MSFWWVB

MSFWWVB is a proposed collaborative concept that would unify the UK MSF time signal and the US WWVB time signal into a single cross-Atlantic longwave time-reference service. The name combines the acronyms of the two established stations: MSF, transmitting from the United Kingdom, and WWVB, transmitting from the United States.

Under this concept, the service would broadcast on 60 kHz and provide UTC time information to radio-controlled clocks, time servers, and other timing-sensitive equipment across Europe and North America. A merged system could use a common time code or provide a compatibility layer so receivers tuned to either legacy MSF or legacy WWVB signals could interpret the data. In practice, a dual-coverage approach could also deliver redundancy in case one transmitter network experiences outages.

Technical considerations would include harmonizing transmission parameters, such as carrier frequency stability, modulation scheme, and time-code encoding, as well as agreeing on leap-second handling and metadata like date and daylight-saving indicators. Propagation conditions on the 60 kHz band would require careful planning to maintain reliable reception across continents, particularly at night when reception varies by latitude.

Implementation would involve regulatory approvals, licensing, and coordination between agencies responsible for the two stations, along with updates to time-code receivers and consumer electronics. Benefits could include a more robust, globally accessible time reference and simplified equipment for multinational users. Challenges include governance, funding, and ensuring ongoing compatibility with existing MSF and WWVB devices.

MSFWWVB remains a theoretical concept, with no public deployment plan. See also MSF, WWVB, UTC, and time signals.