There must be now at least 3 different ways (that I know of) to listen to Radio these days, FM/AM wireless, Online and DAB digital, and I've noticed that there is a noticeable delaye between each of them which I know issomething to do with the way the signals are sent out and then recieved but I was wondering which one was the most accurate when it comes to time sych, like when a station gives a time call, 3 or 4 beeps and then the time?
Radio - what's more accurate
- Thread starter Crewman47
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Amaris
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I would imagine anything with the least number of components (whether digital or physical) in between receiving the signal and output. Via PC, it has to be simulcast, sent via packets over the internet and reassembled on the other side, processed and then sent to your output. I would imagine over the internet is the longest route.
Via wireless, like a cell phone, has to be simulcast through the service provider, across various network towers, downloaded to your cell phone, processed and sent to your output.
I think via radio hardware itself is the fastest.
J.
Via wireless, like a cell phone, has to be simulcast through the service provider, across various network towers, downloaded to your cell phone, processed and sent to your output.
I think via radio hardware itself is the fastest.
J.
Analog radio would indeed be the fastest but most stations ad in at least a 7 second delay so they can dump out any errant cursing that may get out - at least here in the US. For example, you would hear a Top of Hour break broadcast at 16:00 at 16:00:07.
Digital radio's processing only ads a couple of seconds onto this, so a top hour would be heard at around 16:00:10 to 16:00:13.
An internet stream would ad somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 seconds of delay on top of the original analog signal, so the top of hour break at 16:00 would be heard online at around 16:00:37.
I'm not sure how the BBC/ British broadcasters set their audio chain up. The easiest way of course would be to get a cheap atomic clock and listen to the radio. Their GMT would be just the same as yours.
Digital radio's processing only ads a couple of seconds onto this, so a top hour would be heard at around 16:00:10 to 16:00:13.
An internet stream would ad somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 seconds of delay on top of the original analog signal, so the top of hour break at 16:00 would be heard online at around 16:00:37.
I'm not sure how the BBC/ British broadcasters set their audio chain up. The easiest way of course would be to get a cheap atomic clock and listen to the radio. Their GMT would be just the same as yours.
I thought all radio was time delayed 5-10 seconds ...anyway that's what I was told. Also don't forget about satellite radio ...although I have it's still out there.
Is the intent to get an accurate time fix by radio or some other portable device?
If so, a shortwave reciever would be a good thing to have. Many goverments offer time and frequency stations that you can recieve.
Land line telephone connections within a country generally have less than 30 milliseconds delay. Most governments also offer a dial-in for the time service. This method is probably the most accurate for the average person trying to get the *correct* time.
Another method would be a GPS reciever as the technology is based on time delay from signals from GPS satellites, each of which carries a cesium atomic clock.
But if you're asking about actual audio delay on radion for other reasons, Squiggy is correct.
As a side note, the NBC TV network in the US recently added a 4 second delay in delivery to local affiliates. It'll be interesting to see how new years eve is handled for 2010.
Here are some methods in the US for checking the time.
NIST station WWV- 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 Mhz AM Shortwave.
WWV phone access- 303-499-7111
http://tf.nist.gov/stations/wwv.html
US Naval Observatory time- 202-762-1401
If so, a shortwave reciever would be a good thing to have. Many goverments offer time and frequency stations that you can recieve.
Land line telephone connections within a country generally have less than 30 milliseconds delay. Most governments also offer a dial-in for the time service. This method is probably the most accurate for the average person trying to get the *correct* time.
Another method would be a GPS reciever as the technology is based on time delay from signals from GPS satellites, each of which carries a cesium atomic clock.
But if you're asking about actual audio delay on radion for other reasons, Squiggy is correct.
As a side note, the NBC TV network in the US recently added a 4 second delay in delivery to local affiliates. It'll be interesting to see how new years eve is handled for 2010.
Here are some methods in the US for checking the time.
NIST station WWV- 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 Mhz AM Shortwave.
WWV phone access- 303-499-7111
http://tf.nist.gov/stations/wwv.html
US Naval Observatory time- 202-762-1401
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