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The Australian National Standards Commission (NSC) has announced that shortwave time signal station VNG will remain open until 31 December 2002. However the station will definitely close on that date.
The stay of execution has been granted in light of the many representations made to the NSC from those who make use of the station. However it has been made very clear that the extension of time is solely for the purpose of allowing users enough time to find another source of accurate timebase.
Dr Richard Brittain wrote to the VNG user's consortium advising that "...the Commission has been convinced that despite the clear understanding that under the present contractual arrangements the service would cease on 30 June 2002, some users were not fully cognizant of this matter and have not yet made the necessary alternative arrangements."
The extension of the service until December is subject to the following conditions:
Although Dr Brittain makes reference to using "...alternative sources..." of timing information, in reality at this time there are none that are both cheap and readily available, especially for amateur astronomers on a low budget. Discussions at this time are centering on finding some low cost method of using GPS [Global Positioning System] to provide accurate time information. If such a method can be found, devices may be manufactured for purchase by the astronomical community.
Shortwave time signal station VNG Australia is to cease transmission on 30 June 2002. The announcement has been made by the Australian National Standards Commission (NSC) with no prior warning to or consultation with users. The station continues to carry no voice announcements to indicate that it will cease to transmit in less than two weeks' time.
For the last 38 years VNG Australia has been the only easily accessible time and frequency standard within Australia and New Zealand. The station (broadcasting on 2.5, 5.0, 8.638, 12.984 and 16 MHz) has been used by a wide spectrum of scientific users including seismologists, astronomers (both professional and amateur), upper atmosphere physicists, surveyors and geophysicists, as well as amateur radio operators and navigators. The service has provided a signal of 1 millisecond accuracy that can be easily accessed using only the most inexpensive of equipment.
Reasons advanced for the closure of the station are funding problems, age of the equipment, and staffing problems within Airservices Australia who maintain the transmitters.
Any closure of VNG will severely impact users as there are no cheap and easily accessible timebase replacements. Within New Zealand, the accuracy of National Radio time pips can no longer be relied upon (they are frequently out by several tenths of a second) and internet and telephone time services are subject to significant propagation delays. Although some GPS systems can be used in situations where time accuracy to the millisecond level is required, their price puts them out of the reach of some professional and most non-professional researchers. (For example, amateur astronomers timings occultations and other astronomical phenomena).
Users have been shocked by the minimal notice given of the closure, without provision of a viable cost-effective alternative. The Australian NSC is being urged to delay the closure of VNG by at least six months to give enough time to consult with affected users about how their needs may be met. However the only way this can be achieved is if enough concerned persons communicate their concerns to the Commission and to the other relevant authorities.
Please consider writing a personal email or letter to the following authorities. This needs to be done IMMEDIATELY if there is any chance of delaying closure of the station. Users should explain how they have used (and continue to use) VNG, and why there are no viable replacements at this time.
Please contact:
Dr Richard Brittain
Secretary, National Time Committee,
National Standards Commission
P.O. Box 282, North Ryde,
NSW 1670, Australia
Ph: +61 2 9856 0300
Fax: +61 2 9856 0399
Email: secretary@nsc.gov.au
Website: http://www.nsc.gov.au/
(Alternatively, the Executive Director of the National Standards Commission is Dr Judith Bennett [02 9856 0320] at the same address).
Mr Victor Lawrence BSc
Chairman, National Time Committee &
Superintendent of Trade Measurement, NSW
Department of Fair Trading
P.O. Box 972, Parramatta, NSW 2124
Telephone direct line 02 9895 0088
Switchboard 02 9895 0111, Fax 02 9895 0222
(The National Time Committee is a subcommittee of the National Standards Commission).
The Feberal Minister responsible for the VNG service is:
The Hon. Ian MacFarlane, MP
Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 7450
Facsimile: (02) 6273 9394
Email: Ian.Macfarlane.MP@aph.gov.au
Please advise anyone who could possibly be affected by the closure of this service.
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