UNAP Time & Communications Time Help

The UNAP instrument keeps track of the date and time with an internal clock, which may be set to local time or to Universal Time Corrected (UTC). If the clock is set to UTC, the UTC/GMT offset to local time should also be set. It is critical that this clock be set correctly because it supplies the date and time on all data.

Any change other than setting the UNAP clock MUST be sent to the UNAP
instrument by clicking on the Save button. A separate button is used to set the UNAP clock.

Time Setup

Current UTC Date and Time	Enter the current UTC. If the UNAP instrument is to be operated using local time, set the local date and time and then set the UTC Offset to zero. Caution: When using local time only and a GPS time source, the UNAP instrument will not know how much to shift the clock to adjust for the local time zone.
UTC / GMT Offset	If UTC is being used, then set the Offset to the number of hours offset to the local time. If UTC time is being used for the data's date-time stamp, then setting the offset is not required. However, if local time is being used to time stamp data, then the offset's value is critical.
Data Report Using	The UNAP instrument may be configured to report data using the UTC or local date and time. See above for cautions.
Do Time Sync	The UNAP instrument may be configured to synchronize time with the selected time source hourly, daily, or as needed. When set to “as needed,” synchronization will occur as soon as the difference between the source and the current time is outside the Time Error Window.
Do Time Sync At	If the UNAP instrument is configured to synchronize time daily then at the hours, minutes, and seconds set is when the synchronization will occur (if needed). When the UNAP instrument is set to hourly, then only the minutes and seconds are used to determine when the synchronization occurs.
Do Sync Only if in Time Error Window	When this parameter is set to Yes, a scheduled time correction will occur only if the difference is within the limits set. When the parameter is set to No, a scheduled time correction will occur at the scheduled time if there is any difference between the UNAP instrument's clock and the time source.
Time Error Window	The Time Error Window is designed to prevent an errant external time source from changing the UNAP instrument's clock inappropriately. To set the UNAP instrument's clock initially, either manually set the time using the Set Time on UNAP button or setting the Do Sync Only if in Time Error Window to No. Wait for the next time synchronization event, and then set the Do Sync Only if in Time Error Window back to Yes.

Time Server Setup

Get Time From	The UNAP instrument is capable of using two different external time sources: GPS on its serial port or a network time server. Select the desired source with the Get Time From dropdown control on this page.
IP of Time Server	If a networked time server is available and selected in the Get Time From control, then set the IP address of the server in this control. SNTP will be used to get the time from the server using an encrypted (if possible) connection.
Provide Time Services	The UNAP instrument is capable of acting as a network time server. Other UNAP instruments, the DAS, or any other network instrument may use it as a time server only if this feature is activated by setting the Provide Time Services to Yes. This feature may be turned on, regardless of this instrument’s time source or settings. Doing so when this instrument is not configured appropriately could cause problems. For example, if this UNAP instrument is configured to run on local time only and to Provide Time Services, then the time it will serve is local time--which violates the SNTP protocol and can cause other instruments to set their times incorrectly.