Clock Comparison Using Digital Television Signals

Abstract : The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) have done precision clock comparison using an analog television signal as a common phase reference since the mid 1980s. With the demise of analog television in the United States, that method is no longer viable. A new technique has been developed using the pilot tone on the digital television signal. The system is currently running between NRL and USNO. This paper will present the design and show the performance achieved.