How To Sync Your PC's Time To The Radio Atomic Clock Time Signal

How To Sync Your PC's Time To The Radio Atomic Clock Time Signal

Computers Articles | December 17, 2013

This moment describes how the MSF-60 time remarkable can be decoded and used to synchronise computers and NTP time server systems.

The MSF radio time broadcast is a extended-wave radio transmission of highly rigorous time. The signal can be received throughout the whole of the UK and a great deal of of North Western Europe. With the more of a low-cost radio recipient computers and computer networks can utilise the token for precise timing. This article describes to what degree the MSF radio time signal can be used by computers and NTP servers to furnish a precise time reference.

The time extraordinary was broadcast from Rugby in the East Midlands. It was maintained means of originally maintained by British Telecom. The radio transmitter has newly been relocated to Cumbia, North East England. VT communications was awardedIt is very lately maintained.

The signal is a protracted-wave radio signal broadcast at 60kHz. The time mark can generally be received throughout the UK and likewise most of Western Europe. The radio eminent can generally be received indoors. However, welcome problems can be caused by metal structures, electrically conversation equipment or if the antenna is located unbecoming ground level.

The time signal is synchronised through precise atomic clocks located at the British National Physics Laboratory. Local time and date information is broadcast continuously, repeated either minute. The time information is transmitted viewed like on-off carrier modulated, pulse-width encoded data signals. A series of 59 given conditions bits make up time information and is transmitted to the degree that one pulse per second. The premises transmitted consists of the current time and era, leap second indicator, daylight saving time indicator and equality bits.

The signal breaks for a five hundred millisecond interval to indicate the begining of the note. The remaining 59 data bits are pulses of 100, 200 or 300 milliseconds of indication off followed by an on revolution of time to complete the second.

Time complaint is broadcast in Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) format and is encoded in the same manner with described below.

Bits 1 to 16 are used to alienate information about the difference between small and astronomical time (DUT1).

Bits 17 to 24 provide the BCD encoded year in the roam 0 to 99.

Bits 25 to 29 produce BCD encoded month of year intelligence in the range 1 to 12.

Bits 30 to 35 make ready BCD encoded day of the month knowledge in the range 1 to 31.

Bits 36 to 38 covenant BCD encoded hour in the rank 0 to 23.

Bits 45 to 51 make ready BCD encoded minutes in the rove 0 to 59. Bit 58 is used considered in the state of an indicator to specify daylight thrifty time, BST or GMT.

Software decodes during the MSF radio time broadcast is on condition within the standard NTP server allotment for Linux. The NTP server software dole has also been ported to Microsoft Windows operating systems. NTP is a upright way of synchronising time on computers and computer networks.

A amount to of MSF radio receivers are detailed in successi various web sites. Also, low-require to be paid radio time code receivers that can be connected to a PC periodical port are available from a affix a to of commercial vendors. These allow the time indication to be received and decoded by a standard PC.

Article Tags: Time Signal, Radio Time