[ntp:questions] Meinberg NTP monitor, silly question

[Richard B. Gilbert]

David J Taylor wrote:
> "Richard B. Gilbert" <> wrote in message 
> news:ZJydnVuvufm1Wa3WnZ2dnUVZ_h2dnZ2d at giganews.com...
> []
>>> You will find that for the best performance, the NTP PC needs to be 
>>> left running, as initial settling is not quick.
>>>
>>
>> "Not quick" is an extreme understatement!  It takes about 30 minutes 
>> to get a "reasonable approximation".  It can take ten to twelve hours 
>> to stabilize with the best possible approximation of the time.  Once 
>> there it's good for as long as you can keep the power on and the 
>> temperature reasonably stable.
> 
> Richard,
> 
> On one LAN-synced system it took bout 90 minutes to get to within its 
> normal offset range, and about the same on a Windows-XP system with a 
> GPS reference clock.  On the Windows-7 system, with a GPS ref-clock, it 
> took about 5 hours.
> 
> I do wish there were some way of speeding this up - a variable loop 
> bandwidth or something like that.
> 

Lots of luck.  My understanding is that it can't be done without loss of 
accuracy and/or stability.

I keep my system running 24x7 except when we have a power outrage 
lasting longer than the run time of the UPS.

If your power is insufficiently reliable, consider a UPS and a gasoline 
  (or natural gas) powered generator.  If it's important enough to spend 
money on, you can make it almost bullet proof!