Two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) has become an important technical component in the process of the realization of International Atomic Time. To employ the full potential of the technique, especially for true time transfer, a dedicated calibration is necessary. This consists of the calibration either of the operational link at large, including every component involved, or of the involved ground stations' internal delays only. Both modes were successfully employed by circulating and operating a portable reference station between the sites involved. In this paper, we summarize the theoretical background for the different calibration modes applied and report examples of results from the 13 calibration campaigns performed up to now in Europe and between Europe and the United States. In all of these exercises, estimated uncertainties around 1 ns were achieved. Consecutive campaigns showed a very good reproducibility at the nanosecond level. Additionally, we address and briefly discuss sources that possibly limit the uncertainty for true time transfer employing TWSTFT.

During 2003 the IEN-PTB Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) link was calibrated using a portable reference station. The calibration activity was conducted in the framework of the Galileo System Test Bed Version 1 (GSTB V1), under a contract with Joanneum Research G.m.b.H. (Austria). The calibration constant was determined with an uncertainty lower than 1 ns. Only few months after the calibration, the satellite provider moved the TWSTFT service to a different satellite; this caused changes non-reciprocal delays of the link (Sagnac and earth stations delays) and the calibration constant had to be re-evaluated. A recalculation of the Sagnac delays is presented together with a re-evaluation of earth stations delays with different measurements techniques.

In 2008, seven European institutes participated in a TWSTFT calibration campaign to determine the internal signal delays of their ground stations relative to the portable reference station of Joanneum Research, Graz. In a second step, the calibration values and their uncertainties for time comparisons of 21 links involving the participating institutes were determined. The following results were obtained. The common clock differences between the two TUG stations measured in agreed within 0.5 ns, proving the suitability of the traveling station as a reliable and stable traveling reference. After substantial changes in the hardware, the links connecting to NPL and VSL were calibrated with uncertainties slightly exceeding 1 ns and 2 ns, respectively. The so-called TAI links OP-PTB, INRIM-PTB, and METAS-PTB were recalibrated. Despite hardware changes and a change of the satellite in use in early 2008, the calibration values measured this time agreed with the values determined in 2005 and 2006 well within the calibration uncertainty of slightly above 1 ns.