An emulator of the GPS receiver as an exact-time source

Abstract

An emulator of the GPS receiver, which was designed at the Polar Geophysical Institute, for performing geophysical studies, is described. The emulator-supported time deviation from the universal coordinated time (UTC), which is determined from the rising leading edge of the PPS pulse of the GPS receiver, is ∼15 μs for 20 h, when a temperature-controlled quartz oscillator is used, and ≤4 μs for 20 h, when a rubidium frequency standard is used. A synchronization operation at the measurement start and end is provided to determine and further exclude a linear trend of the emulator-time deviation from the UTC. The device is capable of operating with various types of driving oscillators and GPS receivers, which generate a GPRMC line and a PPS pulse. The device is easy-to-manufacture and easy-to-service and reliable in operation.