Unattended TV Time Transfer Results

Abstract : This article reports on the results of more than eight thousand relative television time transfers to Maryland Point Observatory over a 14 month period beginning in December 1981. The data were taken at intervals of 30-60 minutes using a Hewlett-Packard 1000 computer operating in an unattended mode. After correction for linear drifts of our maser with respect to the master clock of the USNO, the results are internally consistent to within roughly + or - 65 nsec over timespans up to three months, under the assumption of invariant propagation delay. The major disadvantages to this method of time transfer are the relatively poor precision and the dependency upon constant propagation times.