An investigation of time transfer accuracies over a utility microwave communications channel

Measurements made on an electric utility timekeeping system using standard IRIG-B time code and commercially available equipment are discussed. An attempt is made to determine whether this technique can reliably transfer time accuracies of one millisecond and accuracies of 5 to 50 microseconds. A new method of propagation delay measurement using two synchronized time code generators is introduced. These measurements are compared with predictions of delay and measurements made with a commercial communications test set used in a new manner. Discussion of the differences between the methods is given.<>