u-blox ZED-F9T-10B and LEA-F9T-10B L1/L5 timing modules

u-blox has announced its multi-band timing products to concurrently support the L1 and L5 GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signals. The ZED-F9T-10B and LEA-F9T-10B timing modules are designed to deliver the nanosecond-level timing accuracies required to synchronise cellular network base stations and smart power grids.

The timing modules’ multi-band capability allows them to compensate the ionosphere error from all GNSS satellite constellations and reduce the timing error under clear skies to less than 5 ns without the need for an external GNSS correction service. To achieve maximum performance, the modules track signals from as many satellites as possible.

With satellite constellations transmitting signals on the L5 band nearing completion, the L1/L5 signal combination is becoming a viable option to complement the existing product portfolio based on L1 and L2 signals. Modernised L5 signals are expected to deliver improved performance, especially in difficult urban conditions. Because L5 signals fall within the protected ARNS (aeronautical radionavigation service) frequency band, they are also less subject to RF interference. The LEA-F9T-10B, with extended -40 to +105°C temperature range, should enable the development of robust, futureproof solutions that leverage these signals in the L5 frequency band.

In addition to offering a differential timing mode for local timing, the modules include a suite of security features such as: anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technologies to detect and flag malicious RF interference; secure boot, so the modules can only boot with authentic firmware; secure interfaces that prevent intruders from tampering with the messages between the receiver and the host system; and time-receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (T-RAIM) that provides high-level timing integrity.