How to Calibrate Timer？

[MDSC]

I use NRF52832 and sdk13.0.0 to develop my own application. I want to generate 1000 Hz Timer to trigger the ADC. I use the timer 1 to generate 1000 Hz. But when I use GPIOTE to test the frequency, I find that the frequency is 500.014 Hz(500.014 x 2 = 1000.028 Hz).I have open the crystal oscillator as HFCLK.

Because I need two devices to generate the same frequency to sample the sensor data, so I need the accurate frequency. So at least I need the two device to generate the same frequency. But when I download the same program to two device ,the frequency is different: one is 500.014 Hz ,the other is 500.012Hz. What I should do?

My timer code is:
//========================
//timer initial
//========================
nrf_drv_timer_config_t timer_cfg = NRF_DRV_TIMER_DEFAULT_CONFIG;
timer_cfg.bit_width = NRF_TIMER_BIT_WIDTH_32;
err_code = nrf_drv_timer_init(&m_timer1, &timer_cfg, timer_dummy_handler);
APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
/* setup m_timer1 for compare event every 1ms */
uint32_t ticks = nrf_drv_timer_us_to_ticks(&m_timer1, 1000);//ticks = 0x3E80
nrf_drv_timer_extended_compare(&m_timer1,
                               NRF_TIMER_CC_CHANNEL0,
                               ticks,
                               NRF_TIMER_SHORT_COMPARE0_CLEAR_MASK,
                               false);

The question one is: how can I calibrate the timer to generate accurate 1000 Hz? The question two is: how to make sure the two device to generate the same frequency?

[AmbystomaLabs]

There is no need nor capability for calibrating the nRF timer driver. The only reason for the frequency to be off is either your 32MHz clock is incorrectly loaded or you failed to request HFEXT or essentially turn on HFEXT and instead it is running on HFINT which is not an accurate clock source. You always need to request HFEXT in your code if you require its accuracy.

[AmbystomaLabs]

By the way I should point out that you need to consider the accuracy of the equipment you are using to measure the 1000Hz signal. Most O-scopes have terrible clocks and 100ppm is not unheard of. Whereas my Spectrum Analyzer has a 2.5ppm clock since that is what I use most.

Test labs often use a GPS based 10 or 13MHz reference. These have an accuracy of 0.00001 PPM. Yes that is a 1 with 4 zeros in front of it. Very, very accurate.

I think what you'll find is that between your nominal 32MHz offset and your test equipment everything is pretty normal. Likely you just have to measure each board and adjust the register settings to get them close to each other.

Also you might want to come up with load caps for the xtal that are better suited to your board.