It is not a problem George. The seconds correction is sent with the GPS sign=
al and most systems apply it eaprautomatically to get UTC. In some of the ol=
der systems it had to be set by the operator. An error of 15 seconds would b=
e very obvious when locating earthquakes. Much more difficult is an error of=
 1 second due to poor software or hardware on some ch

Sent from my iPhone

On 22/12/2011, at 6:39 AM, George Bush  wrote:

> I just heard that the UTC time and the GPS time are about 15 seconds diffe=
rent.=20
>=20
> I subscribe to the NewScientist magazine and in the 17 Dec 2011 issue, p. 2=
7 was a report One minute with Felicitas Arias, who is the director of the t=
ime department at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris.=
 She was discussing how the UTC time is 'adjusted' in 1-second intervals for=
 a closer match to astronomical time while the clocks in the GPS satellites n=
eed a continuous time scale and do not use the 'adjusted' seconds and so the=
 GPS and the UTC are slowly drifting apart!
>=20
> If true, this could have major implications for the amateur stations that r=
ely on a GPS receiver for the correct time. Maybe the receivers adjust the t=
ime before outputting it to us, I don't know.
>=20
> Does anybody else know about this and if it is a problem to us?
> George
It is not a problem George. The seconds correction is sent with the GPS signal and most systems apply it eaprautomatically to get UTC. In some of the older systems it had to be set by the operator. An error of 15 seconds would be very obvious when locating earthquakes. Much more difficult is an error of 1 second due to poor software or hardware on some ch

Sent from my iPhone

On 22/12/2011, at 6:39 AM, George Bush <ke6pxp@.......> wrote:



I just heard that the UTC time and the GPS time are about 15 seconds
different. 


I subscribe to the NewScientist magazine and in the 17 Dec 2011
issue, p. 27 was a report One minute with Felicitas Arias, who is
the director of the time department at the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures in Paris. She was discussing how the UTC time is
'adjusted' in 1-second intervals for a closer match to astronomical time
while the clocks in the GPS satellites need a continuous time scale and
do not use the 'adjusted' seconds and so the GPS and the UTC are slowly
drifting apart!


If true, this could have major implications for the amateur stations that
rely on a GPS receiver for the correct time. Maybe the receivers adjust
the time before outputting it to us, I don't know.


Does anybody else know about this and if it is a problem to us?


George