The Tech Focus

This article explores Atomic Clock Technology in computer time synchronization

Atomic clocks are the most accurate timekeeping devices developed by man. Modern atomic clocks are so accurate that even in 100 million years less than a second of time would be lost.

This accuracy makes them ideal references for a NTP server (Network Time Protocol). NTP is a protocol widely used to synchronize computer networks across the Internet of local Area Network (LANs).

This article explains how to synchronise a computer network using NTP to an atomic clock source.

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This article explores the history and development of the atomic clock.

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We are all
used to the Sat Nav by now. More and more people are installing those little
black boxes into their cars and throwing away their old paper road maps. The
advantages of satellite navigation are many fold ? from constant updates keeping
the maps current to being able to pin point your location miles from any
landmarks or road signs.

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This article describes the components required to utilise GPS for computer timing applications. It also discusses how the GPS system can be used for computer network timing by using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) and NTP time servers.

Nowadays GPS is most commonly known for vehicle navigation solutions. However, the GPS system can be used for many other useful purposes. For instance, many computer network time synchronisation solutions, such as NTP time servers, use the atomic clocks on board each GPS satellite for accurate timing. The GPS system can be used as an accurate reference clock for synchronising time-critical applications on computers and networks. This article describes how computer systems can utilise GPS time and discusses what equipment is required to provide a precision timing reference.

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