I don't do this anymore, but in the past I have been able to sync Sonar to my Roland VS1680 and have been able to make either the VS1680 or Sonar the master.  My point is that Sonar is capable of this, but I don't know your hardware and there are a lot of variables.  I will say that it too me several tries to get the settings right both in Sonar and in the external device.
 
In case anyone is interested, I was syncing so I could import tracks from the VS1680.

konradh
I don't do this anymore, but in the past I have been able to sync Sonar to my Roland VS1680 and have been able to make either the VS1680 or Sonar the master.  My point is that Sonar is capable of this, but I don't know your hardware and there are a lot of variables.  I will say that it too me several tries to get the settings right both in Sonar and in the external device.
 
In case anyone is interested, I was syncing so I could import tracks from the VS1680.

Thanks.  The DP-24 has .wav export over usb, so it wouldnt be for that.  I just want to use the DAW as a sampler linked to a hardware workflow.

I typed "TASCAM DP24 Manual" into Google and found out the DP24 uses MIDI Time Code and MIDI clock for temporal sync. The bit-map array of MMC commands in the manual has the MTC and Generator commands crossed out. So to answer your original question "Why?!?," your assumption Sonar is "broken" is based on your not understanding how the DP24 works.
 
When I typed "slave SONAR via MIDI," the #1 link took me to the appropriate page in Sonar's documentation, which also includes links to "Sonar as the slave," "Sonar as the master," "Using MIDI sync with drum machines," and "Troubleshooting MIDI sync." These resources should help you get things working.

Yep did this with my Yamaha MD8 years ago after my Atari finally died and was forced to go PC for MIDI. Note my joined the forum date, If you dig up my first post I think that was my question! It was the Guitar Studio forum which I don't see anymore. 
 
Funny how simple it was with the atari, KCS just has a simple "midi sync" in the transport. Anyhow it does work , at least it did work with older versions of Cakewalk, and both ways. 
But Sonar needs a  lot of TLC before it goes, unlike the Atari did. PC always sucked at MIDI...

Anderton,
 
You'll have to forgive me, I am coming from a DAW with no online documentation and a private user forum.  Questions were answered by other users or by videos posted by other users.  Turn around time on queries to tech support usually took a week, so essentially useless.
 
Apparently you think you are the sherrif in these parts.  I understand you are employed by Gibson now; I think you should be concerned with your online presence and professionalism instead of starting a pissing match with an anonymous new user.  Companies tend to frown upon aggressive online behavior from their employees.  I know you probably see it as "pro Sonar" and defending the software from perceived slights, but I doubt your manager would see it that way.

Pretty sure Teal is LA2A