A sub-$1000 PC-based GPS Common-View Time-Transfer Unit

S. Basker, D. Holmes, M. S. Ody, and M. L. Trethewey

Abstract:	Signal Computing has designed a time-transfer product with a potential accuracy of better than 10ns using common-view techniques. It is aimed at making high-accuracy low-cost timing available to industry. This design is PC based and comprises a single ISA bus board, and uses low-cost COTS hardware and software. The ISA board contains the time-measurement and pulse generation hardware and acts as a motherboard for the GPS receiver, although provision for an external receiver has also been made. One of the benefits of this approach is that in addition to the PC a minimal number of components are necessary. The power supply for the GPS receiver board, for example, will be taken from the PC. It also provides modem, RS232 and network functionality for interfacing to the GPS receiver, the time measurement chip, and the external world. This solution provides great flexibility in the way it can be used; desktop PC for laboratory use; rack-mounted PC within an equipment installation; and ruggedised PC for field use. It is also possible to provide an ISA bus extender on a PCMCIA interface for PC notepad use. Clearly, there are also DC power supply options available for a number of these configurations. This is a low-risk, flexible, versatile, and very low-cost time transfer unit that is independent of GPS manufacturer. Hence, users can benefit over time from the exploding receiver market and competition between manufacturers to maintain the low cost of the unit while increasing functionality (e.g. GPS and GLONASS) and accuracy. Early estimates indicate that the cost of the unit is less than $1000 including the GPS receiver. This paper will give an overview of the design and indicate the development process.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1998) September 15 - 18, 1998 Nashville, TN
Pages:	1737 - 1752
Cite this article:	Basker, S., Holmes, D., Ody, M. S., Trethewey, M. L., "A sub-$1000 PC-based GPS Common-View Time-Transfer Unit," Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1998), Nashville, TN, September 1998, pp. 1737-1752.
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