Editing Time from NPL (MSF) (section)

{{Short description|Time signal transmitted from Anthorn Radio Station near Anthorn, Cumbria}}
{{Infobox
|above= MSF
|image=[[File:Anthorn_array.jpg|300px]]
|caption=The [[trideco antenna]] of the VLF transmitter at Anthorn Radio Station
|label1=Location
|data1=[[Anthorn Radio Station]], [[Anthorn]], United Kingdom
|label2=Coordinates
|data2={{coord|54.91|-3.28|type:landmark_region:UK|display=it}}
|label3=Elevation
|data3=
|label4=Operator
|data4=[[Babcock International]]
|label5=Frequency
|data5=60 kHz
|label6=Power
|data6=17 kW
|label7=Began operation
|data7=1950; mostly 24-hour service since 1966
|label8=Ceased operation
|data8=
|label9=Official range
|data9=
|label10=Website
|data10=[https://www.npl.co.uk/msf-signal Time and frequency MSF radio signal - NPL]
}}
{{Location map|Cumbria
|label      =
|lat        = 54.91
|long       = -3.28
|caption    = <small>Map showing the location of the Anthorn VLF transmitter in Cumbria.</small>
|float      = right
|background = white
|width      = 200
}}

The '''Time from NPL''' is a radio signal broadcast from the [[Anthorn Radio Station]] near [[Anthorn]], [[Cumbria]], which serves as the United Kingdom's national time reference.<ref name="nplmsf">{{cite web|title=NPL Time Metrology|publisher=National Physical Laboratory, UK|url=http://www.npl.co.uk/science-technology/time-frequency/products-and-services/time/msf-radio-time-signal|access-date=8 February 2012|archive-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627102609/http://www.npl.co.uk/science-technology/time-frequency/products-and-services/time/msf-radio-time-signal|url-status=live}}</ref> The time signal is derived from three [[atomic clock]]s installed at the transmitter site, and is based on [[time standard]]s maintained by the UK's [[National Physical Laboratory, UK|National Physical Laboratory]] (NPL) in [[Teddington]].<ref name="leaflet">{{cite web|title=MSF The Time from NPL |publisher=National Physical Laboratory, UK |access-date=6 April 2007 |url=http://www.clockco.co.uk/documents/msf.pdf |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031013926/http://www.clockco.co.uk/documents/msf.pdf |archive-date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> The service is provided by [[Babcock International Group|Babcock International]] (which acquired former providers [[VT Communications]]), under contract to the NPL. It was funded by the former [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]];<ref name="nplmsf" /><ref name="TROGER">{{cite journal
|title = MSF and the NPL
|journal = Radio User
|issn = 1748-8117
|date=July 2014
|first = Roger |last = Thomas
|publisher = PW Publishing Ltd
|location = Bournemouth UK
|pages = 47–49
}}</ref> {{As of|2017|lc=y}} NPL Management Limited (NPLML) was owned by the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]] (BEIS), and NPL operated as a public corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npl.co.uk/about/what-is-npl/|title=What is NPL?|website=National Physical Laboratory|access-date=9 October 2017|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626233142/http://www.npl.co.uk/about/what-is-npl/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The signal, also known as the '''MSF signal''' (and formerly the '''Rugby clock'''), is broadcast at a highly accurate frequency of 60&nbsp;kHz and can be received throughout the UK, and in much of northern and western Europe.
The signal's [[carrier frequency]] is maintained at 60&nbsp;kHz to within 2 parts in 10<sup>12</sup>, controlled by [[Atomic clock|caesium atomic clocks]] at the radio station.<ref name="nplmsf" />