Using GPS For NTP Server Time Synchronisation

Using GPS For NTP Server Time SynchronisationAuthor: David EvansThe GPS system is a satellite navigation system operated by the US Department of Defence. It essentially provides a subscription-free civilian timing and navigation service. GPS is primarily intended as a highly accurate global positioning and navigation reference. However, a by-product of accurate positioning is that each orbiting satellite also has an integrated highly precise atomic clock unit synchronised by the US Naval Observatory (USNO). It is therefore ideal for providing a high accuracy time reference for computer timing systems, such as NTP. This article attempts to describe simply, how network time servers can obtain accurate timing information to provide a precise reference for computer time synchronisation. It also discusses how NTP servers can utilise the atomic time generated by GPS to provide a timing reference for computer networks.The GPS system is a constellation of 24 orbiting satellites, each with highly precise atomic clock timing systems onboard. The system provides a global service, which can be received anywhere on the face of the planet. Accurate time data is transmitted continuously from each satellite. The time information can easily be received with modern low-cost antenna and receiver equipment.Time is broadcast from each satellite as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), which is virtually identical to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

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