Why Use GPS For Accurate Timing Systems?

Products

TimeTools SR and SC range of stratum 1 network time servers provides a highly accurate and reliable solution to any network time sync requirement.

SR Series Rack-
Mountable NTP Servers

SC Series Compact NTP
Servers

Radio and GPS time synchronisation systems for PC's provide cost-effective solution to PC time synchronisation.

GPS Time Server

MLS Radio PC Time
Server

MPS Radio PC Time
Server

T1000 GPS Time
Server

T2000 GPS Time
Server

TimeTools Ethernet NTP digital wall clocks provide accurate synchronised time display solution.

Ethernet NTP Digital
Wall Clock

What is GPS?

GPS is increasingly being used as a standard hardware clock reference for NTP servers and other computer timing systems. GPS is a US military system that consists of an array of 24 satellites arranged in a constellation that covers the entire globe. Each satellite contains a high precision atomic clock to provide accurate time and positioning information to Earth based systems.

Very accurate time is a fundamental component of the GPS system, which makes it an ideal reference for computer timing equipment, such as time servers.

Advantages Of GPS Over Other Hardware Clock References

There are a number of advantages associated with GPS timing systems over other hardware clocks. Firstly, GPS is a global system, it can be utilised anywhere in the world. Radio timing systems by their very nature are localised, generally by national boundaries. Also, radio timing signals vary from location to location, they have different frequencies and carrier variations. GPS signals are the same whether you're in the USA or Australia - identical equipment can be used for signal reception. Also, at 60 nanoseconds, GPS is also much more accurate than any radio time and frequency broadcast .

Antenna Location

A GPS antenna generally needs to have a good view of the sky in order to receive a consistently good signal. Often, this can mean locating an antenna on a roof-top with good all-round view. Long cable runs can often be required to achieve this. Low-loss coax cable allows very long cable runs of up to 120m and more. Cable runs can be further extended using amplifiers or fibre optic systems.

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