While the use of GNSS based time has become more vital for critical infrastructure operations, the security of the GNSS signal itself has become increasingly vulnerable to a wide range of jamming and spoofing threats, both intentional and unintentional. Given the inherently fragile nature of the GNSS signal, an important way Read more »
Invariably, things change. Profound I know, but even in the world of the venerable IRIG timecode there is a new search engine contender, iRig. Granted, a new guitar interface adapter for your smart phone app is a far cry from a waveform used to synchronize instrumentation, but even in IRIG there are revolutionary changes happening. Read more »
Initial phase and frequency errors an have a big impact on holdover performance. The CSAC’s unique 1PPS input can be utilized to eliminate these errors by employing proper disciplining. Read more »
The CSAC design is unique in that the physics is vacuum-packaged to eliminate convection/conduction effects. This enables CSAC to resist harsh thermal environments. Read more »
Here we explain how time error can be calculated from published aging rates. Given the CSACs small size and power consumption, the calculated holdover performance is impressive. Read more »
The chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC) is the world’s lowest-power, lowest-profile atomic clock. Thousands of units are deployed every year. But how does it perform in a rapidly changing thermal environment? Read more »
Things change in unexpected ways, even in network time servers, which in their most basic form are “just clocks.” Back in the day, new software releases came out chock full of new features and, to a lesser extent, bug fixes. We promoted those new features and benefits Read more »
The value of networks is that everything, virtually speaking, can happen in the same place. There is only one incontrovertible physical reference Read more »
Lastly, but certainly not least, a time synchronization infrastructure requires an audit capability. The whole point of a timekeeping infrastructure is to provide assurance Read more »
The Five Elements – Part 4: Robust Network Time Management
Managing a network of devices as a whole is different from managing specific devices. The availability and reliability of accurate time across the entire network—not just a part of it—must be guaranteed. Read more »
The Five Elements – Part 3: Robust Server Management
How should an organization control a network time server? The answer probably is: Any way it prefers to. Some companies, for example, might prefer Read more »
The Five Elements – Part 2: A Timekeeping Architecture that Fits
Acquiring UTC from GPS requires taking the signal off the air and delivering it to the clients (PCs, workstations, servers, controllers, etc.) that rely on accurate time Read more »
Organizations today need network time synchronization that ensures the integrity of network operations and applications, that needs little in the way of management overhead. Read more »
Global Positioning System (#GPS) vulnerabilities are real, just ask Microsemi’s Duke Buckner (senior director strategy and business development) who was out of the country one day in 2016 when time stuttered. Microsemi timing receivers continued to work Read more »
Benjamin Franklin is often credited as the first person to state “time is money” in the form of an advice to a young tradesman. And though at that time it was said in terms of the opportunity cost, the statement is true today more than Read more »