Meinberg DCF600HS User manual

MANUAL
DCF600HS
DCF Clock with serial Interface
24th July 2018
Meinberg Funkuhren GmbH & Co. KG

Table of Contents
1 General Information about DCF77 1
2 Overview DCF600HS 2
2.1 RS232 Output ................................................. 2
2.2 Power Supply ................................................. 2
2.3 Housing - Technical Specifications .................................... 2
2.4 Assignment of the Terminal Connectors .................................. 3
2.5 Mounting the Antenna ............................................ 3
2.6 D-SUB Connector Pin Assignments .................................... 4
2.7 Pulse Outputs ................................................. 4
3 Configuration DCF600HS 8
3.1 Configuration mit MBGMON ........................................ 8
3.1.1 Firmware Updates .......................................... 11
3.2 Configuration with Meinberg Device Manager .............................. 12
4 Time Strings 14
4.1 Format of the Meinberg Standard Time String .............................. 14
4.2 Format of the SAT Time String ....................................... 15
4.3 Format of the Uni Erlangen String (NTP) ................................ 16
4.4 Format of the NMEA 0183 String (RMC) ................................. 18
4.5 Format of the ATIS standard Time String ................................. 19
5 Declaration of Conformity 20
Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

1 General Information about DCF77
1 General Information about DCF77
The radio remote clocks made by Meinberg receive the signal from the long wave transmitter DCF77. This long
wave transmitter installed in Mainflingen near Frankfurt/Germany transmits the reference time of the Federal
Republic of Germany. This time reference is either the Central European Time (Mitteleuropäische Zeit, MEZ)
or the Central European Summer Time (Mitteleuropäische Sommerzeit, MESZ). The transmitter is controlled
by the atomic clock plant at the Federal Physical Technical Institute (PTB) in Braunschweig/Germany and
transmits the current time of day, date of month and day of week in coded second pulses. Once every minute
the complete time information is available.
At the beginning of every second the amplitude of the high precision 77.5 kHz carrier frequency is lowered
by 75% for a period of 0.1 or 0.2 sec. The length of these time marks represent a binary coding scheme using
the short time mark for logical zeroes and the long time mark for logical ones. The infomation on the current
date and time as well as some parity and status bits can be decoded from the time marks of the 15th up to the
58th second every minute. The absence of any time mark at the 59th second of a minute signals that a new
minute will begin with the next time mark.
Our radio remote clocks decode the highly accurate information on date and time within a wide range around
Germany. So some of our clocks are installed in Bibao/Spain as well as in the City of Umeå in northern Sweden
- fully statisfying the requirements of the users. The radio remote clocks automatically switch to summertime
and back. The reception of the time information is free of charge and does not need to be registered.
Gernerally it is important to position the antenna in an optimal way. It should be mounted at least 30 cen-
timeters away from the clock unit and from solid steel. The antenna should be aligned at a right angle to the
direction of the transmitter (Frankfurt).
0
10
20
30
40
50
R
M
1
4
2
1
0
2
10
8
4
2
1
P2
20
0
1
8
4
2
1
2
4
8
10
1
2
4
8
10
20
40
80
P3
A1
1
Z
Z2
A2
S
1
2
4
8
10
20
40
P1
Kodierung
nach Bedarf
Minute
Stunde
Kalendertag
Wochentag
Kalender-
monat
Kalenderjahr
M Minutenmarke (0.1 s)
R Aussendung über Reserveantenne
A1 Ankündigung Beginn/Ende der Sommerzeit
Z1, Z2 Zonenzeitbits
Z1, Z2 = 0, 1: Standardzeit (MEZ)
Z1, Z2 = 1, 0: Sommerzeit (MESZ)
A2 Ankündigung einer Schaltsekunde
S Startbit der codierten Zeitinformation
P1, P2, P3 gerade Paritätsbits
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 1

2 Overview DCF600HS
2.1 RS232 Output
An asynchronous serial port can be used to transmit information on date and time to other devices. The clock
is configured to send time messages automatically with 19200 baud and and with a framing of 8N1 once per
second. The baud and the framing can be configured by a Monitorprogram.
2.2 Power Supply
The system requires an operating voltage of 20-60 V DC witch is applied via two contacts of the integrated
screw terminal. The receiver is DC isolated due to an internal DC/DC converter, the isolation voltage is 1.5 KV
DC.
2.3 Housing - Technical Specifications
The receiver module is mounted in a plastic housing for 35mm DIN mounting rails. Two status LEDs (for
modulation and free-running mode), the BNC antenna connector and a D-SUB connector for the serial RS232
interface are integrated in the front side of the housing.
Chassis Type: Dold Enclosure type KO4762, IP40 protected
Physical Dimensions: 73,2mm x 45mm x 120mm (hight x width x depth)
Elektr. Anschlüsse: 9 pin sub D female connector
Antenna - BNC female connector
screw terminal for connecting the pulse outputs and the power supply
Betriebsspannung: 20-60 V DC
Stromaufnahme: approx. 100 mA
Ambient Temperature: 0 ... 50◦C / 32 ... 122◦F
Storage Temperature: -20 ... 70◦C / -4 ... 158◦F
Humidity: max. 85%
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2 Overview DCF600HS
2.4 Assignment of the Terminal Connectors
Assignment of the terminal block: 1
————————————————
VDD: positive potential
of power supply
GND: reference potential
of power supply
Photocoupler outputs (PPO)
1: PP 1- Emitter of photocoupler
2: PP 1+ Collector of photocoupler
3: PP 2- Emitter of photocoupler
4: PP 2+ Collector of photocoupler
5: Ground Earth
————————————————
2.5 Mounting the Antenna
Generally it is important to position the antenna in an optimal way. The antenna should be aligned at a right
angle to the direction of the transmitter (Frankfurt). It should be mounted at least 30 centimeters away from
the clock unit and from solid steel. A distance of several meters is recommended to all TVs or computer monitors.
If the antenna is installed properly and the signal from DCF77 can be received without strong distortions,
the "Mod." LED starts blinking exactly once per second, corresponding to the time marks from DCF77. If this
LED flashes intermediately, there is some electrical noise around which prevents the microprocessor from de-
coding the time message. So a better location for the antenna must be found. In case of correct reception it
takes up to three minutes after power-up until the clock is synchronized and the "FR" LED is turned off. It is
turned on again to indicate the loss of or an error in reception. If the clock have lost reception for more than 2
hours the "FR" LED starts blinking. The scope of supply includes an active ferrite antenna for indoor mounting
(AI01) and 5m of RG174 coaxial cable. When mounting the antenna outdoor the weather proof Antenna AW02
is to use.
1tightening torque of the screws in the terminal block max. 0,9 Nm
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 3

2.6 D-SUB Connector Pin Assignments
Pin 1 nc
Pin 2 TxD
Pin 3 RxD
Pin 4 nc
Pin 5 GND
Pin 6 nc
Pin 7 nc
Pin 8 nc
Pin 9 nc
1
6
5
9
2.7 Pulse Outputs
The terminal block provides two photocoupler outputs:
Screw clamp 1: Emitter of photocoupler 1 (PP 1-)
Screw clamp 2: Collector of photocoupler (PP 1+)
Screw clamp 3: Emitter of photocoupler 2 (PP 2-)
Screw clamp 4: Collector of photocoupler 2 (PP 2+)
Screw clamp 5: ground earth
The DCF600HS generates a PPS (pulse per second, PP 1) and a PPM (pulse per minute, PP 2). This pulses
have a duration of 200 ms and are generated after the clock has synchronized first. The pulse output is elec-
trically insulated by a photocoupler.
In case of DCF77 reception failure the pulse generator is active even for the next 12 hours. After that pe-
riod the generator will be disabled.
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2 Overview DCF600HS
Photocoupler output(PP 1,PP 2):
(max. 70 V, 20 mA; E = Emitter, C = Collector), pulse duration: 200 ms
Photocoupler Outputs
IC1
TLP181
IC9
TLP181
PP 2
PP 1
4
3
2
1
A
K E
C
A
K E
C
Connection
IC1
TLP181
IC9
TLP181
PP 2
PP 1
4
3
2
1
A
K E
C
A
K E
C
DCF600HS
VDD max. 70V
GND
VDD max. 70V
GND
load
max. 20mA
load
max. 20mA
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 5

Pulses
Idle Mode
Selecting "Idle" deactivates the output.
Pulses Per Second, Per Min, Per Hour Modes
These modes generate pulses of defined length once per second, once per minute or once per hour. "Pulse
length" determines the pulse duration (10 msec...10 sec).
Cyclic Pulse mode - generating of periodically repeated pulses
The value of "Time" determines the time between two consecutive pulses. This cycle time must be entered as
hours, minutes and seconds. The pulse train is synchronized at 0:00 o’clock local time, so the first pulse of a
day always occurs at midnight. A cycle time of 2 seconds for example, would cause pulses at 0:00:00, 0:00:02,
0:00:04 etc. Basically it is possible to enter any cycle time between 0 and 24 hours, however usually a cycle
times that cause a constant distance between all consecutive pulses make sense.
DCF77 Marks
In "DCF77 Marks" mode the selected output simulates the telegram as transmitted by german time code trans-
mitter DCF77. The generated time code is related to the local time zone. If you want DCF simulation to
be disabled when the clock is in free running mode, you can enter the delay (given in minutes) for deactivat-
ing the DCF-Simulation with the "Timeout" value. DCF Simulation is never suspended, if the delay value is zero.
Single Shot Modus
Selecting Singls Shot generates a single pulse of defined length once per day. You can enter the time when
the pulse is generated with the "Time" value. The value "pulse length" determines the pulse duration. The pulse
duration can vary from 10 msec to 10 sec in steps of 10 msec.
6 Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

2 Overview DCF600HS
Timer Mode
This mode simulates a programmable day assigned timer. Three turn-off and turn-on times are programmable for
each output. If you want to program a switchtime, change the turn-on time "On" and the corresponding turn-off
time "Off". A turn-on time later than the turn-off time would cause a switch program running over midnight. For
example a program "On"10.45.00, "Off" 9.30.00 would cause an active ouput from 10.45 to 9.30 (the next day!). If
one or more of the three switching times are unused just enter the same time into the values "On" and "Off". In
this case the switch time does not affect the output.
As already mentioned, the outputs home position is selected by "active: high or low".
Time Slots
In this mode, you can select defined time slots. "Number of Time Slots" determines the number and length of
the time slots based to one minute. The "Pre-limit buffer" allows to set a premature shutdown. This can be
configured in the range between 50ms and 500ms to prevent overlap of time slots.
Example:
•Number of Time Slots = 10
•Pre-limit buffer = 500ms
Time slots 1 and 2 are enabled (0 - 6s and 6 - 12s).
In fact, the outputs triggers from 0 - 11,5s.
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 7

3 Configuration DCF600HS
Please note that the following configurations only can be set via the RS-232 interface!
Device configurations and status information can be done or can be retrieved using the following
Meinberg programs:
MBGMONITOR WX: Monitor program for older Windows versions (< WIN 7)
MBGDEVMAN: for Windows (≥WIN 7) and Linux operating systems, the Meinberg Device Monitor
is available - a comprehensive program that can be used to perform not only configuration
and monitoring but also firmware updates.
3.1 Configuration mit MBGMON
The program serves the configuration of PZFMON Meinberg Radio Clocks. The software can be run on the
operating systems Windows 7, Windows Vista, Win9x, Win2000, WinXP and WinNT.
A connection between the DCF600HS and the program can be produced by serial port. The configurations are
described below.
Connection
8 Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

3 Configuration DCF600HS
The PC should have generated an automatic connection to the clock, select the tab "Connection" on the button
"Force Connection". By activating the button runs the program through possible baud rates and ports.
The tab "COM1" is considered in connection with an version of the DCF600HS - RS485. It should be noted
that, for a RS485 COM 0 is inactive.
Impulse
The program MBGMON has the ability to configure the signal outputs of DCF600HS. Then select the tab
"Pulses". The pulse outputs, pulselength and the serial interface can be configured freely. Confirm your selec-
tion with "Save".
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 9

Information
By selecting the tab "Revision" different Informations (Serial number, Firmware) can be shown.
10 Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

3 Configuration DCF600HS
3.1.1 Firmware Updates
Whenever the onboard software must be upgraded or modified, the new firmware can be downloaded to the
internal flash memory via the serial port COM0. There is no need to open the case and insert a new EPROM.
In order to load the appropriate software during operation of DCF600HS you must have the Flash program
"mbgflash.exe" (included) to start.
First, select "Processor" the designated processor SAM3U. Then check under "Comport" the correct port (COM
1/COM 2).
Then choose "File" - "Open" the selected firmware. Now, by "Flash" button, the selected firmware is loaded into
the DCF600HS. In this operation, the device must be connected to the given operating voltage.
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 11

3.2 Configuration with Meinberg Device Manager
The program serves the configuration of Meinberg Radio Clocks. The software can be run on the operating
systems Windows 7 or higher and under the following Linux distributions: Ubuntu / Mint Linux / Debian /
SUSE Linux / CentOS.
Documentation:
https://www.meinbergglobal.com/download/docs/sw/english/mbgdevman.pdf
Download:
https://www.meinbergglobal.com/english/sw/mbg-devman.htm
A connection between the system and the program can be produced by serial port. The configurations are
described in the mbgdevman-documentation.
12 Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

3 Configuration DCF600HS
Connection
The PC should have generated an automatic connection to the clock, select the tab "Search Devices" (Nr.9).
Alternatively, you can use the button "Add Device" (Nr.1) to generate a connection to the clock by using the
same configure (Port / Baud / Framing).
Configuration
With button 4 ("Configure Device") various configurations can be carried out on the system. Please note that
any changes you make in the settings must always be confirmed with the "Apply Configuration" button. Use the
"Restore Configuration" button to reset all settings back to their default values. For more information, please
refer to the Meinberg Device Manager manual.
Firmware Update
With mbgdevman you can conveniently proceed a firmware update. After recognizing the serial connection in the
main window and selecting the device, an upload dialog (Flash Device Firmware) will be opened with pressing
on button 7 ("Firmware Updates").
Buttons "Open Firmware Update File" and "Apply" for starting firmware updates.
Here you can use the "Open Firmware Update File" button to select the update package that was previously
saved on the local PC or on the network. With the "Apply" button the update procedure can be started. After a
successful update the device will be restarted.
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 13

4 Time Strings
4.1 Format of the Meinberg Standard Time String
The Meinberg Standard Time String is a sequence of 32 ASCII characters starting with the STX (start-of-text)
character and ending with the ETX (end-of-text) character. The format is:
<STX>D:dd.mm.yy;T:w;U:hh.mm.ss;uvxy<ETX>
The letters printed in italics are replaced by ASCII numbers whereas the other
characters are part of the time string. The groups of characters as defined below:
<STX> Start-Of-Text, ASCII Code 02h
sending with one bit accuracy at change of second
dd.mm.yy the current date:
dd day of month (01..31)
mm month (01..12)
yy year of
the century (00..99)
w the day of
the week (1..7, 1 = Monday)
hh.mm.ss the current time:
hh hours (00..23)
mm minutes (00..59)
ss seconds (00..59, or 60 while leap second)
uv clock status characters (depending on clock type):
u: ‘#’ GPS: clock is running free (without exact synchr.)
PZF: time frame not synchronized
DCF77: clock has not synchronized after reset
‘ ‘ (space, 20h)
GPS: clock is synchronous (base accuracy is reached)
PZF: time frame is synchronized
DCF77: clock has synchronized after reset
v: ‘*’ GPS: receiver has not checked its position
PZF/DCF77: clock currently runs on XTAL
‘ ‘ (space, 20h)
GPS: receiver has determined its position
PZF/DCF77: clock is syncronized with transmitter
x time zone indicator:
‘U’ UTC Universal Time Coordinated, formerly GMT
‘ ‘ CET European Standard Time, daylight saving disabled
‘S’ (CEST) European Summertime, daylight saving enabled
y anouncement of discontinuity of time, enabled during last hour before discontinuity comes in effect:
‘!’ announcement of start or end of daylight saving time
‘A’ announcement of leap second insertion
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) nothing announced
<ETX> End-Of-Text, ASCII Code 03h
14 Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

4 Time Strings
4.2 Format of the SAT Time String
The SAT Time String is a sequence of 29 ASCII characters starting with the STX (start-of-text) character and
ending with the ETX (end-of-text) character. The format is:
<STX>dd.mm.yy/w/hh:mm:ssxxxxuv<ETX>
The letters printed in italics are replaced by ASCII numbers whereas the other characters
are part of the time string. The groups of characters as defined below:
<STX> Start-Of-Text, ASCII Code 02h
sending with one bit accuracy at change of second
dd.mm.yy the current date:
dd day of month (01..31)
mm month (01..12)
yy year of the century (00..99)
w the day of the week (1..7, 1 = Monday)
hh:mm:ss the current time:
hh hours (00..23)
mm minutes (00..59)
ss seconds (00..59, or 60 while leap second)
xxxx time zone indicator:
‘UTC‘ Universal Time Coordinated, formerly GMT
‘CET‘ European Standard Time, daylight saving disabled
‘CEST’ European Summertime, daylight saving enabled
u clock status characters:
‘#’ clock has not synchronized after reset
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) clock has synchronized after reset
v anouncement of discontinuity of time, enabled during last hour
before discontinuity comes in effect:
‘!’ announcement of start or end of daylight saving time
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) nothing announced
<CR> Carriage Return, ASCII Code 0Dh
<LF> Line Feed, ASCII Code 0Ah
<ETX> End-Of-Text, ASCII Code 03h
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 15

4.3 Format of the Uni Erlangen String (NTP)
The time string Uni Erlangen (NTP) of a GPS clock is a sequence of 66 ASCII characters starting with the
STX (start-of-text) character and ending with the ETX (end-of-text) character. The format is:
<STX>tt.mm.jj; w; hh:mm:ss; voo:oo; acdfg i;bbb.bbbbn lll.lllle hhhhm<ETX>
The letters printed in italics are replaced by ASCII numbers whereas the other characters are part
of the time string. The groups of characters as defined below:
<STX> Start-Of-Text, ASCII Code 02h
sending with one bit occuracy at change of second
dd.mm.yy the current date:
dd day of month (01..31)
mm month (01..12)
yy year of
the century (00..99)
w the day of
the week (1..7, 1 = Monday)
hh.mm.ss the current time:
hh hours (00..23)
mm minutes (00..59)
ss seconds (00..59, or 60 while leap second)
v sign of the offset of local timezone related to UTC
oo:oo offset of local timezone related to UTC in hours and minutes
ac clock status characters:
a: ‘#’ clock has not synchronized after reset
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) clock has synchronized after reset
c: ‘*’ GPS receiver has not checked its position
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) GPS receiver has determined its position
d time zone indicator:
‘S’ CEST European Summertime, daylight saving enabled
‘ ‘ CET European Standard Time, daylight saving disabled
f anouncement of discontinuity of time, enabled during last hour
before discontinuity comes in effect:
‘!’ announcement of start or end of daylight saving time
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) nothing announced
g anouncement of discontinuity of time, enabled during last hour
before discontinuity comes in effect:
‘A’ announcement of leap second insertion
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) nothing announced
i leap second insertion
‘L’ leap second is actually inserted
(active only in 60th sec.)
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) no leap second is inserted
bbb.bbbb latitude of receiver position in degrees
leading signs are replaced by a space character (20h)
n latitude, the following characters are possible:
16 Date: 24th July 2018 DCF600HS

4 Time Strings
‘N’ north of equator
‘S’ south d. equator
lll.llll longitude of receiver position in degrees
leading signs are replaced by a space character (20h)
e longitude, the following characters are possible:
‘E’ east of Greenwich
‘W’ west of Greenwich
hhhh altitude above WGS84 ellipsoid in meters
leading signs are replaced by a space character (20h)
<ETX> End-Of-Text, ASCII Code 03h
DCF600HS Date: 24th July 2018 17