TCR510PCI: IRIG Time Code Receiver for Computers (PCI/PCI-X bus)

Key Features

PCI LOCAL BUS interface,
3.3V or 5V, 33MHz or 66MHz,
PCI-X compatible
Plug and play
Periodic interrupts
RS-232 interface
Status LEDs
Reception of time code formats IRIG A/B or AFNOR
Configurabel time zone
Driver software for all popular operating systems

Product Description

The board TCR510PCI has been designed to receive different IRIG-A/B and AFNOR codes. The decoded date and time can be read via the PCI/PCI-X bus interface and is also transmitted via the board's RS-232 port. The receiver's automatic gain control (AGC) allows the reception of modulated IRIG signals within an amplitude range from 600mVpp to 8Vpp. In addition, the TCR510PCI provides an optocoupler input for decoding unmodulated codes with TTL- or RS485-level for example. A buffered real time clock keeps time and date after power down.

The Windows driver package includes a time synchronization service which runs in the background and adjusts the Windows system time continuously and invisibly. This package also includes a monitor program to enable the user to check the status of the device and time adjustment service. If the monitor program is run with administrator rights, it can also be used to modify configurable parameters.

The Linux and FreeBSD driver packages include a kernel driver which allows the product to be used as a reference time source for the NTP daemon included in most Unix-like operating systems. This also allows the computer to be used as an NTP time server to provide accurate time to NTP clients on the network. Some command line tools can be used to modify configurable parameters and monitor the status of the clock in use.

Please contact Meinberg's Support Team for more information on using the card with other operating systems: techsupport@meinberg.de.

The device's serial port is not required for operation but can be used to update the card's firmware, or to provide another computer with the current time via a serial time string.

Characteristics

Status Indicators	3 status LEDs for indication of: detection of a correct code, synchronisation of the internal timing and holdover mode
Input signal	Modulated IRIG A/B or AFNOR signal, input insulated by transformer, input impedance 600 ohm (optional 50 ohm) unmodulated (DC level shift) IRIG A/B signal, input insulated by photocoupler
Accuracy free run	±1·10E-6 if the decoder was synchronous for at least 1 h
IRIG Time Code Input	IRIG-A133, A132, A003, A002, B123, B122, B003, B002 and AFNOR NFS 87-500 (other codes on request)
Pulse Outputs	Pulses per second (RS232/TTL level) and per minute (TTL level), pulse duration 200 msec
Precision of timebase	±5 µsec referred to IRIG-reference marker
Interface	Single serial RS-232 interface
Serial Time String Output	Baudrate: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400 baud Framing: 7E2, 8N1, 8E1, 8N2 Output string: 32 ASCII characters with date, time and status information
Statusbyte	Information about holdover mode, synchronisation since last reset and the validity of the RTC data.
Electrical Connectors	9 pin sub D male connector BNC female connector
Computer interface	33MHz- or 66MHz-PCI BUS (PCI-X) 32 Bit/3.3V or 5V card slot
Backup Battery Type	When main power supply fails, hardware clock runs free on quartz basis, life time of lithium battery min. 10 years
Board type	PCI card short
Supported Temperature	Operational: 0 - 50 °C (32 - 122 °F) Storage: -20 - 70 °C (-4 - 158 °F)
Supported Humidity	Max. 85 % (non-condensing) at 40 °C
RoHS Status of Product	This product is fully RoHS-compliant.
WEEE Status of Product	This product is handled as a B2B (Business to Business) category product. To ensure that the product is disposed of in a WEEE-compliant fashion, it can be returned to the manufacturer. Any transportation expenses for returning this product (at end-of-life) must be covered by the end user, while Meinberg will bear the costs for the waste disposal itself.