As a part of our commitment to innovation, Sapling is proud to introduce our new Slim Line Analog Clocks featuring a lower profile, ABS case. The Slim Line Analog Clocks are offered with a black case, a brushed aluminum finish, or a wooden case and are available with all four (IP, Wired, Wireless, and TalkBack) Sapling synchronized clock systems!

Highlights of the new Slim Line Analog Clocks include:

• More case options!
• Solid Wood Case with Cherry Finish
• Brushed Aluminum Finish
• New and easier wall mount installation
• Available in 9", 12" and 16" diameter
• Black Slim Line Analog Clock and Brushed Aluminum Slim Line Analog Clock can be used with the new Sapling Time Zone Clock
• Shatterproof polycarbonate crystal with flatter front design
• Stylish dial and hands options

Sapling's Slim Line Analog Clocks are expected to be available by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Thanks to Sapling for the article. 

There cannot be a price put on to the value of leadership, which is defined as the action of guiding or managing a group of people or an organization, in any life endeavor. As former President John Quincy Adams one said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” The leader within Sapling’s synchronized clock system is our Master Clock, which are manufactured right here at our headquarters in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

No matter which Sapling synchronized clock system you choose (Wireless, Wired, IP or TalkBack), the Master Clock is the element that leads the operations of the system. The main task of the Master Clock is to send out the synchronized time signal to all of the clocks within the system. The secondary clocks then receive the time and display it throughout an office or a facility for all to see.

You might be wondering how the Master Clock receives the time. Well, there are three ways:

• NTP Server
• GPS Receiver
• Internal Time Source

Let’s start out by explaining the NTP Server option, which comes standard with a Sapling Master Clock. With this option, the master clock receives its time from an external source via the Internet. With the external NTP server, a user connects the Master Clock to their network and inputs a URL from the NTP server they wish to receive time from.

Sources of NTP time include government facilities, colleges and universities, as well as various corporations. With a Sapling Master Clock, you are able to input up to 10 different NTP server addresses. If the connection with the first NTP server address is lost, the Master Clock will automatically move to the next address that was provided. This ensures that all the clocks in a system will always be displaying the most accurate time possible, even if an NTP server address is lost.

The Balancing Act Series has returned for yet another exciting installment. This week’s endeavor will show us how Sapling’s TalkBack clock system can help airport professionals in the transportation industry better balance their daily tasks.

An airport manager has a multitude of daily tasks that can be made easier with a system from Sapling. An airport manager’s daily tasks can include overseeing and supervising staff, overseeing fueling operations, managing business development and much more. Worrying about whether or not the clocks are ticking throughout the airport terminals is something that a manager shouldn’t have to worry about. With the assistance of a wireless clock system with TalkBack Technology, worrying about the clocks is a thing of the past.

A TalkBack System operates almost exactly as a wireless clock system does, but with one major difference. Within a wireless clock system, the clocks usually receive the time from the master clock (and surrounding clocks because of the built-in repeaters) and correct to the accurate time. Within a TalkBack system, the clocks are able to receive time the same way, but are also able to communicate their status back to the master clock.

An airport manager can easily monitor all the clocks in an airport and head off any major issues. For example, the manager can sign on to the master clock’s web interface and pull up a report that can show each TalkBack clock, the signal strength, battery status and the mechanical status of the clocks.

We understand that an airport manager is busy and pulling up a report on a regular basis may not be on the to-do list. With Sapling’s TalkBack System, the clock’s administrator can receive email alerts directly to their inbox when a clock is missing or a status report hasn’t been received, if a hand failure occurs on an analog clock or a display failure occurs on a digital clock, or if a clock battery is low (analog clocks only).

With Part 3 of the Ultimate Guide to Sapling’s Time Zone Clock, I’d like to highlight three industries that would benefit from the addition of a Time Zone Clock. Our Zone Clock can accommodate a wide range of industries, so if you’d like me to cover any other industries, please leave a comment or leave a message on our Facebook page!

Corporate Buildings

Now more than ever, it is easier for businesses and organizations to operate on a global scale. Partnering with another company, opening a satellite office, or selling to a customer on the other side of the globe will require you to know the time in your location and in the other locations you are working in. Adding Sapling’s Time Zone Clock to your facility can help with balancing your obligations with your international partners by displaying the time in those significant locations. For example, a company in the U.S. can open a satellite office in Australia in order to extend their global reach.  

Instances may arise when one person in the Australian office needs to contact a fellow employee in the PA office. Being able to quickly see the exact time in both locations will help these two offices work smarter.

Transportation Facilities

When you are traveling (especially internationally), being on time to catch your plane, train or bus is paramount. Whether it is an airport, bus depot or train station, transportation facilities that cater to international travelers would be helping all parties involved by installing a Zone Clock.

For example, if a sales representative is traveling abroad for a trade show, knowing the time from the area they left and where they have just arrived can help the rep adjust from their long journey and prepare for any upcoming events they must attend.

The Sapling Advantage

Sapling’s Zone Clock has many options available to choose from in order to customize the Time Zone Clock to your facility’s needs. Encompassing a sleek design and an array of unique features, Sapling’s Time Zone Clock has many advantages that make it stand out among the competition.

• Customizable time zone name plates to signify the area’s time the clock is displaying
• International Daylight Saving Time capabilities (where observed)
• Choice of 5 to 7 time zones to display
• The ability to choose one style of clock or mix and match the styles for a unique look
• Sapling’s Time Zone Clock can accommodate the following clocks on one line:
  • 2.5” or 4” digital clocks with 4 or 6 digits
  • 12” or 16” round analog clocks
  • 12”square analog clocks
• Depending on your application, Sapling offers many ways to customize the clocks to fit the interior of your facility:
  • LED Digital Display: When choosing a digital clock(s) a user has the option to pick the display color. LED options include: Red (standard), Green, White or Amber. *Please note: Some colors may carry minimum quantity requirements.
• Specialty Dials and Hands for Analog Clocks: When choosing analog clocks, you have the choice between Standard and Specialty dials and/or hands. A user can also create a custom logo or dial to add to the clocks. *Please note: Specialty dials and hands have an additional charge. Please contact us for more information about the specialty dial and hand options.
• Simple installation process
• Made in the U.S.A

Listed above are a few advantages as well as options when you purchase a Sapling Time Zone Clock. Stay tuned for Part 3 where I’ll share how our Zone Clock can assist many different facilities that operate in a variety of industries. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or drop us a line!

Thanks to Sapling for the article. 

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Sapling’s Time Zone Clock! Don’t know what a Time Zone Clock is or how it can help your facility? We’ve created this guide in order to introduce you to the Time Zone Clock, how it works and how it can help your facility. We split this post into a few parts so we can really dive into the Zone Clock, really get to know the ins and outs of this product.

If you have any questions along the way, please leave us a comment or drop us a line on our Contact Page. Ok, let’s get started.

What exactly is a Time Zone Clock?

A Time Zone Clock is a device, consisting of either 5 or 7 clocks on one line, displaying the accurate time in your current location while also showing time zones all around the world.
Ideal for conference centers, meeting rooms, transportation facilities and many other applications, the Time Zone Clock encompasses the main benefits of a Sapling synchronized clock system – all clocks will consistently display the accurate time in the assigned time zone and automatically update for Daylight Saving Time (where observed) without the users ever having to worry about time drift.
Installing the Time Zone Clock

The Time Zone Clock can be installed in two ways:

• As a standalone system – If your facility does not currently have a synchronized clock system, don’t worry, there is still the option to purchase a Time Zone Clock. The Zone Clock does not need to be a part of an existing Sapling clock system in order to operate. As a standalone system, each clock will be IP based and powered by a PoE Injector or a PoE Switch. These is no need for a dedicated master clock in this case. Each clock connects to your facility’s network through a CAT5 or CAT6 cable and has a built-in web interface, which allows a user to program the settings of each clock. Programmable settings include *brightness level, *12/24 hour mode, DST configuration, GMT offset and much more. (*Digital clocks only)
• Integrated within an existing system – If a facility has an existing Sapling synchronized clock system, we have great news, the Time Zone Clock can easily integrate within that system! Whether your facility currently has a Wireless, Wired, IP or TalkBack System, the Time Zone Clock can easily integrate within the system.

This is just the beginning of the Ultimate Guide to Sapling’s Zone Clock. Stay tuned to the blog for Part 2 and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Thanks to Sapling for the article. 

The human brain is responsible for everything that we do. It is responsible for the decisions we make, our reasoning behind that decision, and then physically carrying out that decision. The human brain may possess the same general structure as other mammals, but is much larger relative to body size. The brain has control over your information gathering, decision making, and many more fundamental activities. Just like the brain in a human system, the master clock acts as the brain in a Sapling Synchronized Clock System.

In every Sapling system, there is a master clock controlling the secondary clocks within that system. Whether it is wired, wireless, TalkBack, or IP, the master clock is the brains of the organization. Leading the operations, the master clock will first receive the accurate time from an NTP server. It then sends out the signal to the secondary clocks within the system, ensuring every clock is updated with the new time. The secondary clocks will then receive the signal and display the time, or depending on the system, repeat the signal to other secondary clocks.

The Sapling Company’s Master Clocks have many features that make it the most advanced centerpiece within a synchronized clock system.

• (S)NTP input
• Available in a rack or wall mount
• Can interface with other clock systems
• Built-in web interface that allows you to program the secondary clock from any Internet connection
• Available with 4 or 8 zones for controlling systems like HVAC that may need to be timed

These are just a few of the features that accompany a master clock. Sapling’s 3000 or 6000 Master Clock or the NTP 8000 also has the ability to start a countdown, which allows the digital secondary clocks to countdown in between classes or breaks. The master clock also has the ability to update automatically for Daylight Saving Time.

Thanks to Saplng for the article. 

Elementary school is a crucial stage in the development of young students. It is the first stage in which children really begin their academic career. In addition to their academic career, children begin their athletic careers as well. Even as young as 6 years old, kids begin to development their athletic skills, as well as gravitating towards the sports they enjoy. Sports aren’t for everyone, but the majority of children start to become active. Personally, I started playing sports when I was in first grade. Sports are also seasonal and for me it was football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring (sometimes summer too).

My dad, as well as a few other of my classmate’s parents, would volunteer to coach the teams. I may not have realized it then, but the time and effort that goes into organizing a school’s sports team can be somewhat strenuous. The coaches would have to create practice schedules, allocate gym time and communicate with other parents, among other things. An elementary school can really lighten the load on these parent coaches if they were to install a synchronized clock system.

A synchronized time system starts out with master clock, which is the heart of the system. The master clock sends out the accurate time to the secondary clocks, which would then correct to the time the master clock has given. The Sapling Company specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of synchronized clock systems. With one of Sapling’s systems, children’s sports programs can be easier to manage. A synchronized clock system installed in an elementary school would result in displaying the same exact time in all classrooms, the cafeteria and even the gymnasium.

Allocating gym time among different sports teams always has been, and I’m sure continues to be an issue for elementary school coaches. With a Sapling synchronized clock system, transitions from one team to another can operate smoother and timelier. The children can get the most out of their practice, and coaches can work together more efficiently when the schools clocks are synchronized. Depending on what master clock you choose, a school coach can utilize the count down feature. This feature will turn the time display on a digital clock into a count down display. With one glance, students and coaches will know exactly how much practice time is left.

Thanks to Sapling for the article. 

Sapling Time Zone Clocks feature 5 to 7 clocks corresponding to different locations’ time zones, adjacent to one and other on a lightweight aluminum extrusion. Both digital clocks and analog clocks are available options. It is possible to mix and match digital and analog clocks within a single Time Zone Clock System. The Time Zone Clocks are available with the Sapling Wired Clock System, Wireless Clock System, IP Clock System, and Talkback Wireless Clock System.

It is advantageous for any business to always put its best foot forward. Every time a new potential employee or customer walks into your place of business every aspect of the office’s appearance helps shape their perception of your company. There is no better way to convey a professional business environment than with the new Sapling Time Zone Clock. Time zone clocks convey the message that your company has a strong national, or international presence, depending on the cities you choose to include. Integration with a Sapling Synchronized Time System ensures that all clocks react accurately. Analog clocks will have synchronized second hands, and digital clocks will change minutes and seconds simultaneously. Aside from their aesthetic benefits Sapling Time Zone Clocks also provide functional advantages in a corporate setting.

Today the world is much smaller thanks to the proliferation of the internet and modern technology. Even though at times it can feel like we are instantly connected anywhere in the world time zones remain a hurdle for national and international business. Sapling Time Zone Clocks help employees remain cognizant of time differences. Time zone clocks act as a quick reference point to help employees schedule phone meetings, video conferences, and flights outside of time zones with relative ease. Sapling Time Zone Clocks can also help avoid contacting customers at inappropriate times. With a time zone clock you no longer have to worry about accidentally waking up a valued customer who is located on the other side of the country. Keep style and function ingeniously in sync with the purchase of Sapling Time Zone Clocks.

Thanks to Sapling for the article. 

The Balancing Act Series will delve into how Sapling’s synchronized clock systems can help professionals in several different industries better balance their daily tasks.

Educational facilities can become chaotic at times with all of the different activities transpiring throughout the day. Maintaining a certain level of organization can be challenging for the faculty and staff of any school. Daily operations becomes one big balance act for the staff, and even for the students. Teachers in a high school, for example, must balance all of their daily tasks in order to remain on schedule.

Being efficient in time management is a huge asset that can contribute to a much smoother work week for an educator. Teachers must construct a lesson plan, maintain regular office hours, set deadlines, and grant extensions, among many others. Balancing these requirements can be a weary task, and in order to complete them, an effective time management strategy must be deployed. This begins with the installation of a synchronized clock system.

A synchronized time system is a system of clocks within a facility receiving accurate time updates from a master clock. The master clock is able to receive the updated time from an NTP server or GPS, and distributes it among the secondary clock. Sapling manufactures different types of innovative synchronized clock systems, including Wired, Wireless, IP and TalkBack. Sapling’s systems are seen in schools across the country, and assist in helping educators balance their work load every day.

A synchronized clock system from Sapling will ensure all of the bells in a facility are activated at the same time. This will help minimize late students, which can lead to an easier transitions for teachers. With the entire school on the same, synchronized time, teachers can meet with students punctually during office hours. Synchronized clocks can lead to better time management for teaching professionals, which can help them to delegate their tasks efficiently and balance their hefty workload with more simplicity.

When equipping a Sapling synchronized time system a customer has many choices to make. Sapling offers four systems, each with a multitude of options to choose from. After choosing a system the next step is to decide whether you want analog clocks, digital clocks, or a combination of the two. Analog clocks are an excellent choice for many different types of facilities. Sapling offers analog clocks in different models for each of our reliable systems. The variety of systems equates to a need for different power sources; our analog clocks can be powered locally, over Ethernet, or by battery.

Depending on the owner’s preferences Sapling analog clocks can vary quite a bit in terms of appearance. Possibly the most visibly obvious choice a customer must make when ordering an analog clock is shape. Sapling offers all of their analog clocks in both round and square options. Round clocks are available in two sizes: 12″, and 16″. Square clocks are available in two sizes: 9″ and 12″. Aside from size and shape, Sapling also offers design options for analog clocks. Customers can choose from two standard dials or six specialty dials. Sapling also offers the option of a custom dial, which allows the customer to have a name, logo, or image of their choice printed on the dial. In terms of color Sapling offers black and white analog clocks, with the option of color customization available. The last customization option for Sapling analog clocks are the hands. Sapling offers three specialty hand options in addition to the standard hands.

The availability of custom and specialty options  gives you the power to make your system all your own. Our quality analog clocks will look great in any facility, while providing the accuracy Sapling has become synonymous with. Keeping appearance and accuracy ingeniously in sync, that’s just part of The Sapling Advantage!

Thanks to Sapling for the article.

Although there are many alternatives available, some facilities are still using battery-powered, individual wall clocks. While it may not seem necessary to change a facility’s entire clock system, many of the features of Sapling’s IP clocks may make you reconsider. The obvious benefit of making this switch is the convenience of having synchronized, accurate time throughout your entire facility. However, our IP clock system does more than just tell time. Below are 5 of the unique features that differentiate our IP clocks from the typical wall clock.

1. Send the Message

With Sapling IP digital clocks, facilities will have use of a text display feature. With this aspect of the system, the digital clocks not only display precise, synchronized time, they can also be used to display text. This is especially useful in an emergency, during which the digital IP clocks can display emergency warnings such as “Fire” and “911.” This message display feature will ensure that everyone in your facility is safe and informed about any situation that may arise. Additionally, IP digital clocks come with the option to display alternating date and time.

2. Count Down or Up

Knowing the specific time is not always enough. Sometimes, it is important to know how much time has passed or how much time is remaining. In these instances, Sapling’s elapsed timer feature is extremely helpful. With the flip of a switch, a particular digital clock can be controlled to start counting down or counting up, depending on your needs and preferences. This is especially helpful in emergency “code blue” situations in hospitals, or in routine procedures, such as standardized testing in schools. Either way, facilities that make use of Sapling IP digital clocks with an elapsed timer feature can ensure accurate, precise records.

Facility management can become an enormous task for anyone. There are so many factors to consider when having to manage the equipment in a venue. Facility managers are associated with many different types of facilities, including schools, stadiums, convention centers, offices, shopping complexes, hospitals and many more. One of the major issues that facility managers undertake is making sure the equipment, in whatever venue they are managing, is working properly.

Facility managers and their staff must keep an eye on the clocks placed throughout a building. This can easily become a daunting task if you are managing a large facility with many, many clocks. What if the clock batteries die, or Daylight Saving Time occurs, or the clocks aren’t displaying the same time? These are just a few of the issues that could arise and spur maintenance into action.

Sapling can help solve these issues with the installation of a TalkBack wireless synchronized clock system. This technologically-advanced system gives the secondary clocks the ability to report back their status to the master clock. This allows the facilities managers to easily pull this information about the clocks located throughout the entire facility.

With a TalkBack system from Sapling, facility managers are able to conveniently receive status updates from their synchronized clocks. The TalkBack system enables the user to receive e-mail updates about the clocks regarding information like:

• Battery strength
• Signal strength
• Mechanical or display strength.

The TalkBack wireless clock system gives facility managers the upper hand on maintenance. With the addition of TalkBack technology, facility managers can have all of the updated data they need about their synchronized clock system right at their fingertips. The TalkBack technology from Sapling is on the forefront of innovation in the synchronized clock industry and this innovation allows facility managers to better control their environment, thus improving their facility as a whole.

The top priority in any hospital is the care and safety of their patients. Healthcare facilities strive to give their patients the best possible care while under their supervision. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who are working in the facility do their best to make sure the patients are well taken care of and have a comfortable stay. With so many different events going on simultaneously at a hospital, the staff must remain vigilant. Critical situations are seen on a daily basis and healthcare professionals are expected to deliver the best possible results during these moments.

If hospitals wish to alleviate some of the stress from the doctors and nurses, they could benefit from the installation of a wireless synchronized clock system from Sapling. A wireless synchronized clock system has many unique features that can assist the staff of a hospital while they are focusing on helping their patients.

A wireless synchronized clock system encompasses a master clock, which transmits the time signal to the secondary clocks that are spread throughout the hospital. Unique to Sapling’s system is the ability of the secondary clocks to both receive and transmit the time signal. This means that if a secondary clock is positioned a distance away from the master clock, the secondary clocks can provides the time to neighboring clocks providing an extremely reliable source of synchronized time throughout a hospital.

Having everyone in the hospital operate on the same, synchronized time can help in many ways. Medication can be delivered and major events, such as Code Blue, can be recorded with more accuracy. The staff will always be operating on the same, accurate time – there is no need to worry about the clock’s time drifting. If a hospital chooses a digital clock from Sapling, an Elapsed Timer can be connected to the clock. With an Elapsed Timer, a user can switch the display from the time to a count up or countdown display.

The Sapling Company has been manufacturing innovative time systems for over two decades. Our wireless synchronized clock system is among the most unique available today. Our secondary clocks are unlike any other, and can provide reliable, synchronized time to healthcare professionals in any hospitals. With the staff operating on the same, accurate time, patients can get the best treatment possible.

Depending on the size of your facility and how many buildings the company and/or organization occupies, you could have anywhere from 10 to 1,000+ clocks installed throughout. For a facility manager and his/her staff, that could potentially be a lot of clocks to keep an eye on. Not to mention, a whole slew of other equipment to monitor and issues that could arise within a company or organization at any moment.

Sapling has engineered a Wireless Clock System with TalkBack Technology in order to help facility departments easily monitor all the clocks within the system in order to avoid any major issues from occurring. Not only does Sapling’s Wireless TalkBack System provide all the secondary clocks with the most accurate time, this system also allows the secondary clocks to report their status back to the master clock. The secondary clocks can report back the following:

• Current battery levels
• Signal strength
• Mechanical (analog) or display (digital) alerts
• Last time the clock(s) received a signal

The clock system’s administrator can access all this information and so much more through Sapling’s master clock web interface. In order to gain access to the web interface, you must retrieve the IP address of the master clock (this is explained in detail in the master clock’s manual). Once the master clock’s IP address is located, you can type the address into a web browser of a computer that is connected to the same network as the master clock. By logging into the web interface and clicking on the TalkBack tab, there will be a list of every TalkBack Wireless clock within the system. This tab will give you the location of the clock (the clock system’s administrator will choose at the time of installation), and all the information needed to determine the status of the clocks within the system.

Sapling’s Wireless TalkBack System allows the system’s administrator to be in total control of the clock system. There is no need to wonder if the clock system is operating correctly; the facility department will have all the necessary information at their fingertips.

Thanks to Sapling for the article. 

While precise time synchronization is necessary to satisfy compliance-based record-keeping, new applications for distributed and high performance computing have raised the bar significantly.

Cloud computing. Big data. Time-sensitive algorithms such as what is found in high frequency securities trading applications. They all require a carefully architected synchronization service integrated into network operations.

Spectracom supports the trends in enterprise networks toward accurate, high availability, scalable, and manageable timing and synchronization across all network clocks that may be distributed across a single rack all the way to global data center operations.

What's New in Enterprise Timing

Spectracom's NetClock 9483 is the solution, allowing you to synchronize critical systems and operations to coordinate emergency efforts with legally traceable time. The NetClock 9483 offers a versatile modular design that is fully NENA compliant and tailored especially for Emergency Communication Center applications. Our new Web User Interface is easy to use and provides intuitive status monitoring with simple set-up.

The 9483 can time-synchronize multiple separate networks. The modular design provides expansion card slots, one of which is the 3-network port GigE option card providing synchronization for up to four networks simultaneously. Cards can be added with the initial order, or in the future as system requirements change and evolve.

NetClock 9483 key features:

• Synchronizes 9-1-1 systems, computer networks, CAD, radio consoles, VoIP, voice and video recorders, ANI/ALI, display clocks
• Precision GPS time reference with OCXO oscillator for GPS back-up
• Multi-network port card for separate, isolated networks
• GLONASS receiver option improves signal acquisition in marginal GPS signal areas, reduces or eliminates signal interference and jamming, provides redundancy for the GPS system
• Optional Dual- Redundant (AC/DC) power
• Optional T1/E1 timing card
• 5 year warranty

Thanks to Spectracom for the article. 

High Performance NTP Server, PTP Grandmaster and Network Sync Monitor

VelaSync™ high speed time server with TimeKeeper™ inside is a network appliance designed for high frequency trading and other low-latency network applications. The combination of FSMLab’s TimeKeeper’s highly optimized timing protocols and management functions, Spectracom’s precision GPS timing technology, and the flexibility of commodity hardware offers exceptional performance and keeps pace with the needs of evolving network infrastructure. The server offers multiple 1GbE (RJ-45) and 10 GbE (SFP+) network ports for set-up, management, and simultaneous NTP and PTP server/grandmaster capability.

Flexible Configuration Provides Reliable, Secure Time

TimeKeeper’s web-based user interface simplifies configuration of multiple time sources for resiliency against GPS attacks, spoofing or jamming, and equipment failures. For example, the server can be easily setup to use a PTP source as a backup to the on-board GPS and use an NTP source as a cross check. The servers can be setup to back up each other so that if one fails, the time service continues. It includes redundant hot-swap power supplies.

Network Sync Monitoring in a Single At-a-glance Instance

A unique aspect of TimeKeeper is the ability to auto-discover and monitor your network’s synchronization topology. From a single-pane-of-glass, see where the server time is going, monitor downstream clients, and discover other available time sources. The benefit is to verify redundancies and failover options, and identify single points of failure and “choke points”. See everything related to time sync across the enterprise.

Thanks to Spectracom for the article. 

A guide to PoE and why it's a smart choice for clocks and other small devices

You may already know all about Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. You may be well-versed in the low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation for the hundreds of modern devices that utilize the technology, such as VoIP phones, webcams and other devices including Inova's OnTime digital clocks, analog clocks, and OnTrack X Series digital displays. But for those not familiar with PoE (read "P-O-E," not Poe as in Edgar Allen), allow me to review the basics.

What is Power over Ethernet, Anyway?

Power over Ethernet technology is a network standard that allows various devices, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) telephones, wireless LAN access points, clocks, and digital signs to receive both power and data over existing LAN cabling. In 2003, PoE became an international standard, called IEEE 802.3af, as an extension to existing Ethernet standards.

There is no need to modify your existing Ethernet switch equipment or cabling to support PoE. Simply add a midspan power injector in a switch room or endpoint to inject power into the twisted pair LAN cables. PoE is fully compatible with both powered and non-powered 10/100BaseT Ethernet devices, featuring a "discovery process" specifically designed to prevent damage to existing Ethernet equipment.

Since no AC outlets are needed to power devices, PoE offers significant time and installation cost savings. In fact, when Purdue University powered more than 1,000 access points with PoE power in 2003, they reportedly saved between $350 to $1,000 per access point by eliminating labor costs from contracting an electrician to run wiring for new AC outlets. For a large project such as Purdue's, the savings amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions. That's savings you can take to the bank (and maybe even earn you a promotion, or at least a congratulatory pat on the back).

In January of 2014 we are expecting to release the new browser interface for Spectracom SecureSync and 9400 Netclock Series of time servers.

The new Web-UI for the NetClock Time Server, offers new very easy-to-use, highly intuitive and interactive experience for the user when configuring and monitoring the Spectracom NetClock Models.

You can view a preview of the new UI on this 10 minute video included below. We would certainly be interested in hearing any comments you may have after viewing the video.