Trimble multi-GNSS timing antenna allows for BeiDou, Galileo

Trimble has introduced its latest smart antenna with an integrated multi-GNSS receiver for high accuracy and precise timing applications. The Acutime 360 smart antenna provides a pulse-per-second (PPS) output synchronized to UTC within 15 nanoseconds (one sigma).

The Acutime 360 is the latest in the Acutime line of products, which have been deployed in the field for more than 20 years. With a user friendly interface for communication, the GNSS smart antenna is light weight and easy to integrate with a host system. It is suitable for critical infrastructure including wireless networks and utilities.

The Acutime 360 GNSS smart antenna is built using the Trimble 360 technology platform for multi-GNSS systems, which includes support for GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and is Galileo-ready. The Acutime 360 has tracking sensitivity of -160 dBm and an acquisition sensitivity of -148 dBm. The increased sensitivity translates into greater reliability and accuracy.

The Acutime 360 smart antenna uses a standard 12-pin connector and is footprint-compatible with previous generations of Acutime antennas. The Acutime 360 antenna is an ideal solution for precise timing and frequency synchronization for a wide range of applications including:

• sync reference for wireless and small cell networks
• utilities – smart grid
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
• critical infrastructure

Designed for long-term reliability, the IP67 compliant Acutime 360 is corrosion-resistant and waterproof and has a rounded top that facilitates run-off from the elements. It weighs less than 6 ounces and offers an extremely cost-effective solution for adding GNSS reference to any application where ease of installation and long-term reliability is critical.

Once powered, the Acutime 360 automatically tracks satellites and surveys its position to within meters. It then switches to over-determined time mode and generates a PPS, outputting a time tag for each pulse. The smart antenna’s Time-Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitor (T-RAIM) algorithm maintains PPS integrity.

The GNSS smart antenna can operate in extreme temperatures (-40°C to +85°C) and hostile RF environments typically encountered at wireless network transmitter sites. It requires less than 1 watt of power to operate and outputs the Trimble Standard Interface Protocol (TSIP) or industry-standard NMEA messages.

The Acutime 360 smart timing antenna is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2016 through Trimble’s Time and Frequency sales network.