Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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I control time now! At least, in the studio.

PTP, NTP, GPS, PPS, what's it all about? In this first part to a new time series, I'll show you how I built a Raspberry Pi grandmaster time server for my network. Then I'll see how it compares to a commercial grandmaster clock from MasterClock!

Mentioned in this video:

- My Time Pi project: github.com/geerlingguy/time-pi
- Time HAT V4: tindie.com/products/timeappliances/timehat-i226-nic-with-pps-inout-for-rpi5
- GPS Module: tindie.com/products/timeappliances/ocp-m2-neo-m9n-gnss
- Masterclock CLDNTD12 Analog/Digital NTP Clock: masterclock.com/digital-analog-clock-cldntd12.html
- Masterclock NTDS112 Rackmount NTP Clock: masterclock.com/ntds112-ntp-display.html
- The Atlantic - Where Time Comes From: youtube.com/watch?v=MfV_vV0sGlo
- US Naval Observatory Tour: youtube.com/watch?v=SnGpdv5J4Ao

Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/geerlingguy
Sponsor me on GitHub: github.com/sponsors/geerlingguy
Merch: redshirtjeff.com
2nd Channel: youtube.com/@GeerlingEngineering
3rd Channel: youtube.com/@Level2Jeff

Contents:

00:00 - It's about time...
00:18 - The Time Lord!
01:25 - Building a Time Server
02:16 - Turning back the clock
03:47 - Where does time come from?
04:32 - Time Pi
06:42 - How much does it cost?
07:25 - The grandmaster challenger
08:19 - Modern clockmaking
09:51 - Masterclock's Production Lab
12:14 - DIY or buy?
14:24 - The Doctor is in
15:19 - Only the Beginning