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Title: A Precision, Low-Cost GPS-Based Transmitter Synchronization Scheme for Improved AM Reception

Abstract

This paper describes a highly accurate carrier-frequency synchronization scheme for actively, automatically locking multiple, remotely located AM broadcast transmitters to a common frequency/timing reference source such as GPS. The extremely tight frequency lock (to {approx}1 part in 10{sup 9} or better) permits the effective elimination of audible and even sub-audible beats between the local (desired) station's carrier signal and the distant stations carriers, usually received via skywave propagation during the evening and nighttime hours. These carrier-beat components cause annoying modulations of the desired station's audio at the receiver and concurrent distortion of the audio modulation from the distant station(s) and often cause listeners to ldquotune outrdquo due to the low reception quality. Significant reduction or elimination of the beats and related effects will greatly enlarge the effective (interference-limited) listening area of the desired station (from 4 to 10 times as indicated in our tests) and simultaneously reduce the corresponding interference of the local transmitter to the distant stations as well. In addition, AM stereo (CQUAM) reception will be particularly improved by minimizing the phase shifts induced by co-channel interfering signals; hybrid digital (HD) signals will also benefit via reduction in beats from analog signals. The automatic frequency-control hardware described ismore » inexpensive ($1000-$2000), requires no periodic recalibration, has essentially zero long-term drift, and could employ alternate wide-area frequency references of suitable accuracy, including broadcasts from WWVB, LORAN-C, and equivalent sources. The basic configuration of the GPS-disciplined oscillator which solves this problem is extremely simple. The main oscillator is a conventional high-stability quartz-crystal type. To counter long- term drifts, the oscillator is slightly adjusted to track a high-precision source of standard frequency obtained from a specialized GPS receiver (or other source), usually at 10.000 MHz. This very stable local reference frequency is then used as a clock for a standard digitally implemented frequency synthesizer, which is programmed to generate the specific carrier frequency desired. The stability of the disciplining source, typically {approx}1 part in 10{sup 9} to 10{sup 11}, is thus transferred to the final AM transmitter carrier output frequency.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Work for Others (WFO)
OSTI Identifier:
972728
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 55; Journal Issue: 1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; RADIO EQUIPMENT; COMMUNICATIONS; ACCURACY; FREQUENCY CONTROL; GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM; MODULATION; OSCILLATORS; PHASE SHIFT; STABILITY; SYNCHRONIZATION; FREQUENCY RANGE; synchronization; GPS; beats

Citation Formats

Smith, Stephen Fulton, and Moore, Anthony. A Precision, Low-Cost GPS-Based Transmitter Synchronization Scheme for Improved AM Reception. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.1109/TBC.2008.2012026.
Smith, Stephen Fulton, & Moore, Anthony. A Precision, Low-Cost GPS-Based Transmitter Synchronization Scheme for Improved AM Reception. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBC.2008.2012026
Smith, Stephen Fulton, and Moore, Anthony. 2009. "A Precision, Low-Cost GPS-Based Transmitter Synchronization Scheme for Improved AM Reception". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBC.2008.2012026.
@article{osti_972728,
title = {A Precision, Low-Cost GPS-Based Transmitter Synchronization Scheme for Improved AM Reception},
author = {Smith, Stephen Fulton and Moore, Anthony},
abstractNote = {This paper describes a highly accurate carrier-frequency synchronization scheme for actively, automatically locking multiple, remotely located AM broadcast transmitters to a common frequency/timing reference source such as GPS. The extremely tight frequency lock (to {approx}1 part in 10{sup 9} or better) permits the effective elimination of audible and even sub-audible beats between the local (desired) station's carrier signal and the distant stations carriers, usually received via skywave propagation during the evening and nighttime hours. These carrier-beat components cause annoying modulations of the desired station's audio at the receiver and concurrent distortion of the audio modulation from the distant station(s) and often cause listeners to ldquotune outrdquo due to the low reception quality. Significant reduction or elimination of the beats and related effects will greatly enlarge the effective (interference-limited) listening area of the desired station (from 4 to 10 times as indicated in our tests) and simultaneously reduce the corresponding interference of the local transmitter to the distant stations as well. In addition, AM stereo (CQUAM) reception will be particularly improved by minimizing the phase shifts induced by co-channel interfering signals; hybrid digital (HD) signals will also benefit via reduction in beats from analog signals. The automatic frequency-control hardware described is inexpensive ($1000-$2000), requires no periodic recalibration, has essentially zero long-term drift, and could employ alternate wide-area frequency references of suitable accuracy, including broadcasts from WWVB, LORAN-C, and equivalent sources. The basic configuration of the GPS-disciplined oscillator which solves this problem is extremely simple. The main oscillator is a conventional high-stability quartz-crystal type. To counter long- term drifts, the oscillator is slightly adjusted to track a high-precision source of standard frequency obtained from a specialized GPS receiver (or other source), usually at 10.000 MHz. This very stable local reference frequency is then used as a clock for a standard digitally implemented frequency synthesizer, which is programmed to generate the specific carrier frequency desired. The stability of the disciplining source, typically {approx}1 part in 10{sup 9} to 10{sup 11}, is thus transferred to the final AM transmitter carrier output frequency.},
doi = {10.1109/TBC.2008.2012026},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/972728}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting},
number = 1,
volume = 55,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}