Windows Time Service Configuration for Amateur (ham) Radio

Microsoft has had a built in time service since at least Windows 2000 but it isn't exactly easy to use.  Amateur Radio Operators for the most part have not really needed to the second accuracy until recently with the advent of the WSJT and WSJT-X modes like JT9 and FT8 which is exploding in popularity.  I've seen so many posts on forums and web sites about what software to use to set accurate time on your Windows computer.  Some advice is just plain wrong, while others suggest third party software that I'm sure works fine, but just isn't necessary.

Here is what worked for me:

Run a command prompt as administrator

First - set the service to automatic

sc config w32time start=auto

Configure the time service to use to use a manually configured set of NTP servers

w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:"pool.ntp.org,0x8 time.nist.gov,0x8" /syncfromflags:manual /reliable:yes /update

By default, a windows client will slowly try and bring the clock into compliance, but I've found this to be too slow.

reg add HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\w32time\config /v UpdateInterval /t REG_DWORD /d 64

Your best source for understanding the Windows Time Service tools and settings is here:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/networking/windows-time-service/windows-time-service-tools-and-settings

Please note, if you are a Windows system administrator, this is not the way to do it on our Active Directory domain clients!  You'd do this only the PDC emulator of the root domain in your forest!