Realization and Dissemination

The BEV contributes to the world time UTC by its own realization of the second by time and frequency standards (“atomic clocks”) and the time comparison measurements via GNSS and offers a range of different services for the dissemination of precise time and frequency signals. The details of the realization procedure of the legal units of measurement for time and frequency are laid down in an ordinance of the BEV.
Two industrial atomic clocks with thermal Caesium beam tubes for stationary use and additionally two Rubidium frequency standards are operated, whereas one Rubidium standard is used especially for mobile operation with a buffer battery. One Caesium frequency standard (Master Clock) is the national standard for UTC(BEV), the national Austrian time scale, the other atomic clocks are for backup, internal comparison measurements and calibration purposes.
The time scale UTC(BEV) is continually controlled by international comparison measurements by GNSS satellites and by these measurement the BEV contributes to the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The BEV offers interested parties from industry, science and other laboratories at BEV high precision time and frequency signals.

The tasks of BEV include:

• realizing the legally binding Austrian standard time
• contributing to the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
• time-service for computer synchronization via Internet (NTP) and modem
• dissemination of time and frequency signals via telephone
• calibration of time and frequency standards