What Masterclock does

Masterclock, Inc. is a privately held US precision time and frequency synchronization company founded in 1994 and headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri, with a satellite office in Sunnyvale, California. The company designs, manufactures, and supports a portfolio of NTP servers, PTP grandmasters, time code generators, GPS/GNSS-synchronized master clocks, distribution amplifiers, PCIe timing cards, and synchronized digital display clocks — all engineered and produced in-house. Its flagship GMR Series (GMR6000, GMR5000, GMR1000) achieves ±15 nanosecond accuracy to UTC when equipped with GPS/GNSS receivers and supports multiple protocols (NTP, PTP IEEE 1588, IRIG-B, SMPTE, NMEA 0183), targeting mission-critical environments where legally traceable time is required for regulatory and operational reasons (FDA 21 CFR Part 11, FINRA, MiFID II).

The company sells primarily through a sales-led, quote-based direct motion (phone, email, web forms, 'Consult an Engineer') supplemented by a global network of regional partners and distributors, with hardware sales and custom configurations forming the core revenue stream. Masterclock serves four primary verticals — Aerospace & Defense, Media & Broadcast, Commercial Enterprise, and Automation/Industrial Manufacturing — with a named customer roster including NASA, the US Department of Defense, the FAA, Lockheed Martin, IBM, Microsoft, Samsung, Siemens, General Motors, and the ABC/CBS/NBC broadcast networks. Products are backed by a 5-year warranty and 365-day technical support, and the company holds ISO 9001:2015 (ANAB-accredited), CE, FCC, RoHS, REACH, and ANSI certifications. Leadership comprises founder/CEO John Clark and Chief Scientist Dr. Demetrios Matsakis, a former U.S. Naval Observatory Time Service Department leader with a PhD in Physics from UC Berkeley and over 150 published papers.

Name

Masterclock

Legal name

Masterclock, Inc.

Website

https://masterclock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Masterclock designs, manufactures, and supports precision NTP servers, PTP grandmasters, time code generators, and synchronized digital clocks in the USA, serving aerospace/defense, broadcast, commercial enterprise, and industrial automation customers with nanosecond-level, legally traceable timing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Timing Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Watches, Clocks, Clockwork Operated Devices/Parts (3873), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Grandmaster Clocks (PTP IEEE 1588) (HDAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Time Servers (NTP/PTP Hybrid) (HDAFAKAD), Time Distribution & Signal Conversion (1PPS/10MHz/IRIG-B/ToD) (HDAFAKAH), Synchronization Management, Monitoring & Assurance Software (HDAFAKAJ)

Keywords

• Precision time synchronization
• Network time servers
• Master clock systems
• Time code generators
• Frequency reference equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Charles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Timing Hardware Sales: Sale of precision timing equipment including master clocks, NTP servers, time code generators, PC cards, distribution amplifiers, and digital display clocks. Products are manufactured in-house with in-house engineering and research capabilities. 5-year warranty included with all time synchronization products.
2. Custom Configuration Services: Custom product configurations to meet unique application requirements. The company maintains ability to cost-effectively recommend and deliver custom configurations based on customer specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Masterclock designs, manufactures, and supports precision time and frequency synchronization hardware, including multi-function master clocks (GMR Series), Stratum 1 NTP servers (NTP100 family), GPS/GNSS time code generators (GPS500), PCIe/PCI timing cards, distribution amplifiers, and synchronized digital display clocks. Products conform to NTP, PTP (IEEE 1588), IRIG-B, SMPTE, EBU, NMEA 0183, and NENA protocols and are engineered for mission-critical aerospace & defense, media/broadcast, commercial enterprise, and industrial automation applications.

Product overview

Masterclock is a hardware-focused timing and frequency solutions company offering a portfolio of precision time synchronization products organized into Generate, Distribute, Display, and Control categories. The core product line includes GMR Series Masterclocks (GMR6000, GMR5000, GMR1000) that serve as multi-function timing platforms combining NTP Server, PTP Grandmaster, time code generator, and frequency reference capabilities; NTP100 family of NTP time servers; GPS500 time code generator; and PCIe/PCI timing cards. The Distribute category includes DA12, DA232, and TCA100 distribution amplifiers plus timing cards. The Display category spans NTDS Series NTP digital clocks, TCDS time code displays, MDN multi-functional displays, and digital-analog clocks. The Control category includes RC600 count controller and RC1000 dual-channel production timer. All products support standard timing protocols including NTP, PTP (IEEE 1588), IRIG-B, SMPTE, and GPS/GNSS synchronization, with accuracy ranging from milliseconds (NTP) to nanoseconds (PTP). Masterclock provides WinDiscovery configuration software and backs products with a 5-year limited warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GMR6000 Master Clock High-precision, multi-function master clock optimized for the most demanding, mission-critical environments; operates as NTP Server, PTP grandmaster, time code generator, or frequency reference with ±15ns accuracy to UTC when equipped with a GPS/GNSS receiver. Targets aerospace & defense, media, commercial enterprise, and automation customers.
• GMR5000 Master Clock High-precision, multi-function master clock that references multiple timing sources and provides NTP, PTP, SMPTE, and IRIG-B outputs with ±15ns accuracy to UTC when equipped with a GPS/GNSS receiver. For mission-critical enterprise and broadcast applications.
• GMR1000 Master Clock Compact time server that synchronizes to multiple timing references and provides NTP, IEEE 1588v2 PTP, IRIG-B, SMPTE, 10MHz, and 1PPS outputs for enterprise network and industrial automation timing.
• NTP100 Family of NTP Time Servers Stratum 1 NTP time servers (NTP100-GNSS, NTP100-TC, NTP100-OSC) conforming to NTPv2/v3/v4 (RFC 1119/1306/5905) for accurate, legally-traceable time distribution across LAN and enterprise networks, with IPv4/IPv6, AES-256 SSH encryption, and MD5 authentication.
• GPS500 Time Code Generator

Quantifiable outcome

• ±15ns accuracy to UTC with GPS/GNSS equipped GMR systems
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Orolia (Spectracom): Orolia (including the Spectracom brand) is one of the leading global vendors of PTP/NTP time servers, grandmaster clocks, and resilient PNT solutions, directly competing with Masterclock's GMR Series in telecom, defense, and broadcast. Acquired by Safran, Orolia has deeper R&D and a stronger defense channel.
• Microchip Technology (Microsemi Timing): Microchip acquired Microsemi's timing business and offers a broad portfolio of PTP/NTP grandmasters, IEEE 1588 modules, and network synchronization ICs, overlapping with Masterclock's GMR and NTP100 product lines. Microchip is named alongside Masterclock in third-party PTP Time Server market reports.
• Meinberg: Meinberg is a German-headquartered specialist in NTP/PTP time servers, grandmaster clocks, and IRIG-B/GPS time code generators, with deep penetration in broadcast, power utilities, and telecom — the same verticals Masterclock serves. Meinberg is named alongside Masterclock in PTP Time Server market share reports.
• Trimble: Trimble provides high-precision GNSS timing modules and receivers used as timing references in PTP/NTP deployments, overlapping with Masterclock's GPS/GNSS receiver and antenna product lines. Trimble is named alongside Masterclock in third-party PTP Time Server market reports.
• Brandywine Communications: Brandywine Communications manufactures precision time and frequency products including time code generators, distribution amplifiers, and master clocks for defense and broadcast — closely mirroring Masterclock's GPS500, DA12, and GMR Series offerings in mission-critical environments.
• Galleon Systems: Galleon Systems is a UK-based specialist in NTP and PTP time servers with GPS/GNSS references, targeting enterprise, defense, and broadcast customers — directly comparable to Masterclock's NTP100 family and GMR Series in product scope and customer verticals.
• Tekron International: Tekron designs and manufactures NTP and PTP (IEEE 1588) grandmaster clocks specifically for power utility substations and telecom networks, competing head-to-head with Masterclock's GMR Series in substation and telecom synchronization applications.
• Seiko Solutions: Seiko Solutions produces high-precision NTP time servers and time code generators leveraging Seiko's clock heritage, directly competing with Masterclock's NTP100 family and time code generator products in Japanese and APAC broadcast/enterprise markets.
• Elproma: Elproma is a European manufacturer of NTP/PTP time servers and GPS/GNSS-based timing equipment, targeting telecom, energy, and industrial automation — overlapping directly with Masterclock's commercial enterprise and automation verticals.

Emerging players

• Calnex Solutions: Calnex Solutions specializes in PTP/SyncE network synchronization testing, emulation, and monitoring — adjacent to Masterclock's PTP grandmaster business and increasingly relevant as customers require validation and assurance of the very precision timing Masterclock sells.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/masterclock

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Masterclock