Dual transponder time synchronization at C band using ATS-3

The use of artificial satellites for time synchronization of geographically distant clocks has been demonstrated as early as 1962. Most techniques up to now have been plagued with one or more problems due to satellite motion, nonreciprocity of propagation, or equipment delay measurements. By using the ATS-3 satellite with its two C-band transponder channels one can avoid these problems through simple and straightforward techniques for synchronization to accuracies of tenths of microseconds. Portable cesium clocks were used to verify the accuracy of such a system.