hopf Elektronik - Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

Function and Comparison of Accuracy DCF77 and GPS Time Signal

Receiver

● 1 Function DCF77 Transmitter-Receiver

● 2 Sources of Interference
● 3 Accuracy DCF77
● 4 Function GPS
● 5 Sources of Interference
● 6 Accuracy under GPS
● 7 Future Development
● 8 Features of GPS and DCF77
● 8.1 Place of Use
● 8.2 Antenna
● 8.3 Decoding
● 8.4 Noise Immunity
● 8.5 Accuracy
● 8.6 Terms

1 Function DCF77 Transmitter-Receiver

The time code transmitter DCF77 emits a time signal and time code information in the long
wave range of 77.5 kHz. The time information is visualised by the lowering of the carrier
power to 25% of the standard value (amplitude modulation). The beginning of a second is
marked by the beginning of a lowering. The lowering takes 0.1 sec for a logic "0" and 0.2
sec for a logic "1".

During a minute the BCD values for the minutes, hours, day of the week, month and year
are transmitted after the 20th second. Being the synchronisation marker the 59th second is
not lowered.

The emitted power does not immediately drop to the 25%-value. Because of the resonance
quality of the antenna this value is reached after 600-800 µsec.

The inaccuracy of the transmitted carrier frequency

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 hopf Elektronik - Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

● averages over the period of 1 day < 1* 10-12

● averages over the period of 100 days < 1* 10-13

As the carrier frequency and the carrier lowering have the same source, the above
inaccuracy also applies to the beginning of the lowering of the second markers.

The DCF77-signal is usually received by a an active ferrite antenna and fed to a straight-
receiver. Rectification and levelling of the signal turn the decoded DCF77-signal into a pulse
data string.

2 Sources of Interference

The time code is transmitted in the longwave range by amplitude modulation, it can
therefore be easily disturbed. The many sources of interference include atmospheric
disturbances like thunderstorms on the way to the receiver. In case of thunderstorms near
the location of the transmitter the transmission is stopped for the length of the storm. This
may take up to several hours.

Interferences on the location of the receiver are mainly caused by motors, monitors,
displays, corona discharges from high-voltage lines, switching contactors. The place for the
antenna must therefore be selected with utmost care. Narrowband receivers are an
alternative to suppress interferences.

Please note: Narrowband reception and accuracy exclude each other!!

3 Accuracy DCF77

The short-term and the long-term accuracy of the DCF77-signal show a considerable
difference.

The decoded second marker may deviate from the absolute second marker by +5 to +150
msec if standard decoding techniques are used. This is due mainly to the used signal filters
and the signal rectification. Narrow-band antennas and very narrow-band crystal filters are
used to suppress interferences, which results in a long decay time. The edge is further
delayed by the rectification used to obtain the pulse.

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hopf Elektronik - Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

The accuracy suffices completely for the every-day use of our clocks where the long-term
accuracy matters. After one year the deviation of the second is no more than +5 to +150
msec.

For industrial purposes these deviations are not tolerable. For more accurate second
markers both the antenna and the receiver must be wide-band. Values between +5 to +15
msec require bandwidths of about 4 kHz for the antenna which means that the antenna
transmits far more noise to the electronics and that the reception electronics often cannot
decode the minute cycle. Comparing these to the clocks for every-day use this liability to
interferences is mistaken for too little sensitivity.

Basically the following is correct:

Short-term accuracy and high noise immunity exclude each other under DCF77

By changing an amplitude modulated signal to a frequency modulated signal a tolerable

accuracy is reached.

During the DCF77 lowering of the second the frequency changes from about 500 Hz to 400
Hz. In the decoding process the pulse width of every frequency oscillation is measured and
saved. In case of a change in the pulse width the starting point is traced back and
interpreted as the second marker. The accuracy which is achieved ranges around a pulse
width, i.e. ± 2 msec. Over a period of one minute the second markers are observed and
tendencies are ascertained. If for example the calculated second marker tends to be earlier,
on average, than in the previous minute, two control values are deducted :

● the crystal frequency on the board is changed

● to level out the difference the second marker is adjusted for a short time with ± 10
ppm frequency offset.

This process adjusts the crystal frequency to ± 2 ppm inaccuracy for the free-running of the
clock.

Further inaccuracies may be caused by travel times from the transmitter to the receiver. In
case of just ground-wave reception a constant is included in the calculation if the distance is
permanent. In case of just space wave reception the reception side cannot influence the
time fluctuations. Time fluctuations are influenced directly by the changing altitude of the
reflecting and bending layer of the ionosphere. Similar problems arise where ground and
space waves overlap. This field is not constant but changes in the course of the day
between 600 to 1200 km from the transmitter position. At fixed locations there may be time
fluctuations in the range of some milliseconds.

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 hopf Elektronik - Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

4 Function GPS

When GPS systems are used as timers world-wide operation at highest accuracy is
possible. At an altitude of about 20000 km satellites circle around the earth on 6 different
orbits twice a day. There are 3 satellites on every orbit. Every satellite contains 2 atomic
clocks being as accurate as at least 1 x 10 -12.

The satellites constantly transmit their position and the GPS world time at the same point of
time at a frequency of 1.57542 GHz. GPS antenna receive the data from the satellites
moving in the view range of the antenna. These data are then decoded by a 6 to 12 channel
GPS receiver. First the position of the receiving antenna is calculated from these values.
Once the position is calculated the travelling times of the transmitter information from the
individual satellites can be determined.

The GPS time information and the average travelling times are used to construct the GPS
world time (GPS-UTC) achieving an accuracy of ± 1 µsec. The accuracy of the time
determination depends above all on how accurately the position has been calculated.

The world time UTC is calculated by deducting the leap second from GPS-UTC. The leap
seconds offer the chance to level out the inaccuracy of the speed of the earth rotation. At
present the difference is 9 seconds. The adjustment can be done automatically because the
satellites include the difference in their transmitted information.

The local time can now be calculated precisely by adding or subtracting a time offset from
UTC.

5 Sources of Interference

The GPS signal is nearly disturbance-proof due to the high transmission frequency of
1.57542 GHz. Very narrow-banded antennas and filters can be used to decode the signal,
because the information is transmitted in the phase modulation at constant amplitude.

There are no atmospheric disturbances at great heights. The transmission between layers
in the atmosphere can cause time offsets, but only in terms of picoseconds. The data from
4 satellites are used for the calculation of the 3D position. If the antenna has a clear view to
the horizon an average of 7 to 9 satellites are visible. That means the time information is
100% available. Even if half the horizon is covered the availability still reaches 90 to 95%.
Due to the low transmission power of the satellites and the high frequency the cables
between the antenna and the electronics must be short, otherwise the signal cannot be
filtered from the noise.

Antenna Installation GPS

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Military ground control stations may interfere with the accuracy of the position calculation for
a time. Then some satellites transmit wrong orbit data, from which the travelling time of the
data is calculated wrongly. The error in the calculation of the time may amount to some
µsec.

6 Accuracy under GPS

The accuracy of the individual second marker is, other than with DCF77, the same at every
location. It is about ± 1 µsec using standard GPS-receivers and decoding of the time
marker. This allows the standard crystals for the free-running characteristics of the clock to
be adjusted to ± 0.1 ppm. Also a far better adjustment control of the second marker is
possible. Even better free-running characteristics are achieved when oven and temperature
stabilised crystals are used, i.e. values between 0.1 and 2.0 ppm.

The time marker of plain GPS position receivers, used for private purposes like sailing,
walking etc. is not more accurate than DCF77.

With GPS a high short-term and long-term accuracy is achieved.

7 Future Development

In future GPS will replace DCF77 systems in all the industrial fields where very precise time
markers matter. The fast development of the world-wide use of GPS had the effect that the

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 hopf Elektronik - Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

prices for GPS receivers with time decoding have dropped from 20.000 $/piece to less than
1.000 $/piece since 1990.

As GPS has gained importance in the car sector and the American industry cannot be
imagined without it any more, the military use of the system has been pushed back to 2nd
place. The system is not likely to be removed without being appropriately substituted within
the next 20-30 years.

8 Features of GPS and DCF77

8.1 Place of Use

GPS: world-wide

DCF77: within a 2000 km radius around Frankfurt

8.2 Antenna

GPS: Only outdoor antennas possible. This requires more complicated

equipment for lightning protection. Also the antenna circuit should be
potential free, because in case of lightning protection the antenna coat is
earthed which may cause earth loops. The standard antenna cable must not
exceed 25 m because of the high frequency and the low reception power.
Cable lengths up to 150 m can be reached with special cables and power
amplifiers.

DCF77: Outdoor and indoor antenna are possible. Standard cables can
bridge distances of up to 500 m between the antenna and the electronics.
Outdoor antennas also require lightning protection and potential free antenna
circuits.

8.3 Decoding

GPS: The decoding of the high frequency and the low reception power
cannot yet be covered by standard equipment. High quality devices and high
computing power is necessary. World-wide use make a broad and cheap
supply very likely in the near future.

DCF77: The decoding can be done by simple standard units. Low-cost clocks
for every-day use are available for less than 100 DM.

8.4 Noise Immunity

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GPS: The high frequency and the phase modulation of the signal guarantees
high noise immunity. It is difficult to simulate this signal.

DCF77: Due to the low frequency and amplitude modulation the signal is
liable to many interferences from atmospheric, magnetic and electric
sources. It is easy to simulate the signal.

8.5 Accuracy

GPS: With time decoding programme high short-term accuracy of ± 1 µsec.

Good control characteristics free running crystals (standard ± 0.1 ppm).

DCF77: Bad short-term accuracy, as a rule +5 to +25 msec, pretty bad

characteristics for free-running crystals achievable ± 2 ppm.

8.6 Terms

DCF77: German time signal transmitter transmission frequency 77.5 kHz.

GPS: Global Positioning System, navigation system supported by satellites,

transmission frequency 1.57542 GHz for commercial purposes.

UTC: Universal Time Co-ordinated, co-ordinated global time, previously GMT

GPS-UTC: continuous global time without correction by leap second

GHz: 1 billion Hertz

ppb: part per billion = 1 * 10 -9 e.g. time error 1 ppb = 0.0864 msec per day

ppm: part per million = 1 * 10 -6 e.g. time error 1 ppm = 86.4 msec per day

msec: 1 thousandth of a second

µsec: 1 millionth of a second

3D: three dimensional calculation of the position, longitude, latitude and

altitude

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hopf Elektronik - Accuracy between DCF77 and GPS

Author: B. Rega
Company: hopf Elektronik GmbH

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 DCF77 Info - hopf Elektronik GmbH

DCF77 Information

How the DCF77-receiver works

D = german; C = long wave signal; F = frankfurt; 77 = frequency

The DCF77 radio controlled clocks receive the official time of the Federal Republic of Germany from
Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig and transmit it to computers and
systems via various interfaces. The radio synchronisation of the DCF77 transmitter in Mainflingen (50 01
N, 9 00 0) reaches a longterm accuracy of the PTB-calibration standard of 1 x 10 E-13 per week or less
than 1 second in 300,000 years. Due to its high accuracy only this time is accepted as legally binding in
the Federal Republic of Germany. (Bundesgesetzblatt 42/1978, page 1110).

This station transmits

continuously, except for short
interruptions due to technical
faults or maintenance. Longer
breaks may be experienced
during thunderstorms attaching
the location of the transmitter.

Time Signals
Except of the second marker
59, the carrier is modulated by
second markers each minute
signifying that the next marker
will be the minute one. At the
beginning of each second the
signal amplitude is reduced to
25% for 100 ms or 200ms. The
start of the decrease of the
signal amplitude marks the
exact beginning of the second.
The second markers are phase-
synchronous with the DCF77-
signal. In general: the
inaccuracy of the received
DCF77 timesignal is large
compared to the emitted time
signal.

The reception depends largely on the limited wave band of the time signal transmitter and other natural
interferences. At a distance of some 100 kilometres, a time signal uncertainty of less than 0.1 ms is

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 DCF77 Info - hopf Elektronik GmbH

achievable.

Special features of the DCF77-receiver

selective DCF77-receiver with potential-free antenna circuit

An AM/FM transducer in the receiver increases the achievable accuracy considerably compared to the
common straight or IF-receivers.

● Achievable accuracy better than ± 2 msec.

Aging of the components, fluctuation of temperature and field strength are compensated by an internal
crystal control in our analyzing method, which improves the freerunning characteristics in case of
transmitter shutdowns or reception failures.

● Frequency drift at freerunning max. ± 2 ppm

All control values are stored in a fail-safe memory. A integrated backup clock, supplied by a gold foil
capacitor, bridges the system time in case of voltage failures.

● completely maintenance free

The following time information are available to the user:

● CEST = Central European Summertime with automatic changeover and correction

of the sporadically inserted leap seconds
● CET = Central European Time without changeover to summertime and with
correction of the sporadically inserted leap seconds
● UTC = Universal Time Coordinated (world-time, previously GMT ) with correction of
the sporadically inserted leap seconds

Our DCF77-radio receiver has a working radius of about 2,000 km from the transmitter Frankfurt (Main).
Reference clocks operate e.g. in Iceland, Turkey, Marocco and Moscow. Our GPS-receivers are designed
for worldwide use.

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