Showing posts with label Atomic Clock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atomic Clock. Show all posts

Sunday, February 28, 2010

The atomic clock and NTP Time Server

Many people have heard of atomic clocks, the accuracy and precision are well known. An atomic clock is able to keep time for hundreds of millions of years and not miss a second adrift. Drift is the process where the clocks lose or gain time because of inaccuracies in the mechanisms that operate them.

Mechanical watches, for example, have existed for hundreds of years, but also the most expensive and well designed will derive at least a second a day. While electronic watches are more accurate motion will also be about one second per week.

Atomic clocks can suffer no comparison when it comes to time. Due to an atomic clock is based on the oscillation of an atom (in most cases, the atom of cesium 133), which resonates perfectly accomplished (cesium is 9,192,631,770 times per second) which makes precision of a billionth of a second (one nanosecond).

Although this type of unprecedented accuracy has made possible the technologies and innovations that have changed the world. Satellite communication is possible only by time keeping atomic clocks, so the satellite navigation. As the speed of light (and therefore radio waves) to travel over 300,000 miles per second a few seconds of inaccuracy can see a navigation system of hundred thousand miles.

Offering precision is essential for many modern applications. World of communications, in particular, financial transactions must be done accurately. On Wall Street or the London Stock Exchange, a second, you can see the value of stock rise or fall by millions of people. Booking online also requires precision and perfect timing, as the atomic clocks can also provide the tickets may be sold several times and ATMs may end up paying two times his salary if you have found a distributor tickets with a slow clock.

Although this may seem desirable, the more dishonest of us, doesn, AOT much imagination to understand that the problems of lack of precision and timing can cause. For this reason, an international calendar based on the time told by atomic clocks has been developed.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the same everywhere and can explain the slowing of the Earth, the rotation of free radicals by adding leap seconds, as UTC time in line with GMT (Greenwich Meantime). All computer networks that are involved in the global communications network must be synchronized with UTC. Because the UTC is based on the time told by atomic clocks, is as accurate as possible. For a network of computers
receive and keep synchronized with the UTC must first access an atomic clock. Are expensive and large equipment and are usually only found in a physics laboratory scale.

Fortunately, time has told these clocks can still be received from a time server using fade in time and frequency long wave broadcasts issued by the national physics laboratories or GPS (Global Positioning System). NTP (Network Time Protocol) can then distribute this UTC time to the network and use the time signal to maintain all network devices in sync with UTC.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Satellite navigation for the NTP time server, atomic clocks are used around the world

Satellite navigation for the NTP time server, atomic clocks are used throughout the world.

We are all accustomed to our clocks in the management of one or two minutes, fast or slow. However, the odd doesn minutes, AOT affect our lives too and we are able to address. However, for some technologies and applications of a much higher level of precision required. Atomic clocks are more precise time keeping devices on earth. Have been invented fifty years ago, when it was discovered that the oscillations of atoms in certain energy levels, in particular, has never changed and vibrates at high frequency (more than 9 billion times per second for cesium).

Modern atomic clocks are so accurate that will not lose more than one second in 100 million years, but who on earth would need such precision? Atomic clocks are the basis for many applications and technologies and have contributed to our understanding of the physical universe.

Atomic clocks satellite systems, GPS navigation we use in our cars. The signals from atomic clocks on board satellites, which are used to triangulate an accurate position. E 'ca be made solely because of the very precise time signals. The inaccuracy of a second GPS clock could see demand of about 100,000 km in distance light can travel at that time.

Atomic clocks are also used as a method to test theories of Einstein and others. Using atomic clocks, we can accurately measure the severity and how it affects the weather. Modern clocks are so accurate that scientists can also measure the difference in gravity (and thus the time) in every inch above the soil surface next AOS. They can also be used to measure the slow process in motion, such as continental drift or slight changes in ODS rotation of the Earth.

Other applications where precision is essential to also rely on atomic clocks as the air traffic control, where the precise nature can follow a safe air traffic. Systems such as traffic lights are more and more time with servers connected to an atomic clock to ensure Synchonization perfect. Internet The Internet is based on atomic clocks, especially when it is used for time sensitive transactions such as banking, trading in stocks and shares and also book tickets online. Specified time, applications like this I laugh, AOT is possible that too many errors can occur in such a way that the seats of a double booking, selling shares were first purchased.

Networks of computers to synchronize the clock with Network Time Server. Often, these devices use the NTP protocol and receive the atomic clock time is the GPS or the radio. NTP time server to check and adjust all the clocks on the devices on a network to match the atomic clock time.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Atomic Travel Clocks - Advanced Technology Atomic Alarm Clock is reliable Parten your trip

An alarm is always a reliable partner in international travel. Although there are many travel alarm clocks available on the market today, I can not find a more reliable partner than the atomic travel alarm clocks.

Clocks are essential to bring with you, but tend to confuse us when we cross a different time zone. The confusion is compounded by the DST. This regime of summer very confused tourists traveling to the U.S. atomic clock and simply the best answer to this dilemma. Because these clocks automatically adjust to DST and time zone changes. Moreover, suits leap year too. With the automatic adjustment as a solution, the atomic clock has stood in this category of travel clocks. Thus, it has gained much popularity now.

Most atomic clocks are small to satisfy all your travel luggage. In addition to their practical functions, such as a clock keeps time the most accurate known on the market today. In addition to automatic adjustment, the same mechanism is the reason why these watches are very reliable for its accuracy. Atomic Travel Alarm Clocks has a high level of precision time-keeping, as these clocks automatically synchronize with the radio signals from atomic clock of the United States, located in Colorado.

To prove its accuracy, these clocks to adapt to even a fraction of a second difference every day. This is due to the mechanism of using the atomic clock travel alarm according to the atomic resonance frequency standard. And so far, the most accurate of all time-keeping mechanisms in that the same technique used for the standard frequency is known in research and technological development.

Because of this high level of accuracy, the same mechanism from atomic clock model is used to maintain the level of international standard time. This radio-controlled time-keeping is also used in global positioning system (GPS), communication systems, navigation and even spacecraft. These applications can not be met by measuring the time of quartz oscillators simpler and less expensive for holders of other times.

But how this advanced technology to travel alarm clock is useful for us common people? Since his stay, the travel alarm can pick up radio signals in time and display the correct time immediately. The good news is this feature can be done anywhere in the world. This means that the exact time, all over the world when you travel. So if you need a truly reliable and accurate travel clock in a small package, could be the perfect traveling companion alarm clock that you are looking for.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Atomic Clock - Keeping the ticking of the world

When people think most of the digital age and its computers, satellites and mobile phones, the silicon chip is the mind of all the people. Yet despite its importance in shaping the world around us, many of the technologies we take for granted would not be possible without the atomic clock.

The first atomic clock was developed in 1955 by British born Dr Louis Essen who worked during the Second World War, the high-frequency radar, which led him to develop a resonance wavemeter, which was successfully used to measure the speed of light.

Using the same technology that has developed the first accurate atomic clock in 1955 at the National Physical Laboratory in the United Kingdom. It is based on the resonance of a cesium atom.

According to quantum theory, atoms can exist in certain quantized energy states depending on the orbits of the electrons from their nuclei. A clock operates by exposing cesium atoms to microwaves until they vibrate at one of their resonant frequencies. It was discovered that an atom of cesium that resonate 9192631770 Hertz (times per second).

Because of this precision in the resonance and the high number of oscillations atomic clocks (sometimes referred to as cesium oscillators) are extremely accurate. Essen first device was accurate to a second thousand years, but the next generation of atomic clocks are so accurate that does not lose a second to several hundred million years.

Because of this high level of accuracy problems in the way in which time the structure. traditionally GMT (Greenwich Meantime) was the basis of time. GMT is based on the principle that the sun is high in the sky at noon (or on the line of the meridian of Greenwich). Unfortunately, as the atomic clocks are so accurate it was discovered that the Earth itself is not as precise in its revolution and is often slowed by the gravitational effects of the Moon.

If nothing was done about it then perhaps the International Atomic Time (TAI - said the time of atomic clocks) through the synchronization with the UTC and, finally, the night would end with the day (though in different millennia).

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), was developed to counter this phenomenon. It is based on the IAT, but represent the slower rotation of the Earth from time to time by adding "leap seconds", of which 33 have been added since 1970.

Atomic clocks are critical for telecommunications networks.Voice and transfers of data to travel around the world in packaging must be marked as the time is the only point of reference for a computer can be used to reassemble the packets.

The atomic clock also allows satellite communication possible, because the speed of light is so fast (900,000 km per second), a small variation over time could create huge differences. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as GPS (Global Positioning System) are heavily dependent on the atomic clock synchronization signal is a GPS receiver uses to triangulate a position.

Thank you for atomic clocks and devices such as NTP (Network Time Protocol), which distributes an atomic clock timing reference received no radio or GPS receiver, a computer network, the synchronization of computers UTC. Thank you for this technology, electronic transactions can now be achieved within five nano-seconds. Without these technologies in online trading as the stock market, buying a plane ticket and even auction sites on the Internet would not be possible.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The history of clocks, sundials of Atomic Clocks

Humanity has always been concerned about the measuring and recording the passage of time. Timing was essential for the development of civilization to know when to plant or harvest crops to identify the most important events of the year.

Time has always been measured against the movement of the Earth, one day is a revolution of the planet, while a year is a full orbit of the sun. Calendars were developed from the lines up to 20,000 years, when hunter-gatherers scratched and dug holes in sticks and bones may count the days between phases of the moon.

Civilization of the ancient Egyptians to the Roman Empire have used different methods to find out what day of the year. However, the measurement time when he went the whole day had always been difficult for mankind begins. Sundials are perhaps the first time, and the pieces can trace their origins to more than five thousand years, obelisks, when they were built, probably to allow the story of time through the distribution of their shadows.

However, time has told a sundial is based on the movement of the sun in the sky, which differs according to the seasons and of course, do not work during cloudy days or at night. Other methods, such as water clocks or simply act as an hourglass timer crude. Telling time of day, it would be difficult with people on the basis of comparison of time as references, such as: "As long it would take a man to walk a quarter of a mile.

People were dependent on these methods and others such as the bell rings to indicate the important moments until the 14th century, when mechanical clocks appeared to have been guided by the weight is regulated by a point-and exhaust Foliot (a system of gears that advance the gear train at regular intervals or 'ticks'). These clocks were much more reliable than solar clocks or other reliable methods to tell the precise time of day for the first time in human history.

The next step in the middle of the night came in the 17th century, when the pendulum was developed to help maintain the accuracy of the clock. Watches spread rapidly and it was not for another three hundred years that the next revolutionary step the clock will take place with the development of electronic watches. They were sitting on the motion of a vibrating crystal (usually quartz) to create an electrical signal with an exact frequency.

While electronic watches were much more accurate than mechanical watches, it has the development of atomic clocks and about fifty years ago that modern technologies such as satellite communications, GPS and computer networks around the world became possible.

Most atomic clocks use the resonance of cesium-133, which vibrates only at a frequency of 9,192,631,770 every second. Since 1967, the international system of Units (SI) has defined the oscillators as the number of cycles of this atom makes atomic clocks (sometimes called cesium seconds) standard for measuring time.

Atomic clocks are accurate to less than 2 nanoseconds per day, equivalent to about one second in 1.4 million years. Because of this precision, a universal time scale UTC (Coordinated Universal Time or Universal Time Coordinated) was developed, which maintains a continuous scale and stable over time and supports features such as leap seconds - added to compensate for the slow rotation of the Earth .

However, atomic clocks are extremely expensive and are usually found in the physics laboratory scale. However, the NTP (Network Time Protocol), the standard way to obtain time synchronization networks of computers, you can synchronize networks of an atomic clock, using the Global Positioning System (GPS) network or specialist radio transmissions.

The development of atomic clocks, GPS and NTP time servers was vital to the modern technology that allows networks of computers around the world to be synchronized with the UTC.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Atomic clocks: History and Development

Atomic clocks have been with us for over fifty years and most people have heard of them and I know you are very accurate, but how accurate are they and why do we need accurate clock?

Atomic clocks are used by many of us, although we are not aware of. Moment to say is broadcast around the world and collected some time using the NTP server to synchronize the network, are of vital importance for many technologies such as global satellite navigation and the 'schedule of TV signal.

Before the development of more accurate atomic clock timing devices were electronic watches that losing a second or two every week. These have largely replaced mechanical clocks that are less accurate still.

Humanity has always had a fascination for keeping track of time, but knowing the exact time has never been more important. A second or even a difference of minutes will not affect our daily lives.

However, as technology advanced the need for more precise timing is increased. The satellites are expected to navigate and communicate with Earth for hundreds, thousands, even millions of miles away requires an accurate synchronization. The light and radio waves can then travel 300.000 kilometers per second for slight inaccuracies in time can be huge differences.

The first accurate atomic clock was built in Great Britain's National Physical Laboratory in 1955 by Dr Louis Essen, who founded the clock on the oscillation of cesium -133. The idea was actually first conceived in 1879, when Lord Kelvin proposed that the time-keeping based on how they behaved the atoms would be a better way to count time intervals than anything else.

The first generation of atomic clocks (also known as cesium oscillators) used the frequency of an atom oscillates 9,192,631,770 times per second. Model of Essen was the precision of a second every 300 years, but the evolution of cesium oscillator means that it can now achieve a precision of one second every 80 million years.

Yet, as ever more sophisticated technologies, scientists are looking for a better and more accurate clocks. Rubidium clocks do not provide better accuracy than the standard models of cesium, but they are smaller and less expensive (cesium oscillators are usually only in the physics laboratory scale).

Clocks using only a single atom have been developed that provide more accuracy. A clock based on a single atom of mercury has reached an accuracy of one second in 400 million years and is expected to clock a new type of strontium, which uses light will be even better.

The future of atomic clocks is steadily increasing, with a degree of precision, reducing the size and cost of them. The American National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) presented a chip the size of atomic clocks, which guarantees a millisecond precision.

Atomic clocks are now part of our life without the time of the signals that transmit to the world that are supported by modern communication and NTP server shopping on the Internet and GPS technology, such as satellite navigation becomes impossible.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

The atomic clock - always accurate

If you look around your home, you will probably see several shots of various sizes. From the look on your hand to the grandfather clock in the living room, and wake up in your room for the computer clock on the desk, almost everyone watches no longer available. And at some point, a few clocks will show exactly the same moment. So how do you know who is really correct?

There are several ways to keep time. The most commonly recognized is based on a movement of the Earth in space. But, these rotations are very large and the possibility of winning or losing second is incredible. A calendar is the most accurate atomic time. Quite simply, measures pulse atomic time and the absorption of electromagnetic waves. In general, the atomic time is considered the most accurate possible.

When you choose an atomic clock, time clock is maintained through the use of radio signals from atomic time closest to maintain the unity and watch. There are several of these devices around the world, including in Colorado, which controls many of the U.S. atomic clock.

Atomic time-keeping has been around for over half a century, but it was only in recent years that the technology is generally available at a reasonable price for the public. Early atomic clocks were very austere models designed for accurate time-keeping devices and nothing more. Today, there are many options if you want precision, without sacrificing beauty.

Grandfather Clocks is one of the most recent advances in atomic clock technology. Because these clocks depends on the oscillation of a pendulum to keep track of time, they are known for saving time immediately after they were injured and lost time that the movement to run down. Some grandfather clocks are no longer dependent on the clock for timing, making them more precise. But more recently, the work of the atomic clock was added in the case of the grandfather clock. As is the case with all the atomic clocks, atomic clocks in the case of the grandfather clock are periodically updated to be completely accurate.

Most people tend to believe that the computer is really right. After all, computers know the date and time automatically, right? But remember that someone has put that date at the beginning of the life of your computer, and you can even have the adequate time for the summer at a given time. If you want your computer clock to be always accurate, you can download a program that will take your computer to periodically check the official time atomic time zone.

Over the centuries, many methods have been developed and many concepts used in the determination of the time. Sundials and hourglasses can give an idea, but a little 'less accurate. The rotation of the sun, locations of stars and rising tides and they have been used to help explain the passage of hours, if they were not sufficiently accurate to count minutes or seconds. The atomic clock is the last stage of 'man to keep precise track of time.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

How Atomic Clocks Work?

If time is critical for you or your office, to invest in atomic clocks so that everyone knows exactly what time it is and everyone at the same time. These are the most accurate time keeping pieces you can get, and people are more and more companies use wall clocks to ensure that accurate time sheets and appointments are kept.

But what are the atomic clocks and why they are so much more accurate clocks to adjust? A standard clock, if the liquidation, electrical or battery-operated, time is the number of "ticks" that does a resonator. The resonator is a device that keeps track of time. In most of the clocks or resonator is a pendulum, or (in the digital clock) fluctuations in the supply line (which is a bit 'different in the United States and Europe).

The atomic clock also uses a resonator, but the resonator, figures based on the resonant frequency of the atoms. Resonance is the emission or absorption of microwave radiation of electromagnetic waves by an atom. It 'very regular, and every atom of cesium used, the resonance frequency is always exactly the same thing. This is why atomic clocks are more accurate than other watches - watches other resonators may be influenced by many variables such as temperature, humidity and atmospheric conditions. None of these affect the atoms, atomic clocks never lose or gain time.

Synchronization of Atomic Clocks

The reason for all the clocks show the same time everywhere you go, because not everyone has their own cesium atom - would be impossible, because it is extremely expensive and requires very specific conditions. Atomic clocks that receive time from a shared location where one of the few in the world of atomic clocks the world works. A signal of low frequency radio transmission time in this position for all the atomic clocks of its range. There are currently about 200 atomic clocks around the world in sixty countries.

In the United States, the atomic clocks used in most home and office are synchronized with the National Institute of Standards and Technology atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado. The official atomic clock is more to U. S. Naval Observatory in Washington, DC and is the official watch of the Department of Defense. Since these two clocks are in a second of each other over a million years, it is unlikely that the time indicated on the wall of the Pentagon's atomic clocks will be different from the time of an atomic clock in your home office!

How-At-Home Clocks Atomic Clocks obtain information from master?

Global positioning satellites (GPS) in the sky above us with the atomic clock signals to individual receivers official wall clocks and desk clocks around the world. In other cases, the signal would come under the official atomic clock watch for the region, such as Boulder, Colorado is one for the United States.

These extremely precise atomic clocks are also responsible for the fact that all the computers to integrate the clocks are synchronized and maintain the correct time and whether to enable or disable. With the exact time of these transactions and the use of GPS, you can be sure that the clock you know exactly what it is now up to nano-second!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

A look at the technology behind the wall atomic analogue clocks

N. timepiece is likely to escape the inaccuracy, or so we thought before the invention of atomic clocks analog. These articles, the atomic resonance frequency standard to work their precision and power meter integrated. The technology behind the atomic clock analog wall is made involving the use of cold atoms in what scientists call absorption spectroscopy. The principle of operation is very complex, although extremely accurate.

The heart of the atomic analogue clocks and watches in general contains a tunable microwave cavity that is filled with hydrogen, the whole system is based on fluctuations and their electronic amplification. In the early stages of production, there are special procedures for the preparation that makes all the components for the design. Some models of atoms with a change of state of electrons, but also require a change in the cavity as well.

Atomic Analog Wall Clocks are generally used for the creation of standard frequencies and signals are installed in places of time. These watches are an absolute must for the use of navigation for alpha emitters and also find wide applications in astronomy, for example. The GPS navigation system everything is based on the use of atomic clocks in the stations analog ground and atomic clocks installed on board satellites.

People who buy analog wall clocks are first attracted by their precision, but actually pay a good price for these items, prices start at a few hundred dollars. Most models include a radio-controlled movement that makes them secure, they will automatically when the radio signal from National Institute of Standards and Technology. Leap years, saving the day are no longer a problem with analog atomic wall clocks.

You can find cheaper analog atomic wall clocks on certain web pages, but it's to check the technical details of these products before purchasing. Most of them are very reliable, not to mention that the designs are so numerous that it is almost impossible not to find a match for your home.

Some models are very advanced, even a weather forecast, an optional external temperature and other characteristics that reflect their complexity. Some manufacturers have even gone to the length of the wall including analog clocks in the structure of wireless weather stations, all his efforts to reach a higher level of efficiency and utility.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Accuracy in Timekeeping - Atomic Clocks and Time Servers

The development of atomic clocks throughout the twentieth century has been fundamental to many of the technologies we use every day. Without atomic clocks of many innovations of the twentieth century, simply does not exist.

Satellite communications, global positioning, computer networks and even on the Internet would not be able to function in the way we are accustomed, if not for atomic clocks and ultra-precise timing.

The watches are incredibly accurate atomic clocks without losing a second for millions of years. Compared digital watches can lose seconds every week and most accurate mechanical clocks complex of losing even more time.

The reason for the incredible precision of atomic clock is based on an oscillation of a single atom. A swing is just a vibration to a level of energy, particularly in the case of most atomic clocks are based on the resonance of the cesium atom, which oscillates exactly 9192631770 times a second.

Many technologies now have precise atomic clocks for their unbridled. Installation worldwide is a perfect example. GPS satellites are all on an atomic clock and it is this information that allows the synchronization of work placement. As the GPS satellites and transmit radio waves travel at the speed of light inaccuracies (180,000 miles per second in vacuum), tiny time could provide inaccurate positioning of hundreds of kilometers.

Another application that requires the use of atomic clocks in computer networks. When computers can communicate with each other throughout the world, it is essential that everyone uses the same source of synchronization. If this does not happen in time-sensitive transactions such as shopping the Internet, online reservations, the stock market and also send an e-mail would be almost impossible. E-mail arrive before they were sent and the same article on a website for Internet purchases could be sold for more than one person.

For this reason, a complete schedule called UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) according to the time indicated by the atomic clocks has been developed. UTC is expressed through the network time server. Most time servers use NTP (Network Time Protocol) to distribute and synchronize networks.

NTP time servers can receive UTC time from a variety of sources in most cases the atomic clocks on board GPS system can be used as a source for the server UTC time connected to a GPS antenna.

Another method that is commonly used by NTP time server is to use the radio long wave of national physics laboratories of various countries. While not available everywhere and very sensitive to local topography emissions to provide a secure way to receive the source of synchronization.

If none of these methods is available, a UTC timing source may be received from the Internet Despite the accuracy and security are not guaranteed.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

NTP - Using an atomic clock receiver for synchronization

Atomic clocks are devices for measuring time more accurately developed by man. Modern atomic clocks are so accurate that even in 100 million years less than a second time would be lost.

This specification refers to an ideal server NTP (Network Time Protocol). NTP is a protocol widely used to synchronize computer networks through the Internet network (LAN).

This article explains how to synchronize a computer network using the NTP protocol to a source of atomic clock.

Atomic clocks are so accurate that the universal calendar has been developed called UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), which is based on the time told by atomic clocks. UTC is used throughout the world and is the same everywhere, allowing various computer networks to synchronize the time.

Unfortunately, atomic clocks are extremely expensive, extremely delicate and rather large pieces of material, so they are actually found in physics laboratories of large or highly technical pieces of equipment such as satellites.

Fortunately a dedicated NTP server can be synchronized to UTC time with an atomic clock as a reference source by one of us the time and frequency broadcasts national and GPS (Global Positioning System) network.

Many national physics laboratories such as NPL in the United Kingdom, Germany NPL and NIST in the United States, issued a UTC time reference to the long-wave radio. These signals can be captured by an NTP server using a radio receiver. Unfortunately, radio transmissions are not transmitted from all countries and signals are more.

Fortunately, the constellation of satellites that make up the Union Sports Network all have a GPS atomic clock on board. This signal is used by satellite navigation receivers to work on the site, but can also be used by a GPS NTP server as a source of synchronization.

Using a radio or reference NTP server GPS time server, synchronize in a few milliseconds of UTC is possible.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Atomic clocks using as external NTP Timing Reference

Atomic clocks have been around for over fifty years or more. They have clocks that use a resonant frequency as the element's atomic timekeeping, rather than conventional crystal oscillating as quartz.

Most atomic clocks use the resonance of cesium-133, which resonates at a frequency of exactly 9,192,631,770 every second. Since 1967, the international system of Units (SI) has defined the oscillators as the number of cycles of cesium atomic clocks, which is -133 (sometimes called cesium seconds) standard for measuring time.

Because the resonance of cesium 133 is so precise, which makes atomic clocks accurate to less than 2 nanoseconds per day, equivalent to about one second in 1.4 million years.

That the atomic clocks are so accurate, a scale capable of maintaining stable and continuous time, universal time, UTC (Coordinated Universal Time or Universal Time Coordinated), was prepared and supports features such as leap seconds - added to compensate for the slowing rotation of the Earth.

However, atomic clocks are extremely expensive and are usually found in the physics laboratory scale. However, the NTP (Network Time Protocol), the standard way to obtain time synchronization networks of computers, you can synchronize with an atomic clock, using the Global Positioning System (GPS) network or specialist radio transmissions .

The most used is the GPS (Global Positioning System), developed by the U.S. Army. Contains at least 24 GPS satellites in orbit to provide high precision positioning and location information. Each GPS satellite can be done using an atomic clock, which in turn can be used as reference.

A GPS time server is the ideal time and frequency source because it is capable of providing highly accurate time anywhere in the world using relatively cheap components. Each GPS satellite transmits two frequencies of level 2 for military use and L1 for use by civilians transmitted at 1575 MHz, the antennas at low cost GPS receivers have become widely available.

There are also a number of national terms and the radio frequency that can be used to synchronize an NTP server. In Britain the signal (called MSF) is broadcast by National Physical Laboratory in Cumbria which serves as the national reference time of the United Kingdom, there are also similar systems in Colorado, USA (WWVB) and Frankfurt, Germany (DCF-77) . These signals provides UTC time to an accuracy of 100 microseconds, however, the radio signal has a limited scope and is vulnerable to interference.

Using a GPS NTP server or a radio based NTP time server, network client in turn can be synchronized within milliseconds of UTC based on network traffic.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Atomic Clock Systems

An atomic clock is a source of highly accurate time. There are different types of atomic clock, mostly in laboratories: cesium clocks, watches and clocks rubidium hydrogen. Most commercially available systems atomic clock synchronization time using a radio or GPS time signal that connects to a precise point of reference. In this way, a highly accurate source of time is easily accessible for users of all days, excluding the costs of installing expensive equipment and complex.

This article provides an overview of atomic clock systems with particular emphasis on their use with NTP server systems for the PC and computer network time synchronization.

Atomic Clock Radio time references

Time Radio broadcasts as MSF-60 (UK), DCF-77 (Germany) and WWVB (U.S.) time signals broadcast highly accurate time information from a radio transmitter. The transmission times are derived from an atomic clock time reference and can be caught by equipment timing of a radio receiver at low cost. MSF-60 radio signal is transmitted from Rugby in the UK, with coverage of the British Isles and throughout most of northern Europe. The DCF-77 time signal is broadcast from Frankfurt, Germany, and covers most of central Europe. While the WWVB signal is transmitted from Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

MSF-60 time of transmission

MSF-60 time is a time of signal transmission along the radio signal to 60kHz in Rugby, England. The radio signal is maintained by the Engineering Services BT. MSF-60 time signal is generated by highly accurate atomic clocks located at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). When decoded, it is a very precise timing reference for NTP server reference clock timing and other computer equipment.

DCF-77 time transmission

The DCF-77 time is a signal of long-time antenna shortwave radio signals from 77.5kHz Mainflingen, near Frankfurt, Germany. The radio signal is maintained by T-Systems, a division Deuche Telecom, and has been in operation since 1959. The DCF-77 signal is generated by highly accurate atomic clocks located at the German National Physics Laboratory. When decoded, is a very specific reference to the timing and clock synchronization computer.

WWVB transmission time

The WWVB time signal that continuously transmits signals in time and frequency of 60 kHz from Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. The time reference is managed by the U. S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. WWVB has provided continuous time and frequency transmissions since 1962. It provides a time reference with an accuracy of less than 100 microseconds.

GPS Atomic Clock Time Reference

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. military for navigation in the world. The system consists of 24 satellites in orbit, each satellite is equipped with an extremely accurate atomic clock on board in time synchronized to UTC. The satellites continuously broadcast time and position information. The time and location information can be obtained throughout the world with a GPS receiver and antenna. The GPS works continuously in any whether conditions, anywhere in the world. Expenditure addition, there is no fee or subscription to use GPS systems. Timing Many computer systems and NTP server systems use the GPS as a precise reference to external calendar. GPS timing is generally much more accurate radio-based time references.

Computer Time Synchronization

Now computer firm timetable can be obtained by combining a GPS or radio time with a RS232 or USB. Driver software can be installed on the host PC to obtain the correct time and synchronize the system time on the host PC. Most PC operating systems can be synchronized, including Microsoft Windows 2000, 2003 and XP, Linux, UNIX and Novell. In many cases, the time system of the host computer can be synchronized to within microseconds of the correct time.

Network Time Synchronization

The standard protocol for time synchronization computer network is the Network Time Protocol (NTP). NTP is the standard way of allocation of time on the Internet and other networks. Stratum 1 NTP servers obtain time from an external reference time, such as GPS, MSF-60, WWVB or DCF-77. Time external reference is then used to synchronize the system time to NTP server. Synchronize the system time is then used by the NTP server to distribute the correct time to time the network clients on an IP network. NTP operates in a hierarchical bottom stratum NTP servers obtain time from device level.

NTP server systems can synchronize in a few microseconds of the correct time. According to the network traffic, the client NTP for time synchronization of a few milliseconds of an NTP server.