How did the pips originate on Radio 4 and why was it done?

Question

Sorry David C - that doesn't answer my question.

Answer 1

Frank Hope-Jones was a well-known amateur radio enthusiast and horologist of the day, and on 21st April, 1923, he was giving a talk on Summer Time. As the talk finished, he counted aloud the last five seconds up to 10pm. After the broadcast, he put forward a suggestion that perhaps the BBC could have a more accurate time signal using audible "pips".

John Reith, then General Manager of the BBC, and Frank Dyson, the Astronomer Royal, discussed the idea of "broadcasting Greenwich Standard Time", and in December, 1923, an agreement was reached to have the two clocks used by the Royal Observatory to generate time signals for other users were modified, at a cost to the BBC of £20 each, were modified "to operate a signal at each 30 minutes to meet your requirements".

The equipment was designed so that a chronometer's escapement wheel at the Observatory controlled a switch, which in turn controlled the output of a 1kHz oscillator. This generated six short pips, starting at five seconds to the hour and ending on the hour, which were then sent down a GPO line to the BBC. They were first transmitted at 9.30pm on 5th February 1924, introduced by Sir Frank Dyson, the Astronomer Royal.

Answer 2

The pips you hear on the radio were taken from the atomic clock at Greenwich observatory to establish an accurate time reference accross the country. The start of the long pip marks the start of second zero.

Answer 3

They were first broadcast in February 1924

The pips, correctly known as the Greenwich Time Signal, have not indicated Greenwich Mean Time since 1972, the adoption of "international atomic time".

Before the BBC started using the pips, a pianist in a studio would play the tune of the Westminster chimes, synchronising the "bong" with the clock in the studio.

The first pip is broadcast at the 55th second, with the beginning of the sixth indicating the start of the next minute.

The signal on analogue radio is calculated to be accurate 100 miles from Broadcasting House (ie in Leicester, Swindon, and Calais). Technical problems (which are being addressed) mean the signal is not yet accurate on digital radio, digital TV or internet.

The final pip, lasting half a second, is longer than the other five, which last a tenth of a second. The reason for this is that atomic time is calculated independently of the Earth's spin (which is basically the method for calculating GMT), and occasionally an extra second needs to be added to compensate. To prevent people setting their watches prematurely, the final pip, whether it is the sixth or the seventh, is slightly longer (just like my answer).

Answer 4

they are to do with the correct time and the fact the beep Carry's better over distance in the air waves when radio started out t was not as good and as power full as we get today

regards x Kitti x