I find the program very useful in keeping my computer clock on the exact time. The utility is based upon the Internet working group Request for Comments 868 (rfc868), May 1983, which has become a standard (protocol). 

 The program requires that you select a HOST from which it can pull the time information. Hosts are the Network Time Protocol (NTP) public time servers. These HOSTS are known as NTP primary time service servers, Stratum 1 or Stratum 2. Stratum 1 servers usually require permission for access. Stratum 2 servers receive their time from the Stratum 1 servers and for most purposes, just as accurate as the Stratum 1 services. The list of Public NTP Primary Time Servers and Pubic NTP Secondary Time Servers is available from a newsgroup, comp.protocols.time,ntp. I have used a stratum 2 NTP server on my time utilities. 

 The program is available from The Ultimate Collection of Winsock software (Tucows) Web site. It is available for both Windows 3.11 and Windows 95 OS. It is not a large file in either version. 76 KB for Windows 3.11 and 847 KB for Windows 95. The Win 95 filename is nettime.exe and the Win 3.11 filename is ndate104.zip. Both are self extracting setup programs. Installation is simple. Download the file to a temporary sub-directory (folder) and unzip it. 

Once the program is running, specify a host from which you will receive the NTP time service. I used the MIT Information Systems, Cambridge, MA Stratum 1 NTP service by setting bitsy.mit.edu in the HOST dialog window. Next, select your local time zone from the pull down menu provided. We are in the Central Time Zone here in San Antonio which is GMT -6 hours. The MIT NTP server service in the Eastern Time Zone which is GMT -5 hours. We are west of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). 

 I execute the program from a Win 95 shortcut. First, I log on to the Internet, then, I click on the Netime shortcut, which automatically queries the NTP server. The NTP server returns the correct time which updates the computer clock. 

The screen has a Dialog box for entering NTP server addresses. It is a pull down menu in which several NTP server addresses may be added as back up for your primary time. Buttons are available for "Get Time", which activates the program; "Advanced" which refines the settings; "About" which describes the program; and "Help" which has a basic help section. Other "check" boxes are available for "Auto Start", "Auto Close", "Report Only", and "Systray Icon". Read out information includes the update data is found in the bottom third of the screen. This includes Date, Time, Diff, and Lag. Date and time are self explanatory. Diff for differential and Lag provide the time difference and lag between your computer clock. These settings are important for users who use exact timing in their programs. 

 The "Advanced" screen has a Logging feature for use in capturing time data. This screen also provides for the maximum time adjustment boundary. Time returned from the NTP server which differs from the local time by more than the "Max Adjust" will prompt you to override it. 

 This program is very helpful in keeping my computer clocks set.