Gps Satellite Clock Synchronization

The gps system offers a free to air time synchronization service.

Gps satellite clock synchronization. Each gps satellite has a very accurate atomic clock on board which are synchronized to a ground based stations so that each satellite has the same time. The receiver needs precise time to calculate precise distance and precise distance to synchronize time to calculate the time difference. I really didn t know the answer to the question but that wasn t the end of the story. The accuracy of gps time signals 10 ns is second only to the atomic clocks they are based on and is used in applications such as gps disciplined oscillators.

One widely accepted technique uses synchronization references that include highly accurate gps satellites. A calculation using general relativity predicts that the clocks in each gps satellite should get ahead of ground based clocks by 45 microseconds per day. Gps receivers decode these signals effectively synchronizing each receiver to the atomic clocks. The global positioning system the global positioning system commonly known as gps does more than just let consumers find their way around during vacation road trips.

Numerous computer networks observe a gps clock as a precise time reference. It is kinda chicken or the egg problem. Each gps satellite contains multiple atomic clocks that contribute very precise time data to the gps signals. Many emergency services depend upon gps for location and timing capabilities.

Inter range instrumentation group time codes irig timecodes are standard formats for transferring timing information. The satellites are synchronized to gps time which is not corrected to match the rotation of the earth. The accuracy of gps time signals is 10 nanoseconds. This enables users to determine the time to within 100 billionths of a second without the cost of owning and operating atomic clocks.

The combination of these two relativitic effects means that the clocks on board each satellite should tick faster than identical clocks on the ground by about 38 microseconds per day 45 7 38. In addition to its use in navigation the global positioning system gps can also be used for clock synchronization. I received a question on my oh8stn facebook page about gps time sync software for windows os. I know there s lots of skills experience and no how in our little community.

Completely free of charge it has no ongoing set up or subscription fees. Highly accurate ntp servers systems synchronize network time protocol ntp servers utilising the gps system as an external reference clock.