GPS183PEX: GPS-Synchronized Clock for Desktop and Server PCs (PCIe Low-Profile Board)

The GPS183PEX is a 12-channel satellite clock PCI Express card (low-profile) with Meinberg's GPS technology that has been developed from the ground up specifically for time and frequency synchronization purposes. The GPS183PEX is designed to receive signals from the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), allowing precise synchronization of your PC’s clock and generation of high-precision, high-accuracy time and frequency signals anywhere in the world.

This PCI Express slot card is the best choice for providing a high-accuracy time base for your server or workstation. It can be used as a stratum 0 reference time source for NTP and transforms any machine into a Stratum 1 NTP server without consuming additional physical space in your server rack.

Key Features Product Description Characteristics Downloads

Key Features

PCI Express Interface
2 time trigger inputs
Progr. Pulses (PPM, PPH, PPS, DCF77-SIM ...)
Memory Mapped I/O time reads for high access rates
RS-232 interface
IRIG-B/AFNOR time code outputs
Plug and Play
DCF77 simulation
Included GPSANTv2 antenna uses downconverter technology to enable long transmission routes of up to 1100 m (1200 yards) -- with Ultraflex H2010 cable
Configurable time scale (UTC/local, GPS time, TAI)
Driver software for all popular operating systems
Previous Models - GPS183PEX:
GPS180PEX :: Low Profile GPS Clock (PCI Express)
GPS170PCI :: GPS Clock for Computers (PCI/PCI-X Bus)
GPS169PCI :: GPS Clock for Computers (PCI/PCI-X Bus)
GPS167PC :: GPS Receiver for Computers (ISA-Bus)
GPS170PEX :: GPS Clock for Computers (PCI Express)

Product Description

The GPS183PEX features not only a BNC connector for amplitude-modulated timecode (TC AM) output, four status LEDs, but also a 9-pin D-Sub male connector with outputs for time signals generated by the GPS183PEX, including serial time strings and programmable signals (including pulse-per-second and pulse-per-minute signals).

The GPS183PEX is shipped with a standard slot bracket with recesses the antenna BNC connector, the AM timecode output BNC connector and the four status LEDs. This bracket also features an integrated D-Sub 9 male connector for outputting serial time strings and programmable signals.

The GPS183PEX also includes a 'low-profile' slot bracket which can be used to replace the standard bracket for installation of the GPS183PEX in low-profile chassis form factors such as 1U rack servers. When using the low-profile bracket, the signals that would otherwise be output via the D-Sub connector are instead output via a box header mounted on the board itself.

How It Works

The GPS183PEX PCI Express card is a relatively self-contained clock system, comprising a receiver, an oscillator, an output driver, and a custom FPGA-based processor that handles reference signal decoding, management I/O, and signal generation.

The PCI Express interface serves three primary purposes: communication of management data between the GPS183PEX card and the host PC, communication of time data from the card to the host PC to allow the host PC’s operating system to synchronize the time of the mainboard’s real-time clock, and delivery of the required power from the host PC’s power source to the card.

As such, as long as the PCI Express interface continues to supply the requisite power, the GPS183PEX’s internal firmware will continue to synchronize the clock to its reference source and generate output signals through the AM timecode output and 9-pin D-Sub connector regardless of the software running on the PC. As such, the GPS183PEX is capable of operating autonomously, ensuring signal output stability even in the event of software problems, OS failures, or soft reboots of the PC.

For synchronization, the GPS183PEX’s receiver determines its position using at least four visible GPS satellites. This position is used to calculate an offset for the timing data received from the GPS satellites. Once the GPS183PEX is successfully synchronized with a suitable reference, it generates a PPS (pulse-per-second) phase reference and a 10 MHz frequency reference.

The GPS183PEX comes with a truckload of features to enable software developers to overcome the timing limitations of COTS operating systems like Linux or Windows. The powerful and highly functional Meinberg API (Application Programming Interface) delivers an easy to use and portable way of accessing all Meinberg bus level timing devices, including ISA, PCI, PCI-X, PCI Express and USB time synchronization products.

Legacy interfaces like IRIG, 1PPS or serial time strings can be used to connect other equipment to the PCIe slot card and transfer the time base over dedicated cable connections to systems which cannot be synchronized via NTP or other network protocols.

Meinberg Driver Software for PCI-Express Computer Clocks

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.

The GPS183PEX comes with a multitude of features to enable software developers to overcome the timing limitations of COTS operating systems like many Linux distributions or Windows. The powerful and highly functional Meinberg API delivers an easy-to-use and portable way of accessing all Meinberg bus-level timing devices, including USB time synchronization products.

If you wish to have your own application communicate with the GPS183PEX, you can download the Meinberg Software Development Kit, which contains useful examples on how to use the Meinberg driver API. Of course, all of our drivers and the SDK are available to download free of charge from our website.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding the use of the Meinberg API. We will be happy to assist you with the integration of the GPS183PEX card in your application.

Characteristics

Receiver Type	12 channel GPS C/A-code receiver
Status Indicators	Status indicated by 4 LEDs Fail: Clock synchronization state Ant: Antenna connection state Nav: GNSS geolocation state Init: Initialization of module firmware and communication with Computer
Type of Antenna	Included GPSANTv2 antenna with innovative downconverter technology that allows transmission routes of up to 300 m using RG58 cable, 700 m using RG213 cable, and 1100 m using H2010 Ultraflex cable
Synchronization Time	Max. 1 minute in normal operating conditions Max. 25 minutes (average 12 minutes) upon first initialization or in the absence of saved satellite data
Pulse Outputs	3 Programmable TTL outputs, per default configured as: Channel 0: Pulse per second (TTL, RS232 level), pulse duration: 200 msec Channel 1: Pulse per minute (TTL), pulse duration: 200 msec Channel 2: DCF77 compatible pulses (TTL level), pulse width: 100/200 msec
Accuracy of Pulse Outputs	Depends on oscillator option: < ±100ns (TCXO) < ±50ns (OCXO SQ, OCXO HQ) Standard: TCXO
Interface	Single serial RS-232 interface
Serial Time String Output	Baud Rate: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 baud Framing: 7N2, 7E1, 7E2, 8E1, 8N1, 8N2 Time Strings: Meinberg Standard (Default), Meinberg Capture, Meinberg GPS, SAT, NMEA RMC, NMEA GGA, NMEA ZDA, NMEA RMC GGA (RMC followed by GGA), NMEA GGA ZDA (GGA followed by ZDA), Uni Erlangen, Computime, Sysplex 1, SPA, RACAL, ION, ION Blanked, IRIG-J-1x, 6021, Freelance
Status Byte	Information about free-run state, Daylight Saving Time, DST pre-switch announcement, synchronization since last reset, GMT/UTC time, validity of the hardware clock data
DCLS Timecode Output	DCLS, TTL with 50 Ohm load (active high or active low)
AM Timecode Output	AM timecode sine-wave signal: 3Vpp (MARK), 1Vpp (SPACE) with 50 Ohm load
Supported Timecode Formats	IRIG B002: 100pps, DCLS signal, no carrier, BCD time-of-year IRIG B122: 100pps, AM sine wave signal, 1 kHz carrier, BCD time-of-year IRIG B003: 100pps, DCLS signal, no carrier, BCD time-of-year, SBS time-of-day IRIG B123: 100pps, AM sine wave signal, 1kHz carrier, BCD time-of-year, SBS time-of-day IRIG B006: 100 pps, DCLS Signal, no carrier, BCD time-of-year, year IRIG B126: 100 pps, AM sine wave signal, 1 kHz carrier frequency, BCD time-of-year, Year IRIG B007: 100 pps, DCLS Signal, no carrier, BCD time-of-year, year, SBS time-of-day IRIG B127: 100 pps, AM sine wave signal, 1 kHz carrier frequency, BCD time-of-year, year, SBS time-of-day IEEE1344: Code according to IEEE1344-1995, 100pps, AM sine-wave signal, 1kHz carrier, BCD time-of-year, SBS time-of-day, IEEE1344 expansion for date, time zone, daylight saving and leap second in Control Functions segment C37.118: Like IEEE1344 - with inverted sign bit for UTC offset AFNOR: Code according to NFS-87500, 100pps, AM sine-wave signal, 1kHz carrier, BCD time-of-year, complete date, SBS time-of-day
Time Trigger Inputs	Resolution: 100 ns, triggered by falling TTL edge Time of trigger events readable via API call or serial port
Electrical Connectors	BNC female connector for antenna BNC female connector for AM timecode 9-pin D-Sub male connector
PC Interface	Single-lane (x1) PCI Express (PCIe) Interface PCI Express r1.0a compatible
Backup Battery Type	Upon loss of power supply to card, the hardware clock runs independently using the on-board quartz oscillator. Almanac data remains stored in battery-backed RAM Life time of lithium battery min. 10 years
Board Type	Low-profile card (68.90 mm x 150 mm)
Supported Temperature	Operational: 0 - 50 °C (32 - 122 °F) Storage: -20 - 70 °C (-4 - 158 °F)
Supported Humidity	Max. 85 % at 30 °C (86 °F), non-condensing
Warranty	Three-year warranty
Options	Upgrade from TCXO oscillator to OCXO SQ or OCXO HQ for advanced holdover performance Refer to Oscillator Comparison Table for further details
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.