DCF77 Time Server

Reliable time synchronization with DCF77 time servers 

GUDE’s time server systems enable accurate synchronization of complete networks with the atomically precise radio time of the DCF77 signal from Frankfurt/Main. The devices of the EMC Professional series provide the entire network with the current radio time of the DCF77 transmitter via their integrated NTP server. The EMC Professional 3001 can be placed on the table, the EMC Professional 3011 is designed for 19-inch racks.

When precision is essential

A timeserver is a network server that outputs the exact time via a communication protocol such as NTP or SNTP. It synchronizes with a reference time source (e.g. DCF77 or GPS) to the coordinated universal time (UTC). The reference time source is based on a precise running atomic clock. The time can then be output to servers, clients and other devices on the network. Terms often mentioned in this context are e.g. NTP server, NTP time server, GPS time server, DCF77 time server or atomic clock.

DCF77 – This abbreviation stands for: D: Germany, C: long wave transmitter, F: Frankfurt am Main, 77: transmission frequency 77.5 kHz. The time signal transmitter DCF77 is a long wave transmitter in Mainflingen near Frankfurt am Main. With a range of 1,500 km, it provides Germany and western Europe with the legal time. The transmitter has an accuracy with a relative standard deviation of the transmitted time of maximum 10-12. This corresponds to an error of one second in 30,000 years.

Protocols for time synchronization

  1. NTP – The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is the most commonly used standard protocol for time synchronization in networks. It was developed by David L. Mills at the University of Delaware and published in 1985.
  2. SNTP – The Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) is a simplified version of the Network Time Protocol (NTP). It has the same structure as NTP and differs only in the algorithms used for time synchronization.

Do your require the accurate time for your IT?