A master clock is the heart of a synchronized time system: one precision time reference that every clock in the building follows. Instead of dozens of individual clocks each keeping their own slightly different time, the master clock receives precise time from a trusted source and distributes it to every secondary clock on the system, so the whole facility runs on one exact time synchronization signal.
Innovation Wireless has specialized in master clock systems since 2008, built on our team’s 30+ years of combined industry experience in engineering and manufacturing clocks, clock parts, and components. Choosing the correct master clock is easily accomplished with one of our skilled system specialists, tell us about your building and we fit the system to it.
In Short: What a GPS Master Clock System Does
A GPS master clock system receives precise time from satellites or an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server, then broadcasts that time to every clock in a facility. Innovation Wireless master clocks drive three delivery technologies with the KRONOsync® wireless transmitter on a licensed 467 MHz FCC frequency, Wi-Fi clocks on a standard 2.4 GHz network, and PoE clocks powered over Ethernet with support for existing wired installations. Clocks receive daily updates, change automatically for daylight saving time, and run maintenance-free, at organizations including Yale University, Cedars-Sinai, Amazon, and the U.S. Postal Service.
One Master Clock System. Three Ways to Deliver the Time.
Every time synchronization project starts with the same decision: how should the master clock deliver time to the clocks on the walls? Competitors hand you a catalog of model numbers and features. Innovation Wireless builds all three delivery technologies, so the master clock system fits your building instead of the other way around and you buy the features your facility actually needs, not a feature list padded for the catalog.
Wireless RF — the KRONOsync® Transmitter
Our wireless clocks are part of the KRONOsync® Wireless Clock System. The master clock transmitter operates on a licensed FCC radio frequency at 467 MHz and communicates accurate time from satellite or NTP sources to all your devices: no network access, no wiring. See our wireless clocks for the full line, standard features, and optional features.
Wi-Fi Delivery
Our Wi-Fi clocks operate on a standard 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. They are easy to configure to the network your facility already runs and give you synchronized display clocks at your school, business, or manufacturing plant. Learn more about analog wifi clocks.
PoE Delivery
Power over Ethernet (PoE) delivers both precise time and power to each clock over a single Ethernet cable. The connected choice for new construction and IT-managed network synchronization, with engineering built for reliability and performance. Find out more about these PoE clocks.
Where the Time Comes From: GPS, NTP, and Atomic Radio Signals
Every reliable master clock traces its time to the same place: atomic clocks. GPS satellites carry atomic time references, and the worldwide standard called UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is governed by atomic references maintained in many countries, kept steady independent of the Earth’s rotation. A GPS master clock receives that precise time directly from the satellites, and its internal oscillator holds the time between updates, so the reference on your wall matches the reference the world runs on.
The alternatives each have a place. NTP time servers distribute the same UTC time over the internet or a local network, and Innovation Wireless master clocks accept either source satellite reception for accuracy and independence, or an NTP server your network already trusts. Consumer atomic clock radio products listen for the WWVB radio time signal broadcast from Colorado; a radio atomic clock works well on a nightstand, but the signal is one-way and can struggle inside steel and concrete commercial buildings. GNSS vs GPS is a simpler question than it sounds: GPS is the American satellite constellation, GNSS is the umbrella term for all of them, and facility clock synchronization in the United States runs on the American system.
That is why schools, hospitals, and manufacturers standardize on a GPS master clock: satellite-sourced atomic time, received on-site, distributed through one synchronization signal to every clock with no subscription and no dependence on an internet connection.
Replace a Legacy Clock System Without Rewiring
Many master clock projects are replacements: an aging wired synchronized system that has drifted past repair. Innovation Wireless master clock systems provide compatible support for existing wired installations, and a wireless master clock controller eliminates the cabling question entirely. RF clocks mount where the old clocks were, with no conduit and no low-voltage runs, which is why most retrofits install over a weekend rather than a summer. Convert the whole building at once or in stages; the master clock runs legacy and wireless clocks together while you transition, and the reliability of the system does not depend on the age of the building.
Accurate Time, Automation, and Zero Maintenance
The first thing a master clock must deliver is accurate time, everywhere, always. Each clock on the system receives time updates every day, which guarantees the displayed time is 100% accurate 365 days a year. When teachers are protecting every minute of a lesson plan, or a shift is timed to the minute, accurate time on the wall is essential.
The second is automation. The spring and fall daylight saving change occurs automatically at 2:00 AM on the Sunday of the change, so every clock is right for Monday morning. No one walks the facility resetting clocks by hand, a task that otherwise costs hours of manpower twice a year.
The third is zero maintenance. Battery-operated clocks have extended battery life, so it will be years before you touch one; electric clocks typically go untouched for decades. Once the master clock system is installed, it simply runs.
Manufacturing takes place in ISO certified factories and plants, and our team helps every customer with installation questions and best practices. These systems are easy to install and our installation knowledge helps you make your setup quick and precise, with the feature answers you need before and after the sale.
Trusted Where Time Is Critical
Innovation Wireless systems support mission critical applications across every industry we serve — and the same reliability serves secure government facilities and industry leaders alike. Thousands of schools throughout the country use our systems to run the school day. Companies like Amazon use our systems at their warehouses. Numerous hospitals rely on our timing devices in time sensitive applications, including countdown timers in operating rooms, where critical systems and precise clocks play a critical role. When you review our customer list, you see some of the most recognized organizations in the world across education, healthcare, manufacturing, business, government, and defense. Organizations around the globe trust these connected timekeeping devices every day.
One Time Base for Everything That Signals
The same master clock that runs your clocks can coordinate the rest of the facility: bell systems that coordinate events like the change of classes and the start and end of the school day, PA systems for paging and announcements, and countdown timers for hallways and operating rooms. Every connected endpoint on one synchronized time base, and it interfaces with many systems your facility already runs, from network devices to internet time synchronization sources.