Accurate network time [msec resolution]

[Ohad Gal]

Hello,

we are using the "AT%CCLK?" at it works very nice.

but now for the challange... since the modem is synchronized with the LTE network and sends on the designated time slot, the modem knows the time in accuracy better than 1msec.

will it be possible to get a synchronization pulse once a complete second ellapses? similar to how the GPS works with PPS

that is:

1. send AT%CCLK2?

2. wait for a pulse on a hardware pin GPIO (or an internal signal)

3. get the string with [sec] resolution as we get from the "AT%CCLK?" command

Does NORDIC support something like this?

This will eliminate the need for GPS if the GPS is used only for accurate time reception

Many thanks

Ohad.

[Albrecht Markus Schellenberger]

Hello Ohad, 

Does NORDIC support something like this?

According to 3GPP, which the nRF9160 follows, the network time accuracy will only be provided in sec resolution. 

This will eliminate the need for GPS if the GPS is used only for accurate time reception

will it be possible to get a synchronization pulse once a complete second ellapses? similar to how the GPS works with PPS

Although I very much understand your point and use case here, the nRF9160 unfortunately does not support this. The communication between modem and application core is done via a shared region of the RAM memory, where GPIOs are not involved at all. 

Regards, 

Markus 

[Ohad Gal]

Hello Markus,

thank you for the fast response and answer

I understand this is not implemented in the firmware.

we don't have to use GPIO, any internal element (even the operating system it self via shared memory) can convey the time

I hope Nordic will consider this feature for future release

it is a game changer and will provide your module an edge over the competition.

many thanks

Ohad.

[Albrecht Markus Schellenberger]

Ohad Gal said:

I hope Nordic will consider this feature for future release

it is a game changer and will provide your module an edge over the competition.

Thanks a lot for your feedback, Ohad! I will forward this to our modem team :-)

Cheers, 

Markus