Two-way Satellite Time And Frequency Transfer Research Articles

Time Transfer Link fusion algorithm based on wavelet multi-resolution analysis

To raise the precision and stability of time transfer links, a wavelet-based multi-resolution data fusion technique is offered. This approach fixes the “Day-Boundary discontinuities” in global positioning system (GPS) precise point positioning (PPP) link and lessens the diurnal in Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) link by integrating the model-based dynamic system analysis method with the statistically based multi-scale signal transformation method. It can also handle data from GPS PPP links and TWSTFT links at different sampling rates. More specifically, after applying wavelet transformation to the raw data and Kalman filtering estimation on various scales, this method uses the Mallat fast reconstruction algorithm of wavelet transform to achieve the fused results. The National Time Service Center (NTSC) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) handle time transfer results using this method. Experiments show that this strategy greatly improves the link's short-term stability and can manage atypical interruptions while also boosting the link's robustness and reliability, which has a wide range of possible applications.

Statistics for quantifying aging in time transfer system delays

Residual time delays in time transfer systems such as two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT), or GPS carrier phase (GPSCP) change over time. A double difference such as TWSTFT—GPSCP provides information on the changes in the relative time delays of the two systems. These changes are referred to as aging or time dispersion. A first difference statistic, RMS time interval error, TIERMS, provides the RMS time dispersion. The time deviation statistic (TDEV) or a variation on the Allan deviation (ADEV), referred to here as ADEVS, provide information on the nature of the random fluctuations in aging. This paper describes analytical and Monte Carlo techniques used to estimate the aging (time dispersion) from TDEV or ADEVS statistics, and finds that the aging can be more than a factor of four larger than TDEV or ADEVS. The use of ADEVS is recommended over TDEV since it is sensitive to time drift.

BDS-3 RDSS two-way time transfer with asymmetric delay compensation model

In the BeiDou navigation satellite system-3 (BDS-3) radio determination satellite service (RDSS), there exists a natural two-way link between the center station and the user site that can be used to achieve time transfer. Traditionally, RDSS two-way time transfer is realized by analogy with the two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) technique. However, unlike TWSTFT, the signal propagation delays are not completely symmetrical in the RDSS two-way link because of the differences in signal emission time. In this study, a model of two-way time transfer with BDS-3 RDSS is presented. An asymmetric delay compensation method is introduced to solve the asymmetry of RDSS signals and improve the accuracy of two-way time transfer. In addition, BDS-3 RDSS common clock difference experiments are designed to test the performance of two-way time transfer with an asymmetric delay compensation model. Based on analyses of the experimental results, three conclusions can be drawn. First, the accuracy of RDSS two-way time transfer is improved when the asymmetric delay compensation model is applied. Second, BDS-3 RDSS two-way time transfers in different in-station beams and subbands do not show many discrepancies on the whole, and the standard deviation values of the BDS-3 RDSS time transfer results range from 1.7 ns to 2.6 ns for the test signals. Third, the two-way time transfer results are not generally affected by receiver coordinate errors.

Evaluation of Asia-Europe TWSTFT Links Using the Express-80 Satellite

Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) is extensively used by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in the calculation of coordinated universal time (UTC). The Asia-Europe TWSTFT links using the Express-80 satellite were reestablished in June 2021. This paper uses monthly measurements to evaluate the time comparison performance of the Asia-Europe TWSTFT network. We select TWSTFT data for analysis on the long and short baselines over the same period, respectively. Since the TWSTFT link has not been calibrated, we take the GPS precise point positioning (PPP) link, independent of TWSTFT, as a reference and align the TWSTFT results with it. Then, the results from the TWSTFT and GPS PPP solutions are compared on the different baselines. Finally, the modified Allan deviation (MDEV) and the double clock difference (DCD) between the TWSTFT link and the GPS PPP link are used to evaluate the performance of the TWSTFT results. The results show that the TWSTFT results are consistent with the results of CPS PPP time transfer, and the frequency stability of TWSTFT links on long and short baselines can reach 3E-15 or better with an averaging time of 1 d. The standard deviation of the DCD results is less than 0.4 ns on different baselines, which ensures the accuracy of the TWSTFT link. The Asia-Europe TWSTFT link can be used for UTC time transfer after calibration.

A three-cornered hat analysis of instabilities in two-way and GPS carrier phase time transfer systems

A three-cornered hat analysis has been performed on three independent time transfer systems between the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These include (1) a direct Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) link provided by the USNO, (2) an indirect TWSTFT link, and (3) GPS carrier phase (GPSCP) links. Time transfer instabilities for individual links, as quantified with the time deviation and TOTAL time deviation, have been measured for the first time for averaging periods between 2 h and 85 days. Time transfer instabilities beyond one day are roughly flicker phase in nature and generally range between 40 ps and 120 ps. Frequency transfer instabilities, as quantified by the modified Allan deviation, are observed to be as low as 1 × 10−16 for a 20 day comparison and into the mid 10−17 range at longer comparison times.

Measuring Height Difference Using Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer

According to general relativity theory (GRT), the clock at a position with lower geopotential ticks slower than an identical one at a position with higher geopotential. Here, we provide a geopotential comparison using a non-transportable hydrogen clock and a transportable hydrogen clock for altitude transmission based on the two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) technique. First, we set one hydrogen clock on the fifth floor and another hydrogen clock on the ground floor, with their height difference of 22.8 m measured by tape, and compared the time difference between these two clocks by TWSTFT for 13 days. Then, we set both clocks on the ground floor and compared the time difference between the two clocks for seven days for zero-baseline calibration (synchronization). Based on the measured time difference between the two clocks at different floors, we obtained the height difference 28.0 ± 5.4 m, which coincides well with the tape-measured result. This experiment provides a method of height propagation using precise clocks based on the TWSTFT technique.

Research on the Influence of the Residual Effects of TWSTFT on the Triangular Closure Difference

The triangular closure (TC) method of two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) can be utilized to conveniently and quickly evaluate the time transfer performance between ground stations without additional equipment. To expand the application of the TC method and make it applicable to inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites, we analyze the influence of various residual effects of TWSTFT on the triangular closure difference (TCD). Relying on the two-way comparison network of the National Time Service Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, TC experiments were carried out using a geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite (CHINASAT-12) and an IGSO satellite (BDS I1-S). The results show that the Sagnac effect and ionospheric delay can be ignored without affecting the TCD, whereas the equipment delay and geometric path asymmetry effect cannot be ignored. Specifically, as a systematic error, the equipment delay has a great impact on the TCD and must be corrected. In contrast, the geometric path asymmetry effect caused by the relative motion of satellites and ground stations is small in magnitude for GEO satellites and can be ignored. However, for IGSO satellites, the geometric path asymmetry effect can reach the nanosecond level; thus, it also has a great impact on the TCD and cannot be ignored. Using the correction method proposed in this paper, subnanosecond time synchronization exactness can be achieved in TC experiments based on both types of satellites. Therefore, we have successfully expanded the application of the TC method to IGSO satellites. Theoretically, the TC method can also be applied to medium earth orbit and other satellites.

Analysis and Comparison for Fusion Algorithms of Time Transfer

In order to improve the reliability of precise time comparison, this paper takes advantage of long-term stability of TWSTFT (Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer) and short-term stability of PPP (GPS Precise Point Positioning). Stability weighting, Vondrák-Čepek combined filtering, and Kalman filtering methods are applied to fuse the TWSTFT and GPS PPP time comparison between the NTSC (National Time Service Center) and PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt). The results show that the three fusion methods all improve the diurnal variations in TWSTFT and the discontinuities in GPS PPP solution, and the absolute value of the DCD (Double Clock Difference) between fusion results and PPP solution is kept within the link calibration uncertainty. The 1d time and frequency stability of the three methods can reach the order of sub-nanosecond and 10−15, respectively. The Vondrák-Čepek fusion method has the highest stability within 1d, which is suitable for the fusion of time comparison links with requirements for short stability. Stability weighting and Kalman filtering fusion have better fidelity, which are suitable for the fusion of time comparison links that require high accuracy.

Research on Evaluation Method of Time Transfer Performance Between Ground Stations in Two-Way Satellite Comparison Network

High-precision time synchronization between ground stations is essential for the precise measurement and determination of satellite orbits. Among the numerous time synchronization methods available, two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) technology is widely used because of the approximate symmetry of its signal transmission path, such that most of the error terms can be offset to obtain subnanosecond time transmission accuracy. A C-band two-way satellite comparison network has been constructed at National Time Service Center (NTSC), Chinese Academy of Sciences for orbit determination and to compare the times between ground stations. The gradual increase in the number of ground stations has created a problem in need of urgent resolution: the facile and rapid evaluation of the time transfer performance between ground stations by a two-way satellite comparison network without the use of additional equipment. We solve this problem by applying the TWSTFT triangle closure method and the precise point positioning time transfer method to the NTSC two-way satellite comparison network and conduct joint observations between terrestrial stations to evaluate the network time transfer performance. We select the Xi'an, Kashi and Sanya stations of the NTSC two-way satellite comparison network to carry out verification tests. The results show that the NTSC two-way satellite comparison network can achieve subnanosecond time synchronization accuracy. The accuracy of time synchronization between stations can be checked conveniently and quickly without the use of additional equipment. This study presents the most recent developments for the NTSC two-way satellite comparison network and serves as a reference for evaluating the time transfer performance of similar networks.

Performance Optimization Method of Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer Link based on Conditional Adjustment

Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) is one of the time transfer methods with the highest accuracy at present, and it is also the main method to compare the atomic time scale among the time-keeping laboratories participated in the international atomic time calculation. Improving the short-term stability of TWSTFT links and reducing the influence of Diurnal on the link time transfer result have practical significance for optimizing the performance of TAI (International Atomic Time). In this paper, a method of TWSTFT link performance optimization based on conditional adjustment is proposed. Firstly, the optimized network of TWSTFT link performance (hereinafter briefly called as optimized network) is established according to the noise level and spectrum analysis result of TWSTFT link measurements, and then the weight coefficient matrix is set according to the analysis result of measurement noises of all the links in the optimized network to establish the conditional adjustment model. The Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer link between the National Institute of Metrology (NIM) and the National Time Service Center (NTSC) of Chinese Academy of Sciences in the Asia-Pacific region is selected as the link to be optimized, and the TWSTFT links among NTSC, NIM, and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) are used to compose the optimized network. The networking method and conditional adjustment model are verified by experiments. The results show that the short-term stability of the link to be optimized after adjustment is improved, and the influence of Diurnal is reduced about 24.6%. Using this method, the time transfer performance of the link to be optimized can be improved effectively.

Direct comparisons of European primary and secondary frequency standards via satellite techniques

We carried out a 26-day comparison of five simultaneously operated optical clocks and six atomic fountain clocks located at INRIM, LNE-SYRTE, NPL and PTB by using two satellite-based frequency comparison techniques: broadband Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) and Global Positioning System Precise Point Positioning (GPS PPP). With an enhanced statistical analysis procedure taking into account correlations and gaps in the measurement data, combined overall uncertainties in the range of 1.8 × 10−16 to 3.5 × 10−16 for the optical clock comparisons were found. The comparison of the fountain clocks yields results with a maximum relative frequency difference of 6.9 × 10−16, and combined overall uncertainties in the range of 4.8 × 10−16 to 7.7 × 10−16.

A preliminary experiment of determining the geopotential difference using two hydrogen atomic clocks and TWSTFT technique

General relativity theory (GRT) concludes that a precise clock ticks at different running rates if it is under the influence of different geopotentials. Therefore, by comparing the running rates of clocks at arbitrary two stations, the geopotential difference between them can be determined. In this study, with the help of two hydrogen atomic clocks (noted as H-masers), using the two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) technique, we carried out experiments of the geopotential difference determination at the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC), Beijing. Here the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method is adopted to remove periodic signals included in the original observations. Finally, the clock-comparison-determined geopotential difference in the experiments is determined. Results show that the difference between the geopotential difference determined by GRT and that determined by measuring tape is about 1316.1 ± 931.0 m2s-2, which is equivalent to 134.3 ± 95.0 m in height, and in consistence with the stability of the H-masers applied in the experiments (at the level of 10−15/day). With the rapid improvement of atomic clocks' accuracy, the geopotential determination by accurate clocks is prospective, and it is promising to realize the unification of the world vertical height system (WVHS).

Common-View Time Transfer Using Geostationary Satellite.

The National Time Service Center (NTSC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi'an, China, has developed a method for common-view time transfer using Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite (GCV) applicable to the time and frequency transfer at distant stations. This method is independent of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) time and frequency transfer, as well as two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT). A master clock at the time laboratory transmits pseudorandom code signals to a GEO telecommunication satellite, and the time signals are retransmitted by the satellite. Receivers at the time laboratory and user locations coincidentally receive the time signals, and the offsets between the user clocks and the master clock of the time laboratory are determined with high precision if the precise coordinates of the user locations are known. For this technology, only a parabolic antenna with receiver devices and a demodulator are required at each user station, but the coordinates and precise orbits need to be obtained in advance. The key features of GCV include 1) continuous coverage of the signal from GEO communication satellites; 2) differential observations to reduce the effects of orbit error and the imprecision of the propagation delay model; 3) using a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) to enhance high signal ratio to noise to obtain precise ranging accuracy and antimultipath ability; and 4) utilizing the C-band or Ku-band to decrease the impact of the ionosphere. Experiments based on the TWSTFT network of CAS showed that the performance of GCV was at the same level as that of TWSTFT, and the rms of the residuals of GCV was less than 1.5 ns with respect to TWSTFT.

Beidou wide-area augmentation system clock error correction and performance verification

On December 27, 2018, the Beidou-3 System (BDS-3) has completed the deployment of 18 Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites combined as a space constellation. In addition to the augmentation information for the new system signals B1C and B2a, the BDS-3 is compatible with the three augmentation information broadcast by the BDS-2 system for B1I and B3I signals: equivalent clock error correction, User Differential Ranging Error (UDRE) and Grid Ionosphere Vertical Error (GIVE). In this paper, the observation data of Beidou monitoring network are used to analyze the pseudo-range observation quality of the smooth transition signals B1I and B3I of BDS-2 and BDS-3. At the same time, the relationship between the equivalent clock error correction and the prediction error of the satellite clock is analyzed by using the Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) data. The results show that the correlation between the equivalent clock error correction and the monitored clock error by using the TWSTFT data is greater than 60%. We calculate the UDRE by using the equivalent clock error correction. The results show that the satellite equivalent clock error correction can improve the accuracy of User Equivalent Range Error (UERE) by about 50%. This paper also compares the positioning accuracy of the BDS-2 satellites with the BDS-2 satellites combined BDS-3 satellites. The results show that the three-dimensional positioning accuracy is improved by about 30% after the BDS-3 satellites are added.

Performance Analysis of Two-Way Time Comparison of Eurasian Satellites Based on 1 Mcps/s Code

The bandwidth leased on Earth satellites directly affects the operation cost of TWSTFT (Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer). Until May 2017, the Ku-band TWSTFT between Asian-European laboratories involved in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) computing had been using the 2.5 Mcps/s pseudo-random codes with a bandwidth of 2.5 MHz. In order to reduce the cost without affecting the performance of time and frequency, a pseudo-random code with 1 Mcps/s and bandwidth of 1.7 MHz is first attempted to transmit time bidirectionally between Eurasian and Asian satellites in China. An indirect calibration for the bidirectional links by using the calibrated GPS PPP (Global Position System Precise Point Positioning) links reduces the link uncertainty. The TWSTFT link data of December 2018 are selected to analyze the link performance. It is found that the daily frequency stability and time stability of TWSTFT link constructed with 1 Mcps/s code rate reach 10−15 and 0.3 ns respectively through the ABS-2A satellite. The results show that it is feasible to use 1 Mcps/s code rate for ultra-long distance TWSTFT. Compared with the traditional methods, the system has a low cost, and the time transfer performance can meet the needs of international atomic time calculation.

Improving two-way satellite time and frequency transfer with redundant links for UTC generation

Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) is a primary technique for the generation of coordinated universal time (UTC). At present, more than 12 timing laboratories around the world use SAtellite Time and Ranging Equipment (SATRE) modems in TWSTFT operations and contribute data for the realization of UTC. The advantages of TWSTFT are its small calibration uncertainty (⩽1.0 ns if the link is calibrated with a TWSTFT mobile station) and its long-term link stability. However, the precision of SATRE TWSTFT in the operational networks is degraded by a daily variation pattern (diurnal) in the TWSTFT results. The diurnal with varying amplitude appears virtually in all SATRE TWSTFT links. The observed peak-to-peak variation of the diurnals can reach 2.0 ns in some cases. So far, studies on the sources of the diurnal have not provided conclusive understanding of the diurnal’s dominant origin.Therefore, efforts have been made to reduce the impact of the diurnal variation in TWSTFT for UTC computation. The BIPM has been using the combination of SATRE TWSTFT results and GPS carrier-phase precise point positioning solutions (GPSPPP) for UTC computation since 2010. The combination adjusts the GPSPPP results to long-term averages of TWSTFT and is effectively free from the diurnal variations because the GPSPPP results contain almost no diurnal. Lately, the use of software-defined radio receivers (SDR) in TWSTFT has shown one way of how to reduce the diurnal variations by a factor of two to three in most of the inner-continental SATRE TWSTFT links, and furthermore, how the short-term stability for all UTC SDR TWSTFT links can be improved. In addition, there has been research on the full use of the redundancy in the TWSTFT network to improve the TWSTFT link stability. Recent studies on evaluating indirect links revealed that it is possible to apply a simplified procedure to use the redundancy, in a most effective way, to reduce the diurnal variations in the Europe-to-Europe SATRE TWSTFT links by a factor of two to three. Based on these findings, we gained new insights about the diurnals and its dominant origin(s) which are discussed in this paper. The methods of the combination of SATRE TWSTFT and GPSPPP as well as the indirect SATRE TWSTFT links utilize the redundancy in the UTC time transfer network. SDR TWSTFT can largely reduce the diurnal in SATRE TWSTFT, but noticeable residual diurnal remains. In this paper, we provide the analyses of using the combination of SDR TWSTFT and GPSPPP results, as well as using the indirect SDR TWSTFT links. This paper concludes that the use of SDR TWSTFT redundant links can further improve the stabilities of UTC TWSTFT links. In addition, the use of SDR TWSTFT indirect links is a pure TWSTFT solution. The independence of the TWSTFT results to GPS results can improve the robustness of UTC computation.

Use of software-defined radio receivers in two-way satellite time and frequency transfers for UTC computation

Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) is a primary technique for the generation of coordinated universal time (UTC). About 20 timing laboratories around the world continuously operate TWSTFT using satellite time and ranging equipment (SATRE) modems for remote time and frequency comparisons in this context. The precision of the SATRE TWSTFT as observed today is limited by an apparent daily variation pattern (diurnal) in the TWSTFT results. The observed peak-to-peak variation have been found as high as 2 ns in some cases. Investigations into the origins of the diurnals have so far provided no complete understanding about the cause of the diurnals. One major contributor to the diurnals, however, could be related to properties of the receive part in the modem. In 2014 and 2015, it was demonstrated that bypassing the receive part and the use of software-defined radio (SDR) receivers in TWSTFT ground stations (SDR TWSTFT) instead could considerably reduce both the diurnals and the measurement noise.In 2016, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the Consultative Committee for Time and Frequency (CCTF) working group (WG) on TWSTFT launched a pilot study on the application of SDR receivers in the TWSTFT network for UTC computation.The first results of the pilot study were reported to the CCTF WG on TWSTFT annual meeting in May 2017, demonstrating that SDR TWSTFT shows superior performance compared to that of SATRE TWSTFT for practically all links between participating stations. In particular, for continental TWSTFT links, in which the strongest diurnals appear, the use of SDR TWSTFT results in a significant suppression of the diurnals by a factor of between two and three. For the very long inter-continental links, e.g. the Europe-to-USA links where the diurnals are less pronounced, SDR TWSTFT achieved a smaller but still significant gain of 30%. These findings are supported by an evaluation of some of the links with an alternate technique based on GPS signals (GPS IPPP) as reported in this paper.Stimulated by these results, the WG on TWSTFT prepared a recommendation for the 21st CCTF meeting, which proposed the introduction of SDR TWSTFT in UTC generation. With CCTF approval of the recommendation, a roadmap was developed for the implementation of SDR TWSTFT in UTC generation. In accordance with the roadmap, most of the stations that participated in the pilot study have updated the SDR TWSTFT settings to facilitate the use of SDR TWSTFT data in UTC generation. In addition, the BIPM conducted a final evaluation to validate the long-term stability of SDR TWSTFT links, made test runs using the BIPM standard software for the calculation of UTC, now including SDR TWSTFT data, and started to calculate SDR TWSTFT time links as backup from October 2017. The use of SDR TWSTFT in UTC generation will begin in 2018.

An Improved Protocol for Performing Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer Using a Satellite in an Inclined Geo-Synchronous Orbit.

Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) using satellites in inclined geo-synchronous orbit (IGSO) is fundamentally more difficult than using satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO), due to the fact that IGSO satellites are constantly moving relative to a ground station, which brings in large residual effects. In this paper, we designed a protocol and an algorithm to correct several factors that affect the precision of TWSTFT using IGSO satellites. We used two ground stations, each equipped with sending and receiving channels, to conduct real-time measurements of the distance and the speed of an IGSO satellite, and data collected were used to make appropriate corrections. We tested this concept by conducting TWSTFT experiments using an IGSO satellite (BEIDOU I1-S), and compared the results with that obtained using a GEO satellite (CHINASAT 12). Indeed, the individual components that contribute to the residual effects of TWSTFT measurements using the IGSO satellite were several orders of magnitude greater than that of the GEO satellite. By using our modified protocol, TWSTFT results with an IGSO satellite were well accorded with that of using a GEO satellite; the standard deviation of residuals was less than 0.4 ns, well within the limit for the measurement uncertainty of TWSTFT. Therefore, we have expanded the use of IGSO satellites for TWSTFT. In principle, it should also be applicable to medium earth orbit and other satellites.

Multiple Access Interference Suppression for TWSTFT Applications

Multiple access interference (MAI) is one of the unstable sources of the two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT), and causes an estimation error of the signal arrival time. To suppress MAI, the successive interference cancellation (SIC) procedure is implemented on the software-defined receiver. It generates MAIs and subtracts them from the received signal to become an interference-free signal. By performing TWSTFT with SIC, the short-term stability of the UTC(TL)–UTC(KRIS) was improved so that the time deviations were reduced from $0.67\,\,\tau ^{-1/2}$ to $0.48\,\,\tau ^{-1/2}$ ns, and the long-term measurement results were consistent with those obtained by the conventional receiver.

Doppler sensitivity and its effect on transatlantic TWSTFT links33Commercial products are identified for technical completeness only, and no endorsement by NIST is implied.

Some investigations have concluded that the diurnal pattern in the time comparison results of present two way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) links may come mainly from Doppler dependent errors in the time of arrival (TOA) measurements made by the receivers of the TWSTFT modems. In this paper, several experiments were carried out to test if there is a Doppler dependent error in the ‘delay’ measurements of the receivers currently used. By simulating quantitative Doppler effects in the time transfer signal both on the carrier and the code, a type of Doppler sensitivity on the code was observed in the receivers, which has about −0.49 ns offset in ‘delay’ measurement for a 1 × 10−9 fractional Doppler shift. This sensitivity is basically the same for modems with different serial numbers from the same manufacture. We calculated this Doppler caused diurnal pattern in the time comparison results of the transatlantic TWSTFT link between NIST and PTB and found that it is very small and negligible, because the Doppler dependent error is almost identical in the NIST and PTB measurements and therefore it is nearly canceled in the TWSTFT difference.