product resource tutorial

What’s The Difference Between Types Of Clocks?

Many types of clocks are used in timing, especially Precision Time Protocol or PTP (IEEE 1588). Here’s a quick guide to the basics of these clocks.

What Is A Master Clock?

Master Clock - Precision Time Protocol

The first type of clock you’ll encounter is a master clock – the main source of time on a network. Usually you’ll set this up so that it’s getting a time signal externally. GPS or another satellite network or combination is common. The master clock will then transmit this time signal across the network.

Used to: Provide time to a network

What Is A Slave Clock?

When using a master or grandmaster clock, other devices which sync to the master’s time are called slave clocks or slave devices. A slave clock is a device that syncs with the master or grandmaster clock but does not act as a source of timing. If your network is running PTP or NTP the slave clocks will take the time from the master clock, adjust to account for network lag, and sync themselves to this time.

Used when: receiving time at a device

What Is A Transparent Clock?

Transparent Clock - Precision Time Protocol

Transparent clocks are used to route timing messages within a network. A transparent clock (often a PTP enabled switch) allows you to timestamp the packet before it reaches a slave device, making it easier to calculate network delay. They operate in place of a normal switch, which can otherwise introduce inaccuracy when the network gets congested.

Transparent clocks also manage the ordering of packets coming from multiple sources. If the output port is busy, it will stamp each packet with an arrival and departure time to account for time spent waiting in the clock.

Used when: Ethernet timing must pass through switches

What Is A Boundary Clock?

Boundary Clock - Precision Time Protocol

A boundary clock in PTP is both a slave and a master clock. It will take the timing message in, adjust for delay, and then create a new master time signal to pass down the network.

This means you have a new timing packet which is still correctly synced with the master, and can reduce the number of devices the master is directly talking to. The packets are also able to resist some of the effects of distance degradation because they are reproduced from scratch. A transparent clock does not reproduce the signal in this way, but instead only adds delay information to the existing signal.

Note that a Boundary Clock can translate between signal types, and is also able to operate on more than one subnetwork. A transparent clock has neither of these abilities.

Used when: There are too many devices on a network for one master, long distances are involved, or signals need to be translated between protocols (such as PTP to IRIG-B).

What Is A Grandmaster Clock?

When using a precision timing protocol (PTP) timing network, the grandmaster clock is the main distributor of time in a multi clock network, sending time downstream to other master clocks. In the above example regarding Boundary Clocks, the master clock could also be called a grandmaster.

Grandmaster Clock - Precision Time Protocol

Sometimes more than one clock could feasibly be the grandmaster. To decide which clock takes this role, the clocks automatically use the Best Master Clock Algorithm (BMCA). This determines which clock is the better or most accurate source of time for the network.

Used to: provide the best source of time when several are available, and provide time to other clocks on the network (PTP only)

About Tekron

It’s the late nineties.

Our first clock was made in a spare room as a revolutionary design – the most cost-effective atomic accuracy clock available. Customers from NZ and overseas started lining up. 

Based on this success, Tekron International Ltd was formally founded in 2002 in Wellington, New Zealand.  

Many of those TCG01 units remain in service to this day in many of the largest power and utility companies worldwide. We’ve also evolved into more than just the power sector. Tekron clocks are now used in everything from feature film data security and editing to oceangoing research vessels, sports television and spacecraft development. You’ll even spot Tekron clocks in autonomous vehicles.  

You can find Tekron products in over 90 countries and growing, including Antarctica.  

How? It’s all about the team. We’ve gathered a unique and varied set of skills across many disciplines to become the real experts in timing, working both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge. These days our team of experts make GPS and GLONASS Satellite Clocks, Rubidium Atomic Clocks (including Miniature Atomic Clocks-MACs) and Stratum 1 Network Time Server solutions supporting NTP, PTP, (61850), IRIG-B, 1pps, PRP and many other standards. Anywhere that precision time is required, we can help. And we’re not stopping there. Through Tekron Labs we work with our customers and the industry to keep on innovating, solving problems and creating value.

TAYLOR GAUNTT

Field Sales Engineer

Taylor is a Texas native, and grew up in the small town of Boerne, Texas.  He attended Texas A&M University, where earned his bachelor’s degree in Engineering.  After college he was recruited by a Manufacturer’s Rep Firm, where he spent the first 7 years of his career. Initially hired on as an inside salesperson, Taylor quickly accelerated within the organization and expanded into various other roles such as Distribution Manager, and Field Sales Engineer.  Taylor then spent the following 7 years working for an electronic component distributor named Electro Enterprises that almost exclusively supported the mil/aero market.

Taylor worked as a Field Sales Engineer supporting the Texas, Utah and New Mexico territory, Product Manager, as well as Director or Business Development where he managed a team of 10 Field Sales Professionals across the entire United States.  Gathering from his previous experiences, Taylor has now taken on the role of Field Sales Engineer with Vic Myers supporting the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas territory.  Outside of the office you will usually find Taylor either spending time with his wife and two young children, or out on the lake bass fishing.

FELECIA STIVERS

Field Sales Engineer

Felecia Stivers, a native of Rockford, IL, now excels as a Field Sales Engineer at VMA in our Arizona office. Holding a BSEE from Arizona State University, she draws from her extensive background at Medtronic, Orbital Sciences, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.

Specializing in high-reliability applications, Felecia stands out for her proficiency in relationship-building and innovative problem-solving. Whether contributing to medical devices or playing a vital role in rocket launches, her work has had a tangible impact on saving lives and safeguarding the nation.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Felecia enjoys time with her two teenagers, finds joy in travel, and actively engages with her local church. Driven by a passion for helping customers navigate cutting-edge technology, she is committed to delivering dependable solutions in fast-changing environments.

KAREN M. ROSS

People and Culture Specialist

Karen has been a part of Vic Myers Associates team since February 2023. Prior to her position as People and Culture Specialist, she worked in the Science & Technology field as an HR Manager & Project Lead for SAIC and LANL. In the short time with VMA she has learned a lot and looks forward to knowing our business even better in support of all of our employees. She values her church community, her two sons who happen to be engineers, volunteering, and golf. Karen is located in our Albuquerque, NM office.

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Natalie Myers

Inside Sales Administration

Natalie Myers joined Vic Myers Associates in September 2021 and is excited to be part of the team. She received her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Phoenix and prior to her position as Inside Sales Administration she worked in the Hospitality Industry for over 15 years as a Senior Sales Administrator. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, family and friends along with watching sporting events, traveling, hiking and cheering on her daughter in dance and basketball! Natalie is located in our Arizona office.

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