HBG (time signal)

HBG was a low frequency time signal transmitter for the Swiss time reference system. It transmitted on 75 kHz with 20 kW power, and was located in Prangins, Switzerland.

HBG time code transmitter
HBG transmitter in Prangins, Switzerland (now demolished)
LocationPrangins, Switzerland
Coordinates46.408356°N 6.252769°E / 46.408356; 6.252769
OperatorSwiss Federal Office of Metrology (METAS)
Frequency75 kHz
Power20 kW
Began operation1966
Ceased operation2012-01-01 07:00:13.2 UTC

Due to the cost of urgently needed renovation for the ageing antennas, and the ease with which all existing users could switch to the DCF77 time signal, the Swiss Federal Government decided to shut down HBG at the end of 2011.[1][2] HBG transmission ceased at 2012-01-01 07:00:13.2 UTC.[3]

On 6 September 2012 at 12:02:00 UTC both antenna towers were demolished by controlled explosives.[4]

The HBG transmission format was very similar to DCF77. At the beginning of each second (with the exception of the 59th), the carrier signal was interrupted for a period of 0.1 s or 0.2 s, which corresponded to a binary "0" or "1". The transmission of the minute, hour, calendar date, day of the week, month and current year was achieved by means of a BCD code identical to that of DCF77.

Like DCF77, the carrier was not interrupted during the last second of each minute.

Differences from the DCF77 time code:

  • The carrier frequency.
  • Phase modulation was not included.
  • Amplitude modulation was done by disabling the transmitter (0% amplitude) rather than reducing it to 15% amplitude as DCF77 does.
  • Announcement bits warning of impending time zone changes or leap seconds were sent 12 hours in advance, rather than 1 hour.
  • The first pulse of each minute was not a standard 0 bit as DCF77 sends. Instead, it was a double pulse, two 0.1 s interruptions separated by 0.1 s of carrier. A triple pulse signalled the start of a new hour, and a four-pulse signal was transmitted at noon and midnight.

It is understood that this frequency is now available in Europe, as well as any other part of the world, for time signal dissemination.

References
  1. (in German) Press release concerning the cessation of the time dissemination transmitter HBG at Prangins on 31 December 2011
  2. (in English) Translation
  3. Pieter-Tjerk de Boer (2012-01-01). "HBG keeps transmitting..." time-nuts (Mailing list). I did manage to make a recording of HBG's shutdown this morning. It was at 07:00:13.2 UTC.
  4. (in French)"La fin des antennes de Prangins en live" - 20min.ch
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