Disclosed are methods and apparatus to utilize virtual timing markers to improve transmission and reception of electronic or optic signals having timing markers such as zero-to-one transitions. Physical timing markers are augmented or substituted with relocatable messages containing displacements or time offsets to other physical timing markers in a reference signal waveform. Additionally disclosed are virtual timing marker methods to improve transmission performance, qualities, operation, or use, such as timing markers that can overlap other timing markers or other signal content waveforms, seamlessly span over intermittent signals, or reference the more precise underlying signal carrier waveforms as well as timing marker error detection and correction, dispersed redundant timing markers, statistical precision enhancement, concealing timing markers from jammers, subscriber access by encryption, increased signal content efficiency, and reduced multiplexing. These are beneficial in handling and relaying high precision positioning-navigation-and-timing signals, or for piggybacking them on other purpose signals.