Performance characterization of network timing with remote traceability via GNSS time transfer

Abstract

One credible method for performance evaluation of network timing service was proposed, based on one kind of disciplined time standard with GNSS time transfer, NIMDO. The performance of the NTP timing service were characterized over multiple baselines on both the Internet and the Intranet, and the network delay and the timing offset were analyzed in detail. The results show that on the Internet the averaged timing offsets via the NTP servers are roughly hundreds of μs to several ms level, and on the Intranet the averaged timing offsets via the NTP servers are at about 20 μs level. NTP timing service was mainly affected by white phase noise, and flicker phase noise at the different sites. The maximum change of the timing offset was one-half of the maximum change of RTDelay. The uncertainties have been separately evaluated as less than 30 ms on the Internet and less than 60 μs on the Intranet for NTP timing service.