YVTO

YVTO is the callsign of the official time signal from the Juan Manuel Cagigal Naval Observatory in Caracas, Venezuela. The content of YVTO's signal, which is a continuous 1 kW amplitude modulated carrier wave at 5.000 MHz,^[1] is much simpler than that broadcast by some of the other time signal stations around the world, such as WWV.

The methods of time transmission from YVTO are very limited. The broadcast employs no form of digital time code. The time of day is given in Venezuelan Standard Time (VET), and is only sent using Spanish language voice announcements. YVTO also transmits 100 ms-long beeps of 1000 Hz every second, except for thirty seconds past the minute. The top of the minute is marked by an 800 Hz tone.

References

1. ^ Glenn K. Nelson et al., (2005) NIST Time and Frequency Radio Stations: WWV, WWVH, and WWVB, Boulder, Colorado: National Institute of Standards and Technology, p. 107.

• Standard Frequency and Time Signal Stations on Longwave and Shortwave, page 26 (PDF)