User manual

MC1000 - NTP Time Reference System - User Manual - Version 2.08

4 - Setting the time zone

NTP (Network Time Protocol) always operates using UTC as a time

reference (see side panel for further details). It does not include any

information regarding local time or daylight saving time changes. The

MC1000 operates in a similar manner, using UTC for the main internal

time count.

In order to enable simple user monitoring of time accuracy, the MC1000

also has a local time count. As part of the initial setup procedure, the

user should select the local time zone from a preprogrammed list.

The MC1000 then calculates the actual local time from the internal

UTC time count and displays this local time on the front panel LCD.

The preprogrammed time zones incorporate seasonal time change

information which will occur automatically.

Appendix C lists the preprogrammed time zones along with offsets

from UTC. The time zone may be adjusted following the procedure

detailed below or alternatively via the USB interface and supplied

MC1000 Interface software (see section 5.2 for further details).

4.1 - Setting the local time zone

The local time zone should be adjusted as shown in the diagram

below. Once the local time zone screen is displayed, the selected

time zone can be adjusted using either the ‘UP’ or ‘DOWN’ multi-

function switches. Please refer to appendix C for details of available

preprogrammed time zones.

What is UTC?

In the early 1970s, with the

increase in timing accuracy

made available by modern

atomic clocks, Coordinated

Universal Time (UTC) replaced

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

as the world’s time scale.

Historically, GMT calculated

the length of a day based on

solar time patterns. UTC uses

highly accurate atomic clocks

as a calculation base.