Time signal station
Stations that broadcast the exact time from atomic clocks, with ticks every second and spoken or coded announcements.
ModeTime signal station
FamilyTime and frequency
Audio exampleComing
What does it sound like?
Plate 69Time and frequency
Regular clock-like ticks, one per second, with a voice announcing the time each minute.
Field marksA tick every secondA longer beep each minuteSpoken time on WWV/WWVH
Who uses it?
National standards laboratories, for example WWV (Colorado) and WWVH (Hawaii) in the US, RWM (Russia), BPM (China).
Where and when can I hear it?
WWV and WWVH on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz; RWM on 4996, 9996 and 14996 kHz. Canada's CHU went off the air on June 22, 2026.
What do the decoded parts mean?
- Time: The official time, usually given in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Easily confused with
- Morse code (CW): a beacon's Morse ID repeats but doesn't tick every second