.

oo

<3:

UXUJJJJAIAU

a'

OO

10
o ®

o

(p

00*0

o or

o OO*

*> •* o

o

^o

*

OO *^Cb

»*8

"

1

LO

cri CO

1— o

ro

CO <

CS ij_

<

O

CM

LO ir>

THOUSANDS OF CALLS PER WEEK

11
I

.=r

I CD

o

Q_

LU ^^

1 o

LU 1—

)

h- UD

LU

Ll_ Od

CD

1 LU <C

CO C-> ZD t—t

zsz

1 cu

<C <c

cc: CD C-D

1—1 O 1— UJ

C_J CD

<=c

q:: >-

o

«;r

<~i

'•*•*•••*•'•'

•*•*•*•*•*•*!

••••*••*•••*'

en

o

CVJ

:^?^

I J 1

1

o

W^

:§Sw

'

o

^^

CO

(U

O

M

O o O

Q

<: <

DC

UJ

t-<LU

<

Q^

o.

Ll_ PQ

12
00

LUZDcr

iLl on

LU

LjJ

C2! LU

OO

<_>

CD

PQ

CD

LU

CO

CO

Oto

UJ

cc

a: ^B

mmmm^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

$:$:$:$:$:$:vi$:$i§:$:$:$:$^^^

%%%%%%¥:%%'ft'ft'ft*;*!';¥ft'!

CNJ

OCVJ

in

N

>-o

o or— UJ

oc

:• LO

to

CM

CM

en

S-Z3cn

13
world or on all oceans. From user comments which were written in on many of

the questionnaire forms, it is clear that conditions are particularly bad in

the Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean area, and the Western Pacific. It is

also apparent from some of the comments that at least some users interpreted

"harmful interference" more broadly than just that resulting from other

time/frequency broadcasts. There is no way to determine to what extent such

misinterpretations might be influencing the results.

3. Specific Results

Figure 10 displays the scores (on the zero-to-three scale) for each of the

14 user categories and for each of the eight services provided by WWV and VWVH.

Also shown on the matrix are the overall scores and the sizes of each of the user

categories. Again, use has been considered rather than importance because there is

very little difference between the two matrices.

The most obvious features of the matrix are that voice time-of-day announcements

are uniformly the most used aspect of the broadcasts, and the DUTl values are uniformly the least used. In fact, the highest use of the DUTl values (university

category) is still lower than the lowest use of any other aspect of the services

for any category of user. Voice Time of Day

It is perhaps interesting to note that the categories of seismology, university,

aviation, and pleasure boating rate voice time of day as the most used service of

any of the user categories. On the other hand, standards labs and the electric

power industry are relatively low in their use of this service. This is probably

because standard frequency references are important to much of their work rather

than time, and most of them use the WWVB broadcasts for their calibration work

rather than WWV or WWVH.

DUTl Values

At the time that the DUTl values were proposed for inclusion into the UTC

system of time dissemination [2] by the CCIR, strong emphasis was placed on the

need for real-time corrections to obtain the time scale UTl. Specifically, corrections allowing UTl to be determined to 0.1 seconds which were available every

minute of the broadcast were thought to be essential for navigation purposes.

Because of this history a very special effort was undertaken to sample the needs

of navigators by the various mailing lists, publications, and announcements which

were discussed above.

It is apparent from the matrix (Fig. 10) that navigators, boaters, and shippers

display a particularly low use of DUTl. Similarly, for importance , the navigation

interests in DUTl are as low as any. Indeed, one should note that a score of zero could be attained only if every respondent checked the "never" box, and one must

recognize that there will always be some "noise" or spurious responses to questions.

Thus, one could ask the question of whether or not a total score of 0.3 is as near

to zero as one can measure with the questionnaire.

In an attempt to answer this question, one could note that the telephone

industry, electric power industry, and standards labs probably have no real interest

in DUTl values, since they are not critically dependent on earth position. Nonetheless,

their responses are about the same as (actually slightly larger than) the navigation-related categories. Unfortunately, the sample sizes are not great, and some uncertainty remains. It is safe to say, however, that the DUTl values represent

the least important and used service provided by WWV and WWVH.

Of course, some respondents did check "frequent" use of DUTl values or rated

it "very important." It is of interest to explore this further and see if there is some correlation with the principal use (question 9, second list) made of the

broadcasts. Not surprising, "Astronomy" was high, with 6.3 percent of these people

rating DUTl values as very important; and "Rocket/Satellite Tracking" was second at

4.8 percent. All others less, with "Navigation/ position location" at 1.8 percent.

Thus, one can conclude that what little use is made of the DUTl values is mainly

for space and astronomy, and it is not particularly used or needed for (terrestrial) navigation.

14
^^A^?%^

^'Aa<:"^

^0CO

CVJ

CVJ

CVJ

CO

CVJ

CVJ

CVJ CVJ 00

00

CO

CO

C£>

CVJ

CVJ ^

CVJ

CO

CO

.0 CO

un

00

CVJ

LO

rvi

00

CO cn CO

CO

CO CO LO

CVJ

CVJ

CVJ

CO

CVJ

in CVJ CO

LO LO

r-.

CVI

=1- ^A^>S^

C£> 00

CVJ

CVJ CO

cvj

COcn LD

COCOCO

CVJ 5

LD

CO

CVJ CVJ

CO

CO

LO CTi CO00 00

CO <;*AA^^.

-$^^A$^

>A^%-

^s

S- CO ^^~

s- <u ^a

0) cn s- ^/^ c

CO <D ^^ •!- =)-(-) 4- ^ +J

to ^ ro

C_) ,/^ CO S-

-9 >^^ .'-' "

^^^^^ > ra ./^ s- " ^

^/^ 0) s- 00 OJ ,^ > ^^

CO

CVJ

CVJ

CVJ

CO cn LOCO CO CO

CVJ

CD

cv]

00

CVJ

CVJ

CO

CO

cvj

r-^ CO

3> CO r^*

VD

CVJ

LD CVJ cn

CO

CO

LO CVl

CTi CVl CO co

CO

cvj

CO

CO

CVJ CO

CVl

r—

1

CO CO CO cn

CVJ

CVJ

CO

cvj

CO«^

CVJ

00

00 5^ CVl CO

00 5

CVJ

cvj

CT^ ^_

CO

cn CO

COCO CVJ

CO

CvJ Cvj

00 CVJ 00

CO

00

LO

CVJ

<*

CO

CVJ

00 CVJ CO

CVJ LO CVJ

CVJ LO

LO LO

CVJ

Time-of-Day:

Voice

(2.79)

One-Second

Ticks

(1.97)

Standard Frequency

(1.74)

Propagation

Forecasts

(1.40)

Weather (1.35)

CO

»-> S-

(L)

(O CVl cn

OJ • CD-~-

Time-of-Day:

BCD

(.67)

CO

<v3

rtJ >

—a1— Cs =)Q -

>-OC3

0£. LU

CO

LU

en

LlI CO

LUCO

15
Marine Weather Information

At regular spots each hour, weather information is broadcast from radio stations

WWV and WWVH. This weather information is supplied by the National Weather Service,

and its coverage areas include appropriate areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

It was intended to be of main value to navigators on the oceans who also use the standard time broadcasts.

From the matrix (Fig. 10) , it is easy to see that this weather information is

well received by its intended audience. The analysis revealed that 3 3 percent of the

respondents who use WWV/WWVH for navigation consider the weather information to be

"very important." AT least for the navigators this weather information is easily the

third most important service supplied on the broadcasts.

It is probably worth noting that a frequent suggestion for additional services

was to provide weather information for the Continental U. S. as well.

Propagation Forecasts

As one would expect, the "Communications Industry" category uses the propagation

forecasts more than any of the other user categories. From the analysis one finds

that 34 percent of the amateur radio operations find this information "very important."

Indeed, amateur radio operators were easily the largest group numerically which found

these forecasts to be "important" or "very important."

Geoalerts

It is easy to see from the matrix that the geoalerts are used primarily by seismologists and geophysicists.

BCD Time Code

The interest in the BCD time code was a complete surprise. One might speculate

this could be a confusion with the WWVB broadcast services at 60 KHz, but from several

of the comments there does seem to be a real interest in the code from WWV/WWVH.

Most surprising of all, however, is the high interest in the BCD time code shown by

seismologists and geophysicists. It was thought that this group was very dependent

on WWVB and not WWV/WWVH.

Standard Frequency

The results show that the standard frequencies provided by WWV/WWVH are the

third most popular service offered by these stations. The matrix suggests aboveaverage dependence on the standard frequencies by the communications segment (which

includes many amateur radio operators), standards labs, equipment manufacturers,

and the telephone industry. Especially low use is indicated, as is reasonable, for

the shipping/boating-related categories, where timekeeping is the more important

aspect. Since propagation effects limit the useful frequency accuracy of most HF

transmissions as received to about 1 x 10 , the responses to this survey do not

include most applications requiring greater accuracy.

One-Second Ticks

This service turned out to be the second most popular service on WWV/WWVH,

being exceeded only by the voice time-of-day announcements. Greatest use was reported in the seismology/geophysics, university, shipping and boating (as distinct

from pleasure boating), standards lab, and aviation/aerospace categories.

4. Some Frequently Expressed Suggestions/Comments

The questionnaire provided space for responders to make suggestions for new/revised

services or more general comments. While an accurate count of how many times particular

comments appeared is not available, it was apparent to those examining the returned

questionnaires that certain suggestions occurred over and over again. Following is a brief summary (in no particular order) of some of the more frequent suggestions

expressed by many different users and/or organizations. A fairly extensive listing

of individual comments can be found in the Appendix.

16
a. Add weather information for the Continental U. S.

b. Add NBS time signals to the VHF weather station broadcasts to achieve more

reliable coverage in some areas.

c. Reinstate time signals in Morse Code at least occasionally in the format. The

rationale is that such signals are much easier to receive than voice in the

presence of noise.

d. Provide more time in the format when only the carrier is transmitted.

e. Increase radiated power on 5, 10, and 15 MHz.

f. Eliminate some transmitted frequencies (most often mentioned were 2.5, 20, and

25 MHz)

.

g. Do not reduce any radiated powers—reception is too marginal in some areas

now. If necessary, part-time operation at full power is preferable to lower power.

h. Transmit 2.5 MHz only at night and 20 MHz only during the day, with 5, 10, 15 MHz

left on all the time.

i. Increase reliable coverage by adding one or more low-power repeater stations in

the Eastern U. S.

j. Make the WWV-by-phone service a toll-free number from anywhere in the U. S.

k. Have announcers pronounce each digit of a number separately—e.g. , "five-nine"

instead of "fifty-nine."

1. Work out a cooperative agreement with CHU, Canada, which would effectively

improve reliability of time signals received in the Eastern U. S.

m. Provide more detailed marine weather, geoalert, and radio propagation information.

n. Provide the weather, geoalert, and radio propagation information more often--at

least twice per hour.

o. Adjust broadcast format to put propagation forecasts and geoalerts closer together

in time, since they are often of interest to the same people.

REFERENCES

[1] U. S. National Bureau of Standards (revised annually). Special Publication 236.

[2] C.C.I.R. Recommendation 460 (Rev. 74).

17

APPENDIX

RESPONSES FROM USERS OF WWV/WWVH

Only about 17 percent of all coimnents have been

reproduced in what follows. Deleted were the

very short comments, such as, "Keep up the good

work," or "You're doing a great job," etc. Any

comments with significantly different or controversial content have been included; thus, those

comments which were critical of the services are

found in what follows.

Al

» >

-I <

M

K Z u o

o •

u •- •-•

. -. I

r— O)

CO' en' f— CO

cni rol oi r— I "=1" •— •— '^

1—' ld' co' ud' r^ CM r—

001

ro' 00

I/) o o. <

ooi OI rol (NJi UD r^ CTi ^3-

^1-' r— ' r-^' oo' CM 1— CVJ

CDI

cm'

> z z

'- < a o X ~

^ » <

uS cvi in ro ^ co' cr>' r-^' en Td- CO vo r— CM

cq r^ r-

«3^ I— I cr> .— CO

»- >• M K 3 t- (fl O in y

Z 31

V)> O O r z 2 0. ^ in o K - z HI < < o o

o O N m 01 >- t- >- N 1- < o

\D UJ <J o

Z a in -1 •4 z> IT z o

0. V) u 3 z

a < > Z m

lU • Z m^ r J z o Ui 10 a. rj u 10

«;f rs CM O r— f~~m a

cr> CM

cr> r^ ^ CM r^ 1

r— 3 e CO

s

iil

f- z

< s

X o

»

(E

• O

10

UI >-

>-

u. < Doz G

> I—

UJ ^ <o

IDX

o

CM o

o

uojsiAiQ AouanbdJj pue aiuii

spjepueis 10 nedjng leuoiiet^

IDUII^aWU:) (O INIVMlHVdJQ 30

(iivu uaji QNv j'jvibUd

OOCt '"n MMUd JOt A)|*u*d

asaNisne ivouio

pjapuBis |o noBjnfi |uuo|)H|g

33tl3MM03 JO lN31/UlUVdJa S 11

A3
a:

in

00 Wk

c:5

r—

U. Co o

Qc

«<j

—1

ID

I/) UJ § cc> Qc:

a: prj «<

:3 «J4

ct: 3^^c:5 k.

?o

«<j

:::> C3

Co

?Q

p5

:^^

a

Id>z

00

in inin

tM

CM

in

cr,

in

CM CM

inCM ro

00CM >J

UJa

a.

00

CO in CM

•a- o

CT> O

CO

COoCMCM

cr\

CO

X

UlXo

in

Oo

CVJ

O00CM

1^5

cvj CM

CO

in oCM

CM

00

LnoCM

lO

CM

-1

ul3O

UJa

11.

nOo Oin

un

in

CM

CM

^1-

CM

CM

CTi in

CM

CM

ro

Uluo><o

u.o

UJz

1-

Uloouo

(Jm><o

u.o

UJz

1/1 azo

UJ

Ifl

Ulzo >uz

UlDoua

u.oa<oz<

in

uiJ<> ItUJr<

Ul

in

a.Ul

-1<o

Ul o

in

1-<u

Ulao

u.zo<o<

a.oI z< > *- a n

Ul o > aJ7J

in

CSJ

m

CM

in

ir roin COCM

CM

00

ro CM > >-

-1 Z

Ul < > t- — a

»- o < a.

-1

X

a z3

CMin

in

1^CM

CM

00

enoCMOCM

in

CM

CO

CM

IDin

CM

Oo

CM < Z r < « H

uj

a I o o a m X

CM

CTV inCM

CM c

in

cri in

ro

in lO

CM

ID

cn

CMCM Z > < a 1- UJ <r > oaX

in

ID

CO

cr> o a CO

00

CTi CM

CJ^ 00

ID

cn

CMoCM

Ocn

"^

CVJ

Uluo>><a

u.o

Ulz

1-

Uloouoom><o

u.o

Ulz

ino2Ou

UJ

tn( Ulzo >z

UJDo

UlE

u.oa<oz<

1/5

m

Ul

-J<>

y-3o a

UlX< ma

UJJ<o

UJ o

in

in<uao

u.zo<o<ao

a. a.

m

V*

_j in CM

UJ ro «a- DJZ

<T» o CVJ CO

O LT) CM a ^_ <Xu<D cr» ro O r— O 00 in < ID in z< u r »- »- < r> a\

ro o >3- in o o ^-^ in I <

UJ > X I o - z o h- Ul z 3 u U. O a O Ula

VI >- u. u J < a < cr o z 3 X o u a u z

in < < Z

Ui tt 00 in lij CM ro cn 3 Ul fM CT^ ID CM CO CM n ^ CTl in CM rv. r- a zl^O ro in

u.o ^loo Ln CM CM r~ CM M (2 m CM ID in M- r~~ X d ID r— 'a- ^_ in CM

_J

J <^ <— 1— CM CM o

u. ml"llD o CM oo ro LO X l|«a- CM in <y\ CM ro - CM f— cn 1— o 00 ^ Csl oo f— CM CM

in o 3 in O > > J 00 CM r— «:r ^^ O z P^ r-~ f~» r^ r-~ CM sjo «a- ^— r^ O ro o ^— in 00 in ^— Z Ul w a H u

tel »-

M < I X X a

lA mU o

Adm o m o lA

-OR

YOUR

OPEf

VERY

UNIMPORTANT cv

CO

CMoin

in

ro

CM

ro

ro

00

CO

<aFREQUENCIES

RELAT 1

VELY

UNIMPORTANT inCM

c^

ro

ro o

IDro

«3-

in

00

CM

00ro

ID

CM :

FOLLOWING

SOMtWHAT

IMPORTANT

CO

cnOCM

«3- OCM

ro

en

CM

IDCM

ro

00CM

ID00

rocn

X

h- »-

UJ >• 5

a.a t- < Ul u > O

1-

a

iX < - O

O

CO

«3-

OO

ro cnO or~. ro

O

a.

X.DX

ItIz

fM lA o */> CM tM

ff f—

ro r^

O r^ 00

cs. CM ID z 'a- ID >

r>. LD 00

UJ cr» r^ «3- r— cn 00

cr '

inT 00 r— cn o «3- (Tl

\L 1

CO «3- I r— r~ o

tn>JK

P-. cn ro

-) cn t~-

O o cn 00 ro

cn

u.

^_ o —

Zr~

UJ a. Z o- 0-9 Za —

T Uirn > JO k UJio X M 1 u o ^

A4
Comments - NBS Questionnaire for Users of WWV, WWVH Services

1. All personnel concerned with train operations rely on accurate time

in order to operate trains safely. Their watches are calibrated by

making comparisons to a standard clock which had been previously

calibrated to WWV.

2. Normally we use WWVB - 60 KHz.

3. Correct time is of the utmost importance in operating a Railroad

and we are responsible for supplying a reciever to provide that time,

also for frequency calibration.

4. Weather in more areas including great lakes.

5. My only recommendation would be a temporary suspension of transmission

on 20 and 25 MHz until propagation conditions warrant the use of these

frequencies. I hope that my response to the questions will not reduce

the services rendered by your stations since the answers do not take

into account intended future use. Please accept my thanks and appreciation for the excellent services you provide

.

6. If you want to cut costs, you might discontinue the telephone number.

I don't know or have ever read of anyone who uses it.

7. If a cutback of services is necessary, it seems to me that cutting

back on the higher frequencies would be the best course of action (at

least during this portion of the sunspot cycle). Note: Would it be

possible to run some transmissions SSB at lower power?

8. Propagation forecasts each hour - 6 hours is a long time to wait.

9. For myself and friends who are WWV listeners, frequencies 5 and 10 are adequate PROVIDED that there is no curtailment of power (signal strength!

10. Services very useful. WWVH not used much because signals overlap. Cutting WWV power would be a big handicap. Signals are sometimes marginal.

11. WWV/WWVH/WWVB are pretty good the way they are at this moment.

12. On net control for search and rescue mission need CUT time. Feel this

is good for time and frequency check.

13. Get FCC to clear your frequencies!

14. It would be good to eliminate some of the words used over and over

again every minute. The listing of frequencies used could be once an hour for example. Everybody knows the frequencies.

15. I believe WWV and WWVH are important to aviation, navigation, areo

space, government, military, meterology, etc. and should not reduce

your output power.

16. Please increase your signal to overcome local spurious radiation (Utah).

A5
17. The services of WWV are so fundamental to the physical sciences in the

United States, I cannot conceive of any cutting back in operations.

These broadcast standards will be used more in the years ahead—not less!

18. Voice broadcast fades excessively.

19. The ideal is not always possible—a statement of fact, not a complaint.

How I wish that the signal in Houston over WWV 5 MHz were stronger,

and did not keep fading away into "static land". However, even this

is better than none.

20. As you are aware nearly all the private vessel (pleasure, fishing com.)

operators use "RDF"with only 2. 5 MHz as a receiver capability.

21. Very useful convenient service not available in any other way.

22. A 50% reduction in power would render your signal worthless in my area. Seems to me that there are many other ways to conserve energy without

depriving users of the only accurate source of time signals.

23. Have propagation forecasts and storm warning updates more often.

In order to conserve energy a power cut on 20 and 25 MHz wouldn't

cause too many objections.

24. Suggest removal of Audio Tone Modulation except one second ticks and

at start of each minute . Reduce WWVH power or change antennas to cut

interference with WWV in this area. (Santa Barbara, CA)

25. NBS should broadcast time signals which could be used to drive digital

clock displays.

26. The time of day (voice) , one-second ticks, propagation forecast, and

weather are very important to amateur radio operators . The principal

use is the calibration time. Cutting back on your power could make

WWV and WWVH unreadable in many parts of the country.

27. While now only interested in Ham Radio useage I have been in Industry and

U.S. Navy Communications. To them the calibrations and navigational time

checks are all important.

28. Provide time and communications services for railroad.

29. I would like to see the propagation forecasts extended to other paths

and specific forecasts for different frequency bands (i.e.j mf . , hf - 3-10, 10-15,15-25, 25-30 MHz).

30. Expanded propagation forecast and information. Propagation is very

important

.

31. Probably every sports car club in U.S.A. uses your time tones to

calibrate watches to time of day. It is essential to have accurate

timing to 1/lOOth minute in a rally. Synchronization of watches is

made possible by WWV.

A6
32. Represent t±ie 100 ± membership and users of sport events in Maine

and New England - specifically the (County) sports car

Cli±i and local members of the thousands of SCCA (Sports Car Clubs

of America) members in New England. Events are timed to nearest 0.01

minute, and the event-mark of each full minute is the necessary

signal. The full hour signal is also most important.

33. Railway - Other departments on our Railroad use WWV time signals.

34. Having spent 15 years at sea on the far east run between New York and

Hong Kong from 1952/1967 we depended on WWVH for navigation clock

corrections and any reduction in power for that station should be

investigated quite thoroughly.

35. The unit, FAA, has Air Traffic control tower, re- corded time source - WWV, and counters requiring calibration periodically.

(FAA field unit, )

36. I wish you would increase the frequency of propagation forecasts and

geo-alert announcements during your broadcast schedule. (Minnesota)

37. Meteor shower predictions should be added. HF spectrum generally in

bad shape.

38. We publish information on WWV for the use of surveyors and other

workers in the field. (Time Department, Observatory.

England)

.

39. FAA- . I am an electronic technician with the FAA and have to

rely on your time signals to set our clocks and sync, circuits.

40. I would like to see you revert to the old system of tone for four

minutes & ticks for the fifth, with voice and MCW time announcement of

fifth minute. (Represent the in Macao, as well as associates in Japan, Thailand, etc.)

41. It would be very difficult to do my work correctly as I service accutrons and

high grade of watches; and I need correct time signals (watchmaker)

.

42. Provide propagation forecasts twice each hour.

43. Add VLF time signals such as Loran-C. Stn.TX.

44. WWV is very useful, especially as a time base to synchronize radio

stations all trying to join a radio network. (Louisiana Radio Network)

45. Add general weather reports for the U.S. broken down into six areas,

i.e. Northeast-southeast-upper midwest-lower midwest-northwest-southwest.

45. Use signals to keep the standard clock set correctly in compliance with

the railroad industry rules. We must operate on correct time. Also use standard frequency to check out the two way radios used by the

Railroad.

A7
The end users of the products produced by my facility are dependent upon

the presence of standard carrier frequency broadcasts for calibration purposes.

Radio stations throughout Indiana depend on our time accuracy.

Commercial radio network, to synchronize clocks.

Add more frequency propagation forecasts.

I operate a Commercial Frequency Measurement Service for Broadcast and

Communications radio services and also use NBS material in engineering

work at four radio stations. The primary use indicated in answers I have marked are for use in Standard Frequency Measurements . I am now starting to use the transmissions from WWVB for calibration of the

measurement equipment used in my Lab.

My company uses WWV for signal generation calibration for lab use.

Astronomy Club sometimes does grazing occulations - a dozen persons

are then using WWV/WWVH.

We run as an isolated utility at times so your signal is needed.

(Public Utility, MN)

Perhaps two frequencies would be adequate if ensured of reception.

My area (atlantic seaboard) is a poor reception area. A more local

transmitter would be helpful.

Increase propagation forecasts to twice each hour.

Fly on crew aircraft—time information essential to mission accomplishment.

This unit has three each HP cesium standards equiped with clock functions,

therefore we have very accurate, time and frequency always available.

(Commanding Officer, , )

A large sector of our industry MUST have a good standard. Lets get

rid of those damn politicians who continually screw up the works.

( )

Our great government can better economize by reducing waste than by

curtailing essential services: NBS is such a service. At least the

seafaring men of the world will thank us.

If you could give the propagation quality forecast at 44 minutes past

the hour as well as 14 minutes past, I would not miss it so often.

Our firm and others use the time and weather in the performance of our business. We would like to have the use of these stations continued,

frankly, this is a service I feel IS the RESPONSIBILITY of our government, unlike considerable programs that cost considerable more.

(S\irveying)

A8
62. In addition to the propagation forecasts broadcast at 14 min. past

the hour, I also use the transmissions themselves as indicators of

propagation conditions - as beacons might be used.

63. Use more detailed weather reports.

64. USCG using service for communications and navigation.

65. Since the maximum useable frequency during the evening hours is below

20 MHz, I suggest you shut down WWV 25 MHz and 20 MHz transmitters

during those times.

66. We are a Coast Guard Ship, We rely wholly on the correct time and

frequency for operations while at sea.

67. This particular transmitting system uses WWVH as its time standard.

(Radio Transmitting Facility, , FPO San Francisco)

68. Of all the radio and television broadcasting in the United States, it seems ridiculous to cut back the already modest schedules of WWV and

WWVH. Fifty KW could be cut so easily from, say, the VOA (who notices

the difference between their 250 ICW and 500 KW transmitters anyway) . You are doing a lot for a little right now; any cutbacks would re- present more tokenism as an attempt to avoid dealing with the real

problem of energy and government spending.

69. A worldwide program (in existance for at least the last 25 years) to

time occulations of stars (primarily) by the moon, has been (and will

continue) relying fully on the time services of the NBS and others. I strongly object to any elimination or reduction of power in the

2.5, 5.0, or 10. MC frequencies.

70. We noted no mention of WWVB, and assiome this service is not going to

be affected. Power reduction or elimination of 5, 10, 15, or 20 MHz

would be the worst possibilities from our viewpoint, (equip, man. Standards Lab - TX)

71. Would not two frequencies be adequate? 5 and 15 MHz.

72. Strongly urge the WWV broadcasts be maintained at full strength on

5-10-15 MHz. (Broadcasting)

73. Perhaps you could expand on your propagation forecasts.

74. Receivers marginal at times at present wattage.

75. We are interested in all aspects of worldwide weather patterns including

earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and especially those affecting North

and Central American countries . We would like to suggest that in

STORM WARNINGS, the nearest land area be mentioned.

A9
76. I am the business manager of a larger-than-average cattle operation

and find that WWV is the most reliable long-term weather prognosticator.

I am a cattle exporter and find your services invaluable for navigational

purposes (as well as weather) . I am an amateur radio CQer and CBer (and

find your data useful in that area) I am an accuracy fiend... I pay

about $500 the annum for time-keeping and devises to augment same.

77. I make extensive use of telephone access (via 303-499-7111) for time of

day and standard audio- frequency tone whenever reception conditions

for WWV are marginal.

78. If cutback is necessary I would suggest either reduction of Time/Freq.

accuracy or reduction in WWV power.

79. The high quality service is expected world wide and should be maintained

without modification.

80. As a retired Naval officer and sometime navigator and an ex-ham ( ) I have found your services extremely useful and a first rate expentiture

of my tax dollar to say the very least.

81. More frequent propagation forecasts.

82. I use WWV to calibrate and rate precision clocks, both mechanical and

quartz. I use WWV for chronometer adjustment in restorational work.

83. Many persons that I talk to including New Zealand and Australia seem

to think as I do. We do NOT need WWVH.

84. I use WWV mainly in the acquisition of astronomical data. Primary uses;

occultation and positional work. Secondary; equipment calibration.

85. Our Regional office of Defense Civil Preparedness Agency uses time signal.

86. Reinstitute morse code propagation forecasts and geoalerts as part of

each minute time statement. Like the new 14-after propagation up-dates,

would like additional satellite/space-craft information up-dates.

87. I use standard audio frequency broadcasts to calibrate or check

calibration of precision audio measuring equipment.

88. Time of Day as broadcast by WWV is very important to Sport Car Clubs

in the North East Area. They can not hold competion without accurate

time.

89. The personal involvments involve the entire Avalon St. Bernard Search

and rescue operations. We use NBS time of day and frequency time

interval to designate exact positions of our search parties. The NBS

time of day and frequency time interval along with other services is

imperative to our saving lives and locating people.

AID
90. WWVH is depended upon by myriads of people in the Pacific regions for

time, weather and all other information it provides. Many Islands,

hobby people , ships-at-sea and many others would be lost especially

if WWV or WWVH cut power down. The same applies to thousands of us here in North America and other areas where these signals and announcements can be heard.

91. WWV time standard and frequency standard used throughout the

Railroad. These checks are made daily at frequent intervals.

92. I have personally depended on WWV for about 35 years as part of my

profession as Certified Master Watchmaker.

93. Compared to other Government operational costs it would seem that this

service is of enough importance to disregard any cost cuts . Less important services such as TV and A.M. broadcast stations would easily

reduce power enough to more than off-set the energy consumed by the

NBS services.

93. NBS is used by the Aviation Dept. for corporate jet

Aircraft Services and is valuable to us.

94. The idea of lowering transmitting power sounds fine... however, I feel

that the strength of the signal would be involved. I keep weather

records and put everything in. coordinated U.T. for easy conversion to

other times

.

95. Recently a Weather-Radio Station NOAA Radio 162.40 MHz started to

broadcast here. Their signal is hardly audible across the city 90% of

the time while WWV is audible here all day and up to 9:00 p.m. If

NBS could take over these stations and combine NBS operations with

Weather-Radio and with Civil Defense I believe we would reap quite a savings in energy. Do not reduce power on WWV as this would render your

service here useless. (Houston, TX)

96. All at work need the time but could get along by getting it at less

time intervals. 2 minutes out of 5 minutes would be fine. (FAA Air

Traffic Control )

97. WWV and WWVH perform one of the most important technological functions,

that of supplying a basic standard for many measurements, and of

supplying a common time base that aids cooperative work all over our nation.

98 Use for synchronization of times for Municipal Dept. & Services. In

Crime and Emergency situations precise times are increasingly important; we

keep our battery powered quartz clocks within 5 sec at all times and

encourage checking rates to allow adjustment. Past power interruptions

caused serious problems.

99. This is one of the few government services I appreciate. It is comforting

to know that honest seconds and Hz still exist.

All
100. Responses cover our company use of time checks to check clocks used

by 50 radio operating positions, and frequency calibration checks

of frequency counters used by 55 technicians in the aviation service.

101. Greensboro, to my knowledge, has no other reliable time of day agency.

None is even provided by phone, a service which is not always reliable.

102. Obviously, consistant to information supplied in NBS Pub. 235, a tremendous amount of that went into setting up this Government service.

Don't blow it by doing something rash. I can think of several more

significant ways to save money.

103. I'd like to have the "propagation Forecasts" more often, maybe twice an hoxir. I think you could reduce your power by a factor of ten and

still have a good signal here. (Southern Nevada)

104. I am an amateur astronomer and one of the principal contributors of

lunar occultation timings to Greenwich/US Naval Observatories. I am

also a radio amateur and have been using WWV for a frequency standard

since 1946. I find CHU (Ottawa) to be a much more reliable time source during the day but prefer WWV format. Would like to see return of at

least one transmitter to East Coast (2.5 MHz?).

105. I find it hard to believe that you are considering cutting back on what

appears to me to already be a bare operation.

106. The Company uses Time Check for watch and clock calibration from the

Telephone (499-7111) universally. The Communications Dept. in addition,

uses frequency standards for instrument calibration. ( RR Company)

.

107. Time Services used extensively throughout engineering divisions within

SRI. Services of WWV, WWVH are critical. ( )

108. Accurate time and its coordination are essential to car rallyes!

( Corvette Association, Inc.)

109. We feel that savings could more appropriately be effected by some means other than curtailment of these valuable services. (Telecommunications

Manager, '~'o. , Houston)

110. Add inland weather warnings.

111. As an educational officer for the U. S. Power Squadrons and Instructor

in boating navigation, I consider WWV broadcasting very important as a nationwide function. While I can receive the same service from Canadian

sources I prefer WWV's type of operation.

112. Have no use for these services. I can always get a time check from local

AM Radio Stations

.

A12
113. We have installed WWV receiver at a remote location for better

reception and return audio via wireline to telephone interconnect

system. Many people in our company dial up time to coordinate

company electrical system and other activities. ( Gas & Electric Co.)

114. Railroad monitors NBS once each 24 hours to

establish agreement of standard clock at Sacramento used as a Standard for the railroad.

115. Give more detailed weather forecasts for Pacific, like you do during

some yacht races. There are a great number of people relying on your

time signals for navigational purposes. Step up the power not down

on these signals.

116. Would like expansion of the propagation forecasts. More often than

once an hour and over paths to all continents.

117. I feel that cutbacks should be made in many other areas prior to

any reductions in WWV frequencies/power.

118. A Time Standard is very important for safe operation of trains.

( RR) (Southeast USA)

119. Souce of accurate time signal must be available. Since Western Union

Telegraph has discontinued time signals, WWV is a prime source of time

information for the Railroad Industry. (Midwest-West-Southwest)

120. The Railroad has nine locations receiving time

information from Station WWV and depends upon this accurate time

information in the daily safe operations of Freight and Passenger

trains over five Southeastern States.

Rather than reduce power and number of frequencies it would be of

great benefit to our service if the radiated power was increased rather

than reduced, or a repeater station placed in service somewhere in the

Southeastern part of the United States.

121. We use your time signal to synchronize our timing clocks. If we can't

receive on one frequency we can always pick up on another one. Use

weather at flying time to try to keep birds out of storms. (Pigeon

Racer Club)

.

122. WWV is useful to keep our school buses on schedule. While it is a service we could do without, it is extremely useful and convenient. What

we question is the significance of saving a few dollars in energy costs

when we squander billions in Foreign Aid. We give to those who hate us!

It is commendable but stupid!

A13
123. Add more detailed weather reports, i.e. position of lows, projected

movements—twice per hour.

124. Add weather over USA in three or four general areas.

125. The Standard Frequency is used at radio station , , Oregon

and occasionally for other stations in the area—to set transmitter

frequency and to make the required frequency measurements

.

126. Used for pleasure boating navigation , for navigation/position location

and storm warnings for sixty-six members of Squadron of

United States Power Squadron. These uses are of vital importance to us as small boat navigators.

127. Technicians from the Police Radio Division rely

hourly on WWV for certification of radar units calibration of electronic

test equipment before making RF emission checks.

128. In many parts of the world, especially Atlantic Ocean, Western Hemisphere,

Pacific Ocean, WWV and WWVH are the only useable time of day services

available and are essential to accurate navigation, especially celestial

navigation. ( Air National Guard)

.

129. It is important to me to be able to receive on some frequency. I use this

service to manually record a blip on the seismogram. Perhaps a single

frequency for WWV and another for WWVH with increased power for both?

130. Add more weather information. Please don't cut down operations—I make

use of your service daily. My life and many others sailing small boats

for a living depend on time and weather services. Try aksing for public

donations—I'll be glad to help.

131. Add weather and propagation reports in the 2nd 1/2 hour of each hour.

132. In some of the remote mountain areas of Central America yours is the

only U.S. station we could bring in.

133. I would like to see weather for U. S. in four parts.

134. If the government would groimd all those S.A.C. Bombers for a couple

of weeks, they would REALLY be saving money!!

135. I would favor a decrease in power of operation and I think it would be

appropriate to decrease the hours of operation to either intermittent

operation throughout each 24 hours or limiting operations to the generally

most useful hours for any given transmission location site. You cannot

please everyone—no matter what you do. I personally am willing to give

up the convenience of 24 hr. operation.

136. Safety at sea is highly dependent on accurate navigation and good

weather information. Please don't strand the mariner. Expand weather

information.

A14
137. Compare the budget of the Time and Frequency Division with some of the

"dum dum" projects of the U.S. Government. This economy "kick" is

typical of government bureaucracy

138. Reduction of signal strength would wipe out reception here in Florida

for all but those with sophisticated equipjtient (at least more sophisticated than mine.)

139. We use VLF as standard frequency—not WWV at 10 MHz.

140. I sail in the North and South Pacific and depend upon WWVH for time of

day and the storm warnings. In a small boat it is extremely important

to know storm locations

.

141. Weather information should be increased. I would like output increased

on 5 and 10 MHz.

142. WWV and WWVH in conjunction with other National Time Services are used

daily to maintain N.Z. time. The broadcasts are also used by seismographs at outstations in N.Z., Pacific and Antarctic stations.

143. The hurrican warnings are of utmost importance for all vessels (merchant)

under 1600 gross tons who carry no radio-operator.

144. If the Government is so hard up they can't afford to operate these stations

at their present power I would suggest that they get rid of about a million

or so demogogs and other bureaucrats that contribute NOTHING to the economy.

145. I should like to point out that many ordinary citizens use WWV for such

things as amateur astronomy, and that they should get as much consideration as your institutional users . I consider WWV one of the most important services my government performs for me.

146. All railroads in this area now depend on WWV (via short wave) for accurate

time—especially the , R.R.

,

Line

and other lines associated with All our local watch inspectors

have learned to depend on your time/frequency broadcast.

147. We have no interest in receiving the WWV and WWVH standard frequency and

time signal emission. (Germany)

148. Restore 440 Hz transmission. We have certainly missed this service.

There is too much talk and not enough technical transmission now.

149. How about single sideband with reduced carrier, then full carrier at

specified times to allow frequency checks? More economical.

150. WWV adds to the prestige and image of the USA throughout the world and

ranks on the radio waves with the Voice of America and AFRS as a symbol

of our scientific and social contributions to mankind.

151. We rely absolutely on your signal for accurate time as we do not have a chronometer. Present strength is adequate but should not be reduced.

A15
152. Would like time in code to be restored. QRM sometimes makes voice

hard to read.

153. I suggest a dipole directional beam antenna aimed in all directions

would increase radiated power.

154. We feel that standard time and frequency broadcasts are an absolute

essential. They should be above pure research. Such services should

be considered first above all other budget categories.

155. The mere suggestion of reducing power levels is idiotic! These

broadcasts are used world-wide! The energy saved in proportion to the

total nation's consumption is infitesimally small. Their worth worldwide if far more important than the trivial amount of energy that will

be saved!

156. Give storm warnings at least twice an hour instead of just once.

157. There are other areas and non-sensical programs where money and energy

can be conserved without curtailing WWV's and WWVH's very important

mission. Should be increased not decreased.

158. We depend heavily on the day and night availability of signals of known

origin, stable frequency and simple modulation character. ( Research Institute

, TX)

159. Since the Time and Frequency Service has operated for years at the

lowest possible cost to the public, I believe it is foolish to risk

a reduction in the service just to save a few KW in primary power.

160. Since energy needs to be save, why does the FCC not power down some of

the FICTION on the air? Please leave us the FACTS - they are a scarce

itme!

161. Our Radio/TV National Network ( ) should be able to furnish accurate

time signals to us on the network so we would not have to use NBS

Time Signals. This should be true for all Radio/TV stations that are network affiliated.

162. USGS and Univ. maintain seismic network. University does

local earthquake study with portable units. Can we work out something

with Canadian system?

163. 3dB power decrease probably would not hurt. It would be preferable to

dropping frequencies most of the time. Would it be possible to tailor

hours of operation to time of day, e.g. 25 MHz rarely useful around

midnight MST.

164. The Atmospheric Research—Field Observing Facility--

provides research support to scientific programs throughout the world

on an aperiodic basis. Time Signals are required to monitor satellite

schedules and coordinate other activities.

A16
r

165. High efficient non-linear final amplifiers with high level modulation

would reduce over-all transmitter power requirements.

166- Have geoalerts and propagation forecasts every 1/2 hour..

167. Increase , do not decrease ERP output on 5, 10, and 15 MHz channels.

168. I feel there is a large niomber of Government Services I could do

without but WVA7 isn't one of them.

169. If energy is a high priority why is FCC Docket 20292 (97.61) considering

a new 2000 watt out for max pwr limits for Amateurs . It should be

the other way. Your service is far more important to everybody.

170. If you can't eliminate some frequencies, what about shutting the whole

thing down at certain hours?

171. We manufacture, install and maintain Time-of-Day announcing equipment

via telephone. We have seven precision time installations at various

locations across the country, all in major cities. Each of these

installations set their time directly to WWV by means of HF receivers

and oscilloscopes.

172. Why not broadcast time signals at set periods of time during the day

instead of continuous 24 hours^—in order to save .money.

173. If electricity in Hawaii is now so expensive, I suggest WWVH be

relocated to the Kenai penninsula of Alaska, South Eastern Alaska,

or the Washington state coast. Cheap hydroelectric power is available

in all these places.

174. A 3-dB reduction for HF signals is not a very great sacrifice. I think

all HF services of all licensees should reduce 3 dB.

175. Severe weather information enables advance preparation for protection

of personal property. Warnings for Hurricane Lorreen Sept. 23, 1974

which came ashore near Culican, Sonora were the only accurate source of

information received in this area.

176. If is refreshing indeed to have a government agency present a thorough

inquiry of this nature. We rely primarily on the signal from WWVB on

60 KHz but use 10 and 15 MHz on occasion.

177. For Honolulu and Hawaii, 2.5 and 5 MHz don't cover well. Unless needed

at night at great distances, drop them. We get more out of 10 and 15 MHz.

178. We also have Station CHU available here, but fewer services are provided

by it. (Ottawa, Canada)

179. In the interest of energy savings, I would agree to WWV reducing its

power on 10, 15, and 2.5 MHz during times when the signal does not reach

far (night) . The other frequencies might be shut down completely at

regularly scheduled intervals. I would also like to see more detailed

propagation forecasts.

A17
180. I wouldn't mind if one frequency were discontinued—say 5, and

increased output in signal was given to another—say 10—to thwart

interference by shortwave stations, hams & CBers , who make it

inaudible.

181. I am an airline pilot who uses WWV to calibrate my watch, which I then

use for airline navigation and record-keeping purposes. I would be

very disappointed if I could no longer receive it at 10 or 5 MHz.

182. We use only the Navy VLF station.

183. WWV/WWVH are the principle reference stations used in the CONUS area for

radio research. Transmissions for oblique lonograms are especially

important for R&D studies

.

183. There must be some other way to cut expenses. I would have been willing

to pay the postage on this

!

184. It is a responsibility of the U. S. government to maintain Time Signal

Service! I am appalled at any suggestions to diminish this service.

It could turn one to anaxchy.

185. Your 25 MHz transmitter could be shutdown during the low point of the sun spot cycle.

186. About 60 area broadcast radio stations depend on my monthly frequency

measurements to keep their transmitters within FCC tolerances.

187. Conserve energy in some other agency not providing a scientific basis

that will effect world wide operation of all types of communication

and related subjects.

188. This office provides a 3-minute pattern of second ticks daily over telegraph and telephone circuits to approximately 200 designated

standard clocks on Railway system.

189. This nation needs to reduce the number of cars in High School parking

lots before reducing quality of its scientific and communication standards!

190. I think reduction in power would greatly increase the number of times

when we can't pick up the signals.

191. My principal concern is that cost reductions for WWVH will eventually

lead to reduced services from WWV.

192. Add a better weather watch Gulf of California North end as well as Mexican waters in Pacific.

193. I realize the energy crisis and implications but a facility such as NBS

and WWV, etc., is not an area to cut until all other possibilities are explored first! WWV is too important to suffer.

A18
194. Your signal has always been weak and most of the times we cannot receive

it all. I seemed to receive the signal a lot better along the gulf coast

than I do here.

It is my opinion that the signal should be increased in strength because

you keep the United States on correct time. There is not a more important service performed by the U. S. Government than yours

.

What a backward nation we would become without your service

.

195. Power consumption of your transmitters must surely be infinitesimal in

the overall energy situation. Reduction of power in these vital services

is indefensible to anyone but a bureaucrate!

195. Add even more detailed solar data and propagation.

197. On East Coast/Gulf run sometimes have difficulty with WWV on any frequency

(5, 10, or 15) due to weak signal—depending on ship's location. Therefore

any reduction of power would agravate condition.

198. If power was reduced from Station WWV it would make it very hard to

receive with inferior receivers such as the one I use. I hope you are successful in cutting down costs and energy consumption without sacrificing

the quality of your broadcasts.

199. Power should be increased to provide better reception. I use WWV often,

and find it usually weak with interference.

200. My personal opinion is that surely the Federal Government and NBS could

find other areas for instituting economy measures than a service which

is so widely used by both Government and industry and which is a relatively

low cost program to start with.

201. The time signals and accurate weather/storm warnings form the basis for

my sailing schedule here in the South Pacific. WWVH is the only

reliable source.

202. The energy used by your stations must be insignificant relative to its

importance. Do not curtail.

203. There are many many other energy consuming government activities that consume much more and provide far less than WWV. We should put con- servation of energy in the proper prospective.

204. Send propagation warnings in Morse Code. When they are of most interest

signal (voice) is sometimes unreadable due to distressed CX.

205. I miss the old coded time announcements which could be better read

through static!

206. If energy is to be saved, have all commercial establishments eliminate

illuminating the outside of their building walls and signs when closed.

207. If any changes are made, I hope the excellent standards are retained.

A19
208. But far more importantly, and putting to one side my parochial interests,

Federal Law, 15 U.S.C. sec. 272 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce "to

undertake . . . (11) the broadcasting of radio signals of standard frequency . . .

. " I believe that Congress enacted this legislation (by same I mean also the lineal progression of laws beginning with 31 Stat.

sec. 1449 that on 3 March 1901 established the National Bureau of Standards,

including 72 Stat. sec. 1711 (1958) and others) to insure the availability

of standards, knowing how important they are to the technological strenght

of the United States. See also 15 U.S.C. (Chapter 23), sees. 1151 et seq .

15 U.S.C. (Chapter 7A, sees. 290 et seq .

While there is elasticity of the Congressional Mandate, I am convinced

that if the restrictions are too severe they will run afoul of both spirt

and letter of the Law.

209. I think that there are many ways to avoid the reduction and sustain your

budget. I and many such as I would be happy to support your continued

broadcast by a use tax or any other feasible and fair means of support.

210. But in the greater sense, of the Worth of The Bureau of Standards broadcasts, must be the consideration that Ham Radio, is not just a Hobby.

Having been an instructor in electronics at the Community College

I see the lack of prior preparation of the students , an amateur is heads

and shoulders above the average student. In essence, the study of amateur

radio and the concurrent use of WWV and the Standards , the student has

his own actual Laboratory in his Ham station. Of what value is this to

the Nation? - it is from these ranks come the trained electronic personnel

so badly needed in the future years, no more—interesting way, has ever been devised to painlessly interest students in the pursuit of Knowledge

than Ham radio.

211. Please don't cut back too far

For you are my link with the star (trite)

Sorry, your questionaire can't reach my habitation.

Because Polynesia is my destination.

Just add me to the number of those who listen.

For without your service—I'd be reported "missin'".

212. Though I certainly know nothing of the cost of your operations, I cannot

see how they can be severe enough that you would consider crippling this

urgently needed safety service. Perhaps the independent small fishermen

and yatchsmen who are so totally dependent upon it for their very survival

have no strong political group to protect our interests. I would virge

you strongly to leave your broadcasts at their current level. Often

enough in making passages we have had difficulty tuning you in as it is.

surely the savings anticipated in such a reduced service could not be

valued more than a single human life.

213. Our Simplex Clock System, with a built-in radio receiver, uses the WWV

signals to automatically keep the master clock accurate. The master

clock then sends hourly pulses to about 70 "slave" clocks. T^y major

change in the timing format of WWV would certainly create problems for us.

A20
214. I have purchased over the years, two short wave radios for the sole

purpose of checking my watch sometime during the day or night each

day, to be sure I have the exact time. I know of no other way to do

this except through Station WWV.

I am a Locomotive Engineer, and like all the other thousands of

Railroad operating men, I am required to purchase and maintain an approved watch. This is quite expensive, especially so if you still

do not have the correct time and nowhere to get it.

If you wonder why I am raising so much Hell, I'll tell you. To start

with, I'm in the tax paying group that pays for most of the country's

needs. Those above me are too smart to pay, and those below me are too poor to pay. I would suggest that if we can affort energy to heat

President Ford's outside pool in the middle of the winter, and the

energy to fly Dr. Kissinger's armored car around, we can afford to

keep WWV on the air I

215. Return to Morse Code for at least four time hacks per hour.

Press for nuclear power source on Kauai'

Standardize propagation boradcasts

.

216. The propagation voice announcement phonetics are confusing. Why say

"uniform" when you mean "unstable"—or "november" when you mean "normal"?

Personal preference is for the C.W. data but probably not general

preference.

217. I am an amateur astronomer, my telescope is not equipped with a clock

drive, nor is the hour circle independently adjustable. Consequently,

when I am observing I repeatedly have to work the "sidereal time"

problem, and to do this I need to know my mean local time very accurately.

218. Too often I must rely on CHU rather than WWV.

219. I rely on WWV for calibration of receivers and would sorely miss any of

the frequencies if cancelled. I can use CHU for time signals.

220. Unofficially, I represent directly 200+ members of a yacht club in the

Los Angeles area. To my knowledge at least 1/4 of these make regular

use of WWV/WWVH in their boating activities

.

221. Daytime signal strength should be improved.

222. I estimate that my needs would be served by operation from 1200 to

2400 MST at something between 10% and 25% of WWV present power. I also suggest that many protesters against 50% of WWVH power do not

know how little this would hurt them.

223. I stopped collecting money once and I set the clocks at Easter Seal

Sheltered Workshop here in town. They said "now that the clocks are straight, you're fired."

224. Sincerely appreciate the solar flux and K-index data broadcast at

14 minutes after the hour. Also use the data broadcast at 18 after.

A21
225. I supervise a small work crew engaged in forest road maintenance

and find the weather forecasts helpful in planning work priorities

.

226. WWV most times is received with good signal. However, if the power

is reduced, signal would fade.

227. Energy conservation and cost cutting can be taken too far.

228. If the Government wants to cut expenses, then eliminate salary of each

Congressmans wife who are just a joke as far as doing any work is

concerned I I I

229. Please do not reduce WWV power on 2.5, 5, 10 or 15 MHz; we use all of

these frequencies throughout a 24-hour day, selecting the most useable

depending on the time of day, season, and position of the sunspot

cycle.

230. Certainly there must be better ways of saving energy and money than by

reducing this very necessary service.

2 31. Existing services should be maintained. The small cost and energy use could be recovered by elimination of one of the other (useless) government depts . Your service is too valuable.

232. Please add inland weather and storm warnings in the U. S.

233. I find the WWV signal most useful in aligning instrioments for calibrating

watches, clocks , and radios I use in DX-ing, and other usages. I find

most accurate information there; some place in the spectrum, on one of

the frequencies when I need it. Having learned to rely on it, I would

not like to see the day it is gone, or diminished in either radiation

power or information.

234. You might try spacing the wx reports so that you can use two minutes

and give more detail. Lately the enunciation has been excellent...

I do not miss the southern accents

.

235. Add general U. S. weather and emergency warning for severe weather,

earthquakes etc. I am a flight instructor for major airline. Use

time service frequently. Also light aircraft user. I believe WWV

could be of great service with generalized U. S. weather for pilots,

farmers, etc. Also alert for unusual conditions, weather, floods, earthquakes, blackouts, etc.

236. During July and August 1974 I was navigating a small sail boat from

Rio De Janerio to the Caribean. I was unable to receive NBS time signals

below about Lat 10°S. Fortunately we got an excellent BBC signal, but

it was only available on the hour. When we began picking up NBS signals we switched to them as they were much more convenient. When this service

is needed at sea, it is VERY IMPORTANT.

237. WWV 5 MHz and 10 MHz very valuable here. No other time and frequency

standard can be used. Hope power on these frequencies, at least, is

not reduced.

A22
238. As there are occasional severe fading on either or both 10 and 15 MHz,

recommend no decrease of power these frequencies.

239. Add extended propagation and solar activity—updated hourly. Your

geoalert and propagation forecasts should be updated more frequently.

Please do not decrease any services.

240. There are plenty of other places to save energy before cutting down

on WWV and WWVH, seems to me.

241. I think WWV is a great, and well recognized, demonstration of the

technical advancement of the USA. In all countries and strata of

technical efforts of the world it is regarded as the last word as to

time and frequency measurements. It is worth keeping at its present

level of efficiency regardless of the efforts to make it another

Government Activity which can be budgeted out of existance or usefullness.

242. Accurate time signals are vitally important for safe navigation of

shipping.

243. Besides driving, I also use the other two means of transport (boating

and flying) . Also as an amateur radio operator much is important to

me. I tune WWV on 10 and 15 KHz almost daily.

244. The signal is usually adequate on either 10 MHz or 5 MHz, but seldom

on both at the same time. Occasionally it is difficult to get a usable

signal on either frequency. If either of these frequencies is reduced

in power there will be times when it is unusable.

245. Cut out 2.5 MHz and 25 MHz but please do not reduce strength on the

others

.

246. I consider any reduction in NBS services false economy and a reduction

of scientific prestige of USA.

247. Use time signals to determine thrue bearings of property survey (including

public land subdivisions) which are officially filed with Piiblic Agencies.

248. Rather than cut power—would prefer some such energy saving plan as, for

example, broadcasting every other hour if practical.

249. Signals are used for calibration and checking of primary frequency

standard and other equipment by Frequency Measuring and Monitor Service.

This provides service to many commercial radio stations , TV stations

and communications services. If any thing, the power on WWV should be

increased on 10 and 15 MHz.

250. At many AF Bases where I've been stationed WWV or WWVH are used to hack

our clocks and it is very important we have exact time as I work in

Radar Operations. Without exact time we simply could not function. In

many areas WWV/H can 'be heard by^ dialing a certain number—depending on

location. I honestly feel that transmission power should be maintained

as well as the three frequencies, 5, 10, 15 MHz. I have not found the

other frequencies useful in my own experience.

A23
251. Electronic as well as meteorological units find WWV/WWVH essential to

most functions of our service. A reduction in output power would

possibly be detrimental as our area suffers greatly from man-made noise

interference.

252. Add twice hourly propagation forecasts. Propagation forecast is fairly new service and considerable interest shown in amateur ranks with initial

articles beginning to appear in publications indicating methods of using

forecast information. This will contribute to general knowledge of

Hams which in general should lead to greater commercial use of propagation

forecasts.

253. Make more complete weather forecasts. The accurate time and weather

(storm) warnings are absolutely indispensible to the cruising yachtsman.

Their discontinuation would endanger many lives.

254. Add weather for continental U. S.; by region (forecasts).

255. Elimination or reduction in services of VWV or WWVH would handicap the

safe navigation of our vessel and, in some unusual circumstances, could

comceivably jeopardize the existence of the vessel as well as that of

ourselves.

256. As operations officer of , Cap, RAFB, TX, it is squadron

policy to accurately set watches and clocks—and —to have a receiver

capable of receiving WWV on all practice missions.

257. The years and expertise it has taken to bring this all important service

to "WORLD WIDE" use and dependancy would be one of the greatest misfortunes if it were discontinued in any way.

As for me personally, my family (wife and 12 year old son) and I will

be heading out to the South Pacific soon. If I thought that your "solid"

dependable service were to be interrupted, it would have a definite

effect on all our planning.

258. We here in the local (Mid- South) region of the Sports Car Glub of

America, and, in fact, all car rallies across the country that are conducted on an orderly basis use WWV for the exact time of day for all

contestants and for all control crews

.

WWV is a very important requirement for the Divisional Level Rallies

that we put on since we have people from all over the country competing

and exact time is what Rallying is all about.

259. I would like to see an increase in transmitting power. Would prefer

elimination of some broadcast frequencies.

260. Add North Pacific radio propagation forecast; also resume 5 minute

announcement of propagation.

261. To me your propagation reports are most important of all. I listen to

it before listening to my short wave. Next important would be the one- second ticks by which I set my clocks. I don't think cutting power would

be a good idea at all

.

A24
262. WVA/ performs extremely worthwhile public service which should be

retained.

263. I have found weather forecasts extremely useful at Sea. Only good

frequency calibration source available to me—only personal source for

propagation forecasts. Canadian CHU only good for time signal. PLEASE

CONTINUE 1

264. Over 50% of my earnings is taken by US Government as taxes. I do not

want to see US curtail services wuch as NBS WWV/WWVH boradcasts that

I now pay more than my share fori

265. I think the 25 MHz and possibly the 2.5 MHz service could be discontinued

in an energy conservation move, but the other services and frequencies

are essential.

266. Heavily depend on accuracy of frequency for calibration of amateur

radio equipment. Wish the C.W. time identification were again utilized.

267. Recent K index and Flux data at 14 minutes after very valuable.

268. Would like propagation forecast twice hourly. Addition of K index

and 2800 MHz solar flux report to propagation forecasts is appreciated.

269. Would like to see the propagation forecasts given more than once an hour. CW would be fine.

270. I find the time/frequency services are very good, but would like

propagation forecast announcements more often.

271. I am communications engineer with electric utility—WWV frequency

and time very important to utility communications system.

272. Add Morse code on time when propagation poor. Have you ever considered

a directional antennae setup with each segment reinforced at some part

of the hour?

273. Cut power on Broadcasting Stations would save more energy. Broadcasting

stations use much more power than WWV and are only for pleasure and

news . Their power far exceeds the need today with the modern BC

receivers. WWV is an essential need and is absolutely necessary if the

FCC expects us to keep our equipment on frequency calibration. WWV is

a must , don't decrease power—increase if anything.

274. Morse code time should have been retained. That is a MUST.

275. We the People of the U. S. need WWV and appreciate the propagation

forecasts very much.

276. If you reduce power—people on other continents will not be able to use your services.

277. Very important for navigation when sailing to Mexico, Bahamas, etc. where

Gulf Stream drastically affects position. I would have to be out there

without WWV and have my life depend on it,

A25
278. I believe that WWV is a very poor place to "bore into" for energy

conservation.

279. Would not object to power cuts of 50% on 5, 15, and 20 MHz. No services

should be cancelled—especially propagation forecasts. Would be interested in the daily sunspot count (if possible to obtain.)

280. Surely the Government can find other methods to economize rather than

reducing the effectiveness of a vitally needed service.

281. I am satisfiedll May be a first for a government agencyl 1 I

282. Would like to see more time of carrier only without tone or voice

modulation, for purpose of equipment calibrations.

283. Time should also be sent in CW as occasionally interference is of

sufficient strength to make the voice time announcements unintelligible.

284. Excellent service—monitor daily—would like to see more power in your

5 and 10 MHz transmissions even at the expense of giving up your

transmissions on 2.5, 20, and 2 5 MHz.

285. Because telegraphy is much more readable under marginal receiving

conditions, its reinstatement by NBS is now more important than ever.

286. Existence of WWV frequency service saves amateur operators and probably

many other services considerable expense for individual station frequency standards and/or meters for calibrating receivers and transmitters

.

287. WWV is something we (U.S. Citizens) can be very proud of. Try to maintain

it.

288. More frequent propagation reports and hourly MUF report.

289. Several frequencies are important because of propagation changes—when

propagation is poor, CW is easier to hear than voice.

290. As a United States citizen and taxpayer, I throughly believe that this

service should continue.

291. If necessary to cut back, please cut back on frequencies —not on power.

Hard to predict how a power decrease would affect ability to use service.

292. I think eliminating 25 MHz transmission in darkness hours would help

cut cost.

293. Resume the MCW broadcasts every five minutes. Voice doesn't always

get through. At PD we use the time signals especially. We

need a standard as the phone company time has been as much as 4

minutes off.

294. This is one place I'm glad to see my taxes support I

A26
295. A longer tone transmission without superimposed modulation - say

45 sec/hour.

296. Weather & Geoalerts more often

297. In the area north of Reno and east of Redding, CA there is no weather information available. This is about the only radio or TV

giving some indication of weather for this area.

298. Cannot receive weather reports on 160 MHz - wish reports could be

given on lower frequency for this area - West Virginia.

299. SW reception for different areas of the globe.

300. If operating costs should be cut, it should not be power out-put

of station WWV, it may allow jamming stations to interfere with

people who need it.

301. CW time of day

302. Weather for areas VHF doesn't reach.

303. Suggest WWV eliminate or reduce operation on 2.5 MHz and 25 MHz

to save energy.

304. Place indices broadcast @ 18 past the hour closer to propagation

forecasts @ 14 past the hour or vice versa. Ennumeration of

numbers could improve; "seventy-six (i.e.) should be "seven-six"

etc and A indexes of single numbers should be prefixed with "zero".

305. You may on one weather report give some darn good info and then on

the next several updates give absolutely nothing. No follow-up is

my complaint there. Please include the millibar low center readings.

I feel expanded time should be given North Pacific weather info...

306. How about a low frequency service with better East Coast coverage

than WWVB?

307. Calibrate time encoders for medical research.

308. Increase the storm warnings to every ten minutes. The only source of

offshore weather for yachtsmen - very important.

309. Info on MUF would be helpful.

310. Perhaps, you might give the equation of time at the moment.

311. Propagation forecasts every 30 minutes would be very helpful.

312. Monthly averaged sunspot count (propagation forecasts).

313. Change standard tone to 1000 Hz. Discontinue 2.5, 5.20 and 25 MHz

operations; the low frequencies are only good during rare periods

A27
313.(cont) of the day and the higher ones are only good "locally", I'm 2000

miles away. Increase power of WWV. Interference from off frequency

sources is sometimes present.

314. It would be helpful if other than marine forecasting could be

done at designated periods, throughout your broadcast schedule.

315. I would like to see the 14 and 18 minute after the hour propagation

information put on WWV more frequently (2 or 3 times hourly) ; more

detailed data on current or expected MUFs would also be very useful.

316. Past use has included coarse time set for Loran-C. Precise time

keeping systems.

317. Propagation forecasts to WWVH. I would like to see a 100 watt WWV

at 50 MHz.

318. Voice frequently doesn't "carry" as well as code. Could the time

also be given in code every so often during the hour? I frequently

have trouble with the weather broadcasts: "too much said too quickly",

319. Tallahoma, TENN - I think WWV should more frequntly include

weather, etc. More reports such as weather, rocket /satellite

tracking, etc.

320. 10 MHz is most reliably received but is frequently interfered with

by unknown broadcasts. 5MHz is often unreceivable (too weak).

15 MHz used when 5 and 10 MHz are unsatisfactory but is often too

weak.

321. More variety of standard tones for tuning various musical instruments.

Once an hour, broadcast the Greenwich Hour angle of Polaris and the sun on the last hr for surveyors so a current ephemeris is not needed

for azimuths.

322. Some of your announcers have bad speech problems and listening

becomes unpleasant. Clarity is most essential to convey your messages.

323. Would like OTF and LUHF given.

324. Weather forecasts for various parts of country would be helpful.

325. C major scale last 8 seconds of minute. Use loud ticks to

indicate seconds but use soft clicks to partition t into A t = 1/2 sec. 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, 1/11, 1/13, 1/17 sec. Publish schedule telling

when in a given minute these events occur in sequence.

326. Toll-free telephone number.

327. Skip conditions.

328. Do not drop or reduce power of the 2.5 MHz service - often it is the

only WWV signal available at night as this area seems to be in a skip zone of the 5 MHz transmitter (Springville, lA)

A28
329. Suggest reduction of power during nightime when better propagation

increases skip distance and signal strength.

330. I would like to see the solar flux and K index info given twice an hour.

331. More frequent announcements of weather.

332. Standard frequencies on 3.5, 7.0, 14.0, 21.0, 28.0 for amateur

radio use. How about prop. C and X for Asia and Australia?

333. Please repeat coordinates of storms location.

334. More complete synoptic weather briefing for S. Pacific.

335. Radio propagation cond. San Francisco to Tokyo (or Denver).

336. Possibly some kind of "sky watch" (satellites, meteor showers,

eclipses, etc.).

337. A time signal within the broadcast band would increase the citizens use many fold.

338. Area-coded emergency weather warning information using a selective

two-tone alerting system.

339. General inland U. S. weather for the country - i.e., storm alerts

and forecasts.

340. Add HELL - you should cut!! (from Abused Taxpayer)

341. Morse code GMT time - every 5 minutes. Transmit 440-600 Hz tones

less often. Also delete 600 Hz tone and transmit 1000 Hz tone in

its place.

342. Let's have Morse Code time signals!! Voice gets distorted too often!

343. Relay station in Indian Ocean.

344. Give date as well as time - very important.

345. BCD time code with tones 5, 10, 15 MHz.

346. Daily sunspot count.

347. Propagation forecasts more frequently than once per hour would be

useful. The 25 MHz signal cannot be received reliably at this

location (Washington, D.C. area).

348. Single sideband service on 2.5 or 15 MHz.

349. Long letter: return CW time announcement, audio announcement

wasn't strong enough to determine the time, minute announcement

difficult to understand as some numbers sound alike.

A29
350. Start transmitting on medium wave also.

351. Unmodulated carrier in short wave band for use as a frequency standard.

352. Expand weather forecasts including solar forecasts.

353. More propagation reports.

354. In addition to voice broadcast of time in terms of Coordinated

Universal Time, translate into standard U. S. time zone time.

355. Atmospheric pressure.

356. Frequency in AM or FM broadcast band.

357. The date at hourly intervals.

358. 440 Hz tone more often (every 15 min)

.

359. Astronomical phenomena (eclipses, meteor showers, etc.)

360. 2 ticks @ 30 sec and 3 ticks @ 45 sec. (closely spaced).

361. Position of stars in astronomy.

362. Weather synopsis and short term weather forecast (6 to 18 hours)

for USA by principal regions. Reactivate 2.5 MHz at night in Wash. DC

to serve eastern USA.

363. A monthly sunspot count.

364. Toll-free phone time service.

365. Transmit time in Morse Code and voice.

366. The 7 and 27 day solar forecast-Solar Geophysical should be read

at least twice weekly, preferably twice daily. This would replace

the SESC-PRF publ.

367. More information on Geoalerts

368. Day and date.

369. Regional weather, particularly when readical changes in

prospect or forecast.

370. Introduce service which would elminate Doppler other than WWVL

(Satellite)

.

371. Length of days (e.g. vernal equinox, etc.)

372. OMNI

A30
373. It seems that most of these services represent a nominal monetary

commitment. Given that facilities must already exist for these purposes,

some of which must be useful to other agencies , any discontinuance seems of questionable savings.

374. I use WWV for (1) calibration of frequency standard (daily) (2) calibration of electronic time-keeper (daily) (3) Propagation and geoalerts

(4 or more times/week) . 10 MHz and 15 MHz WWV goes out in OH at sundown.

375. I consider the correct time of day just as important as the correct

measure of all other expendable commodities . I hope the NBS is not

downgraded.

376. Energy should be no factor where such important standards are concerned.

377. WWV renders a service of basic necessity. There are frills in other

aspects of the Dept. of Commerce that could be reduced without being

missed except by the Bureau Chief that would lose status 1

378. Surely the power bill for WWVH is miniscule compared to the other

expenditures for the Department of Commerce, and nothing at all compared

to the mon\imental waste of money in many Government Branches -

379. I feel the N.E. PAC weather is sadly neglected. .in that you will on occasion give a very good low center and the coordinates for the fronts

and troughs and then completely leave any further reference out of your

next successive broadcasts. No attempt at follow-up is made. I feel ex- panded time should be given North Pacific weather info since weather

moves west to east. I feel a more sincere effort should be made to carry

out what you have started.

380. Having access to exact time is vitally important to amateur radio and it is

self evident that many other phases such as navigation, are extremely

important to our country.

381. Don't lessen your operation as the government wastes more money a day

than you people spend in a year.

382. Reduce foreign aid and use the money saved to support WWV and WWVH.

383. Thank you for this opportunity to comment. Your signals are of vital

importance to the safety of we few who sail the seas in small vessels.

384. Time signals are essential to the small boat sailor who does not, now

can he affort expensive navigational gear and who relies on the time

signals and his sextant to navigate the seas. Without WWV/WWVH what

would we do?

385. As I understand the WWV program—it is used by a small minority who will

taKe anything that is offered to them as long as its FREE. Reduce

nonsensical government expenditures and MAYBE our taxes will be reduced I 1

1

386. In my opinion the National Bureau of Standards in general and your Time

and Frequency Division in particular provide more valuable service—world

wide—than any other U. S. Government agency.

A31
387. You have very fine services and I believe if you must restructure your

service it should be done gradually (after proper announcement in each

category)

.

388. What I'd really like to see would be Pacific propagation announcements

by WWV, As to WWVH cuts, I'd think your objectives could be met with

little loss of benefit by having WWVH on 15 MHz by daytime only and on 5 MHz by nighttime only.

389. The undersigned writes to you as a representative of the Mountain

Radio League, an organization of some 150 radio amateurs, some of us having been licensed for a number of years. It is our position that

ANY reduction in the services offered by WWV and WWVH would be misplaced

effort, most particularly at this point in time, and with special regard

for the position of the United States on the world's political stage.

390. There are some government services which are so valuable and so much

used, that we take their presence for granted. How many of us have ever written NBS and thanked you for WWV? We cannot afford to loose

these broadcasts and it is hoped that this letter will add encouragement

toward continuing WWV in its full format.

The application at , and in my personal pursuits, leans heavily

upon the frequency calibration provided by WWV's standard- frequency

transmissions. In fact, I know of no alternative source, should WWV be

discontinued. Time signals are also most-necessary, and I will be

placing a greater emphasis upon propagation forecasts in my work, thus

requiring continuation of this information, as supplied by WWV.

You will note that imder section 10 of the questionnaire, I have re- quested a return to Morse-code time announcements. These telegraphic

signals always seemed to be audible during marginal propagation, while

the voice announcements are sometimes not

.

391. DON'T CUT BACKl Fight for money and support. Let the users know your

problem.

392. I feel the loss of any of these valuable services would be greater

than the benefit derived by saving energy.

393. I am at a loss that the Government wants to cut back on your services

to the entire country. Let's shut off some of the light in Washington

so that your entire operations and staff can keep up the fine job that

you have done in the past/and present.

394. Please return to sending tone modulated code on air. I don't see how

a 50% reduction in WWVH power will give you much saving!

395. I would hate to see services from WWV and WWVH diminished due to the

present "energy shortage". Perhaps a way could be found to convert

the enormous amount of "hot-air" from the D.C. politicians to help

overcome your shortage I

A32
396. As a Special Forces Radio operator, I, along with virtually every

other Special Forces operator, has relied extensively on WWV/WWVH during

our world wide committments, and still rely upon it during our training

and actual operations.

397. One of the few government services I don't mind paying taxes fori I could find sufficient availability of WWV during the ten minutes before

and after the hour for my purposes. Don't see how we could get along

without the frequency service.

398. Please include CW time signals at least once each hour. Ship operators

say WWV lost much value when you discontinued CW time signals.

399. WWV/WWVH are so vital to so many different fields I feel that NBS should

continue the service as it now exists for optimum reliability and service.

400. What little energy that is used by WWV is negligible. I feel the power

should be increased. This government facility is and always has been

a tremendous asset to the entire world.

401. WWVL is relied upon heavily for the calibration of our frequency/time

standard which in turn provides frequency and time data for use throughout the power generating, transmission, and associated communication

systems. It is hoped that no curtailment of WWVL services is contemplated.

402. I regret your dropping the CW in favor of voice. I remember hearing

the announcement of the change from WIAW via CW and I was not able to

copy the voice. CW always cuts through the hash long after voice is

imintelligible. I'm for more info via CW.

403. Would like to see the Morse code started again for the time.

404. I think the NBS is a very essential service and is not worthy of a great cutback. I do agree that some services could be modified or changed to help the situation.

405. Although I am sure only a very small percentage of users will participate

in the survey, any curtailment in services will have a major and far

reaching effect on numerous services. For example, although we make

extensive use of WWV transmissions at the Research Laboratory,

Washington, D.C. where I work, I know of no efforts to get an official

response (input) to the survey.

406. WWV/H is a damn poor place to economize. It is a service vital to the

scientific community, and to the public, whether they know it or not.

Economies in government can be more sensibly effected by eliminating

bureaucracies in Washington that accomplish nothing more than self

perpetration

.

407. There is no real justification at all in any energy cut-backs in your

broadcasts. How can there be any reason to reduce a 2.5 kw use of

power of, say, your 2.5 MHz signal when just ironing a shirt consiimes

1.2 kw? I strongly object to any curtailments.

A33
408. I feel WWV/WWVH is very important to me because through the time

ticks, and weather bulletins, it enables me to navigate my ship with

safety.

409. Every navigator on sea-going, commercial fishing boats that I know or have met, uses the time of day broadcasts and weather information from

WWV/WWVH. The same probably applies to most merchant marine deck

officers, so speaking for all of them I can say that these services

are essential.

410. The constant availability of accurate one-second ticks (or better h sec. ticks) is essentially required in recording occultation observations. Stronger signals on the east coast either from a more powerful

WWV or a separate station, would be very desirable.

411. This vessel (m.v. ) , is a freighter on a round the world

service Eastward. WWV/WWVH services are used continually, with the

exception of an area of approx. Greenwich longitude to 80E when for

time signal purposes only, Capetownradio/ZSC is used. The service is

very much appreciated, and a reduction in power or withdrawl of any

frequency would prove a great loss.

412. As one of more than 300,000 HAMS I would be glad to contribute $1.00 to

your service. If 1/2 of us did, you would have $150,000. I'm sure we'd

be only a small segment of service benefactors.

413. Add daily voice description of Western Hemisphere (North) weather

patterns and trends . Location and tendency of extra-tropical cyclones

and major air masses.

414. I was very pleased when you changed the format to one similar to CHU.

It is much more practical for astronomical work. The power your radio

station uses is a drop in the ocean compared to the megawatts of commercial

lighting which elimination would not be a loss to anyone. Please do not

compromise the usefulness of WWV for the satisfaction of the naivete.

415. I feel that no curtailment of services should occur, but the elimination

of the least used frequencies and/or services would be acceptable if no budget relief is forthcoming.

416. Perhaps hourly, give month and day (Greenwich) for inexperienced

mariners at sea who have not learned yet how to keep Greenwich dates

straight.

417. I have used the time/frequency signal from WWV for a number of years and

possibly it has become more of a convenience than a necessity. Train

service employees are required to have the correct time within 30 seconds

at any time. It is more convenient to set my watch at home than at work

by the standard clock.

418. Would like to see propagation forecasts and geoalert info given much

frequently than once an hour. Would like to see four to six times an hour.

419. It is a disgrace to this nation to curtail so vital a function as the

NBS calibration/time broadcast for the reason that cost of electricity

has risen.

A34
420. Any reduction in these frequencies (5, 10, 15, 20 MHz) or reduction in

power would hamper our work ( i(legal) survey crew) as our surveys are conducted in quite remote areas of British Columbia, Canada

421. We urge that the essential, very important and excellent services

furnished by WWV not be tampered with. { Seismograph Net)

422. Storm warnings should be read more often , say four times each hour, Lat.

and Lon. of center should be repeated . Missing this can be deadly if

station fades at critical time, e.g.: I listened for four hours off Yucatan

one night last summer before finding that I had run directly into the

center of a tropical distrubance instead of away from it. Warnings should

be read slowly enough to write down.

423. This is ONE business the Federal Government belongs in. The NBS is

providing an essential service for many industries so let's economize

some other way.

424. I would like to see no reduction in any services provided by WWV as it

it too important a function for it's users to lose. There are many other

areas of Government spending from which funds could be made available.

425. Too much interference from WWVH in this area (West Coast of Florida).

Suggest the six frequencies be divided between WWV and WWVH.

425. I am delighted to get this questionnaire so that I can tell you what a (expletive deleted) outfit you are. I use to use your signals when

available from the Naval Observatory on ocean races and offshore passages

on the Northern Atlantic. Then, cravenly succumbing to 0MB you moved to

Colorado, where your signals help skiers navigate giant solaloms in

Aspen so now we are dependent on Ottawa. But what the hell, with Accutrons,

quartz clocks, and AM coiranercial beeps you're no longer necessary. I hope

Jerry abolishes you completely.

427. Prefer the former CW indication of time to the present use of Voice. CW

more legible

.

428. Glad you've included current solar flux reporting.

429. The services of WWV/WWVH are recognized world wide and should not be

reduced.

430. Importance of this service increased by reduction of SSB frequency

tolerance on Army MARS circuits to 20 Hz.

431. Add time in code. We have missed the time in code, at times WWV/H voice

transmission is unreadable during certain hours of the day.

432. One use of tax dollar I firmly approve of.

433. Prefer time announcement via CW code when propagation conditions are poor.

A35
434. I believe we could get along without studying the sex lite of frogs in

Russia (and save $60,000) rather than curtail any of the very important

WWV/WWVH NBS activities.

435. I consider WWV/WWVH one of the most worth while services furnished by

Government. I was especially happy to see the addition of hourly reports

on solar flixx and geomagnetic activity levels to assist in propagation

forecasting.

435. The Railroad must rely on WWV for time signal as this service

is no longer available by the Western Union Telegraph Company.

437. Our Company, Bell, places one phone call each week to 303-499-7111 to

check the accuracy of time of day announcement machines located in each

major city.

438. Any major curtailment of WWV operations would definitely be detrimental

to the usefullness and reliability of this station. Our equipment

includes single purpose receivers specifically channelized for WWV/WWVH

frequencies. We frequently crosscheck with Loran-C and VLF receivers

but WWV/WWVH is our primary time/frequency standard. ( Tracking

and Data Network Station, , Alaska).

439. Suggest SSB mode might increase coverage with less input power.

440. I think that curtailing any of NBS WWV Services is false economy. There

are so many wasteful operations that NBS is just a spit in the ocean.

441. If you need funds; the FAA is wasting enough annually to more than pay

for your operations, so we think the savings on your operations would be

very insignificant by comparison.

442. Since the move to Boulder, CO I seldom am able to receive the 25 MHz

transmissions. These are desirable for instrument calibration when

available. Instead of a high-power WWV in Boulder, how about a third

station again located in the East?

443. I would not care to see WWV or WWVH cut their transmitted power, because

in the mid-Atlantic and mid-Pacific they are usually the only means of

obtaining accurate times. WWV and WWVH are generally clearer on the

radio than either CHU, Canada; or JJY, Tokyo.

444. Over the years we have found your service most excellent and we would abhor

any cutting of this important function. It is felt there are other lesser

important areas that savings can be made... such as duplicate governmental

agency functions!

445. Arrangements in the past have been made to provide transpacific race participants with mid-Pacific and local Hawaiian weather (current and

forecast) from WWVH. It is hoped that at 50% power, the "reach" of these

broadcasts will still be adequate.

A36
446. The time service in particular is vital . I can get accurate time with

one radio and one backup radio for $60.00. A chronometer for navigation

would cost $300.00.

447. It almost makes me retch to think that your hiomanitarian services are being siibjected to nit picking economy while at the same time our government can afford to spend thousands of dollars to destroy one life in S.E.

Asia. Ugh!

448. Navigation use involves WWV calibrated time code generators/checks

on surface craft and submarines, with TCG's initiating underwater acoustic

pulses to provide submarine with information as to distance from surface

craft transmitting acoustic pulse.

449. We need as strong a signal as possible, especially for calibration. The

Federal Communications Commission specifically states in Volume 3, Sect.

73.60, page 32 —that "The primary standard of frequency for radio

frequency measurements shall be the National Standard of Frequency maintained

by the National Bureau of Standards, Dept. of Commerce."

450. Increase propagation forecasts to include prominent solar flares and sunspot

groups—cooperate with Kitt Peak.

451- WWV/WWVH provide the only accurate time checks available at sea and as such

must be maintained.

Miss your Morse code time. I now have to wait through two or three minute

ticks to be sure of minute because of voice fading. If you could re- instate this and just put on the individual minute it would be great.

453. Add additional storm warnings. This service is excellent and should be

improved and enlarged. Any cutback would be determental and I oppose

such proposals.

454. NBS should concentrate its efforts on a smaller niomber of frequencies

and broadcast with more strength and content. Add better (more reliable

and articulate) weather announcements.

455. In ocean navigation WWV and WWVH are necessary for accuracy of navigation,

time checks, determination of propagation conditions, satellite usage

and calibration of electronic instruments. Weather broadcasts are necessary

adjunct to meterological broadcasts from other sources. For operational

conditions at sea.

456. I certainly hope that you are at^ least able to maintain your current

level of service.

457. I would vote for more power rather than less. Sometimes I have to use a Russian or Chinese Station—mostly Russian. 15 MHz is used mostly,

but 10 MHz can be heard when 15 cannot, in darkness. Believe me! We

appreciate WWV and WWVH. Sometimes we can hear one but not the other. I have to get at least one time signal daily throughout the world for the

radio room clock and for the bridge for navigation.

A37
458. Reinstitue Morse code time announcement. Very useful for those users who

do not understand English. Also able to read better than voice under

marginal conditions

.

459. You could drop 2.5 and 25 MHz, and increase power on 10, 15, and 20 with

merit. Storm warnings are too hurried. Better if more complete, and

sent more slowly, even if we lose one or two "minute" ticks. After all, we got long fine on a "once-every-five-minute" basis for years.

460. Request continuance of present format plus increased weather reports for

interior U.S.

461. 20 and 25 MHz almost useless for us. We use 10 mostly. Almost all

boats are equiped to receive 2.5, some 5 and 10

.

462. The Clock System (about 80 clocks) are referenced to WWV time signals, and

are used to coordinate with programs from NBC and remotes . Any changes in

your format or power would probably create problems and expense for us at

Channel Television Co. ( -TV) . ( ., Texas)

463. The time signal service has always been excellent. It commands respect.

We need some of that in international fields.

464. Would like propagation and geoalerts added at 44 minutes past hour in

addition to 14 minutes past hour.

465. The small amount of energy which can be saved by reducing transmitter

power can be conserved in far less important uses. This signal may mean

life or death.

466. On our European exercises we are unable to copy WWV due to interference

and no signal from WWV.

467. Principal uses are in support of persons observing total and grazing lunar

occultations and reducing timings for report to USNO and HMNAO. Ticks

and announcements must be received clearly on a variety of portable radios.

Other uses are in check-out and calibration of radios and other equipment.

468. Signal strength into this area (San Francisco) is primarily dependent on propagation conditions. A reduction in power would only shorten the length

of time (daily) that WWV/WWVH has a suitable signal strength by a short

amount. The Morse code time announcements were readable for a considerably

longer daily period than the voice announcements—please resume this service.

469. Add earth quake/tidal wave warnings for Pacific Ocean basin.

470. Your service is vital to ships in order for us to maintain our chronometers.

Conceivably we could use time signals from other countries, but your standards

of accuracy have always been so high that we would be reluctant to trust

others whose reliability is less.

471. All in all WWV and WWVH provide an invaluable service to shipping and in all

respects should maintain the high quality which they now have.

472. Add more weather, especially during hurricane season.

A3 8
473. Naturally you'll receive many many objections. So by all means be

completely objective. You'll probably discontinue!

474. Add a more comprehensive taped weather report sent every two hours or maybe even every hour. Every ships officer would like to keep ahead of

bad weather and if they could get it regularly from WWV and in the Pacific

from WWVH it would fill a very important need. I feel that this would render

a very needed service since the weather is so important today with faster

ships and higher labor costs . The Captain always needs the weather and

WWV sending it every one or two hours would be a big help that could be

depended on *that is most important* to send up to date weather at ex- exactly the same time. The need is there. The tapes could be changed

every four or six hours. Give some thought to this idea and keep the

power up. It is wiser to make better use of energy than reduce the power

in some places.

475. It is ludicrous to consider cutting your power or services, as your

modest total costs are such a miniscule part of Federal expenses—propose

that they cut out some of the boondoggling etc., etc., etc., in Washington

Europeans are more realistic about Standards .

476. How many dollars and cents would actually be saved by reducing number of

frequencies and/or reducing x'mtr power?

477. Add weather by area.

478. It is inconceivable that a vital service such as this could even by con- sidered for reduction. The costs here are trivial compared to (a) their

values (b) the ridiculous throwing away of money in many other areas.

WWV transmissions are most important. This is a ridiculous area to

conserve energy and cut cost. WWV weather transmissions save lives. This

program is one of the few Government Services the public needs and can feel!

480. WWV and WWVH need substantially more detailed weather information.

481. In my experience CHU Canada comes in louder and clearer and can be used

within one minute of turning on receiver. It fades around the Azores

at which point I switch to WWV.

482. WWV/WWVH is the most useful time signal in all the world, we (Japanese

radio officers) think so,

483. The voice of the woman at WWVH does not carry like a man's voice.

WWV at Colorado does not cover the globe like it did from Washington

now the Russian Time tick covers Europe .

484. The operating costs of WWV/WWVH are very low when set against the

number of users and the benefit obtained. The ratio of cost to utility

is probably one of the lowest in Government!

!

485. I use WWV to set the Standard clock in the Railway office where I work.

It is available through a phone extension of the Union Pacific Railroad

Company . How they have WWV patched in I don ' t know

.

A3 9
486. FAA control tower has receiver from which we National Weather Service

employees get signals to check time for Public Weather Broadcasts.

487. I strongly object to any reduction of power or services from these

stations. Time checks and weather information are critically important

to marine navigation

.

488. The idea of cutting down national power consumption by reducing power

output of WWV and WWVH seems ridiculous in the extreme. It isn't even

a drop in the bucket and it could be important to quite a few people

.

489. In order to comply with FCC regulations it is most essential to

receive good signals at various odd times. I hope costs can be cut in

other ways that will not affect signal or time of operation.

490. Keep the real time propagation, flux, and K index broadcasts at 14 minutes

after the hour. How about propagation, solar flux, and K index from

WWVH.

491. When Greenbelt, Md. was in service on 2.5 (and 5.0 MHz) reception in our area very satisfactory. How about getting together with Canada and have

a powerful CHU located on East Coast (say Cape Sable) to serve both

nations Atlantic Coast's?

492. Personaly I feel WWV has done an excellent job over the years. My experience

in the Navy plus being employed by industries find your services without

equal. I suggest the government find other ways to cut the budget. I for one would be willing to contribute towards your support.

493. Thank you for consistent good service and assistance when needed. Other

Government services should copy NBS

.

494. With modern watches the jeweler must have the correct time to the fraction

of a second. I use a 5 MHz and 10 MHz receiver to set accutron and Quartz

watches but a lot of the time interference prevents my use of WWV on 5 and 10 MHz.

495. Extend the cutoff of your telephone answering device by one more minute.

496. The time/frequency broadcasts of the NBS are so central to many of the

operations of industry and government that it would appear to me that

this would be a poor place to attempt economies.

497. Lets turn off a half million or so unnecessary street lights which have

been oversold as a safety device in our better days.

498. Service has been much more satisfactory since your move to Boulder than it was from Washington.

499. NBS T & F signals are an essential part of this ship's navigation and

communication procedures throughout those areas listed (Caribbean, W. Coast

of U.S., North Pacific, South China Sea, Malacca Straits). Our great

problem with WWV/WWVH signals is that of interference from other stations

on or adjacent the frequency, including S.W. broadcast stations.

A40
500. For centuries, men struggled with the problem of finding longitude at

Sea. So critical was the problem that in 1714 Parliment authorized a payment of F20,000 to the person who developed a means to keep longitode

error within 30' after a voyage to the West Indies and back. This amount

would be a fortune then. In 1735 John Harrdon submitted his cronometer and was eventually awarded the prize. Time signals were investigated in the

U.S. at the end of the Civil War by telegraph to ports when ships checked

cronometers by Time Ball Signals. Previously the Navy's standard crono- meter was carried from Port to Port to allow comparison. In 1904 the

first official wireless transmission of time signals began from the Naval

Station at Navesink, NJ. The signals could be heard for 50 miles. Now 70

years later we have World Wide Coverage. Now you want to scrap all this,

it would appear. As far as I am concerned this is one of the legitiment

functions of government—Radio time signals enable a person with a sextant

and portable radio to navigate accurately and at minimum cost. We can't all

afford Loran etc. Lets not set the clock back to 1741 just in the name of

Economy

.

Required by Federal and International Law to provide time ticks to

navigation bridge for the safe navigation of vessel. Required by Federal

Law (FCC) to maintain high order of frequency stability and accuracy.

502. "Brochure" to aid in public awareness of the present facilities and for

education of students

.

503. NBS time signals are used at this Federal Reserve Facility for:

1. Synchronization of computer communications processors at 14

Federal Reserve locations throughout the USA.

2. Continious calibration of the building clock system using 15 MHz.

3. Telephone number 303-499-7111 is used daily except Saturday/Sunday.

504. Please reinstate time in Morse code! When reception is marginal with time

of day-voice, the Morse code signal could always be heard. Please reconsider

this very functional service.

505. Reinstate CW time. This can be copied when voice is no good due to

propagation. Twelve years of deep artic experience, CW would get us a good time hack when voice would not. When CW was dropped we had to depend

more on other services, like JJY and CHU.

506. My company is an U.S. ERDA contractor and our standards lab and electronics

department depends on WWV.

507. Federal Aviation Administration required accurate calibration of test

equipment to NBS frequencies at radar facility where I work.

508. Of the few nice things this government does... and does it correctly

is the .Time and Frequency service which I have listened to for many months

since I knew that it existed.

Cast my vote to KEEP this service... for once in my lifetime (age 67) all

the clocks in our house (4) ALL have the correct time... again, thanks

to you and your coordinated universal time signals.

A41
509. The US Army

has been testing unattended ground sensors for the US Army. The bulk

of our data gathering and recording was accomplished by interfacing all

of our instrumentation to a minicomputer and then recording the data on magnetic tape. To allow the correlation of these entries from different

items of instrumentation which were physically separated, a common clock was required. The selected standard was the WWV time of day, voice, and

one second ticks broadcast from Boulder, Colorado.

The Board is also actively involved in personnel and material airdrop

testing. Our tracking system for this mission consists of television

and motion pictiire photography and three digital recording theodolites.

To allow accurate triangulation from theodolite data required the use of

a standard time, and based on our previous success, the WWV broadcast was again selected as the standard for this airdrop testing.

In our experience, the WWV broadcast has been a reliable, accurate source of standard time available to all of our test locations simultaneously.

In our continued testing mission, we will utilize this broadcast whenever

the need for a standard time arises

.

510. Over 2,000 members with interests in navigation, shipping and boating,

and pleasure yachts.

For the East Coast the reduction in signal strength, which is already

marginal, would render this service useless. While we consider this

service vital today it could well be that the advant of the quartz crystal

timepiece, which is just now starting to come on the market at reasonable

prices, would make this service unnecessary in a year or two.

511. The Sport Car Club of America (SCCA) has a very active rally program.

Last year the 100 regions (clubs) of SCCA sponsored approximately 620

Regional rallies, 56 events counting toward the SCCA National Rally

Championship and one internationally listed World Rally Championship

event.

Since rallying is an automotive sport that demands accurate time keeping,

each of these 683 events made use of radio station WWV. The SCCA only

sponsors a small percentage of rallies held annually in the United States

as rallying is probably the most common automotive sport today.

On every weekend there are probably thousands of rallyist across the

country who use WWV to synchronize their watches for the rally in which

they are entered. All checkpoints along the rally route must also have

their watches synchronized with WWV.

512. This letter is in response to yours of January 8 in regard to power re- duction at WWV and WWVH. Of the billions of dollars that the federal

government spends , the money it spends on primary power to operate the

above radio stations most likely represents one of the better values the

government is getting for its money. If anything, the power of these

stations should be increased.

For example, on a recent trip on my private yacht along the China Coast

it was only possible to obtain a time fix for less than an hour a day

due to interference from what I presumed were oriental services on the same frequency.

As we could not make head nor tail of these alternate services, they were useless.

A42
513. Domestic weather reports & forecasts for pilots would ease FSS workloadsat least identify IFR areas.

514. "I think that your service shood bee keep on for IT dos a good job for the

groop that use it."

515. If we must cut back (which I doubt) why not give signals on 1/4 hour?

516. Lengthen UTl correction double pulses to make more audible, vis-a-vis

CHU, Canada.

517. I find WWV extremely useful. I think a small power reduction and

elimination of 20 and 25 MHz would be fine.

518. I use the time signal to check electronic timepieces for accuracy - this

is our only means of getting the accurate time.

519. May I suggest that the 14 min. propagation forecast and 18 min. geoalert

be placed at adjoining minutes for convenience since these two services are similar.

520. "Of the many places the 'Great Uncle' can save money, dropping WWV services

is stupid. One load of unnecessary bombs to Cambodia would pay for all

of WWV services you might wish to drop.

521. Put K&A index on at the same time (18 min. after the hour).

522. The signal is not always usable. Approximately 10% of the time even

a carrier is not detectable. However, the need for this type of

information far outwieghs any inconvenience this (poor signal strength)

causes. Instead of WWVH, I would like to see a new, lower powered

station in Greenbelt, MD again. (This letter came from Southeastern

Virginia)

523. I'd suggest that 15, 20, and 25 Megahertz be used during daylight only.

They won't propagate at night.

524. Obtain a toll free area code 800 phone number.

525. A weekly short wave transmission of perhaps 1/2 hour duration, giving

latest scientific discoveries and inventions, that can safely be given

to the public.

It is the principal function of government to provide for its citizenry,

that which the citizens alone cannot provide for himself. Your transmission provides information, which I cannot obtain elsewhere.

526. Increase your electrical power or volume when speaking or when you give the

time. What good is all this if your power is weak or you fade a little

on the minute .

527. Possible propagation for ham bands 80 through 10 meters. Could sure use

this.

528. I would like to have the coded propagation forecast sent more than once

per hour. For my purposes, it could be sent in Morse code as it was A43
formerly. In this way, it could take little time. The full voice

announcement could still be given hourly.

529. Signal usually fades during voice portion of transmission - use more

power then

I

530. Poor reception on 20 MHz may be due to relatively bad propagation at

this frequency. For cost and energy savings, transmissions at 15 MHz

and higher could be curtailed when these bands are dead.

531. No (additions) but please stay on the air. Let the government cut down

on something else. Such as "Sex life of African Spider" and other

nonsense.

532. Yo'^ give Pacific storm warnings - how about fair wx high pres areas,

Arctic fronts coming down over Northwest from Canada

533. My flying is incidental to my work but safety in the air is closely related

to an accurate knowledge of the time.

534. Short voice broadcasts of any known ship/aircraft distress situation

giving position, name and nature of distress to continue until assistance

arrives

.

535. Silent carrier periods for easier zero beat.

535. The only correct time we have available to us. We are Railroad time

inspection.

537. Give more info about WWV-WWVH about services & meanings for use of beginners,

538. Propagation other than North Atlantic.

539. Too many freqs used - cut out ones known to be limited use and if needed,

increase power on most used.

540. "I am 13 and I am planing to become a well established ham."

541. I use your 440 Hz audio tone frequently and was quite annoyed when you

stopped broadcating it every other minute and started providing it only

once an hour. Let's have it 3 or 6 times an hour at least!

542. Our 3 observatories must rely heavily upon time standardization provided

by WWV for accurate data exchange to exist between them.

543. Time signals and weather forecasts are essential information - especially

here in the South Pacific wherein exact location is very important.

544. A toll free 800 WATS line would be more convenient than short wave (if a 2-3 minute connection were assured)

.

545. I would like to see you return to using CW time announce at least part

of the time.

A44
546. Back before you dropped the CW time signals there were many times when

voice announcements were unreadable but CW could still be read. I feel possibly alternate CW and voice time announcements every other

minute or so

.

547. Daily sunspot count - rough or hot.

548. Strongly oppose reduction in transmission power. I think that the 2.5,

20.0 and 25.0 MHz frequencies could be eliminated with increase of transmission power for the 5 and 10 MHz frequencies.

549. Storm warnings of the Sea of Cortez (Caribbean Sea), Gulf of Mexico,

and the Indian Ocean. Also mediterranean Sea.

550. Details on what astronomical bodies are visible.

551- In 18 years at sea as a Merchant Marine Radio Officer I have found

WWV/WWVH most useful. One of the main reasons is that when within normal

ranges (and often well beyond!) of either station, I can tune in to the

frequencies at any time of day or night to obtain the information re- quired. Reduction in power on 10 and 15 MHz would be a disservice to

mariners

.

552. The US Geological Survey, Division makes continued use of

WWV broadcasts and feels that present procedure and frequencies are adequate . Please do not reduce the power nor change the voice

.

553. Add more and more frequent weather. There are many acceptable ways for

the U.S. government to conserve energy and reduce expense. This proposal

to reduce signal power for WWV/WWVH would be a serious loss of one of

the very important services our tax dollars buy.

Safety and welfare of small boats at sea depend on strong signals from

WWV and WWVH,

555. I like both WWV and WWVH but I could "live" without them. CHU on East

Coast Atlantic is great.

556. Reception has deteriorated since station was moved to Boulder, Colorado.

So, all frequencies are required as all must be tried in order to get

one that will come through and sometimes none will come through. My

receiver is a Zenith Trans-oceanic in excellent condition.

557. When giving weather information please repeat Lat. and Long, because

some operators go so fast we have to wait an hour and try again. Some

operators do repeat but it should be standard practice.

558. WWV and WWVH both received here—sometimes with equal strength—alternating at times, and only one at other times. Could "tone" be eliminated

diiring ALL voice announcements . The tone from WWV often obscures WWVH

station ID here, at least. It is annoying. We would like to avoid

pointing this out in our program—but could not—but WOULD, if it is to

be eliminated.

A45
559. Military electronics technicians are required to utilize WWV for

accuracy checks

.

560. I am operating the official seismograph station here in

, S. Dak. The WWV time signal is used at least twice daily for

the purpose of correcting the quartzmatic clock. This clock marks off

the minutes on the seismograph chart so that the first motion of an earth quake can be determined to the one tenth of a second. Sometimes

it is hard to receive the WWV time signal so I would say do not reduce

the power

.

561. Can't afford Loran. Therefore, would be impossible to get an accurate

position without a reliable time hack. Crashing around in the middle

of the Gulf is scary enough as it is.

562. WWV broadcasts are critical for accurate navigation, and are the standard

for sailors in the Atlantic and Pacific basins. Surely there are other

ways to conserve energy and money than eliminating this unique and vital

service.

563. The control tower at the airport I manage requires accurate time information. WWV is the only source. WWV/WWVH services are essential. Reduction

in service would be false economy.

564. Suggest 100% mod. of voice. My bulletin (1972) says ticks are 100% and

voice 75%.

565. More detailed weather forecasts. In my opinion reduction of power would

little effect reception here. I am in favor of decreasing power and

keeping or adding to the information currently being broadcast.

566. We very strongly urge that you do NOT discontinue the Honolulu

telephone number 471-6363 to reach the WWVH receiver auto-patch. This

office, as well as all of the Broadcast industry (AM, FM, TV) relies

heavily on this phone-in capability to synchronize clocks, especially

for the Civ-Alert Emergency Broadcast mission of all stations.

567. The former broadcasts by international Morse code were more reliable

as to reception than the voice broadcasts.

558. These responses reflect the requirements for all timing systems comprising

the complex. This includes a fleet of nine aircraft working worldwide on telemetry support for manned and unmanned space systems as well as Range instrumented ships operating in tine Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Time correlated data is of prime concern to aircraft operations.

569. I would be at a great loss without the services your department renders

especially for time signals. As a student in Navigation, and an amateur

astronomer, the loss of time signals would be very serious matter as there

are no accurate signals that I know of available in British Columbia.

A46
570. I would find it almost impossible to be a complete shortwave listener

without your standard frequency broadcasts for accurate receiver

calibration, and time standard for clock calibration. Both used a

niomber of times each day.

571. Some other Governments provide Time and Frequency Services. IF service

must be cut why not allow them to share frequencies and keep the service

going as sort of a combined nations affair.

572. Would like the propagation information now presented at :14 and :18 past

the hour to be given during adjacent minutes.

573. I would be unable to navigate, particularly over water, without a good

time hack. Yours is the only time hack.

The USAF is totally dependent on WWV to meet timing criteria for all

aircraft flights . As a USAF navigator where would I get accurate time

information without WWV?

The control tower at the airport I manage requires accurate time information. WWV is the only source. WWV/WWVH services are essential.

Reduction in service would be a false economy.

1. Go single-sideband, or single-sideband with vestigial carrier.

Certainly, the receiving equipment becomes slightly more complicated,

but after the initial howls, I cannot imagine that SSB would really be

a handicap to any serious user of WWV's services.

2. Operate on a reduced duty-cycle, say, one hour on the air followed

by one hour off, rotating the broadcast frequencies (such as simultaneous transmission of 2.5, 10, and 20 MHz for one period followed by

5.0, 15, and 25 MHz for the other rotation period.) A fairly large

percentage of the time, two or more frequencies are simultaneously

receivable here in Maryland, and presumably elsewhere . From the user's

standpoint, the availability of more than one frequency is really an unnecessary redundancy. And I certainly would not object to waiting

an hour (or less) in order to catch WWV on a particularly suitable

frequency.

3. Is 2.5 MHz really worthwhile during daylight hours? And, depending

on the sunspot cycle, how useful is 25 MHz? (That's the purpose behind

the questionnaire, of course.)

577. In the airline business your stations WWV are very helpful to us in

obtaining accurate time and checking our HF radios

.

578. Here in Iran—time/frequency standards are non-existent. I've been

using USSR time-freq. stations—which are very strong here. On occasion

WWV can be heard very weakly under the USSR stations on 15 MHz. During

winter months November-December I believe WWVH on 15 MHz could be copied

here.

For operations in U.S. your service is a must—both for U.S. Government

communications center operations and amateur radio.

Please provide RESULTS of SURVEY and your INTENTIONS to CQ Magazine

and ARRL for Publication.

A47
579. Electronics Help Line

"Since the NOAA VHF weather stations may be re-broadcasted by

permission of the FCC and the National Bureau of Standards WWV time

signals are also of use to the mariner, why not have WWV time signals

rebroadcast too on the VHF/FM weather channels, WX-1 and WX-2,

eliminating the need for two receivers?"

, Castro Valley

What a great idea! I like it so well I will join you in some letters

to my local congressman as well as to NOAA and the National Bureau of

Standards

.

580. Tone modulation frequently confuses measurements requiring Zero beats.

581. I furnish maintenance and technical assistance for the Institute for

Military Assistance (USAIMA) and other s\ibordinate and units.

582. We of Corp. are engaged in Military, Public Safety and

Computer Communications applications. WWV provides a valid scientific

service to users of accurate timing.

583. Operate military communications and NBS traceable standards laboratory.

Services are indispensable.

584. Survey not known well enough. Will probably only scratch the surface

of actual users and listeners. Services provided by WWV are great.

585. This represents the Communications Section of the State Div.

of Military and Naval Affairs, Office of Disaster Preparedness. Your

signals are essential to keep radio transmitters on their assigned

frequency by calibration of our frequency standards.

586. This is the only time tick available to ships in the Western Atlantic

and Eastern Pacific.

587. What we seem to lack in this day and age is a realistic evaluation of

priorities for essential services of our government. Your universal

time service is vital not alone to the many individuals who use it but

to our national security as well.

588. Stations such as WWVH, JJY, BPV, etc., which furnish the same information,

operate on the same frequencies and cover the same geographical/international areas, could be a joint coordinated internation operation,

managed and financed by all beneficiaries. Suggested ID: 1 ITU, 1 UT

or UT.

589. WWV transmissions essential for calibrating measurement equipment which

is used for enforcement of FCC rules and regulations.

590. Add world weather patters—perhaps once or twice per day or at least

periodically.

I keep as continuous a plot of the sun's position as weather permits as

a reference for observing local crustal motions or earth's axial wobble.

This is additionally used to create interest among school people in

geophysics, astronomy, and related topics.

A48
591. More detailed data should be published on BCD code reception and

use. An article on BCD clocks, specifically how to build one, similar

to the article on digital-crystal clocks (QST-Nov 1974) would promote

wider use of BCD time code.

592. We use WWV basically for rating chronometers. I find it preferable to

other stations because: (a) it's 24 hour service (b) it's spoken

recording of each minute.

593. I am a radio officer on a merchant vessel and utilize your stations

for frequency calibration, calibration of comm. clocks. The bridge

utilizes your time signal for chronometer rate checks, WX warnings.

594. The weather broadcast information is excellent especially in waters

of the South Pacific , specifically the waters off the South American

continent. These broadcasts could be more enhanced by updating the

information on a four hour basis. Time signals are a must; the

program should not be altered.

I am for National Research Council —we depend on WWV.

595. I am a Watch Repairman. Use almost four or five times in a day to

set and check how the Pulsar and Accutron watches are doing.

596. Coast Guard Aux. uses WWV to synchronize watches at start of patrols.

WWV is a valuable aid. It should not be eliminated. It is a must

for taking celestial sights

.

597. Airline pilots constantly relay on WWV and WWVH for the ultimate

last-word, superlatively accurate time hack. Bon Travail .

598. Operating 715 buses on a two to three minute headway and later we will

operate the Rapid Rail System. It is necessary that we have the correct

time.

599. Inc. is a manufacturer of medical electronics and depends

upon your services.

600. We are designers and maintainers of precision visual and audible aids

to navigation equipment for the offshore oil industry and the U. S.

Coast Guard and for that reason your very accurate time signals are most important to our business.

601. Approximately 20 people in this area have purchased or/and build time

equipment for astronomical observations with our organization. This

includes University instructors.

602. We of the New Zealand Radio DX League need all the time signals, geoalerts and propogation forecasts we can get. Especially for BCB and SW

reception here in New Zealand.

A49
603. We have no local time information accurate enough for regulation and

timing of Quartz Crystal watches. Discontinuance of this service would

create almost complete inability to supply the public with accurate time on our more accurate time pieces.

604. Weather warnings highly appreciated as they are mostly more recent than

fax-charts and/or regular weather transmissions. However, positions

sometimes missed due to atmospheric interference—slower speech could

possibly prevent this.

605. The reduction of WWV/WWVH power and frequencies would seriously hamper

the safety of ships at sea in regard to its communication and navigation.

It is vitally important that full and complete power and allocation of

frequencies from 2.5 MHz to 20 MHz be rigidly maintained.

606. To reduce operating cost and conserve energy I suggest that you switch

your transmission mode from A3 to A3H, single sideband full carrier.

Also you could drop your 20 and 25 MHz OPS between sunset and sunrise.

607. I teach celestial navigation to an average of 100 students per year at

two iiniversities who rely on and need good time signal broadcasts.

608. Power Cruiser Association—representing 27 Yacht

Clubs and several hundred interested boaters. We are happy to find

you are not reducing power output on the 5, 10, and 15 MHz on WWVH, for

there are times when, due to interference on WWV, we rely on WWVH.

609. It would be useful if there was someway for NBS time signals to be

broadcast for a 2 to 5 minute period on the National Weather Service

VHF/FM Weather broadcasts on a regularly scheduled basis

.

610. It would be retrograde to lower power of WWVH transmitter, alter voice

time checks or accuracy of frequency calibration. Weather details and

storm warnings are essential.

611. From Radio Officer SS —I am on an intercoastal voyage

Pacific/US Gulf coast. Its important you maintain normal operating

power. WWV and WWVH is used daily for Star-Time to check Chronometers

because around the tropics your signal is weak at certain times.

612. West Coast to 180 Dateline, and 40 Degree N to 60 Degree No. Also WWVH

180 Degree to 165 Degree East, then JJY. Some interference experienced

between WWVH and JJY.

613. I believe that a satellite relay would make possible the elimination

of most earthbound transmitters.

614. To conserve energy have carrier on/off times throughout the hour, use directive array to alternate North South, East West every five minute

interval

.

615. There are many amateur astronomers as well as professionals who make

frequent use of your services. I am an officer of such an organization

of "amateurs" (though very professional in outlook and competence) group:

ASLI (Astronomical Society of Long Island) . Your services are invaluable

A50
in timing events such as Solar and Lunar eclipses, occulations, etc. we are able to predict auroral displays from your geoalerts and solar

condition reports on occasion.

616. Time signals from WWV/WWVH are constantly used for starting off-line

communications equipment/computers. There is presently no acceptable

substitute for the accuracy and major importance of signals from WWV/WWVH

aboard this aircraft carrier (US.S. CVA- )

617. As a user of your stations for time checks on several different ships, I implore you not to reduce power to cut costs. A large percentage of the

worlds navy use your station and rely on it daily.

618. Expanded weather information. It would seem that more weather information

such as existance of cold fronts and their rate and direction of movement

could more economically be handled as a combined service of WWV rather

than relying on Coast Guard or NOAA Stations. During inclement weather,

when information is needed the most, even WWV is difficult to pick up at

times. Any distance from land NOAA-VHF of course is useless. If WWV

came in strong giving weather information, many navigators would be

appreciative.

619. Our Four County Watchmakers Guild is very interested and depend on this

time.

620. Types of questions seem to imply citizen usage is not considered as important as commercial/industrial/research usage . This implication if

offensive to this citizen.

621. I am a Radio Officer on a U.S. Ship traveling to the Far East and South

Seas Constantly. Without WWVH far out in the Pacific or WWV approaching

the U.S. we would have little way to get the right time, and the ship's

clocks including the chronometer used for navigating the ship are all set

according to the GMT time announced on WWV and WWVH.

622. I have been working on and directing U.S. Government funded (AEC/ERDA,

USAF, NSF) research in Alaska and the Aleutians for five years. It is

important to retain several frequencies since weeks can go by when 15 MHz

eg, maybe useless and then, perhaps, 20 MHz will drop out. Very occasionally

a week can go by when no usable signal is available.

WWV is used to check accuracy of time recorders which my company manufactures

,

some jobs are dependent on WWV.

624. WWV, VB imperative in other seismological endeavors in Alberta regions.

625. Yachts crossing the Atlantic (and there are many of them) , from the Canary

Islands to the West Indies, for example, depend upon BBC for navigation

time signals. When about two-thirds of the way across, the Voice of

America blocks BBC and WWV is still not within reception range, at least

not on 15 MHz and below. At this point the navigator is left with nothing.

A51
626. I am a part time Skipper and Celestial Navigator returning Race Yachts

from Tahiti, Hawaii and Mexico. Occasionally I serve as Race Navigator.

These yachts have crews ranging from 8 to 12 people. Precise navigation is an extremely important safety factor.

627. I speak for other Ships' Officers and Yacht Navigators, Fishermen etc.

We often use portable receivers so, the various frequencies and signal

strength is important. Also, your storm warnings are very helpful on small boats.

628. I do Accutron service for a large number of other retail jewelers as well as my own work. The time signals to the second are very important

to my operation.

629. Company uses WWV for time coordination between utilities.

630. Obtaining accurate NBS time/frequency information cind weather information

is one of the few government services I gladly pay taxes for.

631. WVA7 frequency quoted as time standard on Canadian Amateur Radio Nets.

WWV can be heard in this area on at least one frequency at any hour of the

day or night at S9 signal strength. Hope you don't have to curtail your

operations.

632. WWV/WWVH time signals are completely vital to shipboard navigation.

Frequency standards are vital to calibration and maintenance of shipboard

electronic equipment and instruments. Weather information is an aid to

larger vessels and a vital necessity to small boats.

633. These comments represent the official business of standardizing measurements of time for Power Corp. ; the measurements are also

used in th6 calibration of instruments used. in nuclear plants in our

system. This time broadcast is used in the calibration of primary

standards through which other devices are calibrated.

634. We run a chart recording of WWVB reception and use it to maintain visual

TV transmitter carrier frequency to =i»^ 0.2 Hz @ 193.25 MHz.

635. Decreasing effective radiating power of WWV would severly cripple my

communications and standards lab operations.

636. Simplex timerecorder has a radio-master calibrated to NBS, at the

University of

637. University—Instrumentation. I've used WWV for many years.

I consider this service vital and would be much hurt if I were cut too

severely. However, I do not use all of your services.

638. Accuracy of tuning of hundreds of radio receivers built and serviced by

us is based on the WWV signals. These radios are in use by most of the

Tuna seiners of American and Mexican registry.

639. Federal Aviation Administration use for , MI Airway facilities.

A52
640. If the FCC is so concerned about "Energy Conservation", why are they

considering the increase of the Amateur Radio Legal Power Limit to

2000 watts PEP OUTPUT or more than DOUBLE!!

!

641. We make measurements for approximately 30 AM, FM, TV Stations.

542. WWV is necessary for this station to coordinate its Loran net. We have

six different Loran stations that require precise timing.

643. There are many times throughout the day and night when there are heard

foreign voices speaking on the, or near the WWV frequencies, some of them

we can tell that they are Mexican and other times, we do not know what

language is being spoken. Also, we think that the Gals voice giving the

times is very nice to hear, plus a Gals voice giving the different weather

reports... it is much apprciated.

644. The -"omi^any I work for—"' R.R. " —receives your signal

on a radio and puts it on the company phone line—but most of the time

I can get a better signal on my own short wave radio set.

645. Amplitude of one minute tone is higher than voice and second marks.

Either one minute tone mark should be lowered to voice amplitude or the

voice amplitude should be raised to the amplitude of the one minute tone.

646. I suggest converting your transmission mode from AM to SSB with a re- duced (to Z10%) power pilot carrier in order to be compatible with

present AM receivers. This would drastically reduce input power while

retaining the same level of received information at the receivers output.

No sinse in waisting power in the extra sideband also.

547. The majority of your porposed cuts in my opinion, is an example of over reaction to energy conservation!

648. What a stupid way to save energy!

649. Propagation forecasts would be more helpful with more information. I am

certain I speak for all of the other navigators and pilots flying the

Atlantic. We here at Airlines use WWV quite a bit during our pre-flight and during the flight itself. There are so many other Gov't,

projects that are not as valuable as WWV and WWVH. Don't let them cut

your service. We need it.

550. , Federal Communications Commission.

651. How can anyone consider reducing power on WWV/WWVH when one can time across the broadcast band and hear mostly 50,000 watt stations playing

Rock and Roll? Lit's conserve energy where it is wasted!

652. Combined involvements of Technical Center and Institute,

Phoenix.

553. Power plant computer systems.

A53
654. We are Railroad watch inspectors and need this source for setting the

timepieces we service to correct time.

655. Use of signals from WWV and WWVH provide a 100% accuracy method of

calibrating and standardizing our Heart Rate Monitors, Electro Cardiographs,

and other time and rate related equipment.

656. WWV is an excellent system. Without it my research lab (geophysics) would

be very hampered.

657. Several departments at State University use your services.

658. Ocean weather allows us to plan our most advantageous pressure pattern.

Propagation allows us to anticipate some RF intereference. Operation of our aircraft without an accurate time service would be, in my opinion,

unthinkable.

659. WWV and WWVH are a great service to us. Though we be only yachtsman

this service helps and enables us to travel the waters of the world. We

certainly feel that budgets can be cut in other areas so that NBS can continue to operate at its present capacity.

660. The total operational costs in dollars and energy is so minimal for your

services comparted to many other Government programs, many of which are less essential, one should not even consider a reduction. Keep service

as is.

661. WWV' s signals are vital to the proper conduct of the Federal Communications Commission's regulatory responsibilities. WWV's signals are necessary to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the FCC-equipment.

662. This Department maintains Sperrys Frequency Standards.

663. I became very aware of your time signal services in 1962, when I was stationed in Viet Nam and our intercept group used the signal from WWVH

as our time-base standard. In that part of the world, the Morse code time

identification was a necessity, as voice transmissions would not "cut

through." In using the signal from WWV, I notice that the Morse identification has been dropped. Has it also been dropped from WWVH? We needed it

then, is it still needed now?

664. We use your services every week, usually Fridays through Sundays, to

calibrate watches and eliminate any question about the time of day that

would certainly arise in the absence of a standard we could all receive

and agree to accept. The elimination of this service would be felt

keenly by thousands of enthusiasts. We prefer your services to those

of CHU, which needs a new program director.

665. When cruising in open sea, or off unfamilar coasts, time broadcast is

indispensable for our navigation. We don't cruise often, but when we do

WWV is very important.

A54
666. Besides the Radioroom clock which by law must be kept accurate, the

Deck Officers require an accurate Chronometer for navigation purposes

and is checked daily from your sigs for accuracy

667. Daily time signals are received in Radioroom and relayed to Chartroom

to check chronometers—WWV time signals most important to this vessel.

668. Signals on 2.5 MHz in our area, from Fort Collins, conflict with

San Francisco Marine Operater ' s transmissions on 2506 KHz during periods

of darkness.

669. I speak as a ship's Master and represent all uses to which these services

are utilized within the vessel. Addition of storm warnings to the time

signal has been very, very useful.

670. Save 66 2/3% pwr .--Broadcast from H + 45, to H + 05.

671. On ship it is my custom to get time ticks in the AM, rather than in PM,

which I believe would be easier, but want to get started right time-wise

first thing. On present run use WWVH almost entirely, but foreign time

ticks take over on same frequencies at about 160E going westbound.

Can use them, whoever they are, and some may be 1/2 second off, but to

make sure check WWVH whenever possible , and then I know I have the right

time, and right frequencies . (The big two)

672. Under adverse atmospheric conditions, voice time announcements are sometimes difficult to understand. The previously used International

Morse code could always be copied.

673. I own a small mfg. company and we use the frequencies for calibration

purposes.

Time signal carried in some form on the Weather stations around the

country would assure reception at all locations. NYC is one area of

poor 24 hour reception of any one of your frequencies. Accuracy to .1 sec is adequate.

675. I am only one of six at a commercial TV station, which use WWV continually.

676. WWV is used by University Seismology/Geophysics Dept. of which

I am part.

577. Maintain correct time in computer used to dispatch natural gas. Am

investigating pipeline induced current activity.

678. Consider reduction in power of WWVH a possible tragic decision, as it is

utilized in an area where navigational accuracy could be a life or death

matter.

679. In American Samoa, my home, the electric generators are poorly run and have

no adequate frequency control. No two electric wall clocks say the same

time. Short wave radios are widespread and the use of WWV to set wrist

watches is common and important.

A55
680. Civilian A.M. stations and time service numbers vary as much as 2-3

minutes. With out WWV I would be hard pressed to find a reasonable

replacement if this service is curtailed.

681. Use WWV for calibration of FCC monitoring and inspection instrumentation.

682. Many long distance yachtsmen and professional delivery Skippers such as myself live by "WWV"! "CHU" does not give weather while "WWV" weather

is the most comprehensive for mid ocean storm information. There are many yachtsmen who probably use "WWV" only twice a year and are not aware

of the present situation.

682. Suggest a test period 3dB power reduction on all frequencies with a voice request for impact data. Suggest that results and conclusions

from this survey be released for publication by the IEEE, Amateur Radio

Periodicals, etc.

683. The total energy use of WWV/WWVH is so infinitesimal compared to our national energy deficit that partial reductions of service are totally

unjustified on that basis. We oppose power reductions or curtailment of

hours. The services rendered fully justify the energy consumed.

684. Accuracy in timing of seismic records is the most important function for

WWV as concerns observatory. We are also now monitoring the total

earth's magnetic field and therefore need geomagnetic alerts.

685. All FAA facilities in New England.

686. The WWV time signal broadcast signals are essential to competent repairers

of high accuracy time pieces such as Railroad Grade watches and tuning

fork/quartz crystal watches or clocks. There is no other time standard of

sufficient accuracy available to us for calibration of these items.

687. The time/accuracy of all of the company time clocks depend on receiving

the time signal daily for the setting of the master clock. Due to a slight frequency variation of our power generators a standard electric

clock will not keep accurate time so we depend on the time signal for the

daily setting of the penduliom/escapement of the master clock.

688. Broadcast 3.579545 MHz network offsets via WWV/WWVH.

689. Since relocation in Boulder reception has been very poor with 5, 10, and

15 MHz the only useable frequencies and these rendered useless most of the

time due to severe fading and interference by local broadcasts. Would

suggest more rather than less power and a restricted band on both sides

of WWV carrier to reduce commercial interference.

690. As president of the VHF Society, I know for a fact that

everyone of our 137 members use WWV in a very similar manner as I do!

691. Most U.S. Navy Navigators rather enjoy knowing where they are during a mission.

692. Accurate knowledge of time is important to me for astronomical observations

used in land surveying.

A56
693. These responses represent the views of our Astronomy Group. (two faculty

and eleven students) . I believe that it would make us have difficulty

in using your signals if you reduced power on 5 or 10 MHz. These signals

are vital to our work.

694. Am looking forward to development of cheap secondary frequency

comparitors using WWVB and/or WVA/L similiar to 3.58 MHz color TV

comparitor.

695. Radio stations Louisville, KYt- -FM, Vevay, Indianay- w Carrollton, Kentucky- Corp., Jeffersontown, KY. We

use WWV at 5 mcs every day and hear WWVH in the background just before

WWV gives the time. Frequency checks are used to calibrate monitors,

every month.

696. One change that could be made to the present program is the manner in

which the time is given. At times due to heterodyning or poor propagation, it is difficult to understand the minutes as presently broadcast,

for example; fifty-six and fifty-seven sound very similar under poor

reception conditions. They should be pronounced as five-six and five- seven for easier understanding under adverse conditions , as should all

numbers.

697. Despite the size of our company, we pay many thousands of dollars per

year in taxes, and in it^ personal capacity as a radio amateur, I pay many

thousands more. In several days of contemplation, I have been unable to

divine anything I or my company derives to our benefit from these taxes with

the paltry exception of some wispy RF signals from WWV. I'd sure hate to

lose any of them. I am sending a letter and copy of this survey to my

congressman.

598. Primary use is for time synchronization for world wide navigation use in

Lockheed C-141 (Military cargo - Military Airlift Command) . Please do not

cut strength on 5-10-and 15,000 Hz.

699

.

Many times the propagation reports at XX14 can not be read , even though

time announcements are OK. Depth of modulation poor on propagation

reports! Try CW at 10 wpm or even 5 wpm.

700. Alignment of 2 way radio, electronic clocks, receivers for customers.

Alignment of my own test instruments, signal gen's., counters, etc.

with WWV, time and standard frequencies.

701. The time service rendered by the US Navy (NAA/NSS) is unsatisfactory in

all respects . Our suggestion is the Navy time be discontinued and the

funds transferred to you.

702. The time and frequency references derived tuilizing these WWV signals are

the most important variables used in the automatic generation control

system. Continued reception of accurate and better than adequate WWV

signals is very important to our real-time computer driven control system.

703. We operate on Universal Time on scheduled nets and make all reports using

this time. Also field reports. Nets are coordinated for different states.

A57
704. Sight reduction requires accurate time. Best available is WWV. Am

sure official USPS membership (approximately 80,000) will concur in

the opinion offered here.

705. WWV-WWVH broadcasts are a vital factor in world wide navigation. It

demonstrates our country's interest in scientific/industrial leadership.

A cut back would be politically disastrous.

706. As an accurate measure to time, my accutron provides data for flight

plan activation, which is critical for safe navigation and quick emergency

location of downed aircraft. Instrument procedures require accuracy and

coordinated timepieces between controller and pilot.

707. Represents uses of Radio in Los Angeles.

708. Thanks for accompanying material on the values of geolert and propagation

forecast coding--but the explantory material itself suffers from obscurity,

as the explanations are given in terms of other units of measure or values

which are themselves not clearly explained.

709. Commodore, Yacht Club—over 2000 members with interests in

navigation, shipping and boating and pleasure yachts. For the East Coast

the reduction in signal strength, which is already marginal, would render

this service useless. While we consider this service vital today it could

well be that the advant of the quartz crystal timepiece, which is just now starting to some on the market at reasonable prices, would make this

service unnecessary in a year or two.

710. Enunciate seconds more carefully. At times 21 sounds like 29, etc.

Perhaps saying two one sec, etc would be better. It is due in part to

lack of fidelity and in part by propagation distortion, that makes it

difficult to understand at times.

711. Large magnetometer arrays are used in study of conductive structure in

the earth. These studies rely on WWV time signals. They form part of

Research Programs of this Institute of Earth and Planetary Physics, Univ.

of

712. Due to skip conditions, the signal strength is quite variable, without

both 5 MHz and 10 MHz there will be times when no standard signal can be received. CHU, Canada, can only be received part of the day and cannot

fill the gap. Suggestion : Reduce transmitter power at WWV (eliminate

20 MHz and 25 MHz if you have to) and re-establish a transmitter (5 MHz

and 10 MHz) at the old site in Greenbelt, Maryland.

713. This is a very necessary and worthwhile service and should be maintained

as is at least in my opinion. There are so many other areas which can absorb cost and energy reductions without detriment of this magnitude.

714. I am a member of Army MARS and it is very important that we operate on correct time—also propagation reports are very important to us . We appreciate

your information very much.

A58
715. What is this crap about the goddamn Federal Government wanting to screw

up WWV because of the so-called energy shortage? Let one good thing

come out of all the Washington, D.C. clap-trap and, sure as hell, some

jackass, for one half-baked reason or another, will do his best to kick

into nothing.

I use the radio time, WWV, all the time I I use it at least three times

a weekl Why? No damn reason in the world other than I like to have the

exact and correct time. I set my Pulsar... my son sets his Accutron... we

set all the electric clocks in the house... all—by WWVI

Energy shortage, my ass! The only energy shortage we have in this country

is the result of the inane politicians in Washington' Carry on, you are doing a fine job and giving a wonderful service—right now and as is I

716. Your services mainly utilized for time ticks/calibration of chronometers

clocks and occasionally propagation condition used. We are a container

vessel of the United States Lines on the North Atlantic Run.

717. This is one of the very few Government services that I use. In light of

the huge amount of waste in Government operations , the idea of saving a few dollars by cutting back on the services of WWV seems laughable.

718. I consider these services are essential to all users of the frequency

spectrum, world wide. Stand fast, and don't give up any of your frequencies.

In fact, put out a louder signal. Keep the Pirates Out , you'll know who

I mean up north of us here in Aussie.

719. NBS provides valuable information to the private radio listeners such as standard frequency for calibration purposes and propagation forecasts

which would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

720. I cannot emphasize too much the importance of the time hack to the pilots

of or all other Air Carriers for that matter. We always sync our codkpit clocks by WWV before starting our flights and as you probably

know, any change of more than three minutes in ETA for a check point

requres a revised estimate be given to Air Traffic Control.

This becomes especially important on the North Atlantic and foreign

flying where there is no or little radar separation and time is the only

thing that keeps aircraft from colliding on the same route at the same altitude.

721. Suggest you ask users to post financial contributions to help defray

increased costs. Increased power output would be very great importance.

Minute voice annoiancement much appreciated. (Jamaica)

722. Time & weather are like zink fertilizer—unless you have enough you don't

get much benefit.

72 3. I believe you are correct in reducing service and urge you to do so for the reasons you state.

A59
724. As a professional Yacht Captain operating off the Eastern Seaborad,

Bahama and Caribbean waters, rely on WWV for time and weather. Would

like to see more complete weather information and forecasts. Must keep

present power levels as few yachts have adequate receivers—just a portable

Zenith or a ROF of some sort.

725. I think the time signals and storm warnings are very important and should

be continued on an adequate basis. They are services the individual is

unable to obtain otheirwise. Power should be adequate to provide full

geographic coverage.

726. An excellent and irreplacable service for small craft navigation.

727. This unit uses the FTS #303-499-3300 to set clocks once a week.

728. Exact times needed for Loran and Radio logs as per USCG Regs.

729. WWV is necessary broadcast system for purposes of calibration. Not only

for time but for frequency standards and propagation forecasts. Without

it aids to navigation accuracy would be minimal.

730. Altho many foreign countries, Hongkong/Tokyo, Vladivostock , etc. send

navigational type time signals, most American navigators prefer those

from WWV or WWVH, and as Radio Officer, one of my duties is to supply

the Navigator with a daily time signal at sea on which he can faithfully

rely.

731. Make them turn out the lights in Las Vegas before cutting power or services of something this important.

732. WWV represents a valuable source and should remain a reliable source of

time and frequency standards. Please do not compromise the present service.

There are no practical alternatives.

733. Experienced heavy interference by JJY and BPV particularly in the Far East/

Indian Ocean areas, relating to the time of the day.

734. Adding a CW signal at specific times would be very beneficial as too often

the voice is unintelligible and the minute not heard. Also feel 25 mc could

be eliminated entirely. Have sailed all over the world and the few times

I've heard WWV on 25 mc , you could also hear better on other frequencies.

735. The above services are desired, adequate and useful. They are one of the

STANDARDS of our nation, I wish them continued and not curtailed due to

political-financial excess in other areas. P.S. Letters sent to my

Senators and Rep. concerning this matter.

736. Excellent service. Please don't let it go down the tube. Much improved

since move to Boulder.

737. This may be considered the official position of the Offshore Division

about 5,000 Yacht owners—of the United States Yacht Racing Union.

738. Your North Atlantic weather synoptics are invlauable (as in the time

service) and the best information available. Please don't curtail either I

A60
739. A format similar to station CHU would seem to be most useful for

calibration of shipboard clocks.

740. WWV/WWVH not usually heard in Oman/Persian Gulf.

741. Add—more frequent weather (storm) warnings.

742

.

My land survey firm use voice time annoiincements for Azmuth determination

as well as position calculations. Usually we are only concerned with

accuracies of ± 0.5 sees of time.

743. Consider adding a time tick to the NOAA weather broadcasts on VHF

162.55 and 162.400 MHz. Once each 5 minutes would be sufficient.

744

.

Some additional weather would be helpful

.

745. The radio time signals are of great importance to all small boat

navigators

.

745. Time signals very important to small vessel navigation Multiple

I frequencies needed because reception varies from day to day on different

frequencies.

747. We do not think that energy conservation should interfer with a national

and world wide standard service as important as WWV. Reception with

moderately priced equipment is difficult enough already.

748. Through one of our Air Traffic Control facilities we have learned of

the announcements on station WWV that reductions in service are under

consideration

.

Station WWV is the sole source of recorded time signals at most of our Air Traffic facilities. The signals are much more accurate than time

information supplied by commercial telephone companies and are considerably less expensive to obtain. Accurate time signals are extremely

important in correlating radio communications , especially during accident

and incident investigations

.

749. Cut power by 3 DB (50%) and identify minutes with slow Morse. This will

result in increased coverage with a 50% power savings.

The services provided by WWV/WWVH should not be reduced. To reduce services

of direct benefit to so many when the cost is so small would be foolish.

The government should seek to economize on those items which represent a significant fraction of the national budget (perhaps reduction of over government management levels) rather than reduction of valuable services

which even if entirely eliminated would not affect the total budget.

751. Official response of Field Office of the Federal Communications

Commission.

752. Restricting WWV and WWVH denies the scientist an important scientific tool

which can't be measured in cost effectiveness because of its so broad need

and usage.

A61
753. To curtail the operation of WWV/WWVH to conserve money and energy is

similar to flicking a gnat off an elephant to rid him of bugs. In the

face of the daily expenditure of millions of dollars and God knows what

in terms of energy in the Far East and Asia, this proposed cutback is

nothing short of incredible.

754. Amateur radio- - 50,000 Hams check your signals for frequency

check ET correct time & WX . Pse give us your frequencies. Exact - on

5 es 10 MHz —what happened to the CW signals??

755. If you are trying to cut your costs, you might consider broadcasting for

only 20 minutes out of the hour, 10 minutes before the hour to 10 minutes

after the hour. You could give more weather at that time.

756. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The accuracy of time pieces are important to us in our search and rescue at sea.

757. Offer for the asking a single sheet schedule of WWV/WWVH signals. Cutting

back on NBS services to save energy that will be wasted by other Government

organizations indicates fuzzy-headed thinking on someone's part. Let's

save energy where it does no harm!

758. Member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary—accuracy of time is important

in search & rescue at sea.

759. I use your service to calibrate my electronic clock from which I set my

wristwatch. As a Police Officer, accurate timekeeping and chronological

recordkeeping is essential. A 5 or 10 minute error can create inconsistencies

that lose a case in court.

760. Services of WWV and WWVH essential to proper/safe vessel operation—presently

very good—Let's "economize" with useless "services".

761. This is one of the most valuable services that I know of. Who can afford

expensive quartz chronometer on sailing vessels where time is so important

for accurate navigation.

762. The market for our product would be seriously reduced if WWV/WWVH power

were reduced.

763. This is the official position of the Naval Security Group Division, USS

(CV- ) . The frequency standard provided by WWV is

invaluable in the calibration and maintenance communications receivers.

Additionally, precise time information provided is used on a continuing

basis in connection with setting communications ancilliary equipment.

764. I get better time and frequency service from Canada than I do from the U.S.

765. Affects all agency offices (FCC) in U.S. and Hawaii. This service is a must for accurate enforcement work.

766. Used in boating classes taught for United States Power Squadron.

767. The correct time, determined by WWV is used by our (6) Civil Engineering

Field Survey office-^

A62
768. Do not cut back on WWV. Let HEW cut back on some of their damn fool wasteful

programs—such as feeding loafers who refuse to work and who will never work

as long as they are fed at taxpayer expense. Cut out Congressional taxpayer

paid unnecessary travel and vacationing.

769. Add major storm warnings: land (hurricane and tornado force) continental

US and Canada. Your service is very important and could very possibly be

life saving. WWV/WWVH should not be restricted by energy saving projects.

770. I use the time frequency station as a guide to timing and setting all of

my new watches and watches repaired. I am not an official or a large concern,

but the station is a part of my everyday business and without it it would

be difficult to set the now very accurate wrist timepieces.

771. Your announcer does not enunciate the "minute" clearly—kind of lets his

voice drop at the end of a sentence. I would think all your listeners

know the time almost to the minute. Since that's what they are all listening

for—the minute—let's emphasize it!

772. CHU is not a viable alternate. We have tried it.

773. For navigation about all U.S. Navy ships where time signals are extensively

used for comparing chronometers and for celestial navigation (which must be

very accurate) . Reducing transmitted power would probably have the most

serious affect restricting coverage in certain parts of the worlds oceans.

If changes must be made, possibly the elimination of frequencies 2.5, 20 and

25 MHz would be the better choice.

774. WWV and WWVH are the sole means I have to calibrate my receiver crystal

calibrator which I use to ensure my transmitter stays within the prescribed

amateur bands. The time signal is used to set the station clock.

775. Frequency and time service are extremely important in shipboard duties.

776. WWV is used to set IRIG time of test bed. We have 2nd test bed that uses WWV to set IRIG time code generators.

777. All squadron radio operators, this squadron-Civil Air Patrol (A private

non-porfit corp. -auxiliary of U.S. Air Force). Interference usually in

morning hours from foreign stations.

778. We use this service for certain TV maintenance functions.

779. Time signal is a common source for several related and associated facilities

around USA, assuring identical accurate info to all! Why is this great,

technically advanced country of ours allowed to be outdone by the smaller

European and Asian technologically productive countries. The time systems

offered overseas make our archaic.

780. My wife and I sailed the So. Pacific for a year and utilized the voice

time signals several times daily and couldn't have gone without them.

Please continue the excellent service.

A63
781. Geophysical Institute, Univ. of —many programs use WWV/H. Propagationwise, we hear WWVH 10-15-20 90% of using time.

782. We need current readings of solar flux and geomagnetic activity.

783. The words "GMT" consumes less energy than "coordinated universal time".

784. This service is an important one to the communications industry. It should

me maintained.

785. Time checks are essential for the Weather Service functions

in tracking and receiving satellite pictures.

786. We at Corp. use NBS frequency/time sources for NBS traceability

to time/frequency domain applications

.

787. The voice storm warning tapes should be read more slowly—with much better

enunciation and repetitions of locations of distrubances . Extremely

difficult (often) to tell difference between "Torby and hivby" for example

and this confusion is completely unnecessary and easily eliminated.

788. To the extent services used in Alaskan Field Work of U.S.G.S.

789. Involvement of a compnay thermal and hydro power system of 300 Mw capacity

located in a region of South America where no other power systems exist.

790. Though not officially directed to respond to this questionaire , I believe

this represents the opinion of most all members of the Cruising

Association of which I am Rear Commadore

.

791

.

communications department and radio overhaul shops have used WWV

for many years. Suggest you seek their opinion and support.

792

.

Thousands of yachtsmen depend upon your services for accurate time for

navigation.

793. Station operation for dewline

.

794. Since your move from Washington to Colorado, the reception in the Philadelphia,

PA area is of variable quality and cannot always be relied upon. To save on transmitter power, perhaps you could arrange for distribution through

telephone lines. The telephone time signals in Philadelphia are frequently

off by one or two sec. Or, the telephone company might provide an 800 number

in return for your providing the time signals. Or, perhaps some cooperative

arrangement can be made with CHU to cover Eastern US and WWV to cover Western

Canada

.

795. Your storm warning bulletins are excellent, there is practically no other

way for hurricanes to be tracked from so far away, as by your station

however, your service would be much more helpful if you updated the warnings

more than every 5 hours.

796. Use WWV to perform required FCC frequency measurements. Plan soon to phase

lock station operating frequencies to WWVB.

A64
As a member of , it was brought to my attention that VOA maintains

carriers long after transmission time. This too presents an energy waste.

I recognize a complete shut down of these facilities brings more waste when

time comes again to transmit, but undoiibtly some waste does exist at this

facility. Cost cutting waste as the above, would prevent any cut-back of

NBS services or would help!

Time standard is critical for my performance of NORAD assigned mission

vital to our detachment as well as entire MWS (missile warning sq.

)

I received good signals before the bonehead move from Maryland to Colorado.

A return to a broadcast center nearer the center of population would make

sense, but that may be too much to ask of Federal policy-makers. From

Colorado, the present vestigial usefulness would dis^pear altogether with

reductions in power. Already Montreal is much more useful on the East

Coast. Possibly the best solution is to combine with the Canadians, who

are already doing a much more effictive job for this country. As matters

stand we ought to be paying Montreal and getting out of the business

.

Further comment: I gather from the categories listed under user classification that the operation is conducted with specialty users exclusively in

mind, and^private citizens ignored. This is precisely the policy against

which the Revolution of 1776-82 was fought. Question 11 supports the

assumption that the individual taxpayer and his "personal involvements" is

left out of consideration.

Lets face it, WWV does not serve New England!

I view a reduction of signal strength as a very detrimental move for marine

navigational purposes.

WWV accurate time reports are essential to accurate navigation. With the

advent of inexpensive receivers (Re- time cube $29.95-Freq. 5-10-15)

expensive chronometers are unecessary.

The Geophysics Group of the University of presently makes extensive

use of some of the services the Time and Frequency Division provides. The

most used service is the 60 kHz WWVB which is recorded at remote unmanned

stations with other geophysical data. Any change in this service would

probably cause severe financial difficulties for these geophysical studies.

I hope that you do not comtemplate any reduction of power or service on

this frequency.

Over the last several years, I have made frequent use of other services

between 2.5 and 20 MHz, both in Alaska and the Canadian north. Generally

I have found 2.5 MHz to be iinreceivable . Under varying propagation conditions the ability to select the best signal from 5, 10, or 15 MHz was

extremely useful. Please note, in this regard that in Alaska under poor

propagation conditions (e.g. auroral ionization) that WWV was almost never

heard, but WWVH was sometimes copied.

Telephone line very useful for those w/o short wave. However, line is frequently

busy, disconnects caller abruptly, often before he has had time to utilize

message.

A65
805. I believe in God and WWV.

806. There is no inexpensive time/frequency service availaiile in Alaska. The

Telecommunications (RCA Alascom and DCS White Alice) do not provide time or audio tone standards. Bush residents, amateur operators, and technicans

at field sites depend on WWVH and WWV due to absence of alternate sources

of standards.

807. Our fleet of aircraft have the now highly accurate clocks that all flight

logs, schedules and records are based on. Update of these clocks is based

on radio time checks.

808. Your service is one of the few good things left in a generally declining

picture . It would not be a good commentary on our pride as a nation to

have to rely on CHU for time service. This will happen to the eastern

third of the U. S. if you cut the power.

809. I am responsible for the training of Navigators in precise navigation

and mission timing. Accurate time is imperative for our military missions.

Reduction of power for WWVH would sometimes prevent obtaining accurate time

for celestrial navigation in the Pacific Area.

810. I suggest that the power be cut in half on one frequency at a time and see

if there are many reports about bad reception. Most people don't realize

how little a power reduction of 50% would make in receiption. The resulting

decrease in received signal strength would be only 3 db. This is about h

of an 'S' Unit. Most people could not detect the difference. The average

person probably would expect a power reduction of 50% to result in a re- duction of service area by 50%. Re WWVH

I suggest that the 25 MHz transmissions be eliminated completely. Leave 5,

10 and 15 MHz the way they are. Operate on 20 MHz only in the daytime.

Operate on 2.5 MHz only at night. Re WWV

811. I think one of the Synchronous Orbit Satellites should be utilized for

time and frequency broadcast on one of the VHF frequencies. Such line of sight

conditions should clear up many of the problems encountered in receiving WWV.

812

.

WWV is Never interfered with—WWVH is Always interfered with by Russian

Time/Frequency transmissions and others

.

813. We are a 24 hour a day watchkeeping shipboard station of a large passenger

carrying liner where precise navigation is required and time accuracy is

vitally important to such requirements.

814. Time of day BCD code will soon be used.

815. The FCC has dropped the requirements that broadcast stations have a frequency

monitor in operation at all times. However, they have NOT released the re- quirements that transmitters have to be maintained at correct frequency. The

FCC permits the engineers to use external measuring equipment but this

equipment must be calibrated with WWV.

A66
816. While my marks show I use the time signal sometimes while ocean cruising

they are absolutely indespensible . My opinion is that they are one of the

best services available from the Government. A 50% reduction in power would

probably make the signal inaudible to the user of an ordinary portable radio.

817. The worst feature is the interference between time signals of several

nations all on the same frequencies with WWV/WWVH. This is especially bad

in the Western North Pacific where Russian, Japanese and Red Chinese time

signals compete with WWVH.

818. The WWV/WWVH Stations should stick to time and frequency transmissions only.

There are enough agencies broadcasting weather/propagation etc. A system

suitable for regular navigation and other navigation systems time, plus

frequency stability is all your stations should really be providing. All

the rest is just so much noise and actually makes the primary time usage

of the station difficult.

819. Aboard ship traveling world wide the continuous service of WWV/WWVH is

heavily relied upon and would consider a reduction of power on 5, 10, and

15 MHz most detrimental.

820. As Chief of Training in a flying unit, I can assure you that the loss of

WWV, WWVH would seriously degrade unit navigation capability.

821. The questionaire is rather ridiculous since your broadcast strength to the

North Atlantic is so poor that it is only marginally useful close to the U.S.

coast, -nostly at night, and not ordinarily receivable over the North and

Sout' -iantic that we cover. We must use Canadian time ticks, BBC, Radio

South Africa, etc. in lieu of WWV reception. If you wish to save power just

abandon the whole thing as a ocean navigation aid, at least in the Atlantic.

If you intend it to be a reliable service transmit from an east coast station.

Why not take over some of VOA propaganda stations to do something usefull?

822. If you reduce signal strength we in South Africa will not receive WWVH at

all. WWVH is the main transmission we receive. We very rarely get WWV.

Please do not reduce signal strength on WWVH.

823. Since navigation has increasingly fewer uses for the 200-400 KHz long wave

: band and many receivers are equiped to receive it, establish a one megawatt

transmitter on 300 KHz. That could blanket North America reliably all the

time providing all the services currently offered on WWV. The FCC could

locate this without even batting an eyelash!

824. I am primarily responding to seismic data recording requirements. We would

like very much to receive the BCD code but the signal strength is not

sufficient for this.

825. WWV provides a very necessary service in a very professional way.

826. This is the only way we can calibrate highly accurate watches without

investing $2500 in a timing machine.

827. Fleet of 17 tankers, 80 Ocean tugs and barges. This is a vital service to our

fleet.

A67
828. (U.S. Air Force Manual AFM-100-15 Requirement for Time and Frequency)

There is no other way! I am secondary frequency standard for about 100 other

stations, daily.

829. Insofar as Merchant Marine use is concerned, the weather broadcasts are replicated lavishly by other Federal Agencies. The geomagnetic material

is useless and so are propagation forecasts in the kind of practical work

we do. As far as the Merchant Marine is concerned, you could operate

5 minutes each hour and fill every need we have from NBS for navigation

and communications

.

830. Without your program, each watchmaker would have to lay our approximately

$3000 for a machine to time out certain watches.

831. As a member of a SAC Air Refueling Sqdn. my answers should be representative

of the use of WWV by all members of this flying unit. However, others in

this unit often fly into other geographic areas and need frequenct time

signals there.

832. We learned of the 303 499 7111 telephone service from this questionaire.

We plan to use it frequently in the future.

833. Don't change—we love you as is!

834. The signal from WWV is used to regulate the time for the Canal Co.

and the Republic of

835. We check our aircraft clocks at the beginning of EVERY flight against your

time signal.

836. On the European side of North Atlantic WWV this half year has been somewhat

weak and not able to take on 10 mc/s but have been able to get time signals

on 5 mc/s

.

837. This is one of the few tax dollars I don't mind paying.

838. To save money why not have a joint effort with CHU-Canada-for example you

cover the West Coast and let them cover the East Coast.

839. Some sections within 3 miles of each other will blackout at times—will 'bome

back" after a while—stay strong and then fade—this time is not regular

and complete fade out results frequently in Potomac River area.

840. At sea WWV is virtually the voice of God- Please do not reduce service

or signal strength.

841. We need better reception in the South Florida-Cuba Bahamas area.

842. You folks need some P.R! Did not know about weather, geoalerts , propagation

forecasts, etc.

843. I consider -the services rendered by WWV/WWVH the best and most reliable of

all Government Services that my tax dollars pay for. Please don't scrimp.

A68
844. Response officially represents the primary extent of utilization of NBS

(WWV) service by FCC District and Sub-Office, , Fla. Keep

up the good work. In my opinion it is vital to our functions.

845. Time ticks, weather and chronometer rates most useful in conjunction with

US Power Squadron instruction and navigation.

845. For safety and navigation of thousands of sail and power boats on both

coasts and at sea continued WWV and WWVH broadcasts are essential.

847. WWV provides an extremely valuable service—I feel there are other areas

of government where cuts should be made that would be more effective.

848. It has seemed to me that the operation of WWV might be modified to operate

less expensively while not causing inconvenience to anybody.

' If the NOAA broadcasts, which are available all over the country to ex- tremely inexpensive receivers, were to carry time signals, time would be even more available than it is. WWV might reasonably reduce its power

substantially, then, for anybody far enough away so that he couldn't get

WWV or NOAA broadcasts would certainly be carrying receiving equipment capable of receiving time signals broadcast by other nations

.

849

.

I work for . use WWV for setting standard clocks and watches . Deep

water cruising-WWV and WWVH are the cheapest and most reliable chronometer

I have aboard.

850. The time available to the navigator should continue to be more precise

than the navigational data in The Nautical Almanac

.

851. All of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have had WWVH QRM'ing WWV WX broadcasts

in Pacific runs. Russian QRM during Atlantic runs .. 10 and 15 MC.

852. Handicap sail yacht—based on elapsed time. Crystal clocks are set

and checked against WWV approximately 3 times weekly —December through May,

853. Wish we had a similar radio station here in New Zealand!

854 Fleet Captain for Yacht Clvib Council—representing 16 Yacht

Clubs approximately 180 ocean cruising sailboats using WWV for time signals/

' navigation.

855. Must use CHU Canada mostly. Signal strength of WWV extremely poor in

New York City area.

Suspect cost of this survey would pay for three years operations.

I would like more A-440!

This report filed by USS (SSNE ) WWV plays an important part in

sixbmarine operations in that it allows a submarine to check clocks without

difficulty.

A69
859. This is one of the few areas in which we are still World leaders. We must

maintain leadership wherever possible, if not in politics, at least in

science. WWV and WWVH are services that benefit every one in the World,

directly or indirectly.

860. Use WWV for calibration and setting of industrial time in/out clocks.

861. Field techniques and instrumentation have been devised which rely on time

signals received on portable SW receivers to set, check, and control

hydrologic data collection operations of instruments positioned at remote

field sites. U.S. Geological Survey

862. Represents use of personnel and equipment aboard NOAA ship

863. In the future out time must be more accurate. With the comming of the

Quartz time pieces we must have an accurate source of time.

864. There are many others in my class that you will probably not hear from

and too, this particular need is increasing in surveying.

865. My self and numerous others who I have worked with over the last four years

at our present operating location, have had many problems receiving WWVH, due

to weak signal and interference. We have tried different types of receivers

and antenna's, with the same results.

866. Light background music added would get my wife off my back.

867. Doiibt sensibility of reducing power—Russian and Chinese override WWV and

WWVH in Far East and Indian Ocean already. "Safety of Life at Sea"

considerations

.

868. Navigator of a SAC EC-135 with four crew members. Requested survey because

was concerned about possible curtailing of present broadcasts and signal

strength. Primary means of time hack is from WWV while aboard aircraft

(ground or airborne)

.

869. I appreciate time service. I am a watch and clock repairman and precision

time is necessary. Where else could I get it.

870. No reduction of power!!! The service now available is needed for the

safety of my Vessel—crew, and accompaning boats. For safety and life, in no way can this service be cut. It also grows each day.

871. Easiest to use of all time ticks/the only one which braodcasts the hour and

minute with no need to decode. The only one readily available on all Oceans.

An absolutely essential service for all who use the seas Worl Wide. Please

Please continue full power—all frequency service.

872. On this trade route, mainland U.S. to Hawaii we find the present service to

be more than adequate

.

A70
In Pacific JJY-BPM-RTA-RKM anywhere stronger than WWVH. In Mediterranean

I«7WV QSA 0-RTA-RKM and E. Med. early morning hours BPM being heard and signal

strong on 5 Mc/s , 15 Mc/s RTA-RKM-RWM very good. WWV halfway Atlantic

to east useless. If this questionnaire put out earlier one would find out

that signal was inadequate in strength almost anywhere. Request stronger

signals.

Most of our use is within range of VHF. A combined weather service and

time service would make sense.

WWV and WWVH have served as flags of U.S. World leadership in science and

technology for many years. Any weakening of service now will serve notice

to the World of a general weakening and deterioration of the U.S. World

position of leadership—all for saving the cost of a few lousy kilowatts

of power. Furthermore, any weakening or partial abandonment of channels

will leave a vacuum which will immediately be appropriated by potential

U.S. adversaries.

I strongly object to any cut backs in power and service. This is a legitimate

fionction of the Federal government and a very necessary one.

Believe this service, used by navigators and others world wide, represents

a part of the image of the United States as the foremost contributer to

global understanding and technology. It would seem a matter of American

prestige is involved in maintaining WWV and WWVH to the present high

standards. If retrenchment is necessary, let it begin with some Washington

boondoggles

!

We appreciate your services very much and hope that the required cost and

energy savings can be achieved through curtailment of less essential services

elsewhere.

Since 1948 I have regularly listened to and used WWV. The energy of power used

is slight in comparison with international broadcasting. Yet WWV presents

an objective universally accepted service that may actually be more positive

in World public opinion than many propaganda oriented voice of America programs.

A71
NBS-1MA (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. l^UhLiCATION OR RHPORT NO.

MBS Technical Note 674

2. Gov't Accession

No.

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Report on the 1975 Survey of Users

of the Services of Radio Stations WWV and WWVH

5. Publication Date October 1975

6. Performing Organization Code

Div. 277

7. AUTHOR(S)

J. A. Barnes, R. E. Beehler

8. Performing Organ. Report No. NBS TN-674

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 2776128

IL Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Same as Item 9.

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most si^ificant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

The users of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) radio stations WWV and WWVH

were surveyed by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to

the station mailing list, published in some periodicals, and its availability was announced on the stations themselves and publicized in other periodicals. More than

12,000 completed questionnaires were returned, which revealed, among other things,

that the 5, 10, and 15 MHz transmissions were the most used frequencies; 25 MHz was

the least used. Of the information contained on the broadcasts, the voice time-ofday announcement was the most important, and the DUTl values the least important.

In general the returns were very supportive of the services, with only two of the

more than 12,000 responses advocating a complete shutdown of the broadcasts.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons)

Frequency; questionnaire; standard frequency and time broadcasts; time

18. AVAILABILITY 6c~ Unlimited

I For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

I y^ Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government PririLine,Qifice ^

Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. CI 3 I 4 6 lb 7 4

I i Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCLASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGE

91

22. Pr

$1 .50

USCOMM-DC 29042-
NBS TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

PERIODICALS JOURNAL OF RESEARCH reports National Bureau

of Standards research and development in physics,

mathematics, and chemistry. It is published in two sections, available separately:

• Physics and Chemistry (Section A)

Papers of interest primarily to scientists working in these fields. This section covers a broad range of physical and chemical research, with major emphasis on

standards of physical measurement, fundamental constants, and properties of matter. Issued six times a

year. Annual subscription: Domestic, $17.00; Foreign,

$21.25.

• Mathematical Sciences (Section B)

Studies and compilations designed mainly for the mathematician and theoretical physicist. Topics in mathematical statistics, theory of experiment design, numerical analysis, theoretical physics and chemistry, logical design and programming of computers and computer

systems. Short numerical tables. Issued quarterly. Annual subscription: Domestic, $9.00; Foreign, $11.25. DIMENSIONS/NBS (formerly Technical News Bulletin) —This monthly magazine is published to inform

scientists, engineers, businessmen, industry, teachers,

students, and consumers of the latest advances in science and technology, with primary emphasis on the work at NBS. The magazine highlights and reviews such

issues as energy research, fire protection, building tech- nology, metric conversion, pollution abatement, health and safety, and consumer product performance. In addition, it reports the results of Bureau programs in measurement standards and techniques, properties of matter and materials, engineering standards and services, instrumentation, and automatic data processing. Annual subscription: Domestic, $9.45; Foreign, $11.85.

NONPERIODICALS

Monographs—Major contributions to the technical liter- ature on various subjects related to the Bureau's scientific and technical activities. Handbooks—Recommended codes of engrineering and

industrial practice (including safety codes) developed

in cooperation with interested industries, professional

organizations, and regulatory bodies.

Special Publications—Include proceedings of confer- ences sponsored by NBS, NBS annual reports, and other

special publications appropriate to this grouping such

as wall charts, pocket cards, and bibliographies.

Applied Mathematics Series—Mathematical tables, manuals, and studies of special interest to physicists, engineers, chemists, biologists, mathematicians, computer programmers, and others engaged in scientific and technical work.

National Standard Reference Data Series—Provides

quantitative data on the physical and chemical properties of materials, compiled from the world's literature and critically evaluated. Developed under a world-wide

program coordinated by NBS. Program under authority

of National Standard Data Act (Public Law 90-396). NOTE: At present the principal publication outlet for

these data is the Journal of Physical and Chemical

Reference Data (JPCRD) published quarterly for NBS

by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Subscriptions, reprints, and supplements available from ACS, 1155 Sixteenth

St. N. W., Wash. D. C. 20056.

Building Science Series—Disseminates technical infor- mation developed at the Bureau on building materials, components, systems, and whole structures. The series presents research results, test methods, and performance criteria related to the structural and environmental functions and the durability and safety characteristics of building elements and systems.

Technical Notes—Studies or reports which are complete

in themselves but restrictive in their treatment of a

subject. Analogous to monographs but not so comprehensive in scope or definitive in treatment of the subject area. Often serve as a vehicle for final reports of work performed at NBS under the sponsorship of other government agencies.

Voluntary Product Standards—Developed under pro- cedures published by the Department of Commerce in Part 10, Title 15, of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of the standards is to establish nationally

recognized requirements for products, and to provide

all concerned interests with a basis for common under- standing of the characteristics of the products. NBS

administers this program as a supplement to the activities of the private sector standardizing organizations. Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS)—Publications in this series collectively constitute the Federal Information Processing Standards Register. Register serves as the official source of information in the Federal Government regarding stand- ards issued by NBS pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended,

Public Law 89-306 (79 Stat. 1127), and as implemented

by Executive Order 11717 (38 FR 12315, dated May 11, 1973) and Part 6 of Title 15 CFR (Code of Federal

Regulations). Consumer Information Series—Practical information, based on NBS research and experience, covering areas

of interest to the consumer. Easily understandable language and illustrations provide useful background

knowledge for shopping in today's technological

marketplace.

NBS Interagency Reports (NBSIR)—A special series of interim or final reports on work performed by NBS for

outside sponsors (both government and non-government). In general, initial distribution is handled by the sponsor; public distribution is by the National Technical Information Service (Springfield, Va. 22161) in paper

copy or microfiche form.

Order NBS publications (except NBSIR's and Biblio- graphic Subscription Services) from: Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,

D.C. 20402. BIBLIOGRAPHIC SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

The following current-awareness and literature-survey

bibliographies are issued periodically by the Bureau:

Cryogenic Data Center Current Awareness Service A literature survey issued biweekly. Annual subscription: Domestic, $20.00; foreign, $25.00.

I^iquefied Natural Gas. A literature survey issued quarterly. Annual subscription: $20.00. Superconducting Devices and Materials. A literature

survey issued quarterly. Annual subscription: $20.00. Send subscription orders and remittances for the pre- ceding bibliographic services to National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va. 22161.

Electromagnetic Metrology Current Awareness Service Issued monthly. Annual subscription: $100.00 (Special rates for multi-subscriptions). Send subscription order and remittance to Electromagnetics Division, National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colo. 80302.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

Washington. D.C. 20234

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Penalty for Private Use, S300

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

U.S. DEPAHTMENT OF COMMERCE COM-21S

FOURTH CLASS MAIL