SKG123NT positioning module, 2ns time synchronization

2026-01-29/ By Admin

In critical fields such as power system synchronous phasor measurement, 5G communication base stations, financial trading systems, and data centers, nanosecond-level time synchronization accuracy is the cornerstone for ensuring stable system operation and flawless data accuracy. Traditional clock sources are susceptible to environmental interference, leading to cumulative errors, while ordinary single-frequency GNSS modules face severe challenges in timing reliability and precision under complex electromagnetic environments or partial signal blockage. The SKG123NT dual-band timing module launched by SKYLAB, with its exceptional ±2ns (RMS) timing accuracy, multi-system multi-band reception capability, and industrial-grade reliability, provides a dependable timing "heart" for demanding time synchronization applications.

I. Critical Infrastructure: Why is Ultra-High Precision and Reliable Timing Essential?

In mission-critical industry applications, even minor deviations in time synchronization can lead to:

Grid Instability: PMUs (Phasor Measurement Units) in smart grids rely on precise timestamps. Errors may cause protection maloperation or distorted system oscillation analysis.

Communication Desynchronization: Strict time synchronization between 5G/TDD base stations is crucial to avoid interference and ensure handover success rates.

Data Corruption: Inconsistent timestamps in financial trading and big data centers can trigger data correlation errors and logical chaos.

Environmental Challenges: Scenarios like urban canyons, electromagnetic interference, and partial satellite blockage require timing modules to possess stronger signal acquisition and holdover capabilities.

The SKG123NT is specifically designed to overcome these challenges, integrating "precision, reliability, and environmental adaptability."

II. SKG123NT: Three Core Advantages Defining a New Standard for High-Reliability Timing

1. Nanosecond Precision & Intelligent Timing Modes for Greater Accuracy

Ultra-High Precision PPS Output: Provides a 1PPS (Pulse Per Second) signal with timing accuracy better than ±2ns (RMS, 95% confidence, PDOP ≤ 4), meeting the most stringent synchronization requirements.

Intelligent Timing Modes:

Position Hold Mode: After acquiring accurate position information, it can maintain high-precision PPS output even with only one captured satellite, significantly enhancing availability in complex environments.

Survey Mode: Automatically estimates the optimal position and enters the timing state, achieving autonomous high-precision timing.

Adjustable PPS Delay: Supports flexible PPS phase adjustment via commands, facilitating system-level time alignment calibration.

2. Multi-System Dual-Band Reception for More Robust Signals and Faster Convergence

Full System Support: Simultaneously receives GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS signals, significantly increasing the number of available satellites and enhancing redundancy and reliability.

L1+L5 Dual-Band Positioning: Utilizes dual-frequency signals to effectively suppress ionospheric delay error, improving initial accuracy and stability for both positioning and timing.

Excellent Sensitivity: Tracking sensitivity reaches -165dBm, with cold start sensitivity at -148dBm, ensuring rapid acquisition and lock even in weak signal environments.

3. Industrial-Grade Design & Rich Interfaces for Easier Integration

Compact & Rugged Package: Dimensions of only 16mm × 12mm × 2.4mm in an LGA package, suitable for space-constrained embedded designs.

Wide Temperature & Voltage Range: Operating temperature range -40℃ to +85℃, supply voltage 3.0V to 3.6V. Features an independent backup battery pin (V_BCKP) to ensure continuous operation and hot-start performance (hot start time ≤ 1s).

Rich Functional Interfaces: Provides multiple UARTs, dedicated PPS output, speed pulse input (FWD/SPEED), external interrupt, and other pins for deep integration with master control systems, enabling integrated navigation or state triggering.

III. Typical Application Scenarios: Injecting "Standard Time" into Critical Systems

The SKG123NT is an ideal time source for the following applications:

Power Automation: Synchronization clock source for smart substations, new energy power plants, and Wide-Area Measurement Systems (WAMS).

Communication Networks: Clock synchronization for 5G base stations, communication core network equipment, and Time-Sensitive Networks (TSN).

Finance & Data Centers: Timestamp services for high-frequency trading systems, distributed databases, and server clusters.

Scientific Research & Industry: Timing for scientific experiments, automated test systems, and synchronized broadcasting transmission.

Its characteristics of "high precision, high holdover, high integration" allow system designers to focus on upper-layer application development without worrying about the stability of the underlying time source.

Let Precision Time Become the Cornerstone of System Reliability

Time is the fundamental coordinate; its precision and reliability are non-negotiable. The SKG123NT dual-band timing module transforms the absolute time reference from satellite navigation into a stable, precise, and easy-to-use electrical signal, providing core timing capability comparable to professional clock equipment for various critical infrastructures. It is not just a module; it is the "temporal anchor point" that ensures global system order and efficient coordination.