[time-nuts] Windows XP time

[John Ackermann N8UR]

Joseph Gray wrote:
> I just switched from using the built-in SNTP client for Windows XP to the
> Windows binary of NTP that I got here:
> http://www.meinberg.de/english/sw/ntp.htm
> 
> In both instances, I was using the us.pool.ntp.org servers. It seems that
> the Windows XP implementation leaves something to be desired. The new NTP
> client corrected my PC clock by over 1.5 seconds. Considering that I was
> syncing to the same servers in both cases, this leads me to the conclusion
> that Microsoft's implementation sucks.

As much as I hate to say it, it's not all Microsoft's fault :-).

The fundamental difference between SNTP and NPT is that SNTP does only a 
period check and adjustment, so the clock can drift significantly 
between polls.  NTP on the other hand attempts to continuously steer the 
clock, and uses a much more sophisticated algorithm to determine the offset.

John