Gps Satellite Clock Synchronization

In addition to its use in navigation the global positioning system gps can also be used for clock synchronization.

Gps satellite clock synchronization.

The gps receiver s time has to be synchronized with atomic clocks located in gps satellites. I received a question on my oh8stn facebook page about gps time sync software for windows os. 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. Highly accurate ntp servers systems synchronize network time protocol ntp servers utilising the gps system as an external reference clock.

Numerous computer networks observe a gps clock as a precise time reference. Completely free of charge it has no ongoing set up or subscription fees. This enables users to determine the time to within 100 billionths of a second without the cost of owning and operating atomic clocks. Disaster relief emergency services.

The receiver needs precise time to calculate precise distance and precise distance to synchronize time to calculate the time difference. The satellites are synchronized to gps time which is not corrected to match the rotation of the earth. 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. The gps system offers a free to air time synchronization service.

It is kinda chicken or the egg problem. Synchronization to gps gps satellites and now other global navigation systems commonly refered to as gnss include three or four atomic clocks that are monitored and controlled to be highly synchronized and traceable to national and international standards known as utc. Many emergency services depend upon gps for location and timing capabilities. I really didn t know the answer to the question but that wasn t the end of the story.

Each gps satellite contains multiple atomic clocks that contribute very precise time data to the gps signals. I know there s lots of skills experience and no how in our little community. One widely accepted technique uses synchronization references that include highly accurate gps satellites. Inter range instrumentation group time codes irig timecodes are standard formats for transferring timing information.

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 accuracy of gps time signals is 10 nanoseconds.