Time synchronisation
Clear explanations of time synchronisation protocols and hardware: NTP, PTP (IEEE 1588), GNSS, stratum, holdover oscillators and PoE. Every article references the official IETF and IEEE sources.
Protocols
What is NTP? Network Time Protocol explained
What is NTP? Network Time Protocol synchronises clocks across a network down to milliseconds. How does it work, and why do modern networks need it?
5 min readNTP vs PTP: when to choose which protocol?
NTP vs PTP is the core choice in time synchronisation: NTP delivers milliseconds, PTP delivers nanoseconds. What is the precise difference, and when does PTP justify the extra investment?
6 min readGNSS disciplining: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou together
GNSS disciplining combines GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou in modern time servers. Why is that multi-constellation approach a significant upgrade over GPS-only?
5 min readIEEE 1588 vs IEC 61850 Power Profile: what is the difference?
IEEE 1588 and IEC 61850-9-3 are both PTP standards, but IEC 61850-9-3 adds requirements for electrical substations. What are the practical consequences when choosing a protocol?
4 min readNTP stratum levels and accuracy budgets
NTP stratum runs from 0 to 15: the further from the source, the larger the time deviation. How do you plan the stratum hierarchy for your network, and what accuracy budgets apply per layer?
4 min readWhat is PTP? Precision Time Protocol explained
What is PTP? Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588) synchronises clocks across a network down to nanoseconds. How does it work, where does it differ from NTP, and which profiles exist?
8 min readPower Profile IEC 61850-9-3 vs IEEE C37.238 compared
Power Profile IEC 61850-9-3 and IEEE C37.238 are the two PTP profiles for digital substations. What distinguishes them, and how do you choose the right grandmaster for your power grid?
7 min readSMPTE timecode LTC VITC: variants for broadcast
SMPTE timecode LTC and VITC are the classic timestamp formats for audio and video. How do they compare, and what role does the modern SMPTE 2059-2 PTP variant play in broadcast?
8 min readWhen does the clock change for daylight saving time (and back)?
Overview of time changes in Europe and the US, with automatically calculated dates for the coming year. How Masterclock NTP clocks handle the transition automatically.
4 min readHow to choose an NTP or PTP time server: a decision guide
Which time server fits your application? This decision guide walks you through protocol, time source, holdover, form factor and sector in five steps.
9 min readStandards and compliance for time synchronisation: IEC 61850, C37.238, MiFID II, IEC 62443
Which standard requires which time accuracy, and which Masterclock solution meets it? Overview of IEC 61850-9-3, IEEE C37.238, MiFID II RTS 25 and IEC 62443, traceable to UTC.
9 min readIRIG-B time code: formats, connection and use
IRIG-B is the standard time code for timing over coax. What do B00x and B12x mean, which connection do you use, and when do you choose IRIG over NTP or PTP?
6 min readHardware
Holdover NTP: TCXO, OCXO and Rubidium compared
Holdover NTP determines how long your time server keeps running when the GNSS feed drops out. TCXO, OCXO or Rubidium: the oscillator type decides minutes, hours or days of autonomy.
5 min readChoosing reliable time: redundancy, holdover and traceability
Why choose a premium time server? This guide explains the building blocks of a reliable, traceable time chain: dual time source, failover, holdover and UTC traceability.
8 min readInstallation
PoE NTP clock: requirements in practice
A PoE NTP clock makes installations far cheaper, but three pitfalls come up every month. PoE class, switch budget and cable length decide whether the clock keeps running stably.
4 min readPowering Masterclock clocks: 230 V, 24 V or PoE
Some clocks plug straight into a wall socket, others do not. What is supplied, when is PoE the better choice, and what do you need to prepare yourself?
4 min readService
Masterclock warranty: 5-year coverage via Daylight
The Masterclock warranty is a standard 5-year limited warranty. What is included, what is excluded, and how does the process run via Daylight as authorised Masterclock distributor?
3 min readReplacing your time server: migrating to a modern NTP/PTP solution
Outdated or discontinued time server? Here is how to migrate without interruption to a modern NTP/PTP solution, keeping your IRIG/PTP outputs and traceability.
7 min readSpecific question about your use case?
The articles give a general framework. For advice tailored to your scale, environment and compliance requirements, call Daylight bv. We review the site survey and architecture with you before issuing a quote.
Contact Daylight