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PPS adjustment ... ?

D
Dave
Thu, Feb 23, 2023 7:36 PM

I have built a GPSDO based around a NEO-6M and it works well.

However, I have noticed tiny shifts in the PPS signal every few minutes.

Does the GPS smoothly adjust the PPS signal or does it make small
correctional steps from time to time???

It doesn't affect my usage - I'd just like to understand ...

Dave

I have built a GPSDO based around a NEO-6M and it works well. However, I have noticed tiny shifts in the PPS signal every few minutes. Does the GPS smoothly adjust the PPS signal or does it make small correctional steps from time to time??? It doesn't affect my usage - I'd just like to understand ... Dave
BC
Bob Camp
Thu, Feb 23, 2023 10:44 PM

Hi

The GPS puts out a PPS based on it’s internal TCXO. The edges
of that TCXO are not aligned to anything. It’s just a free running
oscillator.

To put out a PPS, the module picks the closest edge and uses that.
On some ( like the LEA-6T) modules, the device reports how far
off it thinks the edge is.

The net result is an error curve that is bounded by the period of the
TCXO’s output. If you graph it, the error looks like a sawtooth. It is
commonly called “sawtooth error”. There is no guarantee that it will
always look that way,

In some cases the TCXO edge will simply sit a bit early or a bit late
relative to the “correct” location for a while. Normally the sawtooth
shaped stuff averages out. This “hanging bridge” will not average out
over the short term. Best guess is that’s what you are seeing.

Bob

On Feb 23, 2023, at 2:36 PM, Dave via time-nuts time-nuts@lists.febo.com wrote:

I have built a GPSDO based around a NEO-6M and it works well.

However, I have noticed tiny shifts in the PPS signal every few minutes.

Does the GPS smoothly adjust the PPS signal or does it make small correctional steps from time to time???

It doesn't affect my usage - I'd just like to understand ...

Dave


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Hi The GPS puts out a PPS based on it’s internal TCXO. The edges of that TCXO are not aligned to anything. It’s just a free running oscillator. To put out a PPS, the module picks the closest edge and uses that. On some ( like the LEA-6T) modules, the device reports how far off it thinks the edge is. The net result is an error curve that is bounded by the period of the TCXO’s output. If you graph it, the error looks like a sawtooth. It is commonly called “sawtooth error”. There is no guarantee that it will always look that way, In some cases the TCXO edge will simply sit a bit early or a bit late relative to the “correct” location for a while. Normally the sawtooth shaped stuff averages out. This “hanging bridge” will not average out over the short term. Best guess is that’s what you are seeing. Bob > On Feb 23, 2023, at 2:36 PM, Dave via time-nuts <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote: > > I have built a GPSDO based around a NEO-6M and it works well. > > However, I have noticed tiny shifts in the PPS signal every few minutes. > > Does the GPS smoothly adjust the PPS signal or does it make small correctional steps from time to time??? > > It doesn't affect my usage - I'd just like to understand ... > > Dave > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
J
john.haine
Fri, Feb 24, 2023 7:39 AM

How big are the steps? Could they be about 21ns?Sent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: Dave via time-nuts time-nuts@lists.febo.com Date: 23/02/2023  22:14  (GMT+00:00) To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@lists.febo.com Cc: Dave softfoot@hotmail.com Subject: [time-nuts] PPS adjustment ... ? I have built a GPSDO based around a NEO-6M and it works well.However, I have noticed tiny shifts in the PPS signal every few minutes.Does the GPS smoothly adjust the PPS signal or does it make small correctional steps from time to time???It doesn't affect my usage - I'd just like to understand ...Dave_______________________________________________time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.comTo unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com

How big are the steps? Could they be about 21ns?Sent from my Galaxy -------- Original message --------From: Dave via time-nuts <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> Date: 23/02/2023 22:14 (GMT+00:00) To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> Cc: Dave <softfoot@hotmail.com> Subject: [time-nuts] PPS adjustment ... ? I have built a GPSDO based around a NEO-6M and it works well.However, I have noticed tiny shifts in the PPS signal every few minutes.Does the GPS smoothly adjust the PPS signal or does it make small correctional steps from time to time???It doesn't affect my usage - I'd just like to understand ...Dave_______________________________________________time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.comTo unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com