Beta (time signal)


Beta is a time signal service in the VLF range in Russia, operated by the Russian Navy. It is controlled by All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Physical-Engineering and Radiotechnical Metrology. There are 6 transmitter stations, which take turns transmitting time signals and other communications.
Each transmitter has 1 or 2 scheduled sessions per day lasting 31–41 minutes, depending on transmitter, total 8 sessions in 24 hours. Beginning on the hour is 15–20 minutes of 25.0 kHz, including morse code station identification and time code. This is followed by 3- or 4-minute intervals of 25.1, 25.5, 23.0 and 20.5 kHz of unmodulated carrier precisely phase-locked to UTC time scale. No time code is sent during the last quarter of an hour.

The Beta network

Beta consists of the following transmitters:
CallsignTransmitter Location20.5 kHz23.0 kHz25.0 kHz25.1 kHz25.5 kHzMap Link
RJH69Vileyka VLF transmitter near Molodechno xxxxx
RJH77Archangelskxxxxx
RJH63Krasnodarxxxxx
RJH90Nizhny Novgorod xxxxx
RJH86Bishkek xxxxx
RAB99Khabarovskxxxxx

Frequency usage

The time code consists of a series of signals on multiple frequencies. Transmission starts on the hour. Each time a new frequency is selected, there is 1 minute of low power while the transmitter is adjusted, then full-power transmissions begin.
The transmitters are estimated to operate at 1000 kW, achieving 30–50 kW EIRP.
The time code consists of a series of carrier pulses:
The hour or date is not coded.
Most of the stations were built in the 1970s. RJH63 and RAB99, built later, has a different transmission: