A Meteor Burst Clock Synchronization Experiment

An experiment is described in which the frequency offset between two remotely located frequency standards was determined through an exchange of timing information over a meteor burst radio propagation channel. Instantaneous timing offset, δ, between the two terminal "clocks," each controlled by one of the frequency standards, was measured and plotted as a function of time. Since the slope of the curve could be equated to the frequency offset, Δf/f, determined by standard phase comparison techniques, a measure of the capability of the meteor burst propagation mode to support microsecond synchronization was obtained. A computer was used to fit a straight line to the data points and to calculate the slope and individual deviations of the data points from the fitted curve. Data obtained on five different mornings resulted in an rms deviation that ranged from 0.35 to 1.14 microsecond. The average value of the difference between the slope of the fitted curve and Δf/f, determined by phase comparison, was about two parts in 1010