Atomic time reference - GPS based

Time and date information via RS232 or RS485 - anywhere on earth.

Unlike many common radio time receivers, which are regional, this unit receives satellite signals from the GPS network and from these it creates precision local date and time updates, which it sends out over RS232 or RS485

Applications include precision factory time displays, precision time control, synchronisation etc. It has its own in-built satellite antenna.

The ASR-GPS is a low cost, compact device, which also can be run on 12V or 24V vehicle power.




See manual
See datasheet

Model CCM Calendar Clock module

The CCM is a free-running general purpose calendar-clock module which sends out RS422 data, containing the time and date.



It is suited to installations where radio or satellite signals may not be receivable.

See manual

Rugby MSF Atomic time data source

NB This product is now discontinued, replaced by the ASR-GPS.

If you need to know exactly what time it is, the ASR60 is ideal. And it is affordable.

It provides an RS422 data string, containing date and time, derived from the National Physical Laboratory's MSF atomic clock reference.

You can send this data to a PC, control system or public display. All applications which rely on accurate timing can benefit from this cost effective reference.




Look at these handy features...

• Small, only 115mm x 65mm x 40mm
• Sealed to IP65 / NEMA4, withstands harsh environments.
• DC powered, from 10 to 30VDC suits mobile and fixed use.
• RS422 output can send data up to 500m
• Precision quartz backup oscillator maintains timing during signal loss.
• Low cost compared to similar time references.
• Data includes time and date.
• Signal indicator helps you align the compact internal antenna
• Can be set for UK or European operation

The ASR60 is perfect for budget applications which need to be synchronised within a second or two of real time

It can be used in fixed or portable applications, thanks to its wide ranging power supply, and can be mounted inside or outside, wherever a suitable signal can be received.

Operating Manual...

The data string updates every second and is in this format...

<hr><min><sec><day><mnth><yr><Status><cr>



Each field has the following characteristics:-

hr	: from 00 to 23
min	: from 00 to 59
sec	: from 00 to 59
day	: from 01 to 31
mnth	: from 01 to 12
yr	: last 2 digits. For example in 2005 this will be 05
status	: A + sign when data has been updated by MSF : A - sign when data comes from backup crystal oscillator.
cr	: ASCII 13 hex 0D Carriage return

When the unit is first switched on, the hours, minutes, days, months and years will be --. The seconds will be numeric, incrementing 1 per second, but not locked. So, a typical switch-on data string may look like ....

----34-------

As soon as the receiver has successfully decoded the full date and time, the data string will include all numeric values.

Need large format clocks? You can feed this data direct to our large digit serial input displays to create a factory-wide precision time reference for your employees. Or mount one of our compact 1/8 DIN time display slaves on your control panel.

The MSF transmitter at Anthorn is at latitude 54° 55' N, and longitude 3° 15' W, approx. It was located at Rugby for many years, until re-locating to Anthorn on 1 April 2007.

The estimated equivalent monopole radiated power (EMRP) is 15 kW and the horizontal radiation pattern is substantially omnidirectional.

The signal provides a field strength exceeding 100 microVolts/m throughout the UK, and it can be satisfactorily received throughout much of north and west Europe and Ireland.

Reception limits are most often caused by local interference and screening due to nearby metalwork, for example in a steel-framed building. Because the ASR60 can be mounted outside and can send its signal over hundreds of metres, you should be able to mount the receiver where there is good signal quality. Do not mount the receiver near fluorescent lighting, variable speed drives or other electrically noisy devices.

MSF Scheduled Maintenance Periods

The MSF 60 kHz time and frequency signal broadcast from the BT Anthorn Radio Station is occasionally taken off-air to allow maintenance work to be carried out in safety. The dates and times (in UK local time) of scheduled maintenance periods are as follows:

The duration of each outage period will be kept to a minimum, and the signal may be back on-air prior to the times given above.

Unscheduled Breaks in Service

It is possible that short unscheduled breaks in transmission will occur in addition to the routine breaks for maintenance. NPL provides a help line (+44 (0)20 8943 6493) which gives information on whether the MSF signal is in one of its maintenance periods, and, during working hours, whether the signal is on air.

If you'd like more information on this item, please email your query to