[LEAPSECS] sometimes you don't know what time it is

[Brian Garrett]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Allen" <sla at ucolick.org>
To: "Leap Second Discussion List" <leapsecs at leapsecond.com>
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2007 7:35 AM
Subject: [LEAPSECS] sometimes you don't know what time it is



> Here's a slightly moldy story mentioning systems which have implemented

> the philosophy "if I don't know what time it is then I can't function"

>

> http://mg.gpsworld.com/gpsmg/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=418420

>


The author seems to be conflating his GPS knowledge with NTP.  A Stratum-1 
server is a time server that is getting its time directly from a reference 
clock; the stability of said clock has nothing to do with it.  In fact, if 
you are synced to GPS then the satellite would be stratum 0.

I'd be interested to know if CDMA cellular networks were disrupted more than 
others.  CDMA is the only cellular telephony protocol that requires perfect 
sync between *all* parts of the network including handsets.  GSM services 
such as T-Mobile and The Network Formerly Known As Cingular couldn't care 
less what time it is (although they do need precise time interval).


Brian Garrett