WWV AND WWVH BROADCAST STATIONS

Uses

Provide accurate time signals for GPS, satellite, communications and reference.

Determine radio wave propagation at various frequencies.

Operated By

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Location

WWV is located in Fort Collins, Colorado

WWVH is located on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii

Frequencies and Power

MHz Watts WWV Watts WWVH

2.5 2,500 5,000

5 10,000 10,000

10 10,000 10,000

15 10,000 10,000

20 2,500 none

Power Comment

Amateur Radio stations typically transmit at 25 to 700 watts. Thus, you may be able to hear WWV or WWVH, but not be able to hear (or be heard by) Ham stations located near WWV or WWVH even though you both have your radios tuned to a frequency in the same band.

Similar Stations

There are many other beacon stations around the world that can be tuned into to see if the band (frequency) is open to the station’s location.

Possible Demonstration

When you visit the KC5OUR station, ask if you can listen on some of these frequencies and determine if you are hearing WWV or WWVH.