[Elecraft] OT: Trivia - WWV & so-called "atomic" clocks

[Wes Stewart]

My late wife and I were RVing through Colorado and while in Ft. Collins, I called up NBS (as it was called then) and asked whether I could tour the facility.  Whoever answered the telephone informed me that they didn't give tours or allow access, but he did say that there were some contractors doing some work and the gate just happened to open:-)

Wes  N7WS

--- On Thu, 6/2/11, Ken - K0PP <kengkopp at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Ken - K0PP <kengkopp at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Trivia - WWV & so-called "atomic" clocks
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011, 4:12 PM
>         
> The so-called "atomic clocks" use the 60 KHZ signal
> from WWVB at the NBS transmitter site north of Fort 
> Collins, CO.  
> 
> The signal level from the station got a bit of a boost 
> awhile back when the PA from the decommissioned 
> 100 KHZ LORAN C transmitter in ND(?) was moved 
> to Ft. Collins and retrofitted into the 60 KHZ
> transmitter.
> 
> The 20 KHZ  WWVL rig is/was a beauty ... HB by NBS
> and painted bright blue ... with a brush.  Both VLF
> antennas are of such High-Q that a thunderstorm overhead
> will detune them enough to throw the TX's into overload
> and
> shutdown protection.
> 
> 73! Ken - K0PP