World Time Solutions syncboxRED User manual
syncboxRED
GPS Serial Time Source
User Manual
Version 1.1
World Time Solutions Limited
Solutions
World Time
syncboxRED - GPS Serial Time Source - User Manual - Version 1.1II
COPYRIGHT
© 2010 World Time Solutions Limited. All Rights Reserved.
All information contained within this document is the property of
World Time Solutions Limited and cannot be used or reproduced
by any person or company without written consent from World
Time Solutions Limited.
World Time Solutions Limited reserves the right to make periodic
amendments to the information in this document without notice.
TRADEMARKS
All registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their
respective owners.
RoHSCOMPLIANCE
World Time Solutions Limited works with its suppliers to ensure
all products comply with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances
(RoHS) directive.
For further information, please visit our web site at:
www.worldtimesolutions.com/rohs.html
DISPOSAL
Please dispose of this unit properly. To minimize pollution and
help protect the environment, this unit should be recycled.
For further information and/or to view a copy of the World Time
Solutions Limited Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Policy, please visit our web site at:
www.worldtimesolutions.com/recycle.html
SOFTWARELICENCE
This product contains proprietary World Time Solutions Limited
software. This software is supplied under the World Time
Solutions Limited Software Licence Agreement.
For further information or to view a copy of the software licence,
please visit:
www.worldtimesolutions.com
LIMITEDWARRANTY
The syncboxRED GPS Serial Time Source is guaranteed against
failure due to faulty parts or workmanship for a period of ve (5)
years from date of purchase.
In the event of product failure due to faulty parts or workmanship
within the warranty period, World Time Solutions Limited, at
its own discretion, will either (a) repair the product, (b) supply
a replacement product, (c) supply a functionally equivalent
replacement product, or (d) refund the purchase price of the
product.
The limited warranty will not apply if (a) the product has not been
installed or operated as per our instructions, (b) the product has
been modied in anyway.
In the event of failure, the syncboxRED should be returned to the
manufacturer for inspection and repair. Please visit our support
pages for further details:
www.worldtimesolutions.com/support.html
TECHNICALSUPPORT
To obtain help with the installation or operation of the syncboxRED,
please visit our web site at:
www.worldtimesolutions.com/support.html
1syncboxRED - GPS Serial Time Source - User Manual - Version 1.1
1 - Introduction
The World Time Solutions syncboxRED is a highly accurate GPS time
receiver. The unit is designed to synchronise to the GPS navigation
network and provide RS232 level serial time and date information for
the synchronisation of a single system or PC.
The syncboxRED incorporates a high sensitivity GPS engine with
excellent interference rejection and low noise operation, enabling the
system to acquire a GPS lock in low signal areas. Please refer to
section 2 for installation recommendations and section 3 for details of
conrming system operation.
1.1 - Package contents
The syncboxRED is supplied with the following component parts:
• syncboxRED GPS Serial Time source
• 1m RS232 serial cable preterminated with a 9 way D connector
• UK style power adapter
• User manual
1.2 - syncboxRED front view
The drawing below shows the front view of the syncboxRED.
No. Function No. Function
1IP66 (NMEA 4X) polycarbonate
enclosure with clear cover
5RS232 level serial and
PPS outputs
2Status LEDs 6Case xing points (x4)
312V DC power input 7Cable grommets (x2)
4Cover xings (x4)
Table 1.1 - syncboxRED functions
Power
Lock
Data
Fault
syncboxRED
www.worldtimesolutions.com
GPS Serial Time Source
Solutions
World Time
0V +12V
DC POWER INPUT RS232 OUTPUT
TXD PPS
2
3
7
4
6
1
5
syncboxRED front view
Figure 1.1
syncboxRED - GPS Serial Time Source - User Manual - Version 1.12
2 - Installing the syncboxRED
The syncboxRED should be installed in a suitable location following
the recommendations in section 2.1 below. The system should
be securely xed in place, connected to the synchronisation slave
system (e.g. a PC) using the supplied cable and then powered via the
supplied power adapter.
If required, the cables may be extended by following the
recommendations in sections 2.3 and 2.4. Special care should be
taken to follow these recommendations if the unit is to be installed
externally.
2.1 - Recommended installation locations
To achieve the most reliable operation the syncboxRED should be
installed in the following optimum location:
• On the roof of a building, laying at facing the sky. (The unit
should have a clear unobstructed view of the sky).
If installation on the roof of the building is not practical, one of the
following acceptable alternative installation locations may be used:
• Flat to the side of a building facing the horizon with a partial view
of the sky. (The unit should be installed on the side of the building
facing towards the equator).
• Mounted internally looking out of a non-obstructed window. (The
window should be on the side of the building facing towards the
equator. Ensure the window is not coated with a metallised lm
as this may disrupt the GPS signals).
2.2 - Physical installation
The syncboxRED should be secured in position using the four 4.5mm
(0.178”) case xing points (see gure 1.1). Care should be taken to
ensure the xings used (not supplied) are suitable for the application.
Alternatively, the unit may be xed in position using the optional post
xing kit. Please refer to the instruction manual supplied with the kit
for installation recommendations.
2.3 - Connecting the syncboxRED to a PC
The unit is supplied with a 1m cable preterminated with a 9 way female
D connector. The connector is congured for direct connection to a
standard PC 9 way male D connector, as indicated in table 2.1.
If required, the supplied data cable may be extended up to a maximum
of 15m (50ft) using a similar cable type (Belden 9533 or equivalent).
3syncboxRED - GPS Serial Time Source - User Manual - Version 1.1
Section 2: Installing the syncboxRED
Pin ID number Connection Cable colour
1RS232 PPS White
2RS232 TXD Red
5SIG GND Black
Table 2.1 - RS232 output connector wiring - (undetailed pins are unconnected)
If the unit is to be installed externally, the supplied cable should be
substituted for a sunlight resistant equivalent. When replacing the
cable, care should be taken to ensure that the cable grommet at the
data cable exit point is fastened securely and any joints in the cable
are housed within a water tight enclosure.
2.4 - Power connection
Once the unit has been secured in place and the RS232 output
connected, power may be applied to the syncboxRED. The power
adapter should be connected to a local mains power supply.
WARNING!ENSURETHEPOWERSUPPLYISOFTHECORRECT
VOLTAGEFOROPERATIONWITHYOURLOCALMAINSPOWER
SUPPLY.
The power adapter and connected cable are suitable for internal use
only. If the syncboxRED is being installed externally, a suitable DC
power cable extension should be used for the duration of the external
cable run. The cable extension should be selected by a suitably
qualied person.
When connecting the replacement power cable, care should be taken
to ensure that the cable grommet at the power cable entry point is
fastened securely and any joints in the cable are housed within a
water tight enclosure.
syncboxRED - GPS Serial Time Source - User Manual - Version 1.14
3 - System operation
Once the system has been correctly installed (see section 2) and
the power adapter connected to the local mains power supply, the
syncboxRED will automatically search for GPS signals.
For a typical installation, system lock from a cold start should take
under 10 minutes. Once the syncboxRED has synchronised to
the GPS satellites, the unit will automatically output RS232 data.
Depending on the software version of each individual syncboxRED,
RS232 data may be output before the system has synchronised to the
GPS signals.
3.1 - syncboxRED status information
The operational status of the syncboxRED may be visually conrmed
via the status LEDs (see gure 1.1). The table below lists the function
of the different LEDs.
LED Status
Power Green LED illuminates continuously when power is applied
to the syncboxRED and the system is running
Lock Green LED illuminates continuously when the syncboxRED
is synchronised to the GPS satellites
Data Green LED ashes to indicate communication between the
GPS engine and the main processor
Fault Red LED illuminates upon detection of a fault condition
Table 3.1 - Status LEDs
3.2 - Serial data format
The syncboxRED is available with different software versions, each
generating an RS232 level serial output in a different data format.
The output data is specied by the customer at time of order. This
syncboxRED has been supplied to output the following serial format:
5syncboxRED - GPS Serial Time Source - User Manual - Version 1.1
A - Specications
Typical Performance Specications:
PPS accuracy: 1 microsecond
GPS Module Specications:
GPS engine: 12 parallel channel C/A L 1 (1575.42 MHz)
RF Reception Sensitivity: -189dBW tracking,
-185dBW acquisition (hot or assisted,
Ephemeris available),
-174dBW unassisted acquisition
(Ephemeris decoded)
I/O Connections:
Serial ASCII output: RS232 level serial data output (as detailed
in section 3.2)
PPS output: RS232 level one pulse per second output
Power input: 12 VDC power input, supplied with 230
VAC power adapter
Mechanical & Electrical Specications:
Dimensions: 158 x 90 x 55 mm (6.22” x 3.54” x 2.17”)
(including removable wall brackets,
excluding cable grommets)
Weight: 1 kg
Enclosure: IP66 / NEMA 4X rated, UV stabilised
polycarbonate enclosure. Light grey body
and clear cover.
Environmental Specications:
Operating temperature: -30 to +50 ºC
Relative humidity: 0% - 95%, noncondensing
Standards Compliance:
Electrical Safety: BS EN 60950-1:2006
Radio Disturbance: BS EN 55022:2006
Immunity Characteristics: BS EN 55024:2003
World Time Solutions Limited
6 Clinton Crescent, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7JW, United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1296 331428 - [email protected]
www.worldtimesolutions.com
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