Jackson Labs FireFly-1A GPSDO User manual

FireFly-1A User
Manual
Document: 80200501
Version: 1.2
Date: 6 July, 2011

FireFly-1A User Manual
Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc.

© 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. i
FireFly-1A User Manual
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 General Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2.1 Grounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2.2 Power Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2.3 Environmental Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Quick-Start Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1 Powering Up the Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1.1 Major connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 Coaxial Connector types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.3 Connecting the GPS Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4 Remote serial control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.4.1 “Help” and command overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.4.2 Loop parameter adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3 SCPI-Control Quick Start Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 General SCPI Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2.1 *IDN? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2.2 HELP?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.3 GPS Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.3.1 GPS:SATellite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3.2 GPS:SATellite:TRAcking:COUNt? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3.3 GPS:SATellite:VISible:COUNt? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3.4 NMEA Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3.5 GPS:GPGGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3.6 GPS:GGASTat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3.7 GPS:GPRMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3.8 GPS:XYZSPeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3.9 GPS:POSition? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.3.10GPS:RESET ONCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.3.11GPS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.4 PTIME Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.4.1 PTIMe:TZONe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.4.2 PTIMe:DATE?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3.4.3 PTIMe:TIME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.4.4 PTIMe:TIME:STRing?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.4.5 PTIMe:TINTerval? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.4.6 PTIME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.5 SYNChronization Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3.5.1 SYNChronization:SOURce:MODE [GPS|EXTernal|AUTO] . . . . . . . . .11
3.5.2 SYNChronization:HOLDover:DURation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.5.3 SYNChronization:HOLDover:INITiate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.5.4 SYNChronization:HOLDover:RECovery:INITiate . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.5.5 SYNChronization:TINTerval? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.5.6 SYNChronization:IMMEdiate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.5.7 SYNChronization:FEEstimate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3.5.8 SYNChronization:LOCKed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
3.5.9 SYNChronization:health? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

FireFly-1A User Manual
ii © 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc.
3.5.10SYNChronization?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.6 DIAGnostic Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.6.1 DIAGnostic:ROSCillator:EFControl:RELative? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.6.2 DIAGnostic:ROSCillator:EFControl:ABSolute?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.7 MEASURE Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.7.1 MEASure:VOLTage?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.7.2 MEASure:CURRent?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.7.3 MEASure?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.8 SYSTEM Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.8.1 SYSTem:COMMunicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.8.1.1 SYSTem:COMMunicate:SERial:ECHO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.8.1.2 SYSTem:COMMunicate:SERial:PROmpt . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.8.1.3 SYSTem:COMMunicate:SERial:BAUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.8.2 SYSTem:STATus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.8.3 SYSTem:FACToryReset ONCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.9 SERVO Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.9.1 SERVo:COARSeDac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.9.2 SERVo:DACGain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.9.3 SERVo: EFCScale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.9.4 SERVo:EFCDamping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9.5 SERVo:SLOPe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9.6 SERVo:TEMPCOmpensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9.7 SERVo:AGINGcompensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9.8 SERVo:PHASECOrrection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9.9 SERVo:1PPSoffset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.9.10SERVo:TRACe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.9.11SERVo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4 Firmware Upgrade Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2 ISP Flash Loader Utility installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2.1 Philips LPC2000 Flash Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2.2 Flash Magic Flash Programming Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3 Putting the PCB into In-Circuit Programming (ISP) mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.4 Downloading the firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.4.1 Philips LPC2000 Flash Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.4.2 Flash Magic Flash Programming Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.5 Verifying Firmware Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5 GPSCon Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.1 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.2 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.3 Using GPSCon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.3.1 Setting the options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.3.1.1 Communication Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5.3.1.2 Auxiliary parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5.3.1.3 Other options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
5.3.2 Sending manual commands to the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
5.3.3 Use of the mouse in graph mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
5.3.4 Exporting the graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5.4 Interpreting the Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

© 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. iii
FireFly-1A User Manual
6 Certification and Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
6.1 Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
6.1.1 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
6.1.2 Limitation of Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
6.1.3 Exclusive Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

FireFly-1A User Manual
iv © 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc.

© 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. 1
FireFly-1A User Manual
1Introduction
1.1 Overview
The FireFly-1A GPSDO includes an extremely high-performance GPS receiver that can acquire and
track up to 50 GPS signals down to a state of the art –160dBm, a 32bit processor that runs a Real
Time OS, a low-noise sine wave 10MHz output, 1PPS UTC synchronized output, RS-232 control
interface, precision voltage references, and DACs.
1.2 General Safety Precautions
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all phases of operation of this
instrument. Failure to comply with these precautions or with specific warnings elsewhere in this
manual violates safety standards of design manufacture, and intended use of the instrument. Jackson
Labs Technologies, Inc. assumes no liability for the customer’s failure to comply with these
requirements.
1.2.1 Grounding
To avoid damaging the sensitive electronic components in the FireFly-1A GSPDO always make sure
to discharge any built-up electrostatic charge to a good ground source, such as power supply ground.
This should be done before handling the circuit board or anything connected to it, i.e. the GPS
antenna.
1.2.2 Power Connections
Make sure to connect the DC power to the device following the polarity indicated in Section 2.1 . Do
not reverse the power pins as this will cause serious damage to the circuit board.
1.2.3 Environmental Conditions
This instrument is intended for indoor use. It is designed to operate at a maximum relative
non-condensing humidity of 95% and at altitudes of up to 4000 meters. Refer to the specifications
tables for the ac mains voltage requirements and ambient operating temperature range.

FireFly-1A User Manual
2© 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc.

© 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. 3
FireFly-1A User Manual
2Quick-Start
Instructions
2.1 Powering Up the Unit
The unit is powered from a 8V - 14V DC source. The current is typically less than 0.15A at 12V.
Connect a clean +12V power supply to J5. The connector style is a MolexPart Number 22-23-2031
connector.
Warning: Do not reverse the polarity of the power connector, this will damage the unit.
2.1.1 Major connections
The major connections and features of the FireFly-1A PCB are shown in :Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1 Major connections to FireFly-1A
GPS
Antenna
+12V
GND 10MHz
1PPS
RS-232 RX
RS-232 TX
GND
LOCK
OK
,
ISP

FireFly-1A User Manual
4© 2011 Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc.
Table 2.1 shows the FireFly-1A revision 2.0 hardware connectors
Table 2.1 FireFly-1A hardware connectors
2.2 Coaxial Connector types
There are three coaxial connectors on the FireFly-1A board. They are the following types:
J1, antenna: MMCX
J3, 1PPS output: SMB
J4, 10MHz sine output: SMB
2.3 Connecting the GPS Antenna
Connect the GPS antenna to the BNC to MMCX cable adapter. Caution: use a Lightning Arrestor on
your Antenna setup. Use an amplified GPS antenna that is 3V LNA compatible. The FireFly-1A GPS
receiver is a 50 channel high-sensitivity GPS receiver with very fast lock time. It does not require any
self-survey or position-hold mode (auto survey), and thus can be used in mobile platforms.
FireFly-1A is capable of generating standard navigation messages (see GPS:GPGGA and
GPS:GPRMC RS-232 commands) that are compatible with most GPS based navigation software.
Please note that FireFly-1A indicates MSL height (rather than GPS height) in its GPGGA, GPS? and
syst:stat? output strings.
The GPS receiver generates a 1PPS time signal that is phase synchronized to UTC. This 1PPS signal
is used to frequency-lock the 10MHz Sine-Wave output of the FireFly-1A GPSDO to UTC, thus
disciplining the unit’s 10MHz frequency output to the US Naval master clock for very high
frequency accuracy (typically better than 1ppb offrequency accuracy when locked to GPS). Over the
long term, the FireFly-1A will out-perform free-running Cesium Atomic Frequency Standards.
Ref Name Function
Specification
Pinning
J5 +12V Clean +12V Supply 8.0V-14.0V DC, <0.5A, <10mVac 3 +12V, 2-GND, 1-GND
J4 Sine Out 10MHz Output +11dBm +/-3dB 10MHz Output Center-Sine Output, Shield-GND
J3 1PPS Out 1PPS Output 3.3V CMOS, Rising Edge
Synchronized Center-1PPS Output, Shield-GND
J6 RS-232 RS-232
Communication 115Kbaud, 8N1, RS-232 3-RX, 2-GND, 1-TX
J1 Antenna GPS Antenna 3.0V Amplified Antenna MMCX
connector Center-RF Input, Shield-GND
J2 ISP/Status Alarm/Lock Status
indicators, and
Enable-ISP Flash
Download Mode
Pin 3: 3.3V CMOS output
Pin 2: 4.7Kohm pull-up on open
collector to 3.3V
3-LOCK-OK indicator, can drive an
LED
2-ALARM (unlock) indicator, needs
buffering
1-GND
[Connect pin 2 to ground during
power-on to enter ISP
flash-firmware-download mode]