American Time Blog

The first thing you may think of when envisioning a synchronized network of clocks in a workplace may be that of company employees working together and knowing where to be at all times, whether it's a meeting, lunch break, or a shift change. In a hospital setting, you can add things like the staff arriving in a patient's room at once, or a team of surgeons preparing to do their job together in the same place.

Many devices can be powered by an Ethernet cable that runs overhead or from behind a wall — including clocks. Power over Ethernet (PoE) has become a popular way to provide power and information to Internet Protocol (IP) clock networks for a couple of compelling reasons: saving money and easy installation.

Most of us take certain types of technology for granted — until it's not working for us. We have all probably lost phone service while inside the walls of a warehouse or at the bottom of a parking garage. This can be an annoying inconvenience, but how often has it prevented you from making a deadline or resulted in a loss of revenue?

When emergencies happen in a school, the safety of the students is the number one concern for teachers and administrators. Emergencies typically include fire alarms, weather warnings, and unfortunately, school lockdowns.

No matter what kind of emergency it is, clear communication is extremely important. That is why emergency alert systems that use visual alerts are more effective than your typical audio alerts seen in schools. Fred from American Time is here to tell you why visual alerts are better when it comes to emergency communication — and in regular school routines too.

If you've repaired or refurbished anything, you know that having the right tools can make any job easier. Whether it's home improvement or fixing your vehicle, the correct tool can save you a lot of time, money and angst. The same can be said for clock repair, as a few tools can help you get a job done in no time.

Imagine you’re conducting an important business conference call on a large corporate campus. Several different divisions of the company — each located in a different building — are required to present subject matter to a potential client with large amounts of profit at stake. 

Time is of the essence, but there's a problem: The clocks set in each building are not synchronized to the same time source.Think about how this meeting is going when one group joins to present its information a few minutes late, while your prospect waits and waits. How does this make your company, and you, appear to this game-changing client? Yes, correct time sync is important to maintain network clock accuracy.

Keeping large groups of people focused on a particular task can be challenging. Ask any manager or teacher about this and they will list a number of items that contribute to the task. One thing they shouldn't have to worry about is accurate timekeeping. If a system of clocks are in place, the issue of getting people on time to class or meetings can be eliminated. More and more frequently, facilities like hospitals and schools are using synchronized digital clocks to ensure that operations run smoothly.

Deciding what type of network clock you need, whether it be Wi-Fi or PoE (Power Over Ethernet), all depends on the connection to the internet in your facility. Some buildings may have more accessibility than others, so it's really up to you when purchasing your clock system. Here are some tips for determining what will work best for you.

Some people say there's no satisfaction like that of tackling a job by yourself and getting it done right. Whether it's fixing your vehicle or finishing a home improvement project, the idea of doing a task correctly...and saving some money can be a great feeling. In the spirit of doing-it-yourself, clock repair can also be completed efficiently and inexpensively. Here is a quick guide to the most common parts you can find from a supplier that can help you fix your clock.

You've probably heard the statement: "It runs like clockwork." The meaning indicates reliability and accuracy, the subject is the epitome of excellence. In the world of synchronized clock systems, you could modify the statement this way: "It runs like master clockwork." The master clock provides the guide to the other clocks in the system so that time, and other devices connected to it, operate without problems 24 hours a day. But why is a master clock so reliable? It too, needs some help to keep it working correctly. Here are a few ways the master clock gets its precise time.