TIME SIGNAL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1927, Page 1

TIME SIGNAL

FROM RUGBV WIRKT.EBS ST.\TK)X RUGBY, Doc. 18. Commencing tomorrow, December 10. Ilm British time signal will be transmitted from the wireless station at Rugby twice daily (luring five minutes. terminating at 10 o'clock in the morning and 0 o'clock in the evening, Greenwich mean time. Hack transmission. which will he controlled from n standard clock at Greenwich Observatory. will be of a type proposed by the International Time Commission in llido. and known as the ‘■lnternational system of rhythmic wireless time signals.’' If will consist of a series of ;;nc signals, transmitted in .‘sbO seconds of mean time. Each minute will he clearly marked by a dash of two-filths of a .second duration, beginning on the react minute. The dashes at the 55th. SCt-li, 27th. 53th. and 59th minutes will he followed hv a succession of sixty dots spaced at equal intervals, following the commencement of iho dashes at three minutes. The hour wdl he indicated by a dash of similar duration to the others, commencing on the exact hour. This arrangement provides an extremely accurate time check ior geographers and surveyors. At the same time it is suitable for the me oi ships at sea. and is sufficiently simple for more general application, sir.ee bn ordinary purposes the dashes, which give a clear indication cf the minutes are all that need be noted. The times of transmission have octal selected with a view to reaching the largest possible portion of the glote at suitable periods of the day. The institution of a time signal from Rugby station marks an addition to the services by which this -ta.im maintains contact with the most distant parts of the world. To ship; on every sea, many of which are in the habit of receiving private and Press telegrams direct from Rugby, me net. time signal , will provide r. means of cheeking . their chronometer.,. and should consequently prove an addition I al aid to navigation. irelcss trails I missions wi’i be effected by means of continuous waves on a wave-length of 13,740 meties.